Pod looks up from setting a couple small birds, frozen solid, by the fire. She’s shivering herself, because she had to remove her coat and gloves because they were soaked through, but Kiga is being a good friend, and bringing back both dry wood to keep the fire going, pine boughs to keep some of the wind out, and some of the heat in, and whatever small frozen beasts he’s found. She hopes her coat and gloves dry soon, but the voice makes her look up and smile.

“Lia! Well met! How are you faring in the cold; come by the fire quickly.”

She moves to make space in the little fir-lined hollow she’s created, careful not to disturb the thawing beasts. It will be a tight squeeze, but sharing body heat will keep them both warmer, and Pod looks forward to it. The cold seems to seep right to her bones, even with the clever, thin but oh so warm underthings she’d found at the Station.

“Kiga is with me, but he’s looking for more wood for the fire right now. If we don’t keep the fire going, they’ll freeze all over again, and I think that might kill them.”

She’s sad at the thought. This unnatural storm shouldn’t have happened, and that it is taking so many lives is a tragedy.