King Elk Forest you look familiar, did you forget about me?

He felt more restless than he thought he would in this new home.

The former soldier had been on the move since he had lost it all, fleeing the scene that had left his torn heart on the ground, and now it felt oh so wrong to stop running. Surely their ghosts would catch up to him now; they flitted along the wind, the sharpest spikes aimed for his chest. Bile came up in his throat, his hackles rose, and then he was forced from his laying position, retching. Nothing came up but bitter acid.
The sting in his throat grounded him, reminded him he was here and alive-- and they were dead. It brought relief and fresh agony in equal parts, to realize this; they would not come for him, ever.

Nathaniel shook his coat out roughly, as if this might dislodge the grief like burrs from his skin. Frustration filled him, irrational and satisfying, when it did not. He whipped around with a growl, anger already written into his expression when he set off on another damned walk.
Take a fuckin' walk, Nathaniel. He hissed to himself, eyes trained on the ground. That'll help for sure.

The ex-soldier didn't see the girl at all as he approached her, silent now but still clearly fuming. He was on a course to pass right by her without even noticing.

Nathaniel glanced up sharply at the greeting, his expression instantly forming into one of distaste.
Oh, it's you. His tone was one that normally would only be reserved for finding he had stepped in something disgusting, and he walked a little faster.
But she persisted-- maddening! The ex-soldier hadn't the energy to play her games, and he wasn't in the mood to make her get lost. Silence, he thought, might have been his best option if not for the possibility of her filling the silence with her own unpleasant words.
You're observant. Nat responded flatly after a beat, not bothering to give her a second glance. He had the feeling seeing whatever expression was on her face would only infuriate him more.

I wasn't seeking company. He pointed out irritably. I'm not obligated to hide anything.
If he had been seeking company, Nathaniel might have thought differently. He didn't seek to rain his own troubles on others-- but this girl was following him. If she does not like the storm, he told himself, she should seek shelter. And with that he did not feel bad at all for acting the way he did.
Nat scoffed at her question. Thanks, but I'd sooner drown.

Nathaniel wasn't certain he could trust the girl's words— in fact he was quite sure they were false. He wasn't about to confide in her, but there could be no harm in dropping the hostility for now. After all, apparently they were packmates, for the time being.
The fact that she wasn't used to considering others' feelings didn't necessarily surprise the ex-soldier; something about her made it a bit obvious. He resisted the urge to smirk at her, instead staying stony-faced as always. She wanted a chance, then?
Alright. So what do you intend to do with your chance? Nat inquired, the ghost of faint amusement lingering under his tone. He really was curious, now.

The ex-soldier was immediately amused when she called him fat-head. Surely it was meant as an insult, but he couldn't quite take it seriously.
Kinda came out angry. Sorry to disappoint. It was true, and it wasn't-- there was, of course, more to it. But Nathaniel wasn't about to give it up so easily. A thought came to him, then, and he snorted before he spoke again. Tell me what's made you so rude; maybe I'll remember something interesting.
Nat didn't really expect her to take the bait, but so far she had proven rather stubborn, so anything was possible. He hoped it would take her down a notch to admit it, if she did. Maybe her inevitable presence in his life could be made tolerable.