Neteyam moved quietly through the thick forest, his bow resting easily in his hand as the two of them kept pace side by side. The routine scouting should have felt normal, just another duty, but the silence between them carried a strange weight. His ears flicked at every sound, yet his attention kept drifting toward the warrior beside him—steady, focused, strong. After a moment, Neteyam finally spoke, his voice low.

“Stay close… not because I doubt you, but because the forest is unpredictable.”

He glanced over briefly before looking ahead again. “You move well. It is… good to have someone who understands the rhythm out here.”

His grip tightened slightly on the bow as he added, almost quieter.