The sound of his name has Koa shooting upright, alarm a flare on his handsome face. It twists to cheerful recognition as he realizes who's calling, but the young man can't shake his nagging displeasure at how jumpy he's become. "Oh, hey Tal!" Waving with his not-map-holding hand, he watches with an expression of unabashed impressedness as the courier skillfully navigates the skiffs and buoys, demonstrating a familiarity Koa can only dream about.
"Shopping." Koa shrugs the shoulder under which his package is tucked securely tucked, reaching with the other one to skritch Boreal's nose. "Pip's back on shore - she kept trying to grab fish off the boats, and almost drowning us both," is the explanation for his own dragon's absence, spoken in the fondly exasperated tone of any tired parent. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you, though. Both of you," he adds, turning his bright smile back to Tal. "Busy season for deliveries, I imagine?"
And yes, he's avoided saying much about his own recent goings on. He wouldn't know where to start explaining, and honestly, sometimes it's nicer to pretend that everything is fine.
"Shopping." Koa shrugs the shoulder under which his package is tucked securely tucked, reaching with the other one to skritch Boreal's nose. "Pip's back on shore - she kept trying to grab fish off the boats, and almost drowning us both," is the explanation for his own dragon's absence, spoken in the fondly exasperated tone of any tired parent. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you, though. Both of you," he adds, turning his bright smile back to Tal. "Busy season for deliveries, I imagine?"
And yes, he's avoided saying much about his own recent goings on. He wouldn't know where to start explaining, and honestly, sometimes it's nicer to pretend that everything is fine.
