how the frostbite mangles

Caedes had little patience for distractions, especially when he had a task at hand. Yet, within the dense forest, where the falls were a distant noise he was able to tune out, in search of the herb he sought, he couldn't ignore the presence of the strange woman. Her arrival had been marked by the clinking of bottles, disruptive and sharp. He tried to focus on scanning the ground, the shady areas, the unsettled soil – but his focus was disjointed.

She seemed out of place, like a clashing between her and the rugged surroundings. The sound of her movements grated on his nerves, each careless step a reminder of the time he was wasting. Of what he could not have. He was usually a touch more patient, more indifferent, but his herb alluded him – and he had not been able to slip away to see Mariah for a week now.

He couldn't care less about her reasons for being there; all he wanted was to be left alone to complete his task. With a rise to his full height and a stare, he found himself mentally wishing the stranger away. But he did not speak, no, he simply gave an apathetic expression, watching and waiting for her to pass him by.