It had been about a week since the last attack, and Ellava still wasn't sure how to bring it up, so she was watching the sky while trying to think of a good way to ease it into their conversations, snow danced to the ground. Her cheeks were rosy, her hands a bit red, but she had a satisfied look on her face--at least for the weather.

            "Is winter your favorite season?" He came up behind her, which startled her a little bit.

            "Snow is quite beautiful; and we haven't gotten as many people trying to claim the spear." Saying that reminded Ellava once again about the three of them and what happened. It wouldn't be fair to keep him in the dark.

            She returned her attention back to the window, when she heard what sounded like a meow. She noticed something dark against the pure-white snow, it meowed again.

            "Gareicht, can you go outside for a moment?"

            "Hm? What is it?"

            "I think...there's a cat out in the cold, poor thing, I definitely hear meowing." Her face was filled with worry, not peeling her eyes away from the window where she heard the sound.

            "Okay," He nodded to her and went outside. Like she suspected it was a small kitten, fur was mixed between dark brown and copper. He scooped up the kitten from the blanket of snow, holding them gently in his arms and walked back inside.

            Ellava ran over to them, "Is the kitten alright?"

            "I think so? Ever since I picked her up, she's been nudging and cuddling up next to me."

            "It's probably because you're so warm." She laughed.

            He sat down and cradled the kitten in his arms, Ellava right next to him, gently stroking the kitten's chin.

            Hearing the kitten purr lightened up Ellava's mood, which Gareicht noticed and he smiled without her noticing.

            She suddenly jumped up, "Ahh, I should get her water and something to eat, do I have any fish?"

            He laughed softly, There's never a dull moment with you.

            "If we don't have any fish I can step out and get some."

            This made her stop in her tracks.

            "Right." Her face red out of embarrassment.

            He perched the kitten up on his shoulder and went up to her, "Ellava, when I come back, I want to talk to you, is that alright?"

            She stayed silent.

            "And when I do, I hope...that you tell me what's on your mind."

            She looked down, and took a deep breath.

            "There is something...that I haven't told you...but I wasn't sure how to bring it up. I'm sorry."

            He patted her head.

            "Are you ready to tell me when I come back then?"

            She nodded, and then felt a small weight added to her, it was the kitten.

            "I'll leave her with you then, she shouldn't be out in the snow. I'll be back."

            She nodded again, holding onto the kitten in her arms and then watched him leave.

            I need...to get used to watching him leave.

            She felt that pang in her heart again, as if the space was closing in on her, but then she felt the vibration of the cat's purring and snapped out of it. Looking down at her.

            "Aren't you an adorable little one." Ellava laughed, her eyes softening, as she watched the kitten grab her finger with her paws and started nibbling on it. Eventually the kitten moved on from Ellava's fingers and started to grab her hair instead.

            Feeling the tug, Ellava swept her hair back and said, "No, no little one, my hair isn't food or a toy. Tell me, why were you alone, did you get separated from your mom? Hm...I wonder if I should put food outside too, to see if the mom comes."

            The kitten rolled over on Ellava's lap, their belly on the upside with their paws all up in the air as they began to rub their face and groom their paws. At that moment, seeing this adorable interaction, Ellava's worries completely disappeared from how enamored she was at this adorable little creature.

            In her head, she began to think of several different names, contemplating on which one was best. She said a few to the little kitten who didn't seem to have much of response so she kept naming off more. Eventually, she said, "...Selene?" and then the kitten gazed straight in her eyes and meowed loudly and affectionately.

            Her heart skipped a beat again from how cute they were, Ellava continued to look down at the kitten in her lap and gently spoke, "It's nice to meet you, Selene. Thank you for keeping me company."

            She heard the cat meow again, as if Selene understood and Ellava felt like her heart was melting.