Determination to do the task on his own had been shaken by the events in the landshark hunt, and Tal had swallowed his pride and asked his friend for company on his upcoming journey to the Climb. Chocolate had been jokingly offered, with a promise of delivery upon the courier's return, and in the meantime preparations had been undertaken, and certain tests of snow and magic bags had been run in the safety of Halo's greenhouse.
And now here they were, making careful way over the burning crust to a promising-looking lava pool that certainly seemed big enough to house a lial or three. Tal had his goggles pulled down to help him see through the smoke and ash and a wrap of heavy linen around his face to filter his breathing. His Bag of Holding was on his hip and he carried both his axe and a heavy metal spear as he trudged along. Boreal soared on the thermals overhead, keeping a lazy lookout for trouble further out, while her companion paused and looked the area over.
"I think if I can bait one out of the lava an' hide behind those rocks over there, I should be able to step out an' skewer it from a distance before it can slide back in," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "If I make a little trail of ningos t'draw it out far enough." Pale eyes hidden behind smoked glass slid to Deimos for an indication of the General's opinion of his plan.
And now here they were, making careful way over the burning crust to a promising-looking lava pool that certainly seemed big enough to house a lial or three. Tal had his goggles pulled down to help him see through the smoke and ash and a wrap of heavy linen around his face to filter his breathing. His Bag of Holding was on his hip and he carried both his axe and a heavy metal spear as he trudged along. Boreal soared on the thermals overhead, keeping a lazy lookout for trouble further out, while her companion paused and looked the area over.
"I think if I can bait one out of the lava an' hide behind those rocks over there, I should be able to step out an' skewer it from a distance before it can slide back in," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "If I make a little trail of ningos t'draw it out far enough." Pale eyes hidden behind smoked glass slid to Deimos for an indication of the General's opinion of his plan.
