They had been walking for some time but were quite unconcerned by the time spent dedicated to the journey as she spoke carelessly of home and her youth. He said little as he walked. Either he was silently listening, or more likely, he was ignoring her, but she didn't complain. "My mother was never very fond of my hunting, but she couldn't really argue. Well not until she heard about orcs. But by then everyone was advising against it. I guess mother was less concerned about me hunting than she was about me marrying well and being a good heir." and so she continued. The most change she could detect from her companion was a faint passive smile that would come and go as she spoke. Though after a few days passed of them traveling deeper and further along the woods, his smile grew fainter and more seldom.

"Remember we need to go hunting soon right?" she questioned as dusk began to fall and they were concluding the night's travel. He said nothing but nodded until a moment passed and he seemed to have thought of something. "How are the rations?" he asked, "We've enough for a few days, not bad, but still." she said. He nodded quietly. "It may behoove us to hunt tonight." he said as he crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Sudden, but I won't argue. When shall we go?" she asked, "We shall do nothing. I shall go." he said which resulted in her own crossed arms.

"Oh really? And why is that?" she questioned. "The objective is speed, ne'er are we to gain a kill if you hunt." he said with a raised brow. "I am a perfectly good hunter!" she snapped. "No doubt, but you still seem unsure as to when you should loose an arrow." he replied, "Besides, I have the superior sight in the dark and you must remain to prepare a camp." she was, to say the least, displeased by his blatant judgment of her hunting skills, but as she tried to stare him down, she found him hard and unmoving as a stone carving under her gaze. She groaned, "Fine, but hurry up! And if you die out there, I'll find you simply to kill you myself!" she said with a glare. He could not help but smile at this charming threat. So, grabbing his bow and quiver, he caught her by the neck, and much to her surprise kissed her before briskly turning and departing to the hunt. Her aggravation was rapidly replaced with surprise, and then with amusement. Maybe she should threaten him more often, she mused with a smirk.

He walked in silence. Not the silence that usually accompanied a hunt, for he did not really care to find a deer, but was instead lost in his thoughts. All of his plans had only been half complete up till this point so he still pondered. He needed something. If she was so blind to their danger, then he could not count on her to do what needed to be done. The damn woman had to be so stubborn with everything! So he needed a plan. But he didn't really have one. He had managed to get her that far, which was something, but he needed to go a step further. So, he used the time he had gained for hunting, to travel as swiftly as he could into the heart of the forest.

He knew that this journey would be risky, but he had little alternative. All he could do was keep an ear out for any threat as he traveled and thought. He supposed he hoped that inspiration would hit on the way. That he must approach the thick of the woods was the only thing he was certain of. He knew she would not go along with him if he asked her to follow, and certainly not if he told her why, so how? Could he gain the attention of the kingdom? Not likely, they would certainly kill him long before he could get them where he needed them. Could he find a way to slowly get their attention? Perhaps, not that he knew how.

He stopped as he looked about the woods trying to get an idea where he should go. The forest was pitch black. The sun had only just set, but under the cover of leaves, it might have been midnight. This worked all the better in his favor, as he would likely see any threat before it saw him. He continued walking at a steady pace as he tried to think of a plan. He supposed just picking her up and taking her there would not go well. If she did not stab him, they would. Well, he supposed there was worse... He decided he would keep that as a backup just in case. But logically, he needed a better plan. He needed to get some attention, but not too much. He sighed, this is ridiculous!

Why did it have to matter what happened to her? Why could he not return to what he been made for? Killing was far simpler than protecting. But somehow, he could not return to that and leave her behind. It was hard enough knowing that she would likely hate him, but he had come to terms with that. The need far outweighed the cost and both were great. Damn it, just leave! Damn it, Damn it! He felt his nails digging into his crossed arms. He could not let her die, but leaving her seemed just as hard. He didn't even know how to get her where she needed to go in the first place!

He was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as a smell reached his nose. It seemed strange and unfamiliar, and yet he could identify elements. He could smell something like food, but not food he had ever had before. Then there was a strange floral smell, but not like any plant he had sensed before. It was strong and pungent, with a sickly sweet element. These smells in themselves did not reveal their identities, but the last smell that blew past him explained them all. This final smell had a very slight familiarity. An insipid sweetness mingled with the salty iron of many a man he had killed before. He did not have to see the dim and distant light to recognize an elven hunting party when he sensed one.

He stepped only a little further that he might see them before he pressed his back to the thick trunk of a tree and silently listened. It was not a large hunting party, only about three to five. They sat around a fire, laughing and feasting, and speaking in their own tongue. He did not believe they had detected him, which was well and gave him a chance to think. If he could somehow get their attention. Some way to get them on his trail. He wasn't sure how he could get them to follow him at a slow enough pace that he could maintain a distance, but there had to be some way.

He peered closer, trying to gain inspiration. They had horses, which were keener of scent than the elves. That the horses had not yet noticed him was a blessing, but perhaps he could use this. Perhaps if he could get them tracking him. He could hardly jump out and announce himself, but if he left some sort of trail then maybe. But what kind of trail would they notice amidst all the foliage? Something that would get their attention, but not too quickly.

Just then he had an idea. Loosening the ties on his armor, he pulled it over his head and quietly dropped it to the ground. He needed someplace upon him which she would not see, for she would certainly question him. He drew his sword from his belt and brought it to his breast. There he cut a small but deep wound that bled readily. He cupped the thick, black substance in his hand and spread it across a nearby tree. He did this along every other tree he passed as he moved to return to camp. He had traveled a way until the edge of their camp was just barely in sight. He stopped and put an arrow to his bow. He loosed it, shooting the arrow just outside of the camp. He had hoped that they might hear it, then if they saw it, may go In search.

As soon as he fired the arrow, he quickly darted away, moving as swiftly as he may, still spreading blood along the trees. He had not heard great change, which was both good and concerning. It was good that they were not too close on his tail, and concerning that, he can not confirm if they had noticed. He could only hope. He would wait to don his armor till he had come close to camp, but until then, he would maintain the trail and hope.

She sat impatiently beside the fire that she was finally deep enough in the woods to light. It felt odd to sit in silence by herself again, and she didn't much care for it. She was bored, impatient, tired, and hungry, but she couldn't sleep, so she waited. Finally, she heard a soft rustle and thuds of his heavy steps as he approached the firelight. "There you are! Catch anything?" she asked. He looked to her blankly for a moment, before he shook his head and sat with a thud upon the ground. "Hmm, perhaps now you won't be so judging when I hunt!" she said with a smirk. "Between the two of us, had I seen a deer, I have no doubt that I would be more likely to fell it in good time." he shot back.

She rolled her eyes but turned to her pack. "Nevermind, here, eat." she said as she tossed him some of her smoked meat. He had forgotten hunger until that moment, whereas she had time to sit and meditate on it, much to her annoyance. But now she leaned back and tried to relax as she ate. He heaved an exhausted sigh as he stared absently into the fire. She raised a brow as she looked to him. "Hey, why don't I take watch tonight?" she suggested, snapping him out of his thought. "Why?" he questioned. "Ghash, you have to be tired. Between walking and keeping watch all the time, you need sleep." she urged. He shook his head, "I am fine." he said. "Come on, you don't even sound convinced!" she exclaimed. "Elayin, I am fine, simply in thought. Rest." he said. She would have argued more but for the calm adamance in his tone. Something troubled him, she knew that, but she wasn't sure what.

She moved closer to him and laid her hand on his shoulder. He faintly flinched under her touch, something he hadn't done since long before they left her hut. She sat in front of him and cupped his face forcing him to look up to her face. "Hey, you alright in there?" she questioned. He gently moved her hands from his face. "Do not fret over me." he grumbled, "My well-being is unimportant." she stared at him in mingled confusion, annoyance, and concern.

He turned away, fighting to deny eye contact with her. She knew that any display of affection she offered would only make him lock up all the more, so she thought to any other idea. She had a small idea. She reached down and grasped his hand, gaining his attention. She pulled it up to eye level, and clasped their hands, her holding onto his thumb and vice versa. She didn't know if he would understand what she was doing. She had seen some men do this before and hoped it would convey what she wanted. It wasn't very promising when he raised a brow at her, but she tried to act as if she knew what she was doing.

"It matters to me, so let me fret." she said. He was still for a moment, but then she heard as he laughed a low and clear chuckle. He tightened his grip on her hand, finally sharing in the gesture. Placing his other hand on the back of her head, he pressed his brow to hers for but a moment, before he pulled back. "Sleep, we must travel yet." he said as he rose to his feet and move away. She watched him as he melted into the darkness. She wasn't content, but she knew he would say little more, so she conceded, and laid beside the fire to rest.