Sirus shrugged a bit, "Shifting is rather simple really…" he said softly, "Whatever happens in one form is equivalent in another. So if I get wet, I get wet. If I get hurt, the injury remains in both forms, though… shifting can sometimes make injuries worse."
“I figured that part out.” she nodded, gesturing his soaked clothes. “I… didn't think about any injuries but I guess it makes sense.” she added a little softer, feeling like that might be a more sensitive topic.
Sirus smiled faintly at the first part, but it faded at the second topic. Shaking his head, he picked up his step to match hers, not sure what to say anymore.
Gwen stared ahead as they walked, her face a light shade of pink at the awkward atmosphere she created. Though she wasn't entirely sure what had caused it. Getting hurt was something that happened with his job, wasn't it? “I’m sorry.” she apologized softly.
"You're alright." said Sirus softly, "You did nothing wrong." he tried to keep his tone even, and maybe even reassurring.
Gwen managed to give him a weak smile, still apologetic but grateful for his assurance. “You know… Scars are nothing to be ashamed of.” she told him, taking a stab in the dark about what was bothering him. “Corvin has told me several times that scars are one of the marks of a warrior.”
Unfortunately for him she was both spot on but way off. He found himself tensing subtly, and looking away from her gaze. "Scars… Scars aren't just marks of warriors." he said quietly, not wanting to say more, but needing to for once. "They're also marks of survivors."
She looked up at him curiously when he answered. “I suppose that's true… but is that a bad thing? Surviving? That seems like something to be proud of too.” she said, perhaps a little naively.
"It's also a reminder." he said softly, "And reminders aren't always a good thing."
She nodded slowly at that. As a princess, she had never really done anything that would result in any scars but she could understand what he meant. “Not all memories are good ones.” she agreed softly, trying to keep herself from thinking about her past. “I guess it's easier to forget when you don't have a constant remembrance.”
Sirus nodded quietly, glad she seemed to understand what he was getting at.
Gwen sighed a little, looking at the ground but kept walking. For her, there was nothing in the camp to remind her of her old life behind those guard filled stone walls. She did remember seeing some soldiers with battle scars but she didn't mind those moments. What she didn't like was the memories of how she was so easily brushed aside so many times.
For Sirus every scar was a bad reminder. A reminder of how he'd failed his pack by existing. A reminder of how much his only known parent hated him. A brand claiming him against his will to a tyrant he despised, and a legacy he never wanted. He hated every single one of them and what they stood for.
Gwen shook her head as she tried again to push away those unwelcome thoughts. However she was failing until a loud snap echoed through their quiet walk. Turns out she had accidentally stepped on a decently large dry stick.
Sirus startled a little too, until he saw what she had stepped on. "Well.. it's a good thing we weren't hunting" he said softly, meaning for it to be a joke.
Gwen almost gave a small snort at his wit, finally managing to smile again. “That would have been a disaster if we were.” she agreed. “Normally, I’m much better at avoiding those.”
Sirus made a soft sound, "To be a hunter you'd have to be." he said softly, but everyone makes mistakes.
Gwen nodded and smiled, taking that as a compliment. “I guess I was just too wrapped up in my thoughts.” she admitted.
"It's alright, I've had it happen to me too." he said softly. "As I just said, everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
She returned his smile with a soft one of her own. “Thanks… Again.” she giggled a little. “You really are good at listening and give good advice too.” she told him, hoping to cheer him up some.
Sirus nodded, his posture relaxing some as the mood went back up into a comfortable silence, and stayed that way until they had returned to the edges of the camp.
Gwen smiled at him once more before letting his preferred quiet linger around them. Though there was a small sense of unease that followed her. She couldn't put her finger on it but it was easily pushed away as they reentered the tribe’s camp.
Sirus was used to feeling on edge for no reason at all, so the sense of unease he shared with Gwen as they finished their walk back to camp was entirely ignored as unnecessary paranoia, which he easily pushed away once they reentered the camp.
Gwen let out a soft sigh and continued walking back to her tent. “After we're done with this chore, we can eat something before going back to training.” she told him, though it may have sounded like she was asking if it was alright than actually telling him.
Sirus nodded, "Sounds reasonable," he said, noting where the sun was in the sky for reference. "I'll probably head out on my own for a hunt then… and meet you back at the training grounds."
(In case you're wondering, Sirus is mostly just trying to avoid more time around Rhes, and gain time to recentre himself. But he's also doing it because he's used to the diet of a full-blooded wolf, and human food (While generally actually better for him) isn't actually something he's used to, having been raised in a pack of discriminatory full-blooded wolves.)
“Oh. Ok, then.” she nodded, not having expecting that answer but she wasn't going to discourage him.
Sirus nodded, trying to give her a reassuring expression, to let her know that this wasn't anything against her. And of course, once the chores were dealt with, he bid his temporary goodbyes to head for the woods, having made it clear he'd meet Gwen at the training fields within the hour.
Gwen gave a brief wave when Sirus left and stayed with Rhes and Jeim. She wasn't offended by his decision to hunt, though she had intended to invite him to join her and the family. That aside, she was looking forward to training with him again. Maybe he could offer some tips on swordplay.
Sirus of course felt he needed the time to process all the newness of hanging around people who were genuinely friendly, and not just to each other but to him as well. Being a bounty hunter he most often dealt with hardened criminals, and the occasional stuck up noble that needed rescuing, and once or twice a demanding merchant, all of whom never minded much when he remained emotionally cut off from the world. But Gwen and her mentor's family, and even Corbin himself… All of them seemed to want to draw him into their little fold of positive companionship… and he couldn't for the life of him understand why.