<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">Blue didn't know him yet, not well enough to pick up on the subtle hints Eivind was sending him. Small requests, slight irritations. That, or he'd been too nice about it, expecting that Blue would start to lessen his use of the pain medication. Eivind didn't want Blue to be in pain, but they couldn't continue as they were. Not if they wanted to survive for any length of time together out in territories that were run by beast other than werewolf. Blue immediately cowered, looking sorry for himself, but it didn't stop Eivind. What he'd said needed to be said.<br/>
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His mate apologized again, and at least there was a little conviction in his words this time. It didn't matter though. Eivind was pissed, and they had shit to do. Unlike Blue, he couldn't just stop to smell the flowers. Blue didn't let him get on with it so easily, rushing to catch up and flip Eivind back around. The wolf was wearing a rather unimpressed expression. His brow furrowed in confusion when Blue hastily tried to explain. He didn't regret coming out, but he admitted that he hadn't done so long term ever in his life. He was <i>scared</i>, Eivind realized, as much as Blue didn't want to admit it. Before Eivind had much chance to respond, Blue clung to him, filthy as he was, to kiss him either in apology, or desperation. Eivind really wasn't sure what caused him to act the way he did most of the time. Eivind remained still, frowning when Blue pulled away, trying to process everything.<br/>
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“You're young, and you're stupid sometimes, but those pills aren't going to give you the answers you're looking for. I promise you that.” Eivind didn't wrestle them away, or ask Blue to hand the remaining over. He wouldn't stop Blue if he kept at what he was doing, but he would certainly not be happy. That choice, he'd leave up to Blue, because he wasn't a child.<br/>
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“And you're allowed to be scared. Fear is healthy. It keeps you alive. That you're blocking that natural response is probably what got us both into this whole mess.” Eivind gestured around them. “I'm here. You don't have to deal with any of it alone. I'll try to chase away what I can; you know that, but I can't take on a threat you're not telling me about.” Even unseen, self-manifested foes Eivind could try to soothe away if Blue would simply help him understand.<br/>
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“We can't keep on this way. It's not the big threats that will get you out here. It's the simple, little things that all pile on. Missing a meal, slipping against a rock, a sprained ankle. We have to be diligent and at our best. To neglect anything puts extra strain on the both of us. I can't take the responsibility on my own. You need to help me take better care, and that means not being so careless.” Eivind would have liked to think he could do it all, and beat anything that stood in their way. He was too realistic for that, and while he was more powerful than most, he still had his limits. He didn't like to be at anything but his best, and he'd need to be with a human mate. He needed Blue the same.<br/>
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“Come on. We need to hurry. Grab everything when we get to camp,” Eivind told him, walking the rest of the way back to grab the knife before returning to the moose carcass. He tore open its skin carefully, pulling it away and targeting the prime cuts of meat. Expertly, he cut the back strap of the animal away from its spine, setting it along his ribcage to get the meat on the other side of the spine as best he could. The two pieces were nearly as long as his body if he held them from one end, and he slung them over his shoulder. He was already covered in blood and he didn't think a little more would hurt at that point.<br/>
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“I shame we have to leave most of it,” Eivind commented, but what they were able to grab was still substantial and he doubted the rest of the carcass would go to waste. It was why they needed to move. Predators would be upon them, and the last thing they needed was a tangle with a bear. Eivind put them close to a water source, far enough away that hopefully they wouldn't be bothered by anything.<br/>
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“We need to get a fire going, and we'll clean up. That should fend off anything that smells all the blood,” Eivind told Blue, not worrying so much about their conversation earlier when they had so much to do. “Try to get one going. It's going to have to be large today, and we're going to have to try and smoke as much of the meat as we can.” Which meant building a more involved smoking rack. Eivind used vines and branches to construct something stable that could be placed over a larger fire, helping Blue with any dry matter that he could. Luckily it wasn't raining, or he was sure in the dark their task would prove unsuccessful. They could cook and eat what all they could, but the dried meat was important as they traveled. He still had to cut it thin. Bigger pieces, and perhaps even the pieces at the very top wouldn't finish in the time it needed to.<br/>
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“I don't know if we should stay here tomorrow, rest, and make sure the meat gets smoked proper,” Eivind voiced, undecided. He was a little achy, a lot bruised, and no doubt Blue was the same way. He wasn't sure if they should take the rest that would put them against the elements for another day, or just push for the safety of the mountains. It was the middle of the night by the time they were done with everything, their dinner cooking away in the skillet. Eivind was laid out flat by the fire, too tired to care that now not only was he covered in blood and sweat but tree sap as well. His anger had dissipated some, partly due to his fatigue, part of it Blue's genuine apology.</span></span>