[it's not joy he finds in the other man's situation, but mairon laughs all the same, far more pleasantly and far less harshly.]

Oh, how I wish I were. [he picks a few more splinters from his skin and shakes out his hand gingerly. the rest can wait.] But I have grown weary of the silence, so I will walk with you to find civilization again, if you like. It would be better than being lost on one's own.

[misery loves company, as they say, though it will be several miles and a long time yet before he feels miserable himself.

or sooner, if the dawning pangs of hunger in his belly have anything to say about it.]