@Jorimel @Wata @ItsTime

Talis' hands stopped moving at the words of Alo, and began to shake in his emotions. The way they insulted constantly, the edge in their voices, everything was simply serving to dis-center the young exodite who had already been very unconfident in his skills and usefulness. The good thing, as Avrielle would note, is that they were past where the knife was needed so it was put away - otherwise Talis could easily cut himself. Nevertheless, he attempted to ignore the warriors and fight through his overwhelming feelings in order to finish the lesson for the maiden. He did not want to break this promise to hers.

@BadDo9 @Jorimel @ItsTime

Alo observed the young Talis. His body language and trembling hands betrayed his emotions. Alo stroked his chin as if thinking something hard, eyes locked on Talis.
"Did I take a step too far? Or was I correct about your prey?" He glanced at the ship and the environment. "Since the rest of your group is out there venturing in the unkown, and you are here with this girl. Making dinner and tea." Alo said with his usual challenging voice. "Maybe...maybe they left both of you behind because you're of no use in battle." Alo pulled out his sword and rested it on his lap, checking for dents and the sharpness. He took it out also as a caution if the exodite pounced on him. Alo had no lethal intent. He expressed concern, in a Winterheart way...Alo was never good with subtleties and tact and he never cared for such.
"Either that or you don't believe in yourself and elected to stay." He said, looking Talis in the eye. Alos' voice unusually soft.
"So I wonder, why does such peaceful folk take part in dangerous quests?"

Others | "If we head back to the shuttle then the next time we set out again Talis should come with us. He knew about the pterodactyls, it's likely he knows of other creatures we might encounter."
Having said her piece Astarielle moved to continue her watch, paying special attention to Faenkon as the Ranger went to check the mines. He might have said that the mines were working but better to have someone watching in case anything did go wrong.

Faenkon finished with the meat and, having stored some nice lean cuts inside a roll of the softer belly hide, washed the blood from his hands in a rivulet of water than ran splashing down the mountainside. He walked carefully up to the first of the charges and examined it. Not live. The casing was cracked, winter frost having finally found its way in and dulled the mechanism with corrosion. With the help of his drone, the higher mines were also inspected and only two were found to still be likely to be effective. One was practically on the ground, and could be stepped over with care and guidance of where to walk; the other was high, above an Eldar's head, and should be safe from anything except a direct triggering shot. He noted that they were constructed so that an Eldar of sufficient psychic power could have set them off when an enemy lurked below. A clever design.

Valandil stood guard over the way back to camp, and Astarielle watched the way ahead. Nothing so far, yet - perhaps faint smoke in the distance? On looking again, she was almost sure it was instead the far-away glitter and rush of powdered snow from a small avalanche. If so, it was too far away to hear.

Avrielle stiffened in Talis' guiding arms, and he could feel the tension in her at the newcomer's carelessly aggravating words. But she carefully finished the lesson, and set aside the waterbird.

"Thank you, Talis, I will know what to do next time," she said, rising and gently freeing herself. She left the bird on the mat. "Please cook it for us, as I have other matters to attend to."

She took a slow walk over to Alo, and stopped outside his personal space. She looked at him, up -because she was not tall - and direct.

"I know exactly why I am not with the scouting party. It is because I am not good at scouting. I am a communications specialist. I have charge of what maps we have and what information we need to send back to the Seers. I am sorry that does not meet with your martial stipulations."

"I was brought up to believe that the Dire Avengers followed the teachings of Khaine as Knight - noble, protective, devoted to the survival of the Eldar way of life. Perhaps I am mistaken; I have grown up on Lugganath and our ways are influenced by others. Corsairs, mostly. We can be wild and unpredictable, I am told. I don't really see it myself, but then I was also taught that the strength of the Path is that it allows all of us to develop our skills in complementary ways. One at a time. So that there would be other ways than war."

"You are, of course, absolutely correct. I am "not much use in battle". But I was told that the purpose of the War Path, of the Aspects, is to allow an Eldar to control their violent and warlike impulses. To save them for war."

"Is it too long since you have fought, Sir? Does the need to fight drive you so that you must provoke and intimidate all you come across? Have you forgotten to set aside your War Mask and cultivate rare moments of peace when they are given to you?" Avrielle, never really a fearsome sight, was nonetheless shaking with anger.

"I apologise for my outburst. You see, I have never taken the Aspect Path, and I do not have the advantage of the training you have to keep my anger in check. I have to rely on myself. And as I am relying on myself, I consider learning how to feed myself when I have not the Craftworld's systems to give me everything I need a useful lesson. One that he is here to teach."

"Why are you here?"

She looked around, suddenly. From across the water, a faint sound as of laughter could be heard.

< @Jorimel @Wata @ItsTime >

As Avrielle had left Talis' arms after the lessons, the young Exodite didn't try to stop her. He had been pushed over an edge, but unlike what they might have thought, it was not anger. Alo had hit upon Talis' own worries and as such - all but stating them all as true - broke him. It was nearly as if he had become numb to all emotion, deaf to all sound and blind to nearly all.

His eyes were downcast, saddened.. one could call them dead. He wasn't good in a fight, and he didn't even think what he could do would be too helpful. His mind, young and untrained in certain things, was unable to handle it all. And with the fear they would skewer him without a second thought, his anger was forced down as well.

Talis loved cooking. He loved seasoning the foods, mixing flavours. None of that love translated into him now. His movements were slow and uninspired as he pulled out a few spices, sprinkled them and then simply put the meat on a hot skillet that had been oiled with some extra fat from the bird. The food would be cooked right and taste good. Yet he simply couldn't find it in himself to enjoy it.

@BadDo9 @Jorimel

Alo was struck frozen by the maidens words. He listened to her words with wide eyes as she shook in anger. Every point and barb she made had been said to him before. Farseer had been there before when the war mask weighed on him too much, who would be there now? He was denied Fire Dragons' path in fear of him being lost on it. He was a deviant among his kin. Lacking in grace. Lacking in control. Lacking in manners.
"But I..." He attempted a reply, then he saw Talis' plight. Alos' heart sank in shame. He was at a loss for words.
Silent for few minutes. He stood up, grabbing his helmet and sword. He looked the maiden in the eye.
"I do not want to see you end up dead. Even if you are savages."

Alo heard the laugh and turned towards it, sword at the ready.

Heading back to the group, "We should be able to bypass the trap with realative ease. But the most interesting thing is that it appears to be triggered by a purposeful use of psychic energy. Really ingenious actually." He waited for the decision to be made of their direction, should they go back or venture forth. He scanned the area for something to do. He was surprised that Iktomi wasn't gathering a trophy from the now dead rock-serpent. Maybe he wanted a more preserved specimen?

@Jorimel | @kanila | @MetalDog4 | @Avenging-Angel | @DaKaptin

"Let us go back." Yareli said more decisive. "Morvan is correct that we need communication established. But we also had to make sure of what we might expect on our wandering. As for Talis joining the scout group... I am not sure, he seems young and not willing to fight at all. We will ask him and we will leave it as his decision. Nobody will be forced to do something they are not willing to." Yareli said sternly to Astarielle and the others.

"Thank you Faenkon, your eyes are true and revealing, as they always had been." Yareli said with a smile, putting a hand on his shoulder to encourage him, to show her true gratitude, it was the little things that mattered. "We should refrain from splitting up further in case another beast arises. So let us make back for The Chance." This time it was a suggestion, not an order.

@Wata @Jorimel @BadDo9

Less touched, less moved and less 'startled up' unlike the three others. Artarsi was already focusing on the laughter while the latter kept going about their emotions, about their usefulness', about their life. Life couldn't be better than it was right now, being upon a lush world beside a lake. However it was not the arguing that broke Artarsi's peaceful trance, but the laughter.

Though Artarsi had wondered, who but himself found these petty arguments amusing? Artarsi's emotionless mask faced the source of the laughter, staring towards whoever or whatever it is.