Although he'd told them to go ahead without him, the little black cockles of Tal's heart were warmed when they ignored him and tried to help anyways. Jude's rope was a good idea but needed some practice - something the courier took note of as a skyboat captain sizing up what lessons his future (maybe-)apprentice would be getting. Now, however, was definitely not the time.
"S'okay. Deep breaths, Soh," he called back to his friend, making an effort to lighten his scowl. He wasn't actually moving much yet; there was something to be said for being resigned to his fate, and it was that he'd stayed calm and wasn't flailing about and speeding his sinking up.
He nodded in approval at Jude's caution. "There's a trick t'the li'l skull-buggers. I had t'deal with 'em for Ludo, once. But we didn't come prepared for 'em." And that was on him. He'd been so busy grumping about their destination that he hadn't packed as thoroughly as he should have. The realization made his scowl deepen until Soh's words cut through his self-recrimination and he blinked up at her.
He didn't seem particularly worried that he was slowly sinking, and the reason why was one that the intrepid cartographer had just hit on. "That's the plan," he agreed wryly. He tilted his head up at the dragon and sent her the image of what was needed. Boreal, still smokily chuckling, dove off her branch to snag the end of the rope up in a hindtalon, then helpfully flew over to drop it beside Jude first.
"S'okay. Deep breaths, Soh," he called back to his friend, making an effort to lighten his scowl. He wasn't actually moving much yet; there was something to be said for being resigned to his fate, and it was that he'd stayed calm and wasn't flailing about and speeding his sinking up.
He nodded in approval at Jude's caution. "There's a trick t'the li'l skull-buggers. I had t'deal with 'em for Ludo, once. But we didn't come prepared for 'em." And that was on him. He'd been so busy grumping about their destination that he hadn't packed as thoroughly as he should have. The realization made his scowl deepen until Soh's words cut through his self-recrimination and he blinked up at her.
He didn't seem particularly worried that he was slowly sinking, and the reason why was one that the intrepid cartographer had just hit on. "That's the plan," he agreed wryly. He tilted his head up at the dragon and sent her the image of what was needed. Boreal, still smokily chuckling, dove off her branch to snag the end of the rope up in a hindtalon, then helpfully flew over to drop it beside Jude first.
