Bramblepoint Rose petals

"what sort of traveller would i be if it took me days to heal?" germanicus sent his words toward crowfeather in teasing retort. it was good to banter again with a companion. 

again, the meeting of yellow ochre to daffodil hue. this time the ranger did not shy from it. he let it go on until the wind sent a creaking through the enmeshed branches above their heads.

there was a surreptitious desire in the set of his jaw. germanicus turned to the brace of voles. "good and fatty meat. it is possible to travel many miles on only a few."

but he was not hungry.