Claud forgot how long his legs were compared to hers. She had to stretch her stride a little longer than she liked to keep up with him, stuck a few steps behind him, but didn't mind. Cheeks red from the permanent chill, now needing to keep up with him, gloved hands tucked under her arms.
Following Claud around was a breeze: he got up to priestly-nothings in between Azel getting up to boyish-nothings, so seeing them both lined up. Sure, Claud was nice but he was old enough to let her know if she was a pest, and he didn't. No reason to keep her around if he didn't want to.
Keeping her around — too far? Claud let her buzz around him, never turning her away late at night or early morning. Snow, sun, or sticky sleet, he humored her. He consoled her. He sat with her, talking optional.
She breathed out. Her breath frosted before her eyes. "You're pretty brave walking through snow like this," she called. "I don't think I can carry you if you slip."
Gracefully, he stopped. The time of day the knots of Sailane loosened, she shuffled up to his side, hand on his sleeve.