It was just a kid, this time. Quiet, but reckless. The mimic had almost been too much for the boy to handle, fortunately another courser had sent the S.O.S. signal, and even more fortunate, Braum had not been far away. It was a simple enough task to kill the creature. It was not so simple to handle the boy.

“I’m fine.” The kid, Banagher, had protested, but Braum knew when someone was at their limits.

“You say, yet, you’re swayin’ on your feet. If you push yourself further, you’ll only wind up another corpse on the pile. That what you want, then?” Braum pushed. Youths like this, they rarely knew their own limits. Hell, Braum himself had been there, what felt like centuries ago. Bright-eyed and bold, ready to face the challenges and delve deeper than any other before.

It hadn’t happened, of course. He had found his limit, and never went further than that. Instead he fulfilled his life with rescuing hotblooded idiots like this one. The bay youth seemed to waffle, indecisive, before agreeing with a reluctant nod.

“Good.” ‘Smart kid.’

Braum led the way back, his hooves finding the surest paths. He could feel the kid’s stare into his back. It didn’t feel resentful, not necessarily. Before he could turn his head to confront Banagher about his staring, a jarring and amusing sound filled the air. A rumble, the sound of a hungry belly.

Figures. After a stressful situation, the kid’s body wanted food and rest.

“We’ll stop for now. You’ve got food?” Of course Banagher shakes his head, and Braum can only chuckle a little. How the lad got this far, he wouldn’t know. “Any supplies at all?” The dour look he received could have curdled milk. “The mimic ate everything.”

“Shit. Well, you won’t make it back to the surface without something in your belly. You didn’t go too far in, but far enough that it won’t be a quick jaunt on home.” He rolled his shoulders, exhaling, before setting down his own bags.

It didn’t take long, fortunately, for Braum to set up camp for them. The fare he had was simple stuff, but good for rebuilding energy. It’d also give the kid some time to rest.

“Why did you come help me?” He can’t say he’s surprised when Banagher asks him that question. Many do. “Does it matter? Eat.” The sullen look he earns is enough to make him smile. Sometimes, he wonders if he was ever that obnoxious as a colt.

There was silence for a while as they ate, and Braum was content to let that silence lie. However, he could feel the growing tension from his temporary companion, and…well. He hadn’t quite lost his streak of mischief. When their repast was done, then he spoke.

“I’ll tell you, next time I catch you going in over your head again.” He turned away from Banagher’s spluttering, already moving on the path back to the surface. After a moment, he heard the scrambling of Banagher’s hooves racing after him.

It had made him smile, always, the folly of youth.