Thread: The Diverted Path (DareToDream & Hahvy)

A hoot of an owl caught his attention while he waited and his gaze wandered to the forest that stood at their back, slowly searching along the edge of it for the winged creature. His eyes tracked a movement and he smiled when he saw it swoop from the trees and scoop up a rodent that had stolen onto the beach. His night sight had always been strong, as was his vision overall, but hed never really stopped to think about why that was, he just enjoyed the advantages that it gave him as a mountain man living off the land. Turning back towards Rue, who had spoken by that point, he nodded. So she also knew herbal lore how very interesting, he thought. He would not have expected a high born, and there was no doubt in his mind that she was a high born at this point, to know herbal lore or even be able to survive in the wilderness at all. Finding out that he was wrong was a pleasant surprise in his mind and he said nothing of his earlier doubts. He watched as she picked up the beef jerky and slipped the largest one into her mouth and an image came to his mind then, one that should never have been there in the first place. Feeling heat in his cheeks he ducked his head momentarily but watched her through his eyelashes, smiling at how methodically she chewed the meat. This woman was different, different in so many ways it was odd, but he couldnt seem to take his gaze off her. Shed captured his attention in a way no other human before her had done and he didnt understand why. What was it about her that called to him and why did he feel that draw more strongly than normal? Or at least what he considered normal. Hed heard of love sick people before, or those that lusted after others, but that was never his way, not then, not now. Yet watching her eat brought him more satisfaction than it should have, the knowledge that he was helping to take care of her, even if just this tiny bit. When she spoke again, he listened carefully, one ear tuned towards her and one tuned towards the forest, an old trick hed learned a long time ago. The burble of the river as it ran over rocks could be heard behind her but that he ignored as no threat would come from there. As her words finally trailed off, he stayed silent, turning them over and over in his mind, trying to figure out why she was the way she was. Her confession that she had fled her homeland explained the way she spoke, which was definitely different than what he was used to, but it didnt explain her personality. I never said you were stupid he finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. Taking a sharpening stone from the pack, he began to hone the blade of his knife, the sound creating a very quiet tsk, tsk, tsk sound that was swallowed up by the night. Im glad that youve accepted my offer of help though. I am now convinced that you are indeed stubborn enough to take care of yourself he grinned after that and then continued but I will feel better knowing Im helping you even just a little. He finished the work on the knife and slipped it back into belt then put the stone away. Normally Id head back tonight but I think you should probably rest before we go. We can head back at first light unless you feel otherwise. He figured she wouldnt be able to see well in the dark, not like he could, but hed been wrong before where she was concerned so he simply waited to hear her thoughts.