He flinched as he realized too late that someone had approached while he'd been lost in his memories, but the warm shoulder that brushed his was almost as familiar as Boreal's scales by now. Tal unlocked his jaw and exhaled, some of the tension leaving him as he leaned back against Sah's arm without looking at the other man.
He took a swig from his own bottle without thinking about it, his body knowing the motions even as his brain tried to find the words to say--
Sah spoke first, and the hunter's news was devastating enough to shake Tal from his depression. He straightened a little, turning to look at his friend in shock. "...Shit," he swore, the word as heartfelt as any hallmark card. He bit his lip hard enough to almost crack the skin and then drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Alys an' Boreal are... they're here, in Torchline with me," he managed to assure the hunter. Obviously no one was 'fine' but instead of answering Sah's question he shook his head. "But Luka... When? How? Is he... did she take 'im t'Stormbreak?" Dread opened a pit in his stomach at the thought of any of their friends or families in the clutches of the Family, but especially if Luka was still there.
He took a swig from his own bottle without thinking about it, his body knowing the motions even as his brain tried to find the words to say--
Sah spoke first, and the hunter's news was devastating enough to shake Tal from his depression. He straightened a little, turning to look at his friend in shock. "...Shit," he swore, the word as heartfelt as any hallmark card. He bit his lip hard enough to almost crack the skin and then drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "Alys an' Boreal are... they're here, in Torchline with me," he managed to assure the hunter. Obviously no one was 'fine' but instead of answering Sah's question he shook his head. "But Luka... When? How? Is he... did she take 'im t'Stormbreak?" Dread opened a pit in his stomach at the thought of any of their friends or families in the clutches of the Family, but especially if Luka was still there.
