Gear B2C6

He drew them open to reveal several brown-furred pieces of cloth. As he pulled one out, I realised they were thick, fur cloaks. "There's enough for your entire group and they'll keep you warm on the mountain. The elk here have fur designed to ward off the cold and show, and they'll double as a blanket for when you need to sleep."

I touched the one he held forward, marvelling at how soft it felt. The lining on the inside was some kind of cloth and there was a wrought iron buckle with leather strapped to the bottom side, likely to stop it from freezing to skin.

"I appreciate the thought," I whispered, "but can you spare these?"

"We gather enough fur and food to last each winter. The dark season can be harsh so it pays to stock up. Right now, after what just happened… I suppose you could say we have a surplus. The extras are just a reminder. We've filled your packs with cured meat as well. Please accept it. I'm aware it's no Quest reward fit for a Hero, but-"

"It's more than enough," I assured him. "I… you've seen that some of us aren't dressed for this. You've really helped us out here."

The dog-eared man smiled, the expression weak and faded, but there nonetheless. He gestured to the crate, and I carted out eight cloaks for our group. Kaedin and Viktor were more than dressed for the occasion, but for people like Yang, Ruby and Blake – the thick cloaks would be lifesavers. They seemed to realise that too, for Blake's eyes widened and she practically snatched it from my hands. It was large enough to wrap around her entirely, with her normal hood peeking above, and with her bare legs now covered, she seemed to stand a little straighter.