There wasn’t much wind at the moment, and consequently Gnome was drying rather slowly after his swim. Every few moments his body would give an involuntary shudder. He hadn’t had time to grow much of a winter coat. He supposed it would come in soon enough. Until then, he was at least glad for the still air. He had just given another shudder when Xiomara came up behind him. He had to turn his head and do a double take again to be sure it was she and not Lilika. Logic told him he was being a fool, but his heart held onto a strand of hope nonetheless. He sighed as she stood next to him. He could have been embarrassed that she’d seen him shiver, but what would be the point? She’d seen him in the common and had to have noted his lighter frame.

Together they surveyed the scene in a moment of silence that was almost companionable. Then, she spoke. He met her gaze as she gave him Warsaw’s name. ”Does Warsaw often send mares to do his bidding?” he asked. He paused as she continued, and returned her curious expression. ”Ah, just when I was bracing myself for the tundra, you tell me I can’t stay,” he said with a smirk. ”Well, Xiomara, if it is not your intention that I stick around, what exactly am I to do?” As he waited for her reply, he shifted on striped hooves in an attempt to generate some more body heat.

Gnome