[OPEN] you've come so far, it's time to rest

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The breath he hadn't realized he had been holding slipped out when she dropped out the subject. It seemed, like Eris had said, today was not the day for their demise, of course life would be playing a cruel joke like this. Though of course Milo would want Eris to survive while he got to experience the sweet release of death.

He frowned at the thought, he had to stop. Now wasn't the time to be depressed. As much as he punished himself he couldn't go out the easy way, his path was suffering, to atone for his sins.

Milo glanced at Eris and laughed a little. "What? Do you think they're all going to swarm you or something?" He joked, finding it unlikely that someone as hard headed as she seemed would be unnerved by the sparrows, robins, and finches above. 

As they walked he scented the air, thankfully the smells of his previous pack were fading, he allowed himself to walk at a more relaxed pace-which allowed him to sneak a few more glances at his companion. "Now that you've asked me questions I think I get to ask some too," he said, "like where did you come from and how did you end up here?" He asked, as dedicated as he had been to the Au'Dar he had always wondered what else was out there, he couldn't pass up the chance to learn about the outside world that he hadn't experienced yet.

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Oh, he had spoken too much, the edge to her voice and the cut of her eyes made him realize this, as always he had stuck the proverbial paw in his mouth, making him look like an idiot.  He cast his gaze downward when she told him to shut up, to be silent. Why did he always have to babble? Maybe being on his own so long was taking a toll on him, but it wasn't like the wilds offered many opportunities for him to be friendly with his own kind. He wanted to apologize to her, he lifted his head to speak when all of a sudden she was gone with a scream.

The large mans ears pitched forward, hearing the thuds of a body hitting brush and earth, farther away from him. Without a second though he hurried to the place she had fallen, poking his head through the brush to see Eris sprawled out in what appeared to be what was once a stream, though any lingering water was gone into the mud. 

For a moment he just stared at her, noting how her voice changed, now it looked like she needed him. For a moment a voice in the back of his mind told him to leave her. He had been nothing but kind to the dame and in return she had pushed him away, snapping at him to be silent, if she was so determined to be mean to him then why should he continue to be nice? He could easily turn and run away from her, leave her to her own devices, she was a big girl, why did she need him?

No, he was better than that. "Hold on, I'm coming." He looked down at the ditch, it was going to be a little tricky to get his massive frame down the side but he had to try. Tentatively he climbed down, his claws digging into the sides of the embankment, sliding and almost losing his balance though straightened out his front legs, keeping them stiff but ultimately his own weight threw him forward as rocks gave way, sending him tumbling down head over heels. His fall wasn't as long or hard as Eris due to being half way down the embankment but it still knocked the air from his lungs with every hard thud  until finally he stopped a few feet away from the other wolf. 

"Ouch."  He groaned, nostrils flaring as he took in air, though his chest burned and back ached. "Screw you rocks." He muttered, regaining his strength he rolled onto his side, pushing himself up and took steps closer to Eris, tilting his head. "Need help?"

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"Yup, perfectly fine." Milo lied, feeling a knot of pain in his side but choosing to ignore it. This wasn't about him. "Besides, shouldn't I be asking you that instead?" He asked with a cautious smile, unsure of how she could react, he was surprised she even asked if he was okay in the first place, but he wasn't going to question her and invoke her wrath again. 

The brute stepped over the rocks that felt smooth under his paw pads to Eris's side, leaning down and grabbing the branches in his mouth, pulling them away from her one by one, trying to be careful not to pull on her long limbs, which was harder than he had expected. "Sorry if I hurt you." He said as he set a branch to the side, scrunching his nose up from the taste but tried to not let it bother him, she needed his help.

"Yeah, supposed to." He said with a sigh, glancing down the tried up river bank and wondered if it could still lead them to water. He doubted it would be a lake but  it hopefully it was better than nothing. "You didn't break anything did you?" He asked her, pulling the final branch away.

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"Good, I'm sure you wouldn't want me to carry you around again." Milo teased her, though there was something about how she couldn't bring her eyes to meet his that put a sense of unease in his chest. He turned his gaze away when hers snapped too him, hoping she didn't think he was staring at her for any reason other than worry. 

He was taken by surprise at her apologies, eyebrows raising but he bit back any jokes, letting her push ahead and as he told him of herself he found himself staring at someone whose life mirrored his own. They weren't exactly the same but there were many similarities, though he wasn't so quick to talk about himself, his shame to heavy for him to dislodge though after her admittance he felt that he had to at least give up something. "I...used to be a warrior as well, believe it or not," he said with a wry smile, "back then I was younger, thinner, much more agile but none of that mattered when I made a mistake that was unforgiveable in the eyes of my pack. I've been alone for a very long time except for the birds." He told her though hoped she wouldn't ask any more questions. "I accept your apology, I won't hold it against you." He stepped to her side, gently brushing his shoulder against hers, careful not to knock into her. Feeling what used to be the bottom of a river made his heart sick, he wondered how long this was going to last. It all felt so...unnatural.

"We might as well see if it leads to anything, maybe we'll get lucky and find a puddle." He half smiled, looking at her with a light dancing in his eyes. "I certainly feel fine enough to trudge on and if you feel faint, I'll be there to catch you." His smile turned to a grin, though he was ready for her to snap at him for his quips. He wondered briefly if the moment they decided to lay down and rest that she would sneak away from him, he had a feeling that she may not want him as a companion, which he would understand. He was used to being alone but would think fondly of their random interaction.

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