Remi never used to fear the cold.

Molly ran hot, and she never minded it when Remi joined Kat in snuggling her to sleep, or walking under Molly’s cloak in the depth of winter. Then later, there was Audrey with her ever-present fire, and Leonard’s crafty little warmers, and Kira’s hand-knitted scarves.

Perhaps it isn’t the cold that’s killing Remi, but loneliness.

She feels her own pulse – weak, erratic. Her limbs are hard to move, and she knows there is little chance of her getting found before she freezes to death.

Who else would be there, after all?

All she regrets is not making the delivery on time. But she’s not going to live long enough to see that death, and it’s becoming harder and harder to keep her thoughts focused.

Maybe for once, she can be a little selfish.

“May moonlight guide this soul as it departs on its last journey,” a familiar voice sounds.

Remi turns her head to see its owner.

Zamani smiles ruefully. “What? Don’t you think it’s time?”

“You know best,” Remi thinks, and maybe says. She’s tired, but keeping her eyes open somehow isn’t that hard.

Sandals squeak against snow, not leaving footprints. The familiar embroidery on indigo cloth is captivating, and Remi gets lost in it for a few moments until Zamani’s voice distracts her again.

“I always imagined you, of all people, would go in a fight,” they say softly, without judgment. “For a healer you’ve always been rather fond of steel.”

Remi thought so, too. She thought Molly and Kat would die that way, too – and she was also wrong.

“I don’t remember the prayers,” she says instead.

Tears fall, freezing on her face. “I don’t remember,” she sobs out, almost hysterical, because she didn’t mean to leave her faith behind, but it was too hard when every word and rite was a reminder of friends long dead.

She remained a healer, but not a priest. What right did she have?

“That’s alright,” Zamani says easily, kneeling by her side. “I do.” And maybe that’s why it is Zamani and not anyone else.

A palm lands on her forehead, warm against all reason.

“You get to rest now.”