It's clever of Taako to fall behind in line next to Ren, because now Lup can't employ the ol' snapping branches in his face trick to get back at him for his back talk. Well played, bro. Though it might also have had something to do with Ren's uncertain response to their offer, which is fair enough. It is a whole lot to dump on someone sort of accidentally, who obviously hasn't encountered a lot of kindness before, or just, people in general, even. That one's on Lup, defs, and her terminal lack of a filter between her emotions and her mouth. She's never thought of it as a problem so much as, maybe a challenge, mostly for her brother to handle.

And he's doing so admirably now. She's following the conversation with pricked ears as she picks their way through the jungle, grinning affectionately to herself. Look at this big softie of an elf, reassuring a scrappy kid like a pro. Her first impression was right, Ren has him wrapped around her finger real good. Shame she can't drag him for it, because she's right there with him. So she keeps quiet for once, with the unspoken understanding that he said everything better than she could've. The rest is up to Ren. Though she can't help throwing a doofy grin over her shoulder back at Taako anyway.