With an airy chuckle, she looked to Maea as if she had forgotten the ancient was there. Neither seemed to care about the competitive race or the cold anymore. Their heavy mental burdens had been left behind in the snow. Now, Thal smiled at Maea with no resentment or anger, only genuine delight at the sensations her body gave her. The way she could feel her heart pounding in her chest and sense the pump of blood to each extremity or how the crisp Deepfrost wind allowed the refreshing oxygen to reach every inch of her lungs. Every easy shift of her body and whisper of touch against her skin was a welcome distraction that she embraced.
Knocking some snow from her cloak, Thal placed her hands on her hips with confident ease. She felt tired, but good. Cocking her head at Maea, she asked mischievously, "So who's buying drinks?" It wasn't a clearing of their past few conversations or a warm hug of all-encompassing friendship, yet it was a start. A way for them to meet again on neutral terms with no goals other than to enjoy a couple drinks and laugh about the snow packed into their shoes.
