Oblivious to the darkness that had overtaken their clearing shortly after she left, Kahlua returned to the once pair, now trio, huffing and puffing dramatically as she dragged the glass cart along behind her through the snow. Though her grunts and groans and sighs were wholly unnecessary, the cart was hard work for her light frame to pull and the tires resisted being drug across the frozen ground. By the time she returned to the group she was damp with sweat, shivering as the cold bit at her side. Perhaps if she had known what terrors had befallen them in her absence she would not have made such a noisy return; instead, she burst into joyous laughter as she noticed the burning stick on the ground. It was not until after she gurgled out happily, “I see you started the fire without me!” that she noticed the scent of burnt flesh with the scent of burnt wood. Even then, she only assumed it to be another one of Tallis’ attacks upon Thor and shook it off. Better to be naïve, perhaps, in this situation.

Ignoring the fact that Eva and Thor were now dangerously close together and that they both wore looks of terror upon their faces, the queen shook herself out of the harness that she had been using to pull the cart. “That’s for you now, Thor,” she said with a shake of her head, harrumphing as though she couldn’t believe she had had to cart it all the way here by herself. But she was not really upset, only dramatic. Indeed, as she stepped away from the cart, she forgot all about her hemming and hawing about the weight she had pulled and turned her attention to the newest to join this little group- Leeka!

“Leeka! I hope you’re doing well! Have you settled in well? This is Thor and Evangeline. Eva advises us, Thor has returned after an absence,” she offered, in case Leeka had yet to meet either of them. Of course, conspicuously absent was the fact that Thor had also been a leader in years past. But never mind that, for that scuffle had been had and had died when she had stepped aside to let Thor enter his home. For a moment she lingered by the fire, letting the warmth dry the sweat that had dampened her hide; however, her attentions could not be held long by one task. The queen just as quickly bounded a few yards beyond the group and began to gather wood, grabbing a stick in her mouth and pulling it back towards the fire that Tallis had started. It would have to be bigger if it was to remain lit. If this was to be the first fire, then so be it. At least she did not go too far- she would easily be able to hear the others if they were to chat with her while they all worked. Khan helped as well, gathering small sticks and beginning to lay them in the cart to act as kindling for a second fire.