The man (ghoul?) was snappish, his tongue as sharp as his teeth, and when he stood Kel took another step back - this time from the direction he had come, rather than into the geysers. The hunter had no answer to the comment on being 'observant;' he was a hunter and it was in his nature to be so, or he didn't eat. Hunger was a powerful motivator. It wasn't hard to see that Nate was making him uncomfortable, and his inhuman characteristics had the Outlander wary and on edge, both magnified by the swagger and confidence that the other man exuded in contrast to Kel's uncertain footing in this strange world.
Calculations flowed behind amber eyes, wondering how much he was giving away and whether it could be used against him, but he could find no reason to hide what was a simple - if perhaps depressing - truth, and he nodded cautiously that his curiosity had been satisfied. Or at least, his concern for what he'd feared was a dead man propped up among the rocks.
"Couldn't sleep, in the town. Too many people." He shrugged cautiously, trying to wave it off as a small thing, of no concern. "Came out to clear my head. See what new game trails are breaking, with all the..." he trailed off, gesturing at the ash that still coated much of the land around the volcano.
Kel hesitated, knowing he was pressing his luck, but he couldn't help himself. "What... what are you?" he asked, still tense and ready to run. "Are you a... a ghoul?" He'd never seen one of the undead before, but rumors of them were used to scare children and adults alike, and there was always just enough truth in the tales that only a fool would disregard them completely.
Calculations flowed behind amber eyes, wondering how much he was giving away and whether it could be used against him, but he could find no reason to hide what was a simple - if perhaps depressing - truth, and he nodded cautiously that his curiosity had been satisfied. Or at least, his concern for what he'd feared was a dead man propped up among the rocks.
"Couldn't sleep, in the town. Too many people." He shrugged cautiously, trying to wave it off as a small thing, of no concern. "Came out to clear my head. See what new game trails are breaking, with all the..." he trailed off, gesturing at the ash that still coated much of the land around the volcano.
Kel hesitated, knowing he was pressing his luck, but he couldn't help himself. "What... what are you?" he asked, still tense and ready to run. "Are you a... a ghoul?" He'd never seen one of the undead before, but rumors of them were used to scare children and adults alike, and there was always just enough truth in the tales that only a fool would disregard them completely.
