Somehow, even though he didn't say anything, there was a decidedly dubious note to the continued skinning coming from the other side of the bear at hearing that it 'wasn't terrible.'
And then, like a parka-wrapped prairie dog, Tal's head popped up from behind the bear's shoulder to scowl at the General. "I didn't say th--" He saw the grin too late and realized he was being teased; completing the prairie dog impression, he popped back out of sight as the flush of embarrassment chased its way over his ears.
"I uh... I don't need it," he protested, tugging a stretch of hide free with a grunt. Popping up again he grinned and puffed up his scrawny chest proudly, flexing his bicep that was conveniently hidden inside his thick parka. "See? All that climbin' an' shit in the barracks is really paying off!"
And then, like a parka-wrapped prairie dog, Tal's head popped up from behind the bear's shoulder to scowl at the General. "I didn't say th--" He saw the grin too late and realized he was being teased; completing the prairie dog impression, he popped back out of sight as the flush of embarrassment chased its way over his ears.
"I uh... I don't need it," he protested, tugging a stretch of hide free with a grunt. Popping up again he grinned and puffed up his scrawny chest proudly, flexing his bicep that was conveniently hidden inside his thick parka. "See? All that climbin' an' shit in the barracks is really paying off!"
