Eventually her scent became the prominent one to his senses as they sat there together in the cold with her soothing whispers and comforting scrub of her fingers across his cold scales. He knew this couldn’t be comfortable for her- crouched in snow but at least down in this gully the freezing wind was not quite so intense with its bite. They were partially shielded by stone and dead shrubs.

He picked up the pieces of his composure and gathered himself as she promised fish and safety. From what? Eels? He would be the one protecting her from anything else but he took her words for the good will she was expressing. These were assurances full of sincerity. He lifted one end of his mouth with a lopsided smile and then huffed, getting up and curling around her before looking to the sky. He hoped the storm let up soon.