[KQ] taste the sun-sweet berries

A year ago Tal would have cringed beneath the Mathair's primal regard, but he was stronger now, or at least more confident in his strength.

And besides, with Sah and Noah and Flora watching, his pride managed to keep his spine more or less straight, even if he did swallow hard at the goddess's terrifyingly undivided attention. He was half expecting a root through the chest from behind for his temerity at asking her blessing, and no one was more surprised than the Messenger when she instead gave her permission for his continued presence in her woods.

"Thanks, miss--uh, lady Mathair," he managed, somehow not sagging until she turned away from him. He managed a shaky smile for Flora and a small wave of understanding at Noah before looking to Sah with a brow raised in challenge that was mostly bravado. "Well? Are y'gonna help me look for a Rose?" he dared his frenemy, gesturing further into the Wood.

Still dark and deep, but no longer quite so... purple.

~Tal out!