Ryker just sighed.

"Well, I'll tell you this much, if we are separated for whatever reason, it won't be because of me." he told him.

"I can promise you THAT." he said.

"Also, it's not stupid. It's just something that we need to possibly consider, even if we decide against it." he then said further.

"That's all." he assured him.

"It doesn't need to be a big thing."

Ryker just let out a small breath.

"Sure thing." he said.

"Get some rest. You need it." he told him.

"I'll be here when you wake up." he assured him.

"So do what y'gotta do to speed up your recuperation."

Ryker laughed as he followed Eke.

"All right, all right." he said.

"Let's go." he agreed.

"Pick a direction." he told her.

"And we'll be off!" he declared with a smile.

"Onward!"

Ryker just sighed as he saw the limp.

'....of course.' he thought.

'It's always something bad that has to happen to Eke...' he lamented.

He then started to follow Eke, keeping up and walking beside him.

"Looks like it'll be a nice day to hike, at least." he said, making conversation.

Ryker was silent for a moment... before smirking.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"Good question." he said.

"Maybe you're too foolish to run away from me." he commented, making a joke in response.

"Or perhaps you're too precious for the reaper to come for you." he went on, before hugging Eke from behind.

"Regardless of whatever the reasons may be, I'm glad you broke that trend. SO happy." he told him sincerely.

"Depends on what happens in the afterlife." Ryker responded.

"I mean, you've led a good life. An innocent life." he told him.

"Some would say your father is waiting for you on the other side, with open arms." he went on with a warm smile.

"But nobody knows for sure." he said further, before pausing suddenly.

"Ah, shaddap." he seemed to say to nobody, but Eke knew who he'd be talking to.

"Yes, technically, but one can argue you truly DON'T." he finished, before shaking his head.

Ryker just rolled his eyes.

"See, that's the issue with having another voice in your head." he told him.

"A legitimate one, anyway." he added.

"Also, hey! I am NOT old!" he then insisted.

"Crazy? Fine. I've been crazy for a loooooong time." he admitted further.

"Also, you didn't miss much. Just a bit of a philosophical 'discussion' about the afterlife." he then mumbled, shaking his head again.

Ryker just crossed his arms over his chest, smirked, and sped up a bit, jogging backwards until he passed Eke.

"Zat so?" he asked.

"We'll just see about that." he told him.

"I can lift you up off the ground easy-peasy." he bragged confidently.

"And I can tear through meat JUST as well as YOU can." he added.

"This is true." Ryker admitted.

"But my teeth ARE pretty strong." he told him.

He saw that Eke seemed to be in higher spirits now, and that made him feel good.

He liked seeing Eke happy.

"Oh yeah, I overheard some people say there's an abandoned village in the direction we're going." he said.

"But it's like a piece of history. A nice place to visit, apparently."

Ryker raised an eyebrow, before smirking.

"A sissy, eh?" he asked.

"All right kid, you're on." he said.

With that, he started to give chase, slowly catching up to Eke.

"I'm catchin' uuuuuuuup..." he said in a bit of a sing-song tone.