There was no getting around it, the half wolf could feel the eyes of the dragon boring into him, as if he were looking into his very soul. Or perhaps at his organs, most beasts did prefer those to the tough muscle that coated their prey. Either way, the thought sent shivers down Pol's spine. He was not normally so much of a fool to trace the threads of life further down then he could see, but with Kythe he couldn't help but wonder if her dragon would stare at him with loathing and mistrust in a hundred years from now, if he would do so when their children were being bounced upon their knees.
No, now that was too far. Despite what Chaos said, he would wait to see if Kythe did harbor feelings for him with his own eyes. Besides how much trust can one place in an ancient creature with such a name? For all he knew the dragon thought it might be entertaining to watch the wolf woo a woman who wanted nothing to do with him, except perhaps fill her coin purse. Believe none of what you hear, half of what you see, and all of what you smell. Wolves were very fond of their sayings, and more often then not Pol too this one to heart. At familiar tapping of an entity wanting to converse in his mind, the former Guardian allowed the dragon in, listening intently.
There was little time for a reply, nor could he think of a suitable one, so he shove the creature out and closed off his mind. Let Chaos wonder what he was thinking, and if his possible ploy/possible truth had taken any affect. The wolf could not help but smile as his partner found her bow among her other belonging. Pol had once been a keen archer, better then most, and while he'd put it aside for the sword, he could still judge the power and craftsmanship that Kythe's bow embodied, reminding him of his cousin's weapon.
Pol shrugged his own quiver into a more comfortable position on his back as Kythe slung her over her shoulder. 'tis a wonderful looking weapon. Seems my memories tell me my cousin had one not too dissimilar then that. I should hope it is true, I'm half starved and I'd not like to come back with an empty belly. The wolf's heart leapt slightly as she smiled, but quickly fell when she looked away. Surely not a good si- Gods?! Her cheeks look as red as an apple?! Not a sun burn, would have noticed before. Could she be blushing? Was Chaos speaking the truth?
When the dragon lifted off the two bounty hunters trotted off into the woods, becoming just hunters for this moment. Pol did not stray far from her, though he didn't doubt he could out distance her in the thick undergrowth. She was a far superior swordswoman then he, but he out matched her in woodsmanship, so he never let it bother him. He glanced over to her as they moved at a stead pace, a smile crept across his lips as he watched her search the forest for just a brief moment, he couldn't risk too much more without seeming to be staring.
Look, over there.
He was not sure if she had said it, thought it, or used body language, but the former Ranger got the idea. A large doe, old and far past her prime, stood grazing in the smallest of meadows. Good, Pol would have felt horrible at killing a doe in her prime, such things were not done in wolf hunting. Humans had it too easy with their weapons. He nodded slowly as he silently notched an arrow and drew to his ear. He had no doubt that Kythe could easily fell the beast, but there was always a chance he or she could miss, so a second chance was never a bad thing. Pol had been about to loose when he heard a cry of pain, his shot went very wide, the arrow burying itself in a tree, the deer running for its life, and the wolf in human form dropping the ground to hold Kythe in his arms.
Kythe! Are you okay? Please, talk to me. Kythe. Pol quickly realized it had been her arm, a wound taken in their last conflict. From what she had told him, it shouldn't have been like this. Either she'd not let it rest or she'd lied about the severity, either way was not good for her. He quickly dug into his belt pouch and found the herbs he wanted and mixed them with the contents of his water skin. They were potent pain killers, so potent in fact using more then a leaf would addict a person while using more then two would kill them. Kythe, Shadow, here, sit up and drink this, it'll help. Pol cradled her in his arms as he might have done with a human babe, tipping the medicated water just slightly into her mouth. He'd only used half a leaf, and with the water to dilute it, there would be no chance of addiction or death. Kythe, please, tell me you're okay. She had to be fine, she'd lived through worse wounds. Unless there was something she didn't tell me about it, or the blade that made it.