Hilde felt the soft lap of his tongue across her cheek, 'I've got you.' The words reached her ears, and her limbs buckled. Her haunches landed on the ground with a dull thump, and her lean body pressed into him frantically. It was him. It wasn't a dream. Not an apparition. Not a joke, a prank played by the gods. It was Vidarr. Him.

She sucked in a stuttering breath and held herself so impossibly close to him—like two pieces of a puzzle. Her head slotted beneath his chin, her snout buried in the long tresses of his mane. How so desperately her mind wanted to be angry with him. To refuse to believe that he was honest. To cling to the conclusion that he'd betrayed her—that all of the pain and spite that's accumulated over the months was for good reason. She wanted to curse, to kick, to bite, snarl—as she'd always done in the face of such fervent emotion. Yet, his voice, rumbling against her frame, the soft touch of his tongue to her face ever so placating. He was her peace... and after so long, she had it back again. There would be no impulse nor any habit that would overpower the tranquility that cascaded upon her when she felt his caress.

Hilde tried to rise once again, but she couldn't. Her body shook, her voice choked up by a sob. Why? her voice wavered with raw emotion, why were you taken from me? She shook her head. All this time, all this... this pain... what did I—we do? Did it truly matter? She was back with him once again. So, did the fact that they parted ways in the first place really matter? The warrior wanted to let it all go, but simultaneously, she needed an explanation. She needed to know what she could do to prevent his from happening ever again.

And suddenly, she froze. Her lips parted for a heartbeat in horror before she raised her gaze to meet Vidarr's. Vidarr, Thyra, she breathed out, no, no no... please... she must be here somewhere. She stumbled away from his touch—and immediately, she felt so much colder. But...

Thyra!! she called, Thyra, are you... she couldn't be away from her. No, not her. Vidarr, no... she... she can't be alone... I— her words were stuttered with distress. At first she feared for Vidarr, away from both herself and Thyra—but, now, she was the one who'd been separated.