Tal grinned back at the Ancient at his side as Boreal rumbled her approval of the sentiment, even if she didn't fully understand the words. As a once-and-future Halovian, he also had a fine appreciation for the flammable things in life. "Agreed!"
And it was nice to have something they could barter without being bogged down by his shrine quest. He hadn't realized how much of a touchy subject it was going to be among the Ancients... which was probably why Frey had tasked him with talking to them about it. So far no one had said 'no' but no one had said 'yes' either, making things... well, awkward as hail. Being able to talk with Maea again, at least for a little while, without the weight of it felt really good.
But something she said caught his attention, and a faint warmth threatened to pink his neck and ears. He ducked his head, but given their current angles - him sitting up and her lying down - it probably wouldn't hide the shy smile of pleasure that tugged at his mouth. "Is that what we are now?" he asked, a flicker of hesitance in his words. "Friends?"
Boreal was perfectly happy to be used as a pillow, shifting in turn to curl her warm bulk around the Ancient and snorfling at Maea's hand before letting out a large, contented sigh. Tal snorted and shifted his scratching to one of her wing joints as he contemplated his friend's question. "Mm. Grounds first," he decided. "Gotta check the courier station an' see if anyone's dropped off anythin' new. Might as well stay th'night at this point, an' get an early start t'Stormbreak in th'mornin'. Th'winds get a bit wild this time o' year, an' I hate droppin' anchor in th'Feverlands any more times'n I have to." He grimaced, giving an unhappy shake of his head. "Have y'been there before?"
And it was nice to have something they could barter without being bogged down by his shrine quest. He hadn't realized how much of a touchy subject it was going to be among the Ancients... which was probably why Frey had tasked him with talking to them about it. So far no one had said 'no' but no one had said 'yes' either, making things... well, awkward as hail. Being able to talk with Maea again, at least for a little while, without the weight of it felt really good.
But something she said caught his attention, and a faint warmth threatened to pink his neck and ears. He ducked his head, but given their current angles - him sitting up and her lying down - it probably wouldn't hide the shy smile of pleasure that tugged at his mouth. "Is that what we are now?" he asked, a flicker of hesitance in his words. "Friends?"
Boreal was perfectly happy to be used as a pillow, shifting in turn to curl her warm bulk around the Ancient and snorfling at Maea's hand before letting out a large, contented sigh. Tal snorted and shifted his scratching to one of her wing joints as he contemplated his friend's question. "Mm. Grounds first," he decided. "Gotta check the courier station an' see if anyone's dropped off anythin' new. Might as well stay th'night at this point, an' get an early start t'Stormbreak in th'mornin'. Th'winds get a bit wild this time o' year, an' I hate droppin' anchor in th'Feverlands any more times'n I have to." He grimaced, giving an unhappy shake of his head. "Have y'been there before?"
