A Kind Thank You (Yaen)

[Wein Lowell]

(OoC: This takes place on the way back from the thieves' hideout towards Laus)
As the group traveled back towards Laus on horseback and foot, Wein couldn't help but feel a little ashamed at what happened to him. Not only was he one of the more experienced members of the group, but his injuries could have put others in mortal danger. He was glad that didn't happen, but still...

Wein looked down at Yaen who was walking next to him.
"Hey, I might have already said it, but, thanks for helping me back there. I was worried I wouldn't make it."

[Yaen]

Yaen looked over to Wein and shook his head. "And I already told you not to thank me." he replied. "If I hadn't left you up there, you wouldn't have been in that position to begin with. I was simply making amends for the mistake I made. You shouldn't be thanking me. In fact, I'm surprised you're not flat out furious with me."

[Wein Lowell]

Wein paused.
"Well, sure, but we were in the middle of a battle. You had other things to attend to. It was my fault for getting taken down so easily. It's not like I'm a novice or anything...I'm just useless." Wein looked down at his legs, bandaged up and hanging uselessly. "How can I blame you for my own ineptitude?"

[Yaen]

"I asked you to come with me." Yaen replied. "I told you that I would be there to watch your back if you watched mine. And therefor, regardless of the circumstances, any injury inflicted on you was my fault. You never leave your partner. I left my partner, and you almost died because of it."

[Wein Lowell]

Wein smiled slightly. Partner. The word echoed in his brain. Wein hadn't been much for partners before. It wasn't that he didn't like the company of others, it was just that wanderers never really had the chance to pair up. Despite the name, wanderers usually had a purpose. Those purposes never usually coincided.

Perhaps he was being a bit too hard on himself. Wein had been so determined to make a name for himself; had become so self focused; he had forgotten that it was important to rely on others sometimes. He looked straight ahead along the dusty scar of a road they traveled. It cut through the deserted wilderness. Not another person in sight. Without his newfound traveling mates, he'd be alone. Dead too.

"In that case, I guess we're square," said Wein calmly. He turned his head slightly to look at Yaen and smirked. "Would you prefer it if I got angry?"