Aftermath

Walk | Talk | Think

How was he so content to just sit around waiting on her next request, her next command, and be so willing to care for her like that? What had she done to deserve it, aside from simply not send him away the first chance she had? Her brow furrowed as she set her mismatched gaze on him, studying his face and the smiles that he so freely handed out to her. He was even more odd than Yang had been, especially in moments like this. She merely shook her head at his complacent behavior, going back to finish the rabbit when he rose and moved to sit closer beside the makeshift den's entrance to stare outside into the brightening morning.

He surprised her when he spoke next, making her aware of the fact he had grown to think so highly of her that he would be willing to lay down his life for her. Whatever appetite had been in her stomach at the time disappeared with the severity and intensity of the casually made remark, her eyes immediately going toward him and staring at him uncertainly. Did he really mean that? Could he really be so willing to lose his life for someone that he had only met, someone that had bet him he would fail to stick around long enough to convince her people were not all selfish and ready to abandon those who counted on them? She licked her lips again before pushing the mostly eaten carcass of the rabbit away from her, remaining silent as she had no idea what the expected response was to such a proclamation, especially when she was still working out how it was that she felt about this eccentric stranger.

Without being asked, he ventured forth to tell her a bit about his life, to explain to her how he had once been in her steps and knew all too well what it was like to be forced to live alone. She listened quietly and oddly patient, assuming his story was supposed to bring her closer to him in some way. Maybe he just liked to tell stories. "You sure meeting me was a good thing?" she asked, pushing her torso up so that she could sit and meet his bright gaze more levelly. He had, in a sense, signed his life away when he had agreed to this challenge. Maybe he would come to regret it.