Sage hummed in thought and squinted up at the sky before holding his hand up to measure how much time they had before dark. "It'll be dark in about five and a half hours," he hummed. "Depending on how often we need to stop, we should be in the surrounding villages at least by dark. I think we can push through and walk to the castle in the dark. It won't be far, or long." They'd probably reach the castle just after dark....and there was no one following them that he could detect. "I don't think we're being followed but still keep an eye and ear out just in case," he hummed thoughtfully, reaching over to slip the map back in the bag.

Anya hummed with a nod of agreement. She didn't mind walking in the dark, but she didn't want to go in the castle while it was pitch black out... they didn't know what state it was in, or if it'd been overrun... and she wanted to make sure everyone was alright before going off to bed. She also wanted to go see the doctor, though... just to be checked over. Both of them needed to be looked at, really. She reached into the bag and pulled out a small sack of the jerky Sage had gotten them. "Hungry?" She asked with a grin before opening it up and offering the bag to him.

Sage was happy to wander along quietly and jumped at the sound of Anyas voice before a sheepish grin formed on his face and he took a bit of the jerky she'd offered him. Ok, so maybe the whole thing had affected him more than he'd let on...rather, it had added to all the other things that were affecting him. He just jumped at noises now, and he didn't really have a good explanation for why. Maybe he was just used to noises coming other words things. Even if that noise wasn't anything even remotely dangerous, like Anyas voice. At one point a loud noise might make him jump up ready to beat someone up, but now it was more of a jump of fright and the fight was defensive. It was strange, but he could usually mask it...he didn't need to worry anyone else, or worry them more than they already were. It wasn't worth it...he couldn't fix it, and he didn't think anyone ever could.

Anya nearly jumped at Sage jumping, but couldn't help the look of worry that crossed her face. It was a little random of him to jump at her voice of all things like that. "You're alright," she hummed gently and offered him a slightly sheepish smile in return. She then grabbed a small handful of jerky for herself and started munching away on them. She couldn't help the worry that went through her about Sage, and also the slight sense of guilt. It'd been her fault they'd gotten taken the way they had... and Sage had gotten hurt, and now he was flinching more than she was... and he was used to being out in this type of environment. She didn't want to apologise again, though... that'd just become annoying for him. Instead, she kind of went quiet and munched away on the jerky.

Sage couldn't help but blush at the fact that he was jumping at Anyas voice. And the fact that the girl had gone quiet...which meant she was worrying about him. Well, more than usual. But he didn't really know what to say, so he just went quiet too, and nibbled at the jerky, staring at his feet while he walked. He felt like he should be apologizing to the girl...his dad was right about the fact that he wasn't really enough, he supposed. It was a bit pathetic, jumping at a voice or something falling off a desk. The sound of a pen falling off the desk had sounded like the belt hitting his back, and it had sent him into a panic the other day, flashbacks and all. It had taken the doctor twenty minutes and sedatives to calm him back down again, and he hadnt slept a wink that night. His dad was right, really...he needed to fix himself...he just didn't know how. Or if it was even possible. Maybe he would just never be good enough.

Anya and Sage walked in what felt like a stiff silence for a little while... about two hours, maybe, the only sounds really being made were of her reaching for something to eat. She started to feel a slight pain in her lower ribs, though... like it was stinging. When she went to run her hand over the spot, only to feel a slight swelling and a pounding type of pain. She winced ever so slightly but shook it off, assuming that it must have been from the way they'd been handled when they were taken from the castle. Soon enough the girl let out a type of groan as she felt her legs start to tire out on her. "Can we stop for a bit?" She asked with a sigh. "Sorry, I know we need ti get back but I need a break," she finished in a type of whisper.

Sage walked along for a while, the silence sort of like a dog over his brain. He knew he should stop his brain, but he couldn't seem to stop thinking about how he could change himself...fix himself...to be better. And he just didn't see how he could do it. After about an hour, his body started to protest everything, and when Anya asked for a break, he gratefully collapsed on the spot with a grunt and nod. He didn't even have the energy to answer in words...man, he had been hurt worse than he thought if he could barely manage to walk a few miles without collapsing. He hadn't wanted to ask to stop...it just seemed like more of a burden for the girl, and he didn't want that. He knew he was already a pretty big burden for her, and while she liked him he still felt like that's all he was...a mistake and a burden both.

Anya flopped down next to Sage, wincing slightly a she hit the floor. A type of pained squeek escaped her, but after a couple heavier breaths it seemed to be okay. Or, as okay as it could be. She gritted her teeth ever so slightly as she turned away from the boy to lift the side of the shirt from the two peace up, only to reveal a very black looking bruse, with five cresent moon like cuts that didn't seem to be in the best condidition themseleves, all in what seemed to be in the shape of a hand. It wasn't exactly a pretty sight, but she supposed bruising meant it was getting better to some extent. She eventually dropped the side of the shirt down and tucked it back into the waist of her skirt before turning back to Sage and trying a small smile. "We'll be back soon... today or tomorrow, but we'lll be back," she noted in a slightly more hopeful tone.

Sage had closed his eyes to try and wrangle his breathing back into order, but he opened them when the girl spoke to him. He nodded slowly, the small movement seeming like such a chore. Gosh, how would he ever get back up on his feet and walk another ten miles? It seemed like he'd never get it done...he could barely walk for an hour, let alone four or five more. And if it came to fight....well, it was plain to see they would lose a fight. He was absolutely useless. And that scared him...he hated feeling vulnerable in this way, where he knew he couldn't do much to defend himself, or Anya. Heck, the girl could probably put up a better fight than he could right then.

Anya shifted a little to get comfortable again, though she couldn't help the slight gritting of her teeth as the pain ran though her side... it settled after a while, though. She looked over at Sage and couldn't help the overwhelming pitty that twisted her chest to the point it hurt... his breathing was worse than hers, and it was her fault... he'd be fine if he trusted her to look after herself a little bit. She bit the inside of her cheek as she waited for that horrible feeling to flush away before cocking her head at him. "Do you want to stay here for a bit and walk the rest tomorrow? I know we need to get back, but we're just going to make ourselves ill if we keep on going like this," she eventually sighed.