It hurts. So it wasn't just her empathy that had been dialed up; it was everything. That, or she hadn't fully recovered. He certainly hadn't. There were only so many concerns he could handle at once, still holding the paralysis of confusion at bay.

"Bit of woods outside the city," he answered, breathless and quiet. He let his eyes close. Every inhale felt like sandpaper against the inside of his chest, but it was easing some. "Not safe to go any further right now."

Trying to find shelter in the middle of the biggest storm in a century when he didn't already know where it was would have been incredibly stupid.

"Is it better here, at least?" It would be helpful to know if Valdis needed more distance so he could figure out his next move.