Skulls didn't make good targets for throwing axes, anyways. Not without more muscle behind the cast than Tal could muster; curving domes tended to deflect the bite of the steel edge and send the weapons skittering off at unexpected angles, so he just nodded acceptance and relaxed - as much as he could in the uncomfortably dry heat of the great big oven they'd walked into.
That lasted all of three breaths before Deimos gave his warning and Tal tensed, unsure of the where and the how of the carnivore's release. Boreal caught a sense of his tension and folded her wings to drop towards the floating shark, protective more than playful, but she only managed a snap of empty air as the landshark suddenly shot away across the desert sky. It was undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime for the landshark, but Boreal landed heavily with an irritable sulk.
Tal's grin returned at her annoyance, and he looked to Deimos with a nod at the question. "Yeah. Even if he's too weak to challenge Lady Winter anytime soon, figure it can't hurt to have Flowerbirth's good regard for us, right? Maybe someday..." A fantasy, wistful and wishful and not at all grounded in reality, and Tal shook his head ruefully.
He walked with more care now that he knew what to look for, casting eyes farther ahead of his feet for the tell-tale swirl of shifting sand, and his casual words brought an unexpected response from his mentor. Tal almost stumbled as he glanced back over his shoulder, not sure why what he'd said brought furrowed brows. He didn't know Deimos well enough to guess, either, so he just reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably as he kept walking - grimacing as grit ground against sweat-sticky skin. "Oh. Uh. Sure. Well, it's appreciated. So... thanks. For today. An' next time, too?" The question slid in hopefully as he snuck a glance back to see if he'd passed the test.
That lasted all of three breaths before Deimos gave his warning and Tal tensed, unsure of the where and the how of the carnivore's release. Boreal caught a sense of his tension and folded her wings to drop towards the floating shark, protective more than playful, but she only managed a snap of empty air as the landshark suddenly shot away across the desert sky. It was undoubtedly the trip of a lifetime for the landshark, but Boreal landed heavily with an irritable sulk.
Tal's grin returned at her annoyance, and he looked to Deimos with a nod at the question. "Yeah. Even if he's too weak to challenge Lady Winter anytime soon, figure it can't hurt to have Flowerbirth's good regard for us, right? Maybe someday..." A fantasy, wistful and wishful and not at all grounded in reality, and Tal shook his head ruefully.
He walked with more care now that he knew what to look for, casting eyes farther ahead of his feet for the tell-tale swirl of shifting sand, and his casual words brought an unexpected response from his mentor. Tal almost stumbled as he glanced back over his shoulder, not sure why what he'd said brought furrowed brows. He didn't know Deimos well enough to guess, either, so he just reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably as he kept walking - grimacing as grit ground against sweat-sticky skin. "Oh. Uh. Sure. Well, it's appreciated. So... thanks. For today. An' next time, too?" The question slid in hopefully as he snuck a glance back to see if he'd passed the test.
