"I think I'm too reckless for suspicion, honestly. And I like you, anyways."

"You like me," she repeats.

"I like you!" she echoes, gleefully. "You're stubborn and clever and determined and a certain kind of vicious, and you're a wonderful student, and you're smart in a way the people I'm around rarely are. You seem like someone who can keep up with me."

"...thank you?"

She laughs. "Thank you! I rather like being around delightful people!"

Shade does not quite know what to do with this information.

The Yew Queen doesn't seem to need a response, and just smiles fondly at Shade.

"...I... would have thought you would have accumulated other 'delightful' people before now."

"People don't tend to think I'm very delightful, oddly enough! And there's been someone here or there, over the centuries, but, well, people have a way of drifting apart."

"Over such times, I suppose so."

She nods, humming. "It's often a bit faster than that, but - I don't begrudge people for deciding they're happier elsewhere. This is a hard life."

"Yet you still choose it."

"It's one I enjoy."

"...I suppose I'll see if I feel the same."

"I'd be glad if you do."

"So should we go back to the others now?"

"If you wish."

That gets her another slightly strange look.

She just grins. "Do you so wish? I can whisk us back quite quickly, or we can practice flying on the way."

"Let's fly."

"Very well." And she rises smoothly into the air.

Flying back.

The Yew Queen is quite good at flying. Shade spends some time observing her form.

She doesn't apparently need to look where she's going, either, and catches some of Shade's observance. It's actually hard to talk mid-flight, though, so she just stays silent for now.

...Probably for the best.

When they've slowed, and are landing nearby the loose encampment: "Do you like what you see?"