"Not all who end up in this place do so by intention."

"What a fine morning it is, though the air is quite cold."

"You must have impossibly thick skin, then. Even the animals stay longer in their burrows each day."

"I appreciate the sentiment, though I would much rather you keep it, dear - seeing as I have fur, and you do not."

"Would you care to sit a spell, here by my side?"

"Good evening, little starfires."

In the face of his concern, the ashen-haired Maid could not help but to smile. Such worry was needless, for the cold nary would harm her. Even so, he could not have known this - and so she would nod. "If it will set your mind at ease, then I shall accept your gracious offer."

"Company, if you would not be so bothered. I quite enjoy the presence of others."

|| I was thinking abt making Sirene's vc Euridyce's from the game Hades youtu.be/aTg6y2l4duk?si…

"There would be no other name to represent the light from you which shines."

"Little flower, you have yet braved the worst. Though your petals are tattered and your leaves wilt, you shall rise in the sun again."

A small smile, short puff of air sounding in a light-hearted scoff. "Alas, charming was not my intent. I speak only of the beauty which lies within all creatures, yourself included. Although, I must admit that your visage reminds me of a freshly-ripened apple."

"Engulfed in heat and fire? Curious, you appear to neither be burned nor scarred - you are not human?"

After a time, the two would come up on a tree - one which appeared to be quite old, large and covered in moss. From the tree sprouted small, rotund fruits - none like any other seen, to which she would point. "Here, I think you will find these to be most satisfying."

"We all need a place in which to settle our roots."

Neath the evening sky, the Maid has taken respite at the edge of a moonlit pool - submerged knee-deep within the crystalline waters. Cold as it may appear, the water was surprisingly warm; perhaps a symptom of the forest's mysterious properties.

"A beautiful day, isn't it?"