Shoka is quiet as Noelle speaks. She isn't expecting nearly so detailed or serious an answer (Okay, I didn't ask for your life story, she might have joked, if she didn't immediately sense that this was something important), but she figures she should appreciate it after springing a question like that on Noelle, whether she told Noelle to ignore her afterward or not.

The words last snow day make her heart sink. She... really shouldn't have asked that, should she? Her and her big mouth.

When she's finished, as she often does, Noelle immediately tries to diminish it. Shoka scoffs.

"Yeah, I'm not doing that," she counters before adding, more gently, "Thanks. For telling me."

It feels like she understands Noelle a little more now. Still she has to grapple around her mind for a moment to find something helpful to say.

"I'm glad it doesn't. Freak you out, I mean..." She breathes out a laugh, willing the atmosphere to lighten. "If it did, then getting this quest done would be a hell of a lot harder."

She's glad for that and definitely no other reason. Definitely not because seeing Noelle frolic around in the snow like that made her laugh. Not at all.

Snow swirls between them; the cold is growing more biting by the minute. Shoka considers getting out her own cloak, but opts to put it off a bit longer in favor of asking another brazen question.

"What... happened to her? Your sister." Quickly, she adds, "If it's okay to ask."