Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Yes, yes it is, and not everyone can see it you know, many think it some great snowy monster up here, but the way the snow blankets the land protecting it from the fierce ravages of the winter wind, well its a natural balance you know. Something beautiful but powerful, strong and deadly kind of like the ocean which I have never seen but hope to one day. Besides, I can hardly complain working in the forge sometimes its nice to go roll in the snow. It makes a good freezer too for preserving food. There is always a light side to the north, even though it has its dark side too."

But he wouldn't go into that now. Time enough for her to learn that the fluffy snow could be rather malifluous given the right conditions.

"Here we are," he said as they reached the forge, he stoked the flames, causing the blaze to billow up to a hearty roar which would quickly thaw the frozen shifter woman.

Ai'ian used to ladies quite more bundled then this averted his eyes once he could convince himself that staring thusly at her was improper. "A broad fireplace is good. You'll er need it come winter, especially up here."

No wonder she was freezing if that was all she was wearing, poor thing should have come with more clothing, "Didn't your father know it would be cold? Surely he would have outfitted you a little more warmly?" He waved at her body showing more skin then not. "There is an excellent seamstress in town if the rest of your crew is as cold as you I'm sure she would be more then willing to aid in your outfitting. Your father and his mate could get matching somethings." He smiled. "I don't think anyone would mess with them for it."

"Well as it is cold h-here, I'm not used to seeing ladies such as yourself unclothed in such a way. It must be really warm where you are from." Half of him wished she wasn't standing that way, the other half wished she would stay that way. She was definitely female and she knew it and so did his instincts. He felt rather hot himself but he dare not take his clothes off least his father find them together half well half nakie.

Ai'ian shook his head, shifters were confusing and now he was sweating.

"Well," now he could breathe with her more suitably clothed. "I make jewellery, I dunno what you do," he went to a drawer and pulled out a delicate set of scorra earings inlaid with a pearlescent pale stone. "Like these, do you like them?"

He watched her expression closely, always curious about what people thought of his work.

He held out the box to her. "You may keep them if you like, I like to practice but as you can see they are a little feminine for me to wear myself." He placed the box in her hand. "Welcome to Zena." He stood and walked to another room, where he took his coat off and dunked his head in a water barrel. He came up sputtering. He flung his hair and soaked the ground. There now he felt better.

Ai'ian made a startled grunt. And wondered what she was looking at...oh his antenna. "I'm sorry to have startled you, I uh I understand if you don't want something made by a half breed." He said the words bitterly. He liked who he was but not everyone did.

A thief? Well that was..unexpected. A lot to take in so fast he kinda went a little slack jawed. He wasn't one to act rashly, her buisness was not really his. He pulled the leather string from her hand but closed her fingers over the box. "It was a gift. You need not feel regret over something freely given."

He had mixed feelings about her being a theif he just wasn't sure what to think. "I aim to be a sentinnel but i have a blacksmiths heart. My blood isn't the only thing somewhat confused." She was beautiful and she said he was attractive he knew he was handsome but for her to see his feelers and accept them too.. if she could so easily accept what he was...did he not owe it to her to also make an attempt to accept her as well?

"But I know myself, I accept myself, and thus illuminated, I can accept you as well. Thank you for your honesty." He glanced down at her hand on his chest and blushed heavily.

Well great he had made the poor girl cry, he was such a dirt bag. Then she was pressed up against him and before he knew what had happened she had kissed his cheek it burned pleasantly and like the north wind she was up and running away. "Hey...wait, where?"

He hadn't heard her Dad..all he could hear was the roaring of the forge and in his ears.