Exhaustion. Physical. Mental. True and Total. Dema couldn't forge on in the blizzard's grasp. At last she was relieved by the sight of shelter in the form of a cave. Perhaps not the best place to seek shelter from the gales and the biting cold, but choosers often froze whilst beggars survived. Dema quickly built up a fire, meager though it was and ate in silence, staring longingly into the fire; contemplating her path to this point. The road left to go. She willed there to be answers within the flame, and yet - there were none. As she stared longingly, her eyes fluttered as exhaustion finally took her, the world fading to blackness and deep sleep. The storm outside raged, howling and shrieking winds soothing her to sleep.

An eternity passed. Deep and dark slumber. At last, a gentle, familiar touch woke her up from her slumber. A touch so familiar and full of warmth, security, love... Waking with gentle slowness, Dema blinked serenely; shedding the sleep from her eyes. The world swam into focus, as Dema let out a startled gasp. Kayin smiled down at her. Her friend, mentor and savior. The reason she still drew breath. If not for him and his sacrifice, she surely would have fallen along with the rest of her kingdom. She hadn't seen him for what had felt like an eternity. She flung her arms around him and without a second thought kissed him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Kayin, momentarily taken aback by her impassioned kiss, melted into her, returning the kiss and wrapping her up in his arms.