Sage snorted out a kind of laugh at the girl's snap. "Why? Are you a monster," he asked raising an eyebrow. Then he shook his head. "I'm hunting, but I want something I can eat. Not....whatever you are." Her snap had told him she was probably a monster, or knew a monster of some kind, but he wasn't going to pry. He really just wanted to find some food and then sleep. He knows finding decent food would be difficult, probably impossible, but he could hope. Either way, he was hoping for at least a few hours of sleep that night. Nightmares often woke him up, but he could push through a lot of them. Five hours would be nice, though if he kept talking to this....girl....that meant less time to hunt and sleep. He'd better make this quick, because if he was tired and hungry, he was likely to mess something up at the tavern, and if that happened....well, the tavern owner wasn't the nicest person in town. And his hands were a weapon in themselves, though he often used the broom. And Sage wasn't too keen on getting hit by more than one person in a day, no matter how much he liked a good fight. He wouldn't fight the girl, though, not if he could help it. He was about to drop, in all honesty, and he wasn't sure he could win a fight against her. She was fed well enough, and sharp.

Claudia folded her arms and glared at the boy. "I don't believe you answered my question, did you?" she walked over to her back and slowly opened it. She took out a small tart that her mother had made, yeah, her mother bakes...when she feels like it. Claudia snatched it from the kitchen this morning, she had at least three more in her bag. She looked over at the boy, looking him up and down, she could tell he was hungry. Claudia groaned and stood up, holding an extra tart. "Here, you need it." she held out the tart to the boy and waited for him to take it...or whatever he was going to do with it. Claudia had at least eaten lunch and breakfast, she didn't know how long ago he had eaten...he needed it more than her. Claudia was hoping to stay in the forest at least until the afternoon of the next day, her parents wouldn't care. They really only cared about her younger brothers, which was a bit surprising to her. After all, Claudia was their first born...well it didn't matter, she highly doubted they loved her...

Sage rolled his eyes and bristled at the girl's frist comment, fully intending to start yelling...he'd answered the girl, at least, as much as he cared to. But then the girl offered him the tart, and all the negative emotions just dropped, and he stared at the girl, quite obviously rather confused as to why she'd decided to help him. He slowly reached over and took the pastry, half expecting the girl to attack him when he came close. But she didn't, and eventually he relaxed a bit. "Thanks," he sighed, dropping his gaze slightly, almost in a shy manner. "I'm Sage," he offered, after a moment. "Don't ask for a last name, because I'm not positive what it is," he huffed, a bit of his spark returning to his demeanor.

Claudia nodded and leaned against the tree once more, "Call me Claudia.". She released her hand that was still holding a dagger and put the weapon in her bag, she hoped this stranger, Sage, would attack her. Claudia looked up at the stars in the sky, she sighed, and then looked at Sage. "What are you doing out here...?" she had a few questions actually but hesitated to ask them, not knowing if he would answer her for the one she had just asked. Claudia slid down so she was sitting, her legs crossed. She couldn't help feeling curious about this boy, where had he come from? Did he have parents who were worried about where he was? Was he a monster...like her?

Sage nodded slightly and eyed the girl as she moved, then decided to sit down as well once he realized that's what she was doing. If the girl was being friendly, he definitely didn't want to mess it up. He shrugged in response to the girls question. "I already told you. I'm hunting." Then he chuckled slightly. "I should be sleeping but....I do have to eat at some point," he muttered. Then he cocked his head slightly. "Why?"

(It's a bit short, I'm in the go today lol)

"Well you don't look like you are hunting, a hunter would have gone further up north to find animals. As you said, there aren't any animals here, the moved up north." Claudia squinted suspiciously, is he hiding something? Well, why wouldn't he? I mean I'm a stranger to him, I shouldn't even be asking him these personal questions, Claudia thought. She continued looking at Sage before it had been a bit too long...she didn't know why she blushed but she did. Claudia looked away and took a small bite of the pastry in her hand.

(You're good!)

Sage stared at the girl for a few seconds before chuckling and shaking his head. "You're smarter than you look," he huffed out. "If you must know, I can't go far because I have to work. If I'm late both my father and the tavern owner would be whaking me with things, and I would prefer to keep all my body parts working properly," he hummed. He had noticed the girls blush, and found himself blushing once he realized she was blushing. He didn't know why ...he didn't know why he was trusting the girl either. Maybe it was because she was being so nice...he looked down at the pastry in his hand and nibbled at it. His eyes widened at the taste...it was really, really good. He finished the food quickly, grateful to the girl but still wary of her. He knew better than to trust someone right away. They had to prove themselves first.

Claudia laughed and then looked at Sage, "Do I not look smart?". She rolled her eyes, smiling, and then said, "Where do you work? Around here?" it was a stupid question really, he literally just said he couldn't go far because of work. Claudia rested her head on the tree and sighed, "You know...I pretty much just needed to be alone...from the people I live with." she chuckled, "They aren't the best.". She eyed the boy before thinking, why had she just told him that? Was she getting soft? He was still a stranger...well, a kind(er) stranger.

Sage chuckled and shrugged. "Well you look smarter than ninety percent of the people I'm around if that makes you feel any better," he noted with amusement. "I work in the tavern, right outside the woods." He wrinkled his nose slightly. "I'm there most days and nights, so when I can get away for a bit, I take the chance." He cocked his head slightly, now worried that the girls family was just as bad as his own."They hurt you," he asked, really hoping she'd shake her head no. He didn't really know why...he shouldn't care what happens to this girl. But...maybe he just sypathised since his own father hit him all the time. He supposed he wouldn't wish that on anyone, even a stranger.

Claudia's eyes widened, a bit shocked by the question. She stammered, "N-not physically...". She didn't know what else to say, her family was just so fucked up. She glared at the ground, holding her legs to her chest. Claudia gave out a small sigh and then looked at Sage, "What about you?". Another thing she shouldn't be asking, 'Hey, do your parents hurt you?' yeah well, she could help being a bit curious, after all, he had just asked that question to her. She cocked her head a bit at him, what an odd thing to be asking each other, and right when they first meet...this world was so disturbing.