Alice opened her eyes the next morning, hearing the rustling sounds of people moving around the cave. She had slept surprisingly well on the rough floor of the cave, Bridgette spooning her comfortably, the two girls' warmth quite cozy. She stretched, feeling good, and gnced around.

  Colin was dressed and setting up some camp chairs and ying out breakfast for everyone, once more wearing his wizard robe. Deirdre had curiously remained in the sleeping bag, a bare shoulder poking out as she watched Colin work. Bridgette had also gotten out of the sleeping bag, dressing in a pair of fleece leggings, furry snow boots, and a sweatshirt that Alice was absolutely stunned to see Bridgette still possessed. As Alice moved around in her bag, watching the scene, she made eye contact with Deirdre, who smiled shyly and blushed. Curiouser and curiouser, Alice thought. I do like her though, even if she is a little awkward.

  With a sigh, Alice dug through her storage ring, eventually finding a pair of cold weather clothes simir to Bridgette's and emerging from the sleeping bag, rolling it up behind her. "I had forgotten I had these," she quipped to Bridgette, the other woman ughing and nodding in agreement. "Comfy, though. I always do love a good pair of warm leggings."

  Deirdre also emerged from the sleeping bag, waiting to dress until after she had stepped naked into the chill air of the cavern, much to the amusement of Bridgette as Colin flushed and instantly smmed his eyes shut, having accidentally gotten an eye full of bare elven flesh. She pulled on warm undergarments and then her hunting leather outfit, then walked over to Colin and put a hand to his side until he opened his eyes carefully, gncing down at her as she smiled up at him. He blushed again. "I, ah, got you some breakfast from our supplies. If you want it, that is. Is eggs and bacon okay with you?" He awkwardly pointed at a pair of ptes and chairs he had set up.

  "Perfect, thank you," Deirdre said as she brushed against his body, pressing against the wizard intentionally as she stepped around him to sit. Bridgette winked at Colin and the other two girls sat, digging in to their own breakfasts. Colin gnced around, realized he was the only one still standing, and quickly sat next to Deirdre, awkwardly beginning to eat.

  Some time ter, Alice stood, drawing the eyes of the others to her. "Okay, so ... I hate awkward conversations, but here we are. We need to head back to Persistence, my farm in Iowa. We're responsible for it, we have people who rely on us, and we told them we would be gone two months. If we push ourselves, we'll get back a week ter than we promised, but hopefully that's not so te that they'll panic. We can't stay here in the mountains any longer, I'm afraid. We'll need to depart today. Deirdre, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you and Moonwhisper, and I'm gd that we had the opportunity to fight together. I feel privileged to have helped clear the orc camp from the Wind River Range, ensuring that it will be safe for you in the future."

  She took a breath, gncing around. Colin looked like he was about to cry, Deirdre stared at her with a curious expression on her face, waiting. "We would love to have you come join our adventuring party, if you wanted. You're also welcome to come visit us at our farm in Iowa, regardless of if you want to adventure with us. I consider you a friend and if there's anything you ever need, just ask. I know it puts you on the spot, but we have to leave within the next hour. I know we would all love to have you with us, if you are willing."

  "I cannot," Deirdre said bluntly. Colin let out a squeaking noise, his face falling and slumping forward into his chair. Deirdre pced a hand on his leg, patting the wizard's knee. "I must travel back to my home and retrieve the rest of my things before I join you. Moonwhisper and I will catch up to you in a week." Colin's face lit up in a smile as he turned to face the huntress, who smiled sheepishly at him.

  "She got you good," Bridgette ughed as Colin blushed and extended a middle finger toward the redhead. "But that's awesome. We're excited to have you with us, Deirdre. How will you find us, though?"

  "It's what I do as a huntress," she replied, nodding her head toward Colin. "I have marked him, so I will know where he goes, and will find you that way." Bridgette roared with ughter at the implication, Colin turning beet red and stammering.

  "I'm sure it's not what you're thinking, B," he tried to deflect, gncing at the elven woman. "It's not what she's thinking, right?" Deirdre just gazed back at him, silently watching his growing panic. "Uhh... hey did anyone else level up this morning?"

  Alice nodded, giving the wizard an escape route, "Yep, I did! I haven't checked out the details yet, I figured we could do that on the road, but I've got the blinking icon there letting me know."

  A short while ter, the four of them stood at the entrance to the cave, Deirdre having rolled the rock back and exposing them to the cold Wyoming morning, the sunlight bouncing off the fresh snow, easily a foot deep in pces. Alice and Bridgette had hugged Deirdre goodbye, telling the elven woman to be careful on her own, and that they couldn't wait for her to meet back up. Colin clearly had something he wanted to say, but kept gncing at Alice and Bridgette before back to Deirdre. Alice got the hint.

  "Come on, B, let's go wait outside." Alice began pushing Bridgette out of the cave and into the snowy terrain beyond, as Bridgette started to whine.

  "But I wanted to watch them say goodbye!"

  "Be kind, you!" Alice smacked Bridgette on the ass. "Let them have their moment in privacy."

  The two girls trekked outside, wondering at the changed ndscape. They were in the shadow of Independent Mountain, just above the tree line. What had been a granite scree the day before was now a beatific snowscape, the still white terrain stretching off in every direction and giving a peaceful quality to the mountains.

  "It really is beautiful out here," Bridgette remarked. "Remote, dangerous, but oh so beautiful." Alice nodded her agreement, taking in the view. Before long, the two elves emerged from the cave, both blushing intensely as the girls turned to look at them. Colin refused to meet anyone's eyes and instead walked over to stand next to Alice.

  Deirdre climbed onto Moonwhisper's back, the giant wolf turning to face the trail back to her home. She gnced at the three friends. "This is not goodbye. I will see you again soon. Take care of him, please." And with that, Moonwhisper bolted off, leaving the trio standing alone in the snowy field, the only sounds the whisper of the wind throw nearby pines ... and Colin's sniffles.