There was some comfort in the knowledge that Mesec wasn’t alone in his feelings of isolation, but it did not last long - it was chased quickly by the sadness that Ki’irha knew what it felt like. He would not wish that on her, whoever she was and wherever she came from. Even in the light of the Throat, surrounded by the sun and the friends he had made there, Mesec could not shake the solitude that wrapped around him and suffocated what chances he sought to form ties.

He was the one doing the suffocating now. It was his demons that had chased Ampere away - and perhaps they had been present all along between them. No matter how hard they had fought to break through the storm it wouldn’t have been enough.

Shifting his gaze from the snow to the mare at his side, he listened to her cliche but helpful words. It wasn’t a nice idea, to brush off the friends and connections already made as though they weren’t right in some way. But maybe they weren’t. Maybe there was something else, something more waiting for the two of them once they were free to leave this shelter. “I hope you’re right. And at least they give us that much.” Hope was a powerful thing and he clung to it now as though it were the only thing keeping him from drowning.

Although the brushing of their shoulders was nothing meaningful, just a quick and careful result of her shifting to get away from the stirring of the wind, it sent heat racing through him instead of chills. He hadn’t meant to stand close enough that they could touch and he knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he shouldn’t have - but realized that he enjoyed it. How long had it been since he had stood near enough to someone to experience such a casual brushing?

The gesture was nothing on any other day but tonight it meant everything to the crumbling demigod.

When she moved away he fought the disappointment in the sudden (though not extreme) distance between them - his silver eyes sad as they watched her and his breath catching when she spoke again. “Neither do I.” The words were quiet, falling with more care than the flurries outside of their sanctuary, as he reached out to her - wanting to bridge the gap between them and run his muzzle gently along the night sky caught in her coat. “You’re not alone, Ki’irha.” Her name was barely a whisper, spoken into her skin, and if she would allow the proximity the words may have been more felt than they were heard.

His mind was raging - alive with as many thoughts as there were snowflakes falling from the sky in this storm - and he was aware in a dim sense that this would not fix anything - for either of them. But that knowledge did not stop him. Mesec was tired of being alone, tired of feeling afraid, and wanted… well, he wanted more. More of her casual touches, more of whatever she could give him, and in return he would give her whatever she needed of him as well. They were still two strangers and whatever was healed tonight may not be permanent but it was something. Carefully, with his muzzle trembling just slightly (in fear, anticipation, uncertainty) he moved to nip lightly, questioningly, at her withers. His silver eyes did not move from her face, leaving the question for her to answer.