N
A
Y
A
T
I

Quiet though he is, undoubtedly, Vadim is also surprisingly stubborn. Gratitude is more of a warmth than anything else as she complies to his singularly worded demand, shuffling closer until her icy skin is touching his own warm canvas. It spreads slowly, tingling with reawakened nerves where they are connected. Her heart is suspiciously fast, breathing even more so, to be so close to him. She chides herself internally, for daring to feel anything aside from platonic friendship for one of the few companions she had. Should she chase him away because of her loneliness forming into greed, she would never forgive herself.

Luckily, he distracts her from her mental disarray by saying one more terse word, gesturing towards a worried Rathunax. Chirping quietly he lifted and began to search out a variety of dry sticks, clutching them in his claws much as he had when Hemlock had been born. Oh, how Nayati missed Alysanne and her lovely Hemlock sometimes. They, too, had never bothered to seek her out anymore in the Edge. Forgotten once more, a mere memory if they cared to recall. As she mused on this, a small pile had grown in front of their touching knees, and Rathunax let electricity crackle along his teeth before hurling it at the sticks. Much like a forest fire created from lightning, the sticks caught almost immediately, turning to tinder and burning cheerily. Sighing softly she sagged against Vadim, enjoying the warmth that encased her firmly from two sides.

A soft gasp escaped her bloodied mouth as he lifted to rest himself upon her skin, the arch of his neck solid and warm across her shoulders. Turning her head she tentatively nuzzled his cheek, a silent gesture of thankfulness. Vadim did not seem the type to indulge in physical affection, and she glowed from within to know he had done so with her. She stubbornly decided not to dwell on the fact that she was freezing, and it wasn't exactly an affectionate display. Vlasi comes to her side as well, stretching out, and Nayati's heart pulsed with a sudden, dizzying rush of love for the pair. Rathunax cooed and draped his wings over her hips, and the three blanketed her in warmth and friendship. Nayati hid her tears, feeling so full of emotion she might come apart at the seams. She did not deserve their kindness, their selflessness, and yet she reveled in it.

Time seemed to slip away from Nayati, until she was cocooned in a happy warmth, skin buzzing with renewed feeling where she had gone numb in the water. It had been mere moments but she was just one, admittedly small, mare. Their warmth was powerful, pervasive. In return, it seemed, her magic had flowers sprouting up enthusiastically, practically right under their noses until they were encompassed in a circular field of the colorful sprouts. Again he spoke, close to her ears, and she smiled and nudged her neck against him as if assuring him she was okay.

"Yes. Thank you, Vadim." It is as firm as her soft nature could allow, but her love and affection seemed to glow in every syllable. There was no mistaking her gratitude, the companionship she felt with him and his funny little companion. She could not be more blessed. As time wore on, liquid and loose as if meaningless, she hummed softly to capture his attention from the silence that had settled comfortably between them.

"Do you ever get lonely out here, Vadim?" She wouldn't be presumptuous, but a part of her wished he'd come back to the Edge with her. He was one of her only friends, and certainly her best friend despite how little he spoke and how mysterious he always seemed to be. She wondered if that's what it meant to be selfish.