We just talk.

You felt frozen. You blinked a few times and licked your lips. Slowly, you drifted into her arms, desperately seeking her embrace. As Astrid took you in, you closed your eyes and exhaled. In her arms, you felt safe, protected, cared for…

”I’ve needed a holiday for a long time,” you tell her. She holds you a little closer, giving you a small moan for an answer. “I’m so tired…”

“You can rest here.” She offered.

No… You don’t want to rest. Not yet! There’s so much about this person you want to know. “How...how old are you?”

Astrid's smile widens, to the point she’s flashing you with her perfect white teeth, while her brows arch, replies. “Ha? What? Where did that come from??”

Taking a moment to recover from your random question, she clears her throat, tightening her embrace. “I am...much older than you, if that’s what you are wondering. I stopped counting a long time ago.”

For some reason, that makes sense to you. Even though she looked to be around the same age as you, there was a mature tone under each of her words. Her expression turned a little awkward now that you’ve asked her about her age, but she doesn’t seem to be overly upset or bothered by it either. In fact, the longer you looked at her, the more amused she looked. “That didn’t sound too queer to you did it? I hope this doesn’t disturb you too much, but I’ve known you since the day you were born!”

She clears her throat slightly and shifts closer to you. “Honestly...I've watched you grow up. Whatever you did, I witnessed. I've saved you through many things, and have even stepped in more than once to prevent your **** from happening. If you ever wonder why some of your things have gone missing; it's only because I'm stalling you from leaving too early so you are in the right place at the right time.”

“Oh, huh. That’s a lot to take in…”

A sigh leaves her mouth, her cheeks start to burn lightly in the color of pink. “Again, I do not wish for this to sound weird, but I guess you could consider me like a very, very, very distant family member, or maybe a godmother sounds better?”

“I suppose the best answer to your question is that I’m really, really old.” Her serious expression doesn’t match the sarcastic background her words *should* have. But instead, there’s no undertone or slightest hint of humor.

A smile forms on your lips hopelessly. “You’re looking great for someone that’s like, over a century old then.”

A genuine smile curls on her lips too. “Thank you!”

For some reason, you begin to feel tired - exhausted even. You exhale softly, wrapping yourself around Astrid as you begin to close your eyes. “I don’t want to sleep.”

You feel her wrap herself around you too, bringing you closer to her. She coos softly as her warmth engulfs you. “Well, I’ll be with you even when you wake up.”

Like a light, you’re out. When you wake up, you’re back in the shack like nothing happened. However, you feel refreshed and your mind had cleared considerably. You let out a yawn and then stretch - was that a dream? Whatever the case, enough time had probably passed for you to unite with Flora again.

Just as you are about to open the hatch, you hear someone approaching from the outside. All your comfort gained from your rest (?) is lost in just a split second. You station yourself near the entry and wait for your “visitor”.