Wolfram's eyes must have been telling. As he approached, the beast moved from sitting to lying, carefully resting its body on the ground with its legs tucked beneath, shifting so neither arrow risked touching the earth below him. Its head followed, coming to rest on its forelegs, and the closer Wolfram stepped the more the monster... man... The more it seemed to be staring only at the deformed, menacing claw. And, lastly, when the Knight sighed, the beast quickly shut its eyes and stilled its head and neck.<br/><br/>And so it remained for a silent, motionless half-minute, until it at last opened its right eye and saw not the descending talons of an executioner, but the outstretched hand of mercy. Its immutable beak could not smile or frown; the set bone of its skill beneath its feathered skin had no capacity to move its brow in surprise, but somehow, looking up Wolfram, it managed to seem shocked. It lay on the ground for another confused second before it lifted a foreleg and placed a massive, taloned claw into Wolfram's own; though scaled and golden-yellow, and distinctly birdlike, the monstrous limb fit well into that of the Knight's. The creature let it rest there for what was likely a hair longer than Wolfram could find comfortable before it pulled the limb back, and again rose to its feet.<br/><br/>“I cannot ask for trust; you have given more than I could have expected already. You may bind my wings. I confess that this form is not sustained by any otherwordly force, as strange as it is; I must eat, and it is on my wings I hunt, but if you will permit me to fly then I will do so under supervision. If that cannot be, then I will do what I can to subsist on your charity.”<br/><br/>Naming Al as his watchman made the creature's wings fidget slightly. Annoyance? Fear? Whatever it was, it was quickly forgotten as something much more pressing came to light. It nodded once at Wolfram's orders, but was reluctant in turning his right side to the man. “You will have to retrieve it. My talons cannot work the satchel's latch; it was placed there before I had fully... succumbed. But be warned- It needs only the smallest trickle of blood; be it from you or any human, and to touch bare skin, and it will reach into your mind...” The beast's voice grew fainter, and far more dire. “It will worm its way into your fears and your thoughts, and find what you want most- Strength, or glory, or piety. It will find it, and if you lapse for but a second, it will twist you. It will give you everything you asked, and take from you but one price- Your humanity. Your tainted flesh may protect you, but still; be cautious. I thought myself immune by will alone.”<br/><br/>The words of Morr and Al did not escape the creature's powerful senses, but for the moment he let them talk amongst themselves; he had his life, he was being free of his burden, and at the moment there was nothing more he could argue for.