Her own silence spoke, perhaps, more than she realized as she contemplated the meat she had provided. He glanced back a few times as if to reassure himself that she remained with him, but at her suggestion he slowed to a halt, turning to look at her properly. He only contemplated her suggestion for a few moments before inclining his head in agreement. "Let us meet at the spring in an hour."
It was trust. He could not - would not - hold her back if she wished to fade away again. Not if that was what she truly desired, the only way she knew to find peace. But he could trust that if she said she would return to their meeting that she would be there.
He lingered one heartbeat. Two. And then he turned, long legs stretching to eat up the tunnels as he headed closer to the surface where soil and spores were more likely to have been blown into the protected entrances to the Burrows.
And in an hour's time he walked into the cavern that Maea had directed him to, the smell of the spring's fresh water filling the dry air and soothing his senses. A selection of mushrooms were held in a net bag at his side and he settled himself to wash them and begin slicing their soft flesh in preparation for the dish to come.
Depending, of course, on what meat Maea managed to procure.
It was trust. He could not - would not - hold her back if she wished to fade away again. Not if that was what she truly desired, the only way she knew to find peace. But he could trust that if she said she would return to their meeting that she would be there.
He lingered one heartbeat. Two. And then he turned, long legs stretching to eat up the tunnels as he headed closer to the surface where soil and spores were more likely to have been blown into the protected entrances to the Burrows.
And in an hour's time he walked into the cavern that Maea had directed him to, the smell of the spring's fresh water filling the dry air and soothing his senses. A selection of mushrooms were held in a net bag at his side and he settled himself to wash them and begin slicing their soft flesh in preparation for the dish to come.
Depending, of course, on what meat Maea managed to procure.
