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Noj nodded, glancing around the forest for signs of movement besides the wind. It was a tad eerie, since all the leaves were gone, but not enough so to make him want to continue. Sleep deprivation slowed combat reflex. That was that. "I'll take one, I don't plan on sleeping in the snow, even if it is more sparse." He drew the cloak a little tighter too him. He disliked the cold, but he tended to overplay it, and that was gone from his thoughts, seeing that he was on edge. He'd be sleeping with the tent flap open, so sounds wouldn't be muffled, but wind would still...for the most part...be blocked. And the cold could settle in and have children. By the Light he hated camping in the Winter.

Noj shook his head. "A fire is welcome. No point in freezing our selves. I just feel a tad jumpy. I can almost swear that Darkfriend was looking for me is all. It that were true, that would make me important to somebody, and I'd prefer to live my life in obscurity if I had my way of it." It really wouldn't even have bothered him if he was seen by one of his former colleges, labeled a deserter, and chased after. But a fortelling, and Asha'man, and a Darkfriend recognizing him on sight? That was just too much.

Noj couldn't help but chuckle when Cellyn didn't tie Light Dancer. It was a smart move, but it was still funny. He still swore that horse knew more than he let on, and was just laughing secretly at Noj about the whole thing. The b*****d. Gathering as dry a wood as he could for kindling, Noj reached for his flint and tinder for a moment, and sighed. What was the point. Doing as he practice, he emptied his mind of thought, and grabbed a hold of something that symbolized fire. How did he know? He didn't, that's just what his gut told him. Focusing on the wood, he spun the 'fire' around it, causing it to light. It worked, huh. Glancing at the dying tree next to him, he grabbed 'air' and formed it into a blade, hacking at the dead thing until he had split out a good handful of logs for the fire. He was tempted to take it a step further and see if he could remove the water from it, but he didn't want to push things too much yet. Sitting down by the fire after brushing aside the pesky snow, he yawned. "You know how to cook or want me too?"

Noj heaved a sigh of relief. He hated cooking, he could, but he preferred to not have a hand in the things he consumed. He was a pretty good judge at blacksmithing, but blacksmithing and things such as potatoes were wholly different animals...so to speak. Lying down on the blanket by the fire, he focused on another log, pulling it over with a tendril of 'Air.' He was still getting the hang of it, but if he did say so himself, he was a rather good self study. "So, how far do you plan on going anyway? Southward that is."

Noj flicked his eyes toward her before he returned to his levitating log. Something he'd learned about channeling was that the removal of emotion was necessary, just a way for people to crutch through from what he could tell. All that was needed was focus on what you did, just that most people couldn't focus very well. He had to admit that it was hard, but making sure no thoughts or emotion entered your mind WHILE you maintained this focus seemed more so difficult. Reaching up and grabbing the log from the air above him, he let go of the log with his mind, and on a whim, attempted to pull the water from it. At least till he realized that it wasn't just water, but ice. If he tugged on the water, or more, 'channeled' it anywhere else with anymore force, he'd break apart the log. The only way he could effectively do it would be to channel just enough 'Fire' to melt the ice but not catch the log on fire, and then pull the newly liquid water out of the log. That...seemed a little far out of reach... Realizing that he was muttering his stream of thought under his breath, he sighed. She probably already knew that Noj was a thoughtful man from before, so her hearing his presumptions didn't bother him much. It just felt kinda weird to be so care free around another person, female, male, or whatever. They seemed to be at a 'I won't poke you so don't poke me' standpoint. Meh. "We all have our reasons I spose, don't worry." I have my mountain and you have yours. Standing up, he looked around the dead looking forest. That was another reason he hated Winter, everything looked...dead. He glanced at Light Dancer, who seemed to be adventurously digging through the snow with his hooves, looking for grass or something. Glad someone was enjoying himself. "I swear that horse is making fun of me somehow."

Noj looked the horse up and down appraisingly, though the creature didn't seem to notice or care. "Maybe, but I've had the feeling that horse was laughing at me since I first tried to ride him. I had to hog tie that b*****d before he even let me close." He was always a prideful creature, and was of the best stock on a horse you could find, and was even counted among Andor's national treasures, when Elyane...er...her Majesty, had dabbled at letting her military members in taming the horse, and Noj had been the only one to manage it. It had earned him a couple of promotions. And when he ran, Light Dancer had just waltzed out of the stable and followed him. They'd been traveling partners ever since. "Well, in any case, I need some sleep." eying the tent. "Rouse me if you need anything."

Noj's eyes darted open, something felt...odd. Not right. It was that feeling he got around Shadowspawn and rather nasty Darkfriends. And this one was enough to nearly make his stomach lurch. He waited a few moments, expecting a scuffle of some sort, pretending to continue sleeping, until a few minutes passed. Deciding that nothing out of the ordinary was at least within striking distance, he got up and looked down. The fire appeared to have been doused, which he didn't do, and he feel asleep after Cellyn. Channeling a little, he relit the fire, and took a look around. Cellyn's tent appeared to have been messed with, and there were marks of a person being drug, slowly turning into unwilling steps. With a crashing realization, Noj realized he'd been dropped into a horrid story telling cliche. By the Light.

Glancing around, he took into account that nothing else had been tampered with, and that Light Dancer and the mule had both been left alone, which kind of irked him. If the dumb mule had been taken, then he'd be able to chase after Cellyn's kidnappers without worrying, but he was against leaving a creature to starve. "Blood and Ashes, that woman loves making my life complicated." Rifling through the bags, he took what he believed important, the money, hunting bow, blankets, and the life, quickly transferring them to Light Dancer. Food would've been nice too, but hunting was just as good, and he need speed. Cutting the mule loose and slapping it's rear, he let it run, and then mounted his warhorse. "Well friend, it appears that we have some trouble ahead of us." And with that, he veered the horse back onto the road. Unfortunately for the kidnapper, tracking him in the snow was an easy task. To an even greater degree, she was his meal ticket, and he wasn't about to let that go, no matter how annoying Cellyn could sometimes be. Adrenaline pumping, Noj kicked Light Dancer into a gallop, almost feeling sorry for the poor b*****d.