NEVA, HERSELF, HAS LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE WITH HUNTING GAME VIA BOW AND ARROW. Truth be told, while he nocked and loosed each of his arrows, she stood back and watched silently for a time. She appreciated the nuances of it, and the soreness that oft’ came with archery. Instead, to catch her share of their meal that evening, Neva had split away from her unlikely companion to set up a series of traps for whatever game was lurking nearby.
SHE, TOO, HAD CAUGHT VERY LITTLE. Again, she watched him deftly begin the workings of a fire. Settling after clearing away some of the debris around the site they’d chosen, Neva rested her catch alongside his kill and pulled her knees close to her chest once she sat, leaning her back against a large jutting rock. Absently, she worked at removing scale - armour gloves from each hand and placed them beside her. A soft sigh slipped past her lips, but was cut short at his inquiry following her own.
“HUH?” She spoke that one small word and blinked twice at him. Neva warred with herself, then, about whether or not to lie to him. She shook her head. “Ah. . . I’m just thinking. . . well. . . you don’t really have to stick around if you don’t want to. I mean. . . we barely know each other.”
c. ❃ wrathariis











