To say she was fine was anything but the truth. The false spring was not helping things either. Flecks of snow drifted through the setting sky warning of a cold and white night.

Jenai stood over the Valley, looking over the the many and ignoring the breeze that pushed against her heavy coat and hassled her hair across her eyes. She and a few others of the command, had elected to stay up on the valley side in a large field tent, giving the more permanent structures to the New Villagers and Survivors below.

Jenai had insisted once she was able to walk again, that that is how things would be. You took care of your Troops, your people, the people. Even if they were not her troops or people, they were the whole reason she was here anyways. Well, there was another reason. Her nose twitched causing her lip to curl at the thought. She choked down a scream, held it in with a still breath. But it did not smother the fire within.

She felt a hand on the small of her back through the leather causing her let out a loud disgruntled sigh and clear her throat.

Jonathan stood beside her and lifted a brow as she looked at him through the corner of her eye. ?What??
?Nothing? he replied and looked over the valley as with her in the sunset.
?Sorry. I was just thinking.?
?You need to relax.?
?The lateness of spring worries me Jon.?
?It?ll come when it will. And soon enough.?

He was right. The makeshift town had started to take root. Buildings meant to be temporary now sat on foundation. Friendships forged, families made from the ashes of what was lost. New artisans and industry had travels to lend aid and found the valley to their liking and warm new alliances... and a few beds. Winter brought along many indoor activities judging by the swell of a few bellies.

?This town needs a new name.? she said breaking the silence.
?Let the people christen it, when they will. You only take all of this upon you to sidetracked yourself.? As one hand dropped another took hold of her chin lightly and turned her face to his. Jonathan examining the scar that ran down across her left eye.

"Allegria told us you took the wrappings off finally. It healed well. You can barely even see a scar. Lucky you."
Jenai answered with a snort and sarcastic chuckle. "yeah lucky me."
?You could have lost a beautiful eye?
Her face went frost nipped red and ten different emotions raced behind the eyes that he figured he looked too long at. Dropping his hand quickly he folded them behind his back.

?I?m sorry, I just mean that you could have been half ..?
?Its okay Jon. You did nothing.? Jenai interrupted him and in turn was interrupted as Jonathan turned away and started to walk back to the Headquarters.

?It?ll be dark soon. We should be heading inside.? was all he said over his shoulder.

She turned from watching his retreat, confused, but say the townspeople all heading to their simple homes and new families, Shutters locking on the shops and businesses for the day, and the smell of dinners floating in the cool air.

She stood watch over the valley until the last door was closed.

Something heavy and warm wrapped about her, strong hands about her shoulders pulling her to her exhausted and cold feet. How long had she been out here? She could still feel the frozen tear stains covering her cheeks but she refused to open her eyes, or was it her eyes that refused to open? She just didn't care.

"Dear girl, lets get you back to your camp." His accent was odd and aged, he was much larger than she by the way he wrapped his arm about her shoulders to lend her aid through the snow. Her fingers grasped at the edge of the coat, feeling the heavy fur trim between her fingers. It felt like bear. She let her eyes part as she walked under his aid.

"I'm sorry.." she started to say, but he chuckled and cut her off.

"No worries Lass. I know how it is. I was in this area tracking when I saw your tents and town. Soldiers life has never been one for me though I know the lot. Lettin off a bit of steam, one drink too many and, well, ya end up going left when you should have gone right."

Jen kept her eyes on the snowy ground. He'd confused her with a drunken solider. I guess passing out half dressed under a tree in the middle of the light near a militia township could lead to that impression.

"I just,"
"If you are the first and Last person to ever 'Just' anything. This world would be a much better place." Feeling her strength returning, he gave her shoulder a light squeeze. "It is the 'Justs' is this world that give us meaning, cause, surrender, it can be our weakness or our strength. It depends on how much 'Just' you feel you must carry. Sometimes it is thrust upon you. Other times we take it up ourselves. But it is the 'Justs' in our hearts that we must never be sorry for."

Jenai let out a large sigh as she can a million replies through her mind, but only one felt like saying " Easier said then done."

"It always is. Sometimes we spend so much time trying to figure out things, how to right the world, fix the broken, heal the weak, we weaken, sicken, and become unjust."
"Now that makes damn sense."
"Just as much as a Pretty Lass in a sleep shirt under a tree in the middle of snowy woods?"
"Or a strange bear man wandering them looking under trees?"
"ExRanger thank you." he laughed a bit too loudly, but Jenai couldn't help but smile a little.

"Now you must listen to this old Bear man," he paused as the camp lights came into view and turned her to face him. His hair was ash blonde and pulled back into a low ponytail that fell past his wide shoulders. He was a clear head taller than her and build like the creature she called him. He was meant for the great outdoors, but through the rough golden beard, she could see a kindness in eyes of plum. "Sometimes, we think we are alone. And we are happy to be alone. Damning anything that we know will only cause is strife and pain. People hurt us, hurt us deeply. But then "just" happens. And we fall in love. THEY are our Just suddenly and so deeply." He sighed, looking as if he wanted to say so much, but could not. As if the words were frozen in his throat.

"You can not give up. You have been hurt. I know that hurt." He said as he looked like he wanted to fight back something. "But you must realize, you are someone's Just, as much as they are Yours. Once, I had lost my wife and only child. But it was not because I gave up on them. I would never have given up. I still haven't given up."

"Your Grace!" Jenai turned her head hearing Allegria's voice through the trees. "Jenai! Damn it answer me!"

She took in a huge breath and squared her shoulders. The back of her hand going to try cleaning up her worried and cold face as she looked back to the Old Ranger.

"Thank you, and," she passed not knowing what to say really. "I'm sorry for your loss. No matter how long ago it was. I have daughters of my own and if anything," her voice cracked and she cleared her throat as she thought about how much she suddenly missed her home, her children, the noise, the laughter, and her heart. "Well I must get back. The least I could offer was a drink before you head back? Or a warm place to hold out the night? We have extra quarters in..."

"No, as much as I would enjoy that, I'm afraid my time is done. I'll be needin to get back before sunrise. Else my proverbial goose is cooked."

She heard the steps growing closer but the stopped the moment she barked out "I'm here, give me a minute!" She could just imagine the Look on Allegria's face, but she did stop in her tracks.

"Then perhaps next time we meet, you will have a drink with me? I owe you at least one." She pulled the heavy cloak from her shoulders and handed it back to him. Where he smiled and turned to walk back where they had come from.

"We just might..."

"Your Grace?" Allegria called out concerned. Jenai stepped between the trees as the early morning light started to peek into the valley. A look of relief and what the hell took over Alle's face as she hurried to her friend's side. "We were worried about you when we.."

"I'm okay, but today, I need you to do me a huge favor?"
"Anything."
"See to setting up private Quarters for me, with heat, water, all that. I'm bringing my daughters back tonight."