the monsters turned out to be just trees

hope keeps us breathing, just to kill us in the end

Remi could only look wordlessly at Loren, both egregiously hurt and insulted that he didn't put it together (though the pair were constantly talking past each other when it came to this point), and also hollowly amused. "It is nothing." He said, feeling a strange sort of release of something or other. It wasn't relief, but perhaps it was a sort of freedom. It might hurt, especially later to know that he hadn't actually been loved by the Launceleyn, but at least he needn't worry about it any longer now that he knew the answer.

Shivering, for though the pit blocked the wind it was still cold, Remi waited for Loren's hand to part from his new smooth skin. Rather than letting the pelts fall back down, Remi looked down and over much as he could though his body was obscured by the various pelts he'd pulled up. Trailing a hand down his rib to feel the skin entirely without blemish or mark, he pulled in a surprised gasp as his mouth dropped open slightly. He didn't know whether to smile, laugh, or frown, and so succeeded in doing them all rather awkwardly at the same time.

"..thank..you.." Remi managed after a moment, releasing Loren's shoulder perhaps a beat or two too late.