“ that’s not what i said, ” and if it was, it wasn’t what he’d meant. chewing on his words hadn’t gotten him as far as he’d liked and another pointed motion from a rifle, jammed up into the set between shoulder blades whispered reminder of his rewards. for stumbling a few steps further than he ought’ve. for choosing the wrong introduction. traveled further south than was safe. electing to go alone when he had a whole camp full of people ready to watch his six. save him from the discomfort of explanations he couldn’t rightfully make on his own. not when she refused to give her name and his held about as much sway as saying he hadn’t meant any trouble. wouldn’t hurt a fly if he could help it. save for that one, buzzing around his head for the better part of the last half hour. boots shuffling a disgruntled pace, propelled onward because she’d left him no alternative. over toppled logs and the evidence of a storm run through not long ago. nothing that’d reached richmond, thankfully, but worth noting all the same. that, somewhere out there, were people undoubtedly displaced and needy. more worthy a cause than whatever this march into the thick of it all would resolve in. “ i wasn’t snooping around. i didn’t even know you were out here . . . and judging by the warm reception, i probably wouldn’t have made a house call, even i——— do you have to keep doing that ? i’m still walking, alright ? i got the message !! me prisoner, you captor !! ay dios mio . . . ”