"At least someone thinks I'm worth something," Tynan squeaked, immitating Feather's araawan accent. He scrubbed himself viciuosly in the waist deep water of the small river off a ways from the camp. Feather had gotten so cozy with Arum since the necklace, Tynan had to get away from the cloying sweetness. "HUH!" he snorted as he wrung the bath cloth. "It's just a stupid necklace - probably a damn fake too. I don't see that filthy priest hunting or cooking - lets just wait till Tynan does it!"

He heard footfalls behind him and he spun around with a startled snarl. He settled down, relaxing as if his hackles lowered. There was always something animalistic about Tynan. "You sound like an old maid," Adam said, walking up to the river bank.

"HUH!" Tynan snorted derisively as he turned his back on the boy. "Pass me the soap, since you're here." Adam picked up the bar from the grass and placed it in Tynan's outstretched hand. Tynan heard the boy sit down on the bank and take his shoes off. Soon, small splashes rang in the night as Adam dipped his feet in the water while Tynan soaped himself.

"It's just a necklace, you know." Adam said conversationally as he leaned back on his hands, looking up at the stars. Out here, far from the towns, the stars were brilliant and the crickets sang.

"Damn right."

"And you don't have to feel bad or jealous that it never occured to you to give her anything, either." Adam smiled sweetly at the man as Tynan turned around to glare at the boy. "You're different people," the boy went on, ignoring the glare. "It never occured to you because that's just not who you are. You have your ways of showing affection, he has his."

"This is stupid," Tynan said in frustration, tossing the soap to the bank. He submerged under the water and rose, pushing his hair from his face. "I'm being such a fool. And sometimes it seems like she enjoys this - seeing him and me bloody fighting over her-"

"But you can't help it, can you?" Adam interrupted.

"Ugh, sometimes you're so clever it makes me sick," Tynan snapped, though there wasn't as much bite in the remark as he had hoped.

"Of course I am!" Adam said loftily. "What do you think I am, some kid?"

Tynan rolled his eyes. "Just pass me the towel," he said in resignation.

Adam did as he asked. "Just be yourself, Ty," said the boy as he shook his feet dry and pulled his shoes on. Tynan walked out of the river, dripping wet.

"I can't believe I'm getting love advice from a seven year old kid." Tynan grumbled as he wiped his hair, the towel drapping lazily over his face.

"Yeah, you wouldn't have to if you weren't so hopeless," Adam quipped and ducked as Tynan took a half-hearted swipe at him. "Do you really want to be the crazy old grumps who keeps hundreds of cats?" Adam laughed and ran off as Tynan took a step towards the boy.

Tynan smiled then, watching Adam running back towards the light of the camp. He turned to get dressed and stared at the empty patch of grass that had been his clothes. "Adam!" he snarled. "Bring me back my clothes!!"