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"If winter can just be here and be gone already, that would be great." Adrienne muttered to herself. She hadn't realised it was possible to be this tired and still be upright. Should hair ache? She knew that she was looking frowsy and even slightly thin as she wasn't eating too much. It wasn't that she was not hungry, it was just that a day would go by where she was organising and running back and forth overseeing the food gathering, and winterproofing the herd areas.

She'd managed to come across a way that the human villagers kept their paths relatively ice free, and had spent a considerable amount of time collecting and having collected saltwater for dehydrating and salted plants that had been been dried and bundled for when the weather became too bad for the sea to be safely accessible.

Bedding and feed was gathered and baled, and fruits that were still tasty once dried had been stored. She had spoken to those within the herd, making sure that they got the help they needed, and listened to their suggestions on what they thought was required for the herd to see the winter through safely.

What she had not done was spent much time with Lutra. It was pretty much known that they were a couple. Of sorts. They'd spoken of their feelings towards one another, and it seemed that they were moving towards being a true couple, in hearts and minds, and recognised by the herd. But his duties and what became hers had basically pushed them apart and as winter approached it was a good day if she saw him once. She missed him, and there had been moments when she wondered if being a part of the herd was worth the hard work if she wasn't spending time with the reason she'd joined in the first place.

Those felt like selfish thoughts, and she had sat on them, but as the day was nearing the end and she had yet to see Lutra again, they surfaced once more and she felt so upset that for a time she stopped the task she was doing and left the herd area, walking with weary steps to a place she'd found that was out of the way and quiet. She didn't know if any of the herd members had noticed her leaving, but right now she didn't much care. Her flank was pressed up against a tree, and leaning on it she watched as the autumn sun drifted closer to the horizon, setting the sky on fire with the colours of the sunset.

Adrienne let out a long sigh, noting that she could see the breath just a little, the air was definately getting colder and she knew that she couldn't stay here for long. Not only did she have more to do but it was safer with the herd at night. And despite how weary she felt, and her mood being low, she did think of the herd members as her second family. Family. That made her think of her mother, her sisters and her own children. She hoped they were all okay, she'd not had the time to leave and visit, and that wouldn't happen now until after winter.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Lutra's approach until he was right next to her and so she jumped a little, turning to face him.

"Hello." she said, standing so that she wasn't leaning against the tree. She was reminded again of why she had initially been attracted to him, and whilst she was still exhausted, her mood lightened a little.

"Have you come to enjoy the sunset too?" she hoped to direct his attention away from her, she knew that she looked a tired mess right now, and she wasn't secure enough about their relationship to look anything other than presentable around him.

"Oh good." Adrienne replied. She almost added that she wondered if he had come to see where she was because she wasn't working, but she knew that was just her tiredness talking, and she was sure he wouldn't do that.

"Yes? Well that's good too." she said, turning away from him, looking at the colours streaking across the horizon as the sun continued to slowly set. She had heard nothing of the sort, not really noticed it either but she had kept her head down and just done what was expected of her. And of course she had no idea that there had been anyone else that he may have liked.

"Thanks.."she said distantly, acknowledging the compliment as much as she could. She knew that it wasn't really his fault that she was so tired, she hadn't realised what the role would entail and had pushed herself because she thought that was the best way to be 'seen' by him. But she felt like she was working for something that may not happen. She hoped that she wasn't mistaken in his feelings for her. She felt right now that she needed something from him, just a small show and she'd know that she hadn't made a mistake.

"Eaten? I don't remember when I last slept."