"What, you ain't fought off any bears lately?" Arthur asked with a broad, lopsided grin, and with the heavy fur cloak and the wild beard it was nigh on impossible to tell whether he was joking.
Several paces back, Stutely was frowning. It had never occurred to him... He'd imagined that some of the lads might be in strife, like he'd been, and want to come back with them. He'd imagined that some of them might be fine and not want to pack up their lives. He'd never thought that any of them might be in strife and not want to come back.
After a moment, he nodded. "Rip the bandaid off," he agreed. "Only thing for it. But..." Ahead, Art and Much had come to a clearing, and through the gap in the trees Stutely could see the moose carcass, a patch of darkness amid the white snow. He shrugged, the corner of his mouth quirking in a crooked smile. "Well... we gotta eat anyroad." And maybe Arthur would be a tad more willing to listen on a full stomach.
Arthur turned back and waved at them to hurry up. "C'mon, you two! No piking off!"