Eldarin turned in surprise at the gentle voice and couldn't help his jaw from dropping. Son of a titanite demon that was Tinder?! He stuttered and stopped in an attempt to deliver an explanation and took a moment to compose himself. Why and how was she here? Had she followed him past the distracted Ents? But why? To ensure he made it through safely? Or some other, darker reason? That thought fled his mind with a single look at her face, that heart-wrenching sorrow was undoubtedly genuine. 

Eldarin grasped the red filled flask in a pocket in a flash of hope and then released it. There was no way the fluid contained in there could save Tinder. He'd stabbed the animal through the eye for heaven's sake. Well he couldn't very well leave her all alone, if one of the Ents came she would be here defenseless. [b]"He-"[/b], how could he explain that it had been a matter of life and death between her pet and him? He wouldn't have killed it unless he'd had to. [b]"I'm sorry, I had to defend myself."[/b] was all he could say in a remarkably steady voice. His arms hung weakly at this sides as he waited for her to say something. He had betrayed her trust in him, regardless of the reason for doing so, he would do whatever it took to redeem himself.