Elann apologized for yanking on the bond as hard as she did in her fright. He shrugged, denoting it was alright, over and done with. Usually Noah wouldn’t be affected by a failed hunt or even having his life put into that much danger, passing it off as his world working how it worked, he was but a small part in the grander circle. However, Elann was involved  and he knew she was a foreigner to his lands, thus he saw her as an innocent caught in the crossfire of the wilds’ war. He was beyond thankful for Yahal in that moment for saving his bondmate though he did not pray or speak of it otherwise. His own guilt was too loud to allow him to see Yahal as the saving grace there.

It was encouraging to hear she did enjoy hunting with him, even going as far as calling it one of her favorite things to do. He was glad being out in the wilderness the few times they did go with the intention of bringing back gameleft a big enough imprint on Elann, dispelling his assumptions of her not enjoying his world as much as he did. 

“A walk sounds fine,” he agreed. So long as hunting with her had a glimmer of hope to still happen Noah was satisfied. Like Elann, he wanted something akin to the tale of Lanna and his own mother’s bonding, both hunters with a mighty prowess. He didn’t expect them to travel the world as Lanna and Isabella did, though he would like that as well.

Elann grew shy then, talking about their wedding night and the first night they did lay with one another as man and wife, in the way Elann wished it. It was because of love why Noah dressed in what he deemed as a ridiculous outfit at the behest of his mother to fit the traditions of their western weddings. If Elann had not been so dead set on them getting married to cement their relationship legally and publicly, he would have stood beside his own argument of keeping it private and secure in their own minds because it was deeply personal. Since she wasn’t discounting their bond in favor of her own silly display he went along with it, grateful for Elann’s happiness in the end.

Noah watched her face tinge with pink as she said seeing him dressed in that crazy outfit actually made her crazy, but in a way he was coming to better understand. What she said next turned his face of subtle curiosity into one of joy as he laughed aloud at her self-deprecation.

“We are homeless,” he reminded of the technicality. “I look worse than you.” He brought his hand to his face, scratching at it and the hair his chin and upper lip. “I want to shave so bad. You smell better than I do too. I just want a bath.”

Over the past few days, especially recently, Noah’s mood had been dragged down by waking up and realizing how dirty he was. It had been some time since his last bath and the heat of the day and warm nights bundled up with Elann, he only seemingly got worse. When they could some of the other travelers went to bathe in the river that was a mile or so away, give or take the road’s distance that didn’t vary too much day in and out. Noah hadn’t been among them and desperately he wished to cleanse himself.

He flipped over the card at her behest, revealing another eleven. “You’re going to guess all the high cards,” he feigned a whine, pulling his hand back from the deck.

“I guess low, and you looked better than the brides of Syliras. You’re a homeless bride,” he joked.