Swiftcurrent Creek playing with a stick of dynamite

He blinked—“Upset?”
He considered that—how pleased she had been at their small hunt together, and time spent. Their verbal understanding had been communicated so minimally and without clarification that the man didn’t know where he stood with her or what they were—even what he wanted to be. The idea of settling down once more had his teeth grinding together just a bit more than what was comfortable—

—the thought of her seeking companionship elsewhere eliciting a similar reaction.

“It’’s a short distance away. Mind the place while we go?” He knew it was a given—still, despite the months of general peace they had, he still disliked being gone from the creek.