Snapdragon Cabin.

The cabin sits huddled within the trees light by the dying light as Sidarin Ves and @darkanaarez approach. The bounty hunter slips from his saddle and unburdens his horse, carrying the saddle bags inside. He then unsaddles the horse and leaves it to graze as it sees fit. He cracks open the lock box next to the cabin and grabs a handful of dried meat. This is taken in along with an armload of fire wood a few minutes later. He then gets to work preparing a stew for dinner. All of this would be done in silence if he is not interupted. He is waiting for Cat to speak or not as she chooses. He doesn't want to force her to speak of recent events, but also doesn't know what to say to keep things light. As he works Specter bucks his head against Cat looking for ear scratches, trying to help the woman in his own way.

Sid finished his work. The fire was stoked in the wood stove warming the cabin and their dinner. The bed was set up and a bed roll laid out on the floor. The small cabin was just barely large enough to accommodate two people comfortably, but it would serve. With nothing else to do Sid sits at the table across from Cat.He tries to think of what to say to her. He wishes he could help her, but he has been where she is. Maybe... Could he really do it? Could he really talk about it? Swallowing the lump in his throat he starts to speak before he loses his nerve. Once he starts to talk it comes out in a tumbling rush.

"I was twelve when I first killed a man. I still remember it like it was yesterday, there was fear and sickness and anger and so much blood. He was a monster, he kidnapped children and took them out to a cabin like this. He liked to take them apart see how they worked. I don't remember how I got there I just woke up in a cage in the dark. He said things to me, terrible, horrifying things. He kept in that cage for I don't know how long. There was a girl in the cage next to me. She had been there longer so she went first. What he did to her... I..."

Sid shakes his head at the memory.

"I got a knife Specter helped me get it. He sneaked into the cabin when the man was away. He was just a pup then he couldn't help. When the man came back for me I waited till he came to grab me. When his hands closed around my legs I stabbed him. Once, twice, so many times I lost count. He was a monster in every since of the word, but I still felt sick. I wondered through the woods covered in blood until someone found me. He was a ranger looking for the lost kids. I was in shock but he pieced together what happened. He said to me what I said to you. It takes some time Cat, but it does get better."

He lapses into silence. He hadn't told that story in a long time. He wasn't sure why he was telling it now.

"Thanks."

Sid sounds tired, like telling her about what happened to him took a great effort. Mostly because it had, it was a part of his life he wished he could forget. He gets to his feet and goes to check the stew. It's read so he pours out two bowls he slides one to her and keeps one fore himself. It is simple stuff venison, potatoes, carrots, and onions. After a few listless bites he looks up at her again.

"It's part of why I do what I do. I don't like hurting people, I don't like killing. I can do it though, so I do. I go out and I stop the monsters so no one has to go through what I did. We did a good thing today. I know it shook you pretty bad, but thank you for helping me stop another monster."

"Well, small blessings."

Sid manages a weak grin of his own. He had made peace with his past long ago. Talking about it was still hard, but it wouldn't dampen his spirits for long. His mood is put off from conversation though and he eats in silence. When dinner is over he takes the dishes to the river washing them out with sand. After that he lays out his bed roll.

"You can take the bed."

With that he settles onto the floor and rolls onto his side. It is still a damn sight more comfortable than sleeping out doors. Too bad there wasn't a second bed though, it would be nice to sleep on something softer than his roll.

Sid rolled so he could look at Cat as she spoke. He doesn't get up from the floor instead just grinning at her from a prone position. Nice of her to make the offer, but it was technically his house that made him host. So far as he was concerned host had to be polite.

"It's not an offer. You're my guest, you get the bed. Besides it's the... What do they say? Chivalrous thing to do. What kind of man would I be if I let a pretty lady sleep on the floor?"

Sid suddenly realizes what he just said. He tries to nonchalantly roll on his side to hide his face. He had just called her pretty! What the hell was wrong with him? Gaia, he probably just made things awkward.

Well apprantly he hadn't made things too awkward. Sid take the blanket and tucks it underneath him. It is actually rather comfortable to lie on. With his own blanket, the fire in the wood stove, and the heat of three bodies (Specter had come in after dinner.) Things were nice and warm in the cabin which was well made and decently insulated. It was a good thing Cat hid her smile. If the young man had seen it, it might have kept him up all night. Instead he snuggled in and drifter off, only awakening once or twice to toss another log on the fire.

The following morning Sid got up a bit before dawn. Yawning he grabs a cloth and some soap and head outside. Stripping to his small clothes he plunges into the icy river. He comes up with a mighty yelp and chattering teeth. Still he is determined to get clean. He always feels like a bath some time after a hunt.

Once he was thoroughly clean and absolutely freezing Sid redressed and returned to the cabin. Teeth chattering her stirs the fire back to roaring life. The sun had finally risen over the horizon and he warmed up quickly enough. He notes that Cat is still trying to sleep so he tries to get breakfast prepared quietly. It is nothing fancy, mostly leftovers from the previous night. Once this is done he goes over and gently shakes her, trying to wake her up.

"Breakfast time lazybones."

Sid is about to insist Cat wake up. His mouth is open to scold her, but then he stops. It isn't really his place. They didn't have a job to get to, she may not even want to join him on his next job. He also wasn't her father, or her husband, or... was he anything to her? We're they even friends? He honestly didn't know. He had been so busy acting he'd never given any thought to their relationship. He makes a ticking noise with his tongue.

"... Fine."

He leaves her alone settling at the table with some stew. Aproriatly he is stewing with his own thoughts.

Sid glanced up when Cat got out of bed. From what she had said he had thought she would sleep far longer. He continues to eat mulling over the storm cloud of thoughts in his head. Things are awkward now, he can tell she doesn't feel comfortable. She is staring down at Specter who is on the floor sleeping. He know the silence is his fault, it had been how he responded to her request for more sleep. He shouldn't have started questioning their relationship. Things had been going fine, but he couldn't help it. He had spilled his guts to her and he didn't know why. It was gnawing at him and eventually he couldn't keep his silence. Staring pointedly into his bowl he asks quietly.

"Are we friends?"