Herbalists' Cache What a find

They hadn't been around each other much on the trip north, having been occupied with their own things. This was, perhaps, their first moment alone together in a few weeks. He was glad there wasn't much tension in the air, though he did sense some--but it was only natural, given how their last conversation had ended. . .on a question, not an answer.

"Yes, it will be," Shale agreed, eyes darting around before meeting hers again. "Are you planning on leaving the herbs here to grow and to fetch when needed, or bringing them back to a cache on the plains? Or both?" Both seemed the best option; the forest wasn't too far from the rolling prairie, but emergencies did sometimes require resources directly in reach.

He gave her a warm smile that lingered in the corners of his mouth even as he opened it to speak. "How are you, Pema? Getting used to the new place?" His voice was kind, but formal; he felt as if even the tiniest crack in that formality could open the floodgates of a new conversation, one he didn't want to have. About the future. About them.