A lock of hair must have fallen free from her cap, but Lydia isn't any wiser to any superstitions of the Tree People. To be perfectly honest, she's wondered whether they're even literate. But beggars can't be choosers when it comes to allies, and she's certain that if the young man approaching her has been ordered to protect her, that's exactly what he'll do.
"Oh," she says in surprise, craning her head to look up at him. He's...really tall. "Your English is really good."
Lydia reaches into her pocket and pulls out a palm device. "I'll be able to tell with this." she explains. "Once we're closer to the mountain I can turn it on and use it to detect their signal. But it's got a limited battery so I don't want to turn it on until we're a lot closer. It's an eight hour walk, right?"
His face hardens. "We're not stupid just because we didn't fall from the sky."
He spares the device a cursory glance before brushing past her, blade in hand.
"Gale," he tells her, dropping any pretense of politeness. That isn't what he's here for, and now that he's seen her, he wants this over with as soon as possible. "We have a long walk ahead of us. Try to keep up, and I'll try not to get us both killed."
Her brow furrows in turn. "I don't remember suggesting that you were stupid. I was just explaining how close we need to get and why. Would you rather I hadn't told you?"
Her chin lifts, frowning. She's not sure what she did to offend him, but the Grounders were all so tetchy. "I'll keep up just fine."
Actually, she's not sure if she can keep up with the strides of those long legs of his, but she's determined to try, and she's equally determined not to complain. Her mouth presses tightly against itself. "Let's get started."
"You thought we couldn't speak English." He gives her a look full of distaste. "I understand how close we need to get. As long as you don't fall behind, I'll get you there. Then you can do your..." He waves a hand vaguely. "...whatever it is you're risking our lives for, and we can get home that much faster. Got it?"
She'd better, because Gale is already taking off to lead the way. He moves swiftly, his steps the next best thing to silent, so if Lydia does lose him, she'll be hard-pressed to find him again. Since this is a mission directly from the Commander, however, he'll be making sure he knows where she is at all times, whether she falls behind or not.
"I wasn't sure if you could speak English." she corrects, "Seeing as only a handful of your people have actually spoken it in front of me. But let me guess, if I had assumed you spoke English, you'd find an excuse to be offended that I had made that assumption."
Basically she's calling you a jerk, Gale. She trudges along. She's visibly unused to the terrain, but she's trying.
"I'm risking our lives so less of our people have to risk theirs. It's basic math. And making sure I don't fall behind is part of your job, isn't it?"
She doesn't seem to expect an answer. After all, if she does get lost, they're wasting time. She'll do her best to keep pace as necessary, but now also to spite him.
"Maybe we just don't want you eavesdropping," Gale suggests with a scowl. It isn't true, what she's saying. He may not be the easiest to get along with, but Gale doesn't find reasons to be offended over nothing, whether she knows it or not. It isn't likely that she'll be around long enough to find out, though, and he doesn't need to justify himself to her, so he doesn't bother.
"If you're worried about getting lost, don't. I know these woods." She's right about his job here, but he doesn't want to give her the satisfaction of saying it outright. It's clear enough in how he hangs back now and then, pausing to let her catch up enough that he feels safe to move forward.
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"Oh," she says in surprise, craning her head to look up at him. He's...really tall. "Your English is really good."
Lydia reaches into her pocket and pulls out a palm device. "I'll be able to tell with this." she explains. "Once we're closer to the mountain I can turn it on and use it to detect their signal. But it's got a limited battery so I don't want to turn it on until we're a lot closer. It's an eight hour walk, right?"
She then oh's. "I'm Lydia. What do I call you?"
no subject
He spares the device a cursory glance before brushing past her, blade in hand.
"Gale," he tells her, dropping any pretense of politeness. That isn't what he's here for, and now that he's seen her, he wants this over with as soon as possible. "We have a long walk ahead of us. Try to keep up, and I'll try not to get us both killed."
no subject
Her chin lifts, frowning. She's not sure what she did to offend him, but the Grounders were all so tetchy. "I'll keep up just fine."
Actually, she's not sure if she can keep up with the strides of those long legs of his, but she's determined to try, and she's equally determined not to complain. Her mouth presses tightly against itself. "Let's get started."
no subject
She'd better, because Gale is already taking off to lead the way. He moves swiftly, his steps the next best thing to silent, so if Lydia does lose him, she'll be hard-pressed to find him again. Since this is a mission directly from the Commander, however, he'll be making sure he knows where she is at all times, whether she falls behind or not.
no subject
Basically she's calling you a jerk, Gale. She trudges along. She's visibly unused to the terrain, but she's trying.
"I'm risking our lives so less of our people have to risk theirs. It's basic math. And making sure I don't fall behind is part of your job, isn't it?"
She doesn't seem to expect an answer. After all, if she does get lost, they're wasting time. She'll do her best to keep pace as necessary, but now also to spite him.
no subject
"If you're worried about getting lost, don't. I know these woods." She's right about his job here, but he doesn't want to give her the satisfaction of saying it outright. It's clear enough in how he hangs back now and then, pausing to let her catch up enough that he feels safe to move forward.