"...Is it just me, Lit, or has your- has Creature gotten darker? Over top of him? Since he got that band of his." Shield prodded early one morning, where they were sheltered in a cooler area of the furnace to rest over night.

Litany groggily blinked his eyes, turning his head to regard the creature - who was currently splitting a plump looking light-furred rat between itself, and the shuffling mimic chest, 'Snapper', that followed in it's steps these days. He squinted over the form of Creature's back - perhaps it was soot and ash from their surroundings getting in his coat...? But no, Litany had heard him rinsing in the dribbly little stream that was near, the other night.

"Uhhg... I suppose so-" Litany murmured, turning back - and paused, staring at Shield not unlike if he'd grown a second head.

"...What? What is it, do I have a great big cavern in my face?" Shield said, exasperated.

"No- no- Shield - Creature is- well it's a bit of a change, yes but... there's something on your chest. You're... wearing your heart on it this morning." Litany's explanation turned into a light little laugh, as Shield glanced down and swore. A massive patch of white had seemingly appeared on his chest overnight, and - if he imagined it in reverse, it did well look a bit like a heart. Or a shield instead, if you squinted.

"How did this- this'll wash off." Shield got to his hooves, and moved for the nearby watersource. Groggily, Lit followed him.

"I don't- I think if it was painted, you'd have noticed before... now. It's not bad, It's not. It looks fine on you, dashing even-" Shield hadn't entirely listened, and soon crawled into the creek like pooling of water, scrubbing a hoof at the white on his chest. There was no bleed of color into the stream, nothing coming off on his hooves.

"I- where has it come from? We can't- We have to stop eating anything from in here, we'll just have to buy supplies off of other people, or find a merchant until-"

Litany stepped into the water, and headbutted him squarely in the jaw. Shield stopped talking, blinking slow.

"Stop... fussing. It's alright. You're not hurt, you just look... different."

"I-"

"It's just made your heart easier to see for those who aren't me, Shield. Alright...?" Litany's warm head was crammed under his jaw, as a forced soother. Shield shuffled his feet a moment, faintly glancing at what of the marking was visible, then back to Litany. He settled stiller.

"...Alright."