Around 9 am, Nora wakes up. She feels something touch her shoulder.  She looks up only to see Ren.  She is happy to see him, but thinks wait since when does he put his hand on my shoulder?  She blushes. She stands up. She runs off in search for food.

             Ren wakes up a few minutes later.  He sees Nora is gone. He thinks, some mischief could have befallen her.  He is not to happy that she is not close by as he thought she would.  He calls out, "Nora, Nora where are you?  Answer me woman!"

              Nora giggles.  She tackles him from behind as usual. She thinks it to be something amusing to see him panic. She is glad though. Glad he still sees himself as her protector after all this time.  She knocks him down.  Immediately, she stands up.  

            "Nora, knock it off will you!  It is not funny for you to attack me anymore. We are not kids you know!" Ren says with a scowl.

             "Yes, but we always do this!" Nora says. She smirks.

              "Nora, I mean it. We cannot do it.  It is not suitable behavior from grownups." Ren says.

                 Nora frowns. She cannot get why he should be so moody lately.  It is not like him to be such a grump.  She thinks, did I do something or say something he hates?  She climbs off his back.  She lands with a soft thud.  She cooks breakfast.

                 As they eat in silence, Nora thinks, should I go?   She wonders if she is more of a burden to him than she once thought?  She does not want to be one though. She begins to limp as she cleans the dishes after the meal is over.  She does not notice. 

                Ren, however does notice.  He notices more than he lets on these days.  He sees Nora limp and thinks, what ever brought this on anyway?  He does hope she did not hurt herself in her haste to get off his back.  If so, then he will feel rather guilty about it.  

                 "Nora, what did you do?"  Ren says.  His voice less harsh than earlier  that day.

                "Ren, it is nothing.  Really, I am just fine."  Nora says. She refuse to tell him her foot has been uncomfortable ever since she felt something poke it.  She does not want him to be upset.  She reasons to herself, if he knows then how will I leave?

                 Ren shakes his head. He knows she is stubborn.  He grabs her up. He sets her down gently and pulls off her shoes.  He sees her left foot is just fine. He smiles.  He checks the other one and scowls once he sees the object that hangs out of it.  He examines it closer and sees it is a splinter.  

                "How could you not tell me, you have gotten a splinter?"  Ren says. His eyes feel up with tears.  He pulls out some pliers and uses them to remove the splinter.  He sees her cringe.  He finishes.  He adds some medicine to it all the while, Nora calls out, "Ouch, that hurts!  Whatever that stuff is burns, boy does it ever sting!"    He laughs. He replies,  "Good then, I know it works!"  He sees her scowl this time and laughs more.  He adds a small band-aid to the bottom of her foot to keep germs out.  He places her shoes back on her feet.

                 "Now young lady, I insist you relax.  Before we move on, I will  pack then, I shall carry you on my back."  Ren says.

                  "What?  I cannot let you do this.  I can walk.  I know I can!  There is not a reason to carry me. I did not break anything!"  Nora scoffs.  She sees him smirk and wishes she could wipe that silly, cute grin off his face.  

                  Nora's face turns pink. She looks away from him.  She cannot let her silly crush on him get the better of her.  Wait, she says within herself, since when have I had a crush on Ren?  She decides it is best not to tell him.  Good thing, she does not have a blabber mouth sister, or anyone else who can tell him.  This way the secret is safe to her alone.

                "Good grief, woman!  It is only until we reach the next village. We will stay there for a week at least. This should your foot time to heal. You may walk all you want once your foot heals." Ren says.  He sounds like he is angry.  

                 Ren true to his word, packs, then places, her bag on her back and his own along with her on his back.  He carries her like this regardless of what she has to say about it.  Turns out he can be stubborn too when he wants to be anyway.

              "I did not want to tell you about the splinter, because I know how much you fuss about just about anything.   I am sorry to be such a burden to you."  Nora says. She thinks, as so as we reach the next village I intend to stay on and get a job there. She determines not to be trouble for him anymore. 

             "Nora,you may be a pain in the neck, but I assure you are no burden." Ren says. He thinks, I wish to get a tattoo with a heart on my arm that says, Nora and Ren 4 Life on it.  He blushes at the silly place his thoughts take him right now.  

               Little does either know what is about to take place in their next stop will strengthen their relationship or break it apart.  Little do they know that one if not both of them will be unsure what course of action to take next.  Little do they know that this  trouble with the splinter was just a minor thing in both their lives.  Little do they know what lies ahead for them!

               to be continued in Chapter  3   Nora Stays?