She followed the footsteps that wound through the snow; the clouds that brushed across the moon's face alternately limning and hiding them. A shudder rippled through her as the wind bit deep and the faint trail of her steady breath formed and faded behind her. At the edge of the trees, she halted and focused intently on the figure crouched in the center of the clearing. Arms wrapped tightly around his knees and his head bent, not a flicker of movement betrayed him.

She unzipped her jacked and tugged off her gloves, letting them fall to the ground. The soft shush of the fabric sliding down her back as she shrugged out of her coat brought his head up and his eyes glinted momentarily in the light of the uncovered moon before the shadows hid him again.

"This ends here," she murmured, reaching for