"Or the first people they accuse of kidnapping," he rejoined, staring into the water despite warnings that nothing much would change. It's water or snow, to stare at out here. Or Bela--the rather obvious choice. Without turning his head, his gaze tracked her as she moved, caught the smile, returned it.

Trying to reach back for what he could, of the arrival he did remember--he'd held a lot against Mark for the first month or so, just for being the one to welcome him. Hard not to shoot a messenger when the message is so bleak, so incomplete.

"All the more reason to do this in pairs. Someone's got to come out of this thing swinging, once in awhile. Or just run out into the trees. If I hadn't been half froze, I don't know that I would have chosen to go with Mark, day one. What about you--what was yours like?"