“Where are we going?” she asked, following behind him.
“Somewhere more private.”
He waited until they rounded a ten foot ice boulder that blocked them from sight. It was also far enough away from camp that no one would be able to hear them either.
“Vaelor, what is this about?”
“Are you injured?” he asked.
“No. Well, I have a few bruises, but they’ll heal.”
“Why would you get into a fight with the Bestial?”
“It was just a sparring match. We wanted to do something that would occupy us while we wait for the challenge to begin.”
“You could have been killed.”
“It was a friendly match between friends.”
He began to pace, running a hand through his hair.
“I leave you for a couple of hours, and you get into a fight with a female almost twice your size.”
She put a hand on his arm. He could feel her cool fingers. That reminded him of her body temperature situation. He tookher into his arms and used his own body heat to warm her. Feeling her so close also calmed him tremendously.
“Where did you go?” she asked.
“I went hunting.”
“I guess that was your way to let off some of the frustration of having to wait for the challenge.”
“I was hunting for you.”
“For me?”
“Your biosuit is not keeping you warm enough. I went out to look for an animal that I could use its skin to help. I found a large one that had three skins.”
“Where is it at?” she asked.
“I left it in the tent. The thinner skin you can wear under your biosuit. It should help contain your body heat. The second layer was not in good shape. But the outer layer is very thick and furry. You can wear it like a coat when the temperature drops.”
“That’s… thank you.”
He felt uncomfortable with being thanked. That was not why he did it.
“I think we need to seriously think of withdrawing.”
“No! I can do this. I will do this.”
“You got into a fight with someone I thought was your friend.”
“It was a sparring match. And I think Gora did it because other players didn’t believe I should be here. Don’t be like them, Vaelor. Have faith in me.”
Hearing the plea in her voice and seeing her earnest expression, softened him.
“I will try.”
Her smile was his reward.
