ashes and dust

She only registered the warmth of his presence as a side-note at the back of her mind. That was perhaps the saddest part of what she had become, and the one thing Maea might always struggle with. What she wouldn't do, to truly feel the bite of cold or the melting comfort of a touch again.

At least some of the numbness was fading. That icy indifference that had ruled her last time they met had begun to evaporate, slowly but surely, and while she was distant and thoughtful even now it was but lingering dregs that swirled in her gaze as she slowly turned to look at Harper.

[say]"Yes,"[/say] she admitted. [say]"I've begun to realize how much I truly lost, here. Doing what I did. I thought coming back might help me figure out what to do with what's left, but... so far, I don't have any answers."[/say]

She studied him even as she spoke, taking in the hollows beneath his eyes, the weariness. Mercury eyes dropped to the bundle in his arms; surprise flickered there for an instant, soon followed by understanding. Her brows pinched downward in a slight frown. [say]"Yours?"[/say] she asked, with a nudge of a chin towards the babe - though she already guessed at the answer.