Seeing the smile light her face coaxed out one of his own, glad to think she seemed to like the idea of stopping there. Though, as he noticed her recoil, he let out a small laugh. Of course, he couldn't make her accept the idea of riding a horse. It would just be a long journey without some. Rubbing the back of his head, he left his idea of procuring some in the dust. "They're not necessary, just a suggestion." He replied casually, a hint of amusement in his tone. While he felt a bit bad for the way she had reacted, he couldn't help but find it amusing that someone had such a distaste for horses. Here, they were considered a necessary tool for life, not unlike magic. Still, he didn't doubt that the two could manage traveling the path on foot.

The though of running and the appearance of her mischievous grin took him back. Eyes widening a little, he considered the idea for a moment before a sly grin passed over his face. "Oh, I'm more than sure I could keep pace." He replied smoothly, a chuckle parting his lips as he looked down at her curiously. Was she serious? Without a second's notice, she took off, leaving him in her figurative dust for a moment. "Hey!" He called out after her, not taking but a few moments to take the bait and trail after her on swift feet. "That's cheating!" He cried again once they were out of the tavern, though his pace did not falter. Instead, he let himself speed up once out of the building, hoping to catch her quickly before she outran him for certain.

Years of living on his own and hunting in these woods made him accustomed to the need to leap over pieces of bramble and shrubbery, something he hoped may give him an upper hand as he darted quickly towards her. Though, a part of him hoped that he wouldn't quite catch up. Something about this is... refreshing... Slowly, a smile broke out onto his face, beginning to enjoy the idea of chasing after her in this playful manner. She seemed to know which direction to lead in, so he thought of catching up to her as a game. Winning meant bragging rights. They were childish thoughts, but part of Kiernan was still just a boy at heart.

The morning light filtered in gentle patches through the trees that they passed in blurs, the air still crisp and some amount of dew was resting on the grass they trampled through. Taking in a breath of fresh air, Kiernan dared to close his eyes for a moment, loving the sights and sounds of the forest in the morning.