Far From Home

James nodded and sat down beside Bubby, who looked like he perked up as he approached. James still felt a little groggy, but he reached out his hand to pet the little bird's head, and Bubby chirped, sounding a little less pained than yesterday, but still a little strained. He continued to stroke the little bird's head.

"Do you want help with anything?" he asked.

Evaline used her fork to spread some of the food items around. "Only to help eat it when I'm done," she said with a small smile. "And I know I keep asking this, but I thought I'd ask again. Are you still tired?"

“Tired of you asking,” James said with a little smirk as he kept petting Bubby steadily. Then he got to his feet and went to Elliot, who seemed jealous for attention.

"Was worth a shot," she said as she scoffed with a small smile. Evaline was glad to hear him joke, at least.

James started petting Elliot's snout and slipped him a little snack he'd had hidden in his coat pocket.

Evaline watched James take care of Elliot and let the silence envelop them for a few moments. It wasn't like she felt compelled to fill the silence, but she figured she'd try to initiate some conversation since they weren't traveling yet.

"How has Elliot being doing?" she asked after some time. "He looks stronger."

James brushed his fingers through Elliot's mane around his face.

"As of the last few days or as of five years ago?"

So maybe she didn't phrase the entire question out loud. It was hard to, especially since her last memory of Elliot wasn't exactly happy.

"Five years ago," she said, and decided to leave it at that.

James glanced at her, knowing that there were likely things regarding Elliot that she still didn’t want to talk about or address directly. Which was fine. At this point, he didn’t want to either. Not if it was going to be one-sided.

“He’s done well, over the years,” James said, deciding to leave a lot out. “I think the years of travel have made him stronger, and increased his endurance. And he’s been a good companion.”

"I'm glad," Evaline said softly, then tended to the food again, spreading it out over the pan as it softened. "And -- I'm glad he came to earth too, to be here with you," she added.

James paused, turning his gaze to Elliot as he pet his face.

“I guess we did get lucky,” he said in thought, rubbing Elliot’s cheek.

He wondered, if Evaline had a pet at the time she’d been brought to Nye, if it would’ve been brought with her.

But why Elliot? Why now?

With no prompting, his mind jumped, wondering — if he did ever get back to Nye with Elliot, would they appear where they were last? How much time would have passed? Would it be only a night, just like it was for Evaline? Even if he spent more or less time here?

The questions swirled around in his head for a few seconds, creating a rush of anxiety, but he took in a deep breath.

No one had answers to those questions. No one at all. Not even Evaline.

Evaline sighed through her mouth, letting another long pause stretch between them.

"Well, the food will be done in a few minutes," she said. "And then we can be on the way again, but I was thinking of taking a different route for our last day. A more... beaten path, without any of the campsites. But you're probably used to that, anyways."

“It would be no burden to me,” James said, still petting Elliot, who was now pressing his face into James’s chest.

“A beaten path sounds just fine.”

Evaline nodded but didn't add any more. James was a little more hard to talk to again, but he was just waking up. She wondered, though, if he was still upset with anything she may have said. She remembered him being sensitive with words sometimes.

She looked over at Ellie and saw her in the grass, pouncing, rolling over, laying there with a flicked tail, and then starting over. She probably found a mouse or snake and was playing with it.

A few minutes passed, and the food was just about ready. Evaline added a couple of leafy greens they had foraged yesterday, waiting for it to wilt just enough to still be fresh. Stirring it around a few times, she reached for two of her collapsible containers -- her only "plates" -- and divvied it up in two, giving James a bigger portion. She only had a fork and spoon, but she gave him the fork.

"Breakfast is done," she said as she set his container down next to hers.

She also set the pot aside to let it cool, and she lightly kicked the untouched wood in the fire to topple it over and let it die quicker.

James gave Elliot a brief kiss on the head before he parted from his horse and joined Evaline by the now-dying fire. He took the container with more food, since she seemed to have pointed it more in his direction.

“Thank you,” was all he said before he started eating in silence.

The food was good.