The Trapper came to decision: "Two dollars."
Birch crossed her arms: "Three."
"This is old one."
"Young."
"Old," the man underlined and mimicked his daughter's pose: "You know why?"
"No gray," Birch ignored the question and pointed at the dead rabbit, which laid on the stall's table between them. "Sof-" she coughed: "Soft meat."
"Why do you think it's old?" he kept pressing on calmly. Birch, sensing he wasn't going to give up as also Charles' presence behind, she examined the carcass. With leather gloves she opened the animal's mouth and looked at the teeth. They were yellowish but still of a healthy length. She gave the old man annoyed look.
"...Still good."
"If I was a butcher," the Trapper nodded and took a knife, starting to skin the rabbit. "But I'm a trapper. The Trapper. Using poor material as high quality makes bad business." Arms crossed again Birch watched him working. "As also bullshitting." The girl dropped her hands. "I wasn't-" Silenced by a wave of hand she huffed and looked at the rest of the kills. She and Charles had eaten a duck and a rabbit, leaving another hare, a turkey and a squirrel. The big bird was left for later so she had tried selling the others to the Trapper but... He was a stingy old badger. The rabbit was just fine, its fur was still shiny and thick. It wasn't old, just oldish.
"Squirrel?"
"Toss it to scavengers."
Snatching the damn rodent she thought about turning it into a bait. If she could catch a coyote or even a raccoon, she would earn more. Putting the dead squirrel away she joined Charles by the campfire.

He glanced while sharpening his hunting knife. He couldn't move his shoulder but he could still hold things in his hand. Birch followed his strokes for a moment before asking: "You're hunter?" He nodded. "Bow?" Putting down the whetstone he eyed the blade. "Mostly, yeah."
"You good?"
She waited as he blew at the blade and then continued sharpening. "Yes." She thought about it, her gaze wandering on the faraway mount Shann that was at middle of the West Elizabeth region. Her thoughts started drifting on their own, from subject to subject. What father had said about the rabbit. How selling carcasses paid in different places, where the prices were good. What things she would buy at her next visit to Strawberry. That the local wolf pack seems to have changed its location and she wasn't sure why. That Charles using a bow was neat and she wanted to see him in action. What should she hunt tomorrow for them? He had chosen the duck so maybe that. She could try finding eggs too, see if he liked them.

"Where you got that necklace?" Suddenly disturbed from her thoughts she was lost while gazing at Charles.

He looked at the necklace that the woman had started to play with. His tone was curious about it.

The pendant's style was clear Native. The materials used in it were made from animal parts, like small pieces of bones that were colored red, black and white. There were also few claws, one held between Birch's fingers, and by their thickness and curve he could conclude they were from a cougar. Finally getting back to the present and here, Birch smiled but it wasn't as bright like her previous ones. She nodded towards the stall. "His wife." She also now looked at the necklace.
It was the only memento she had of her late step-mother. She had given Birch many gifts when the girl had been young, trying to connect with the child that wasn't hers. Between her and father, the girl always favorited the strange woman who seemed more interested at parenting than the actual one.
The necklace was the only thing that had survived one of Birch's biggest mistakes.
In her rage, she had destroyed the few things that step-mother had left behind. She had died when Birch wasn't there, a slowly killing illness kept as a secret from the teen who wanted independence to travel on her own.
They hadn't seen for three months when Birch decided to track them down. The woman's absence and father's silence had been confusing, making the teen believe the two had fought. Then father had told the news in a passing. The feeling of betrayal and abandonment had been something indescribable. The rage born from it fierce and destructive, like raging forest fire. She and father had hurt each other back then, physically even. Nasty fights about step-mother's death and the secretion. Lots of blaming and venomous words before the Trapper chased the girl away.

They had said and done lots of things to each other, that they both still regretted. They didn't meet for a year before the incident where Birch's voice was damaged.

"...I'm sorry."
She gave a surprised look.

Charles had watched the emotions passing and lingering on her face. Telling that the necklace was special, holding something important for her. He could understand that. He was sorry for bringing those things to the surface. She however smiled, ever so slightly, and shrugged: "It's okay." She then thought about something before asking, that did he want to go somewhere. He was still weary from yesterday though. She nodded in understanding and suggested some other day. That was fine to Charles who asked what she had in mind. She smirked: "Surprise."

He didn't like those but decided not to spoil her improved mood.

Later on Charles was brushing Taima with one arm in a sling, keeping himself occupied. "How you got hurt?" the woman appeared and started petting the mare's head. The horse didn't mind, sniffing for treats and then munching on offered sugar cubes. Stumpy, as also father's horse, demanded those too. Birch snickered, feeding both of them. "I was hunting. Sav-" "What you hunt- Oh, sorry..." she apologized immediately and waited him to talk, clearly sorry she had cut between. Charles didn't take it badly and continued after a moment: "A young buck. Had tall antlers, and it was spotty. Brown and white." He had been so keen about it. Probably that was part of the reason why he got ambushed, being so focused on the animal.
"Where?"
"Near meadows."
Birch faced the direction, astonished to hear of such individual. Father had once told about seeing one, many years ago, and none after that. A rare buck with spotty coat. "Would like to see," she whispered while rubbing Taima's cheek. Charles watched the woman who appeared to stare further than just at the surrounding trees. She had this faraway look again, her pupils moving like she was watching something that others couldn't see. He found the daydreaming face kinda engaging. Then she shortly snapped out of it, blinked and gave him puzzled look. "You were... Were saying?" While brushing he told how he had gone after the peculiar animal with Taima and then tracked on foot. He was attacked near a tree line by O'Driscolls, killed couple of them and managed to get on Taima before being shot. This time Birch didn't interrupt, listening Charles with full attention while mindlessly petting Taima. The mare enjoyed of all the petting with its eyes closed.

"...Thank you."
Birch tilted her head in confusion at the man.
"Again, for saving me."

He had kept glancing at the woman's scarring wounds. How close the bullet had hit. She had almost got shot because of him, because she had decided to help. She had saved him two times now, patching him up and then defending him. Then bringing him to safety and feeding him. She was doing a lot and he was grateful for that.
The look that the man was giving warmed Birch inside out. She changed her focus to the mare, stroking its soft and warm muzzle. She decided not tell how she had considered shooting him because he hadn't look like he would make it.
"It was... Pre- Pretty bad," she coughed, and croaked: "Glad you're alive."
He chuckled: "Me too."
The sound he made was round and deep, making her face feel hot. Suddenly conscious of the wounds, she pulled some of her long hair to cover that side. Noticing the gesture Charles said in gentle tone: "It doesn't look bad." She huffed with a smile, even though the expression now hurt every time do to the injuries.
She patted Taima's neck: "Never been pretty." She didn't like her long face, looking too much like father's for her taste. She remembered echoes of being called a horse-face as a child. She usually didn't think about such things, alone in the wilderness, but now, well... She was suddenly very aware all the possible flaws of hers.
"I disagree," Charles said the truth while looking at her. He didn't see her as ugly. She was pretty, with round and high cheekbones, vividly green eyes and easy smile. Scars were scars, nothing pretty nor ugly, telling stories that could be about bravery, resilience or even stupidity. The noticeable scar on his jaw was about being unlucky.

Birch gave doubtful look with a toothy smile and departed from him and the horses. The man was pretty and sweet. Maybe a little odd too.

At the next day, instead of going early and alone to get breakfast, Birch waited for Charles. The night had been better than the last one. He hadn't awakened at middle of the night nor suffered from pain. He was still groggy when opening his eyes and slept later than he usually would. He was also very thirsty and had a headache.

"Mornin'" Birch greeted and offered cup of tea at the campfire. He answered back in murmur, his shoulders and neck feeling stiff. The two of them ate lightly when Charles offered from his rations. Apples, dry bread and salted meat. It wasn't as filling nor tasty as what Birch had done but she was happy of the gesture. After that she looked at his wounds, cleaned them and put ointment on them. Then she covered them with clean bandages.
"How you feeling?"
"Better."
"Like fish who... Who swallow- Hook," she coughed while forcing the joke out. He glanced but didn't say anything, still at middle of waking up to be a functioning human being. "You got coffee?" She immediately started making some before Charles managed to say anything. "You- You don't have to do that. Or all other things for me." Birch shrugged: "Want to." He frowned with a mug in his hands. He would have liked to believe that she was just a good person who helped strangers. He was grateful for her help, all of it, but maybe due to his past he had suspicions. Small ones, healthy kind of self-preservation. As also curiousness towards her, and then quilt for everything she did for him. He wasn't used to for people doing things for him without wanting something in return. "Why?"

She didn't pause while putting a coffee pot to boil. "I like you."

Simple as that. She could had explained, that she wanted to take care of him just because. That he was like a fascinating animal that she had found injured. Of course she knew he wasn't an animal but... She didn't know how else to describe the feelings. She was intrigued and interested of him. She wanted to keep him content and safe. She wanted to know him. He made her feel warm and giddy with simple things and she hoped she could do the same to him. It was complicated for Birch to tell all that so she decided to give the straight and simple answer. She liked Charles, and so wanted to do all kinds of nice things for him.

Charles wasn't sure how to take the answer. He wasn't sure how she meant it. All he knew was that the words had made him pause. Or more like the way she had said them. She didn't seem embarrassed nor shy when doing that so it wasn't anything romantic, right? He felt slightly nervous but didn't know why exactly. He wasn't a stranger to women being openly interested of him, usually in bedroom fun, but he didn't get those vibes from the way Birch looked at him. She seemed open and sincere, lacking the lust or even the aloofness that he was familiar with women who liked him.

Sensing his hesitation Birch started to worry that she had said the wrong thing. "Did I... Make you upset?"
Her voice, so small now, caught something inside Charles so he rushed to reassure: "No, no you didn't." He tried to think up something, rubbing his neck while looking at the campfire. "Just... Was thinking."
"About what?"
"...What did you wanna show yesterday?"

They went on horses and followed a stream to a road. It was another sunny and warm day. Both of them had left their coats back at the camp. Birch wore a dark blouse while Charles had his green hooded wool coat. She had helped him get it on after watching him struggle with it. Frustrated with himself he had let her. He felt annoyed with how much he couldn't move his injured shoulder and guilty how he burdened her. Birch didn't say a word about this, not making fun of nor complained, wordlessly offering and sometimes straight on assisting him.
Even getting on Taima had been challenging, despite that the mare knew how to kneel in order to help.

Now that they were leisurely riding, Charles was relaxed and enjoying. Birch too was without a worry, laying on Stumpy's wide back while letting the gelding freely roam into the right direction. She watched as clouds sailed above, soundlessly clicking her tongue with a song in mind. Charles studied their surroundings next to her. Watching signs for animals and listening to the trees as wind blew through them. He felt restful and was filled by comfortable silence. The place was filled with life and noises, its own rhythm like another heart. Nobody met them at the road as they ventured into a forest, where Birch sat upright. She guided them to the place, which she wanted to show. "There," she pointed when they came to a clearing.

There was a Native burial ground at the middle of it.

Charles and Birch came closer before getting off their steeds. The man slowly approached the site. He looked at the ornamentals, which included spears, shields, feathers and skulls of animals and even humans. There was a stone circle. Scaffolds where bodies would be put on. The air felt still and sounds distant as Charles wandered with deep reverence for what this place represented. He was glad that the place was untouched by any outside disturbance. He glanced at Birch, noticing she was with the horses outside the site's realm. She nodded with a small smile. She kept on stroking Stumpy as he leaned his head onto her shoulder.
Charles didn't know was she staying back out of respect or because of something else.
The truth was, Birch had once come here with her step-mother. She remembered being curious of the place and exploring things. Then at one point being smacked really hard at the back of her head, though she couldn't recall for what. She could only think that maybe she had behaved disrespectfully or something. Nonetheless, she felt too intimated to step into the site but had wanted to show it to Charles. Judging from his reactions and the way he looked at the place, he was positive of the surprise. That made her happy.

Birch let the man take his time and she tended their horses, braiding Taima's mane while the animals groomed each other's necks. It was good that they get along. Then Taima was startled, rearing its head while snorting. Stumpy too started to stomp and turn around, directing the humans' attention to the danger. Birch eyes widened as she saw a grizzly bear stalking towards them, then it started sprinting as the horses reacted to its presence.
"Birch!"
She pulled her rifle from her back, cocking back the hammer and aimed. The horses ran off and Charles rushed towards the woman. "Stop!" He halted as she shouted, he glancing between the running bear and the standing woman. Her rifle was too weak against a grizzly, she surely knew that. He had his shotgun with him, he just needed to get close if just to scare the animal off. But the way Bitch had ordered made him stand back. He was still scared for her.

And so was Birch, staring at the roaring beast as it kept on coming. Her bullets in the rifle weren't anything for something like that, more likely to tickle the beast and make it angry. Unless she let it come really, really close and shot at point-blank range. The grizzly was a huge and scarred old fucker. It came close enough for Birch to feel its breath as it stopped in front of her, snarling and swiping ground with its front paws. Staring down at the still woman it roared again and huffed with heavy breath. Birch took a deep breath and waited, facing the bear.
It slowly turned its head to aside, away from Birch and Charles, and wandered off to continue its stroll. Like it just wanted to say hi in the most aggressive, intimating way possible.

After it was far enough, the woman let out a shaky breath. So did Charles who lowered his shotgun. He went to her and kept looking at the bear's direction. Birch glanced at him. And giggled while her legs gave out. Charles kneeled next to her and asked with concern was she alright. She nodded and laughed some more before interrupted by coughing. Seeing she was fine, Charles snapped: "What were you thinking!"
She stopped smiling and laughing, even her coughing stopped. "What?"

"You let that bear too close. It could have ripped you to shreds!"

Corner of her mouth tugged upwards. "You worried?"
"Of course!"
She grinned and despite of coughing she managed to say in teasing tone: "Don't... I'll- I'll protect, you."
"That's not-" he stopped himself and shook his head instead. Maybe her gun or even his wouldn't have done much against a bear of that size, but she had let a charging bear come too close! She had taken a big risk. Standing up to a bear wasn't a foolproof thing to avoid being chomped. He had been scared it was going to kill her and he wouldn't have been able to do a damn thing. Yet he had listened her and watched it happen, for some reason. Though he had been ready to shoot even if just to distract the predator to him. She had been stupid.

Getting up Charles called for Taima. "You mad?" Birch asked while standing up. He whistled again before telling coldly: "Call for your horse." Her smiled dropped. She whistled too but he could feel her stare. He sighed: "I'm not mad." The horses were running back, neighing and still agitated. "I'm sorry I sca- Scared," Birch apologized. Charles glanced. Her head was downwards and he could see that she was sad. Her hands were trembling as they held each other.
She had taken a risk but it could had gone bad either way. She had been lucky and that was good. She was alive and unharmed.
"It's okay."
She nodded but was still worried, afraid he disliked her now. After everything, she had screwed things up and now- "You were brave." Warm breath tickled her cheek and Birch jumped away, cupping the side of her face. Charles, also surprised, pulled back and seeing her dumbfounded reaction he laughed. It was short but full of- Something. Maybe it was the way how he inhaled sharply before letting it out, full of surprising mischievousness. Birch found it different from what you would expect from a burly man like him, but it all the same made her forget everything else as she stared at his grinning face.

"I'm sorry, really, didn't mean to-" he laughed a bit more, feeling bad for startling her like that after making her sad but her reaction- She had just stand down a fucking bear yet she jumped from his voice? She was an odd woman. He got control of his voice, finally: "I'm sorry." It didn't go unnoticed how her face was red before she pulled her hat down to hide it. "It's good," she muttered, smile in her voice. Charles found her reactions adorable.