Thaw Me Out.

The woman confessed that she liked to sing and Sparhawk released a barking laugh. "Ha! I can aaaaalways tell." The man tapped his nose with one toe. "You drink. We singing." When she took the flask and sipped from it, he heard the rattle. Lowering his head, he looked the little snake in the eye before sitting tall and chuckling again. "When I was boy, the hunters of the pack find sleeping snakes in the snow. Bring back rattles for babies." The red and charcoal brute gave his head a shake. "Sorry, scaley. Is bad story for you, but they faaaaar away from here." Truly, his family was long, long behind him. The farthest reaches of the north and farther still.

Amelia was her name and she gave the name of the snake as well. Sparhawk dipped his head to both of them. "Is good to meet you both." He raised a wide paw to touch his chest right over his heart. A gesture of sincerity. After that, he took the flask back and took another draw from it. "Ahhh... Am Sparhawk." He tapped his barrel like chest again before handing the flask over to Amelia again. "Strange place for anyone to be. Why you here, 'Melia?" The A in her name was too difficult for the Russian speaking man to say every time.