How did it come to this?
As Alice guided me forward with her warm hand, I found myself pondering that question.

It all began when my base had turned into a frozen disaster zone, and I’d set out with high hopes of finding a new place.

But after wandering around fruitlessly for hours, unable to find a suitable location, I’d resigned myself to heading for Greg’s shop, wiping away metaphorical tears. That’s when I’d unexpectedly run into Alice—and gotten caught.

Realizing that I was effectively homeless, she’d half-dragged, half-kidnapped me to her place.

She didn’t even ask if I …