This human was persistent, but Koralheim hadnâ€™t yet decided if that was really a good thing. There wasnâ€™t much time to think, and that bothered him intensely. He spoke again into Kalaâ€™s mind, his presence more agitating, mirroring his own anxiousness â€œFine. He comes along. We can shake him off into a caravan or whatnot if heâ€™s trouble. I donâ€™t know if a horse will do for the time being, though, but Iâ€™d rather not reveal my plans with him around.â€<br/><br/>The fish-man stood a bit less shakily, eyes cast skyward. Sure enough, following his gaze, a single, large black feather fluttered down on the wind and into his upstretched hand. Koralheimâ€™s gills flushed with a bit more redness than usual and he tucked the feather away into his satchel, giving a wave skyward at the cloud. â€œAt least theyâ€™re still good sports about it. We need to go.â€ he patted the satchel at his waist. â€œThat was a warning.â€<br/><br/>Koralheim regarded Kala momentarily and found himself lost in thought; a danger of being well traveled. He remembered meeting Rasha for the first time, with Brass, and the things they had done, the places they had gone. He remembered how wild she had been those years ago, so much older than him but still young at heart; relative immortality probably did that sort of thing.<br/><br/>Right now, though, Koralheim felt old. The rebellious streak from his youth rioted against such feelings and protested that he was just tired, and injured, and overworked. If he just went and did what he wanted with much less seriousness attached to it. He rolled his shoulders lightly and tore his gaze away from her; he really hoped he wouldnâ€™t have so many impractical thoughts the closer he got to the end.<br/><br/>â€œWe can go anywhere that isnâ€™t here, honestly. Weâ€™re not too far, relatively speaking, from the main route to Northpeak. Well, a route that will take us to that route, anyway. Always have to go around the center; how troublesome. I had no plans of going anywhere near the place, but the it has been a while. We wonâ€™t be followed that close to a human settlement.â€<br/><br/>Koralheim started walking along the road pretty steadily, turning back to wave them along. â€œKala, hereâ€™s my first lesson about me: I donâ€™t run.â€ he commented â€œWell, thatâ€™s not quite true. But the physical act of it is impractical. Nevermind; that certainly sounded more profound before I mentioned it. â€œ<br/><br/>~~<br/><br/>There was something always liberating about flying, and Lore imagined there was something particularly liberating about taking to the skies on the back of a giant bat that was telepathically linked with you. Perhaps the example was a bit specific; non-elves wouldnâ€™t get it.<br/><br/>Actually, non-kinhunters probably wouldnâ€™t get it either. It was a popular point of discussion back at the academy. Perhaps itâ€™d be good for him to actually interact with people outside that cloistered group, though the trained part of him could not deny that he craved an assignment. Perhaps the council would find a quarry within the next few days.<br/><br/>For now, he was content to fly his assigned route, fanning southward from the human center of Northpeak. He drew himself close to Mahtâ€™sela, his bat-mount, and reveled in the warmth of her fur as she flew, hearing and feeling her delighted chirping. â€œShhh, weâ€™ll hunt soon. If we donâ€™t find something interesting soon weâ€™ll head back to the roost and Iâ€™ll get you some extra fruit. No use in both of us being miserable.â€<br/><br/>She chirped in agreement, banking down low under a particularly prevalent collection of clouds that was churning a good distance farther into the wastes. â€œWhat do you say, girl? Head out, or head back to the city and find a silly thief to beat the stuffing out of?â€