Epilogue
Reality returned sooner to Snow Mist’s mind than she would have liked, when Winter Truce came to meet her in the cafeteria, and bombarded her with queries of where she had been.
“Yes, Cadet, I’m doing just fine,” she said. “Here I thought Icewind was clingy.”
“He’s clingy so long as he doesn’t understand his assignments,” said Winter stiffly. The white pegasus sighed, rubbing his temples. There was a certain fondness that Mist held for him – he was the sort to act a little standoffish, but also a reliable comrade.
He sat down opposite her, frowning. His icy blue eyes, somehow, were colder than Galatea’s.
“He told me you went out on a date,” Winter said. “Ma’am.”
“Just call me Sarge, yeah?” said Mist, chuckling. “I swear, at the rate you’re going, you’re gonna be Captain of the whole regiment, give or take five years.”
“I try,” said Winter. He tapped the table. “I trust it felt good in the sack, then, Sarge?”
“Mind it, Cadet,” Mist rebuked him lightly. “I’m still your officer.”
“Right,” he said. “I’m… sorry, if I seem overly inquisitive. Safety first.”
“Easy there, we’re not at war, either. But yeah, I… I guess it went well.”
“That’s good to hear,” Winter said, and his tone was sincere enough. “What was she like?”
“She talked funny, saying ‘mine’ instead of ‘my’, but… gosh, she was great. She listens, and she may act like she’s far away from it all, but she cares. I mean, you’d understand if you met her. Sure, she’s the tall, dark type, but… she’s cute. Heh, got some legs on her, I’ll tell ya. She’s… well, guess she’s once in a lifetime…”
Distant, polite yet passionate, experienced and warm – thinking of Galatea brought a wistful sigh.
Her thoughts trailed off when she saw Icewind arrive from behind Winter, a cup of coffee on hoof in one wing, and his cheeky grin betrayed what questions lay on his mind.
“Howdy, Sarge,” he said, informally. Winter winced. “How did it go?”
“Pretty good, I’ll say, Cadet,” Mist said by way of reply, with a smirk. “Pretty good…”
“Ah,” Icewind shrugged. ”Okay, then. This here round goes to you.” He sipped from his coffee, remaining standing. "Still. Think mayhap you’ll someday beat ol’ Winter for swinging upwards?" he asked, playfully punching the unamused Winter on the shoulder. “Ah, who am I kidding. When’s a Guard’s ever gonna go better than the Cap’n and Princess Hearts n’ Tiaras. Too good for the likes of us, eh?”
Mist just stayed silent and smiled, drinking from her own coffee. Unconsciously, she even felt her eyes throw a glance at the spot behind her right wing.
‘Well, Gal. Wherever you’re going, hope you find what you’re looking for…’
She had no doubt, of course, that she wouldn’t be seeing that strange, aloof mare anytime soon, not in a lifetime. Yet for Snow Mist, one brief encounter at Windy Peaks was all she’d needed. Her mind would linger on Galena, from the way her beautiful, icy-blue eyes looked at her, and the tranquil calm of her voice and words to the warmth of her coat, not just today, nor tomorrow, but for quite a few nights to come.
