OoC: Okay, I posted this last night, but when I logged in again today this topic and most of the pms I had sent suddenly ceased to exist...

IC: Snow crunched beneath black leather boots that were badly worn and even had a chunk missing out of the sole on the right foot. His breath misted in front of his face and he stuck his hands deeper into the pockets of his trenchcoat to keep warm. The buttons on the front of the coat had fallen off long ago, so it was impossible to keep the morning chill from reaching him through his thin shirt. Regardless of his ragged clothing and the exhausted expression on his face, his prescence still unnerved the early risers who had gone out to take a morning walk.

He pushed his shaggy blue hair out of his eyes and squinted up at the sky, wishing he had a pair of intact gloves. The rogue had aimed for Rhyss's house, of course, but a little south east wasn't too bad. At least he'd been dropped in a form of civilization this time, and not the endless dunes of the Tantari.

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Arrika rubbed her hands together furiously, trying to get them warm. She gave up again for the 4th time, her hands still icy cold and numb as if she'd stuck her hands in a block of ice. Her eyes passed over the items on display in shops without interest, wishing that finding presents wasn't so hard.

The Sheikah had the feeling someone was watching her, and with a smooth twist turned around to face whoever she believed was behind her. Nothing greeted her but another pile of snow, and she sighed. She really needed to loosen up. Turning around to face her original direction again, she stopped midstep. A figure in black down the street regarded her with deep green eyes, locks of his dark blue hair shifting in the chilling breeze. It seemed as if time had stopped, her own heart skipping a beat. She knew him. But had he noticed her yet?

You might be saying to yourself, "Of course he saw her! He's pretty much staring straight at her, there's no one else around, and he's right in front of her!" But you might not be right. His eyes held a glazed look, staring into nothing. It seems to pain him to even walk, and just as much to merely lift his arm to brush his hair from his eyes. He mutters something every now and then under his breath, his breathing getter more labored with every second, and you wonder whether he'll collapse before your eyes.

"I asked you if you needed a pair of gloves before we left. Why don't you just hold a fire spell in your hands instead? It'll keep you warm, and it would be good training to see if you can sustain the spell." Sovelis spoke from behind Arrika, carrying a a few small boxes in his arms. "And I know why you and Seth want to celebrate Christmas. You two just want something from me...and I don't mind. I've got nothing better to do with the money I've been earning these past months from all the monsters I kill anyways..." the Tempest said, turning sideways so he could see past the packages to see what Arrika was looking at.

"That guy....He doesn't look to good. Should we see if he's alright?" He asked his shopping companion, looking at the dark-robed stranger. "He...looks like he's about to kick the bucket any second. Lets help him..."

"I...." Arrika trailed off, Sovelis sounding as if he were miles away, his words reaching her years after they had left his mouth...

"Ko- Kobas-?" It almost seemed too good to be true. The blue haired thief looked up sharply, almost doglike, finally completely noticing Arrika. His eyes widened into shock and relief all at once. "KOBAS!" She screamed, recognizing him immeditely and running towards him, nearly knocking him down as they collided. He whipped her around in the air with a surprising amount of energy that he didn't seem to have possessed a second ago, her arms wrapped around his neck as if she would never let go.

Arrika wanted to say something, ask him a million questions, tell him about everything he had missed... but all she could do was simply cry. For the first time in a long while tears poured down her cheeks, her sobs echoing through the previously near-silent town.

Kobas closed his eyes and sighed. "Don't cry... I feel guilty enough already.... but you have to understand, it wasn't my fault... I didn't mean to disappear like that..." he murmured, nearly falling over.