"Everyone had an invitation from th'Voice, idiot. She was that desperate for bodies, 'specially with th'War comin' on," Tal shot back, clearly unimpressed at the claim, though in any other circumstance he might have been proud of the hunter for turning the mortal-goddess down. At the moment he was too mad to feel more than frustration that Sah was being a fool.
And then he went down hard, and now he was mad and hurting, and the courier let out a wordless growl as he started to push himself up, holding his injured wrist against his chest. He had petty hope that Sah's shoelace, cut loose in a previous round, would trip the other man into the mud with him, but before he could worry about his next attack he had something bigger to contend with.
Boreal had been watching the boys from the roof, but she leaped down in a heavy glide to join the wolves, turning her head to sniff Pad's ear and distract him from the high emotions of their humans. Lilly was far more used to boys being boys and Boreal met her friend's look with pale, amused eyes. It was time for cooler heads to step in, that gaze seemed to say.
With a wicked hint of: But since we're the only ones here, we'll do it our way.
There was no joyful carol of intent this time as Boreal leaped ahead silently, shamelessly using her wings to scoop the air and give her a little speed so she would hit Sah high in the shoulders to try and knock him to the ground, where the helpful dragon could begin enthusiastically washing his face with her tongue, chortling happily to herself as she gave him the same love and affection she usually reserved for Tal.
Tal she entrusted to Lilly's care, attention, and full weight, knowing that her human would never harm the wolf, or try to get a parting shot in at Sah while Boreal was in the way.
And then he went down hard, and now he was mad and hurting, and the courier let out a wordless growl as he started to push himself up, holding his injured wrist against his chest. He had petty hope that Sah's shoelace, cut loose in a previous round, would trip the other man into the mud with him, but before he could worry about his next attack he had something bigger to contend with.
Boreal had been watching the boys from the roof, but she leaped down in a heavy glide to join the wolves, turning her head to sniff Pad's ear and distract him from the high emotions of their humans. Lilly was far more used to boys being boys and Boreal met her friend's look with pale, amused eyes. It was time for cooler heads to step in, that gaze seemed to say.
With a wicked hint of: But since we're the only ones here, we'll do it our way.
There was no joyful carol of intent this time as Boreal leaped ahead silently, shamelessly using her wings to scoop the air and give her a little speed so she would hit Sah high in the shoulders to try and knock him to the ground, where the helpful dragon could begin enthusiastically washing his face with her tongue, chortling happily to herself as she gave him the same love and affection she usually reserved for Tal.
Tal she entrusted to Lilly's care, attention, and full weight, knowing that her human would never harm the wolf, or try to get a parting shot in at Sah while Boreal was in the way.
