"Right, thank you." Alexi accepted her offered bowl with a somewhat embarrassed nod, politely turning down her offered flask as he set about digging into the stew with gusto.

It was... decent. Not [i]Locust[/i] quality -though he'd hardly expect that from anything cooked on the road- but certainly not 'bad'. Charles would probably refuse to eat it, and a younger Alexi might have agreed, but it seemed years of humble living really could change a man. He worked his way quickly through the bowl, it's contents slowly appeasing a hunger he had woefully underestimated until now. It added it's very own spice to the meal, and before long Alexi had shoved any judgments on the stew's taste far from his mind. It allowed him to relax a little... and then a little more, as he looked up to hear the works Katherine spoke next.

"Oh, well that's very good!" 

Alexi's reply were completely genuine, a warm smile crossing his lips at the thought. Sure, she had tempered the statement, intentionally or no, 'as late' telling him there was a good chance they wouldn't be on time either way. But the fact that, despite their overlong break before entering the woods, despite the ambush they narrowly escaped, despite moving to untraveled footpaths? They had apparently made decent ground.

That was a good thing. That was a very good thing. And if anything it made the stew taste even better.

"With a meal like this to help me along, I should be fine for tomorrow." His smile widened along with the words, quietly hoping the words came across as well-meaning as he intended -unlike his poor jests earlier in the day. He turned back to his bowl quickly enough, though, it's contents swiftly draining as he devoted himself to proving those words true. No, not bad at all, certainly a meal he could be thankful for.

And on top of preparing this for both of them, Katherine had managed to set up the tents and make this little clearing seem... actually comfortable.

"And I'm starting to see what you were talking about earlier today..." He took another break to look back up, his hunger sated enough to slow his pace. It wouldn't do to end up throwing up his dinner because of carelessness... he had been careless enough for a while yet. "You certainly do seem at home on the road."