Arrow Lake ludens

The man's unsure question and subsequent proffer was left to hang in the air, unanswered. Guilt evaded him as Redshank glanced at the thoroughly gutted fox carcass. Little is left of it now, save for some scraps of meat and the other hind-leg, unless of course the stranger was open to eating the regurgitated food right beside it. The wave of sudden nausea had subsided, but his stomach cramped painfully, unaccustomed to the amount of food it had suddenly gained after being so long without.

He shakily looks up to the stranger — Jigsaw — as he seemed to struggle for a moment to answer his simple question of why. Why help someone in the middle of a famine, offering what little food they had in exchange for...what? Warm, happy feelings? Not to say Redshank wasn't grateful for the help (in fact, it was likely the speckled wanderer's little offer had saved his life), but he had trouble seeing the exact reason of why. Life had taught him to be suspicious, untrusting of those with such seemingly virtuous hearts. Crueler intentions were always hidden beneath fake smiles.

Yet the pale man seemed to have a sort of benevolence to him, with a smile that could ease fears and eyes that held genuine kindness within. Of course, his unexpected gift certainly helped Redshank's glowing opinion of him. His soft words and awkward yet cheerful laugh weren't returned, but the scowl that usually pressed against his features had lifted. "S'fine," he grunted to the proposal of somewhere warm to rest as he tried to rise on unsteady limbs. His stomach churned in protest once more. "Jus' needed...a bit of food..."

He felt the remains of his meal threaten to break free once more, and sat down again almost immediately, looking up to Jigsaw with a look of partially concealed defeat. He loathed to appear so weak before his apparent saviour. "Y'from around here?" the Cairn asked, desperate to distract himself from the bout of queasiness.