Whether Booker couldn't see the falter in the female's smile through the constant blur of the world, or if he simply didn't understand it, he made no mention, listening intently to her words. The tale she wove made him lean so far into Baratheon's horn that the tiny newborn could have fallen off of the dragon's snout entirely, captured by the descriptions of the Merrymen. They almost sound like something out of a dream, but Magdalena's voice was calm and true, and Booker's curiosity about the group only grew.

"Fin-is orig... originae? Pen-day," the little numbat repeated, words stumbling over themselves. Speak our secret. Booker grinned, chattering in excitement - he and Bara, let in on something so mysterious, so important? I really did hatch in a good place! The newborn clapped his paws together, ready to eagerly accept the invitation, when - achoo! - a loud sneeze echoed through Polaris.

A burst of mucous made him jump - and then shake in an attempt to fling some of the sneeze remnants off. Rather than offended, Booker seemed more amused, giggling and peering down at Baratheon, checking to see if the dragon had been similarly covered. His examination was cut short by Magdalena quickly telling the duo where she resided, and the numbat only had time to ponder the name - Mon-o-sair-ohs? - before the borzoi was bowing her head in departure and padding away.

It made a strange feeling well up in his working eye - and after a moment, he realized it was a tear. Sniffing, Booker rubbed at it, waving a tiny hand after the only Gembound other than Baratheon he'd yet to meet. "Bye, Mag-da!" The yelp was wavering but about as loud as a numbat could get, and he stared after her sullenly for a moment, before huffing and turning to peer into one of his perch's eyes. "Guess it's just us, Bara," he murmured with a tiny grin.

It faded a bit, uncertainty eating at the numbat now. "Un-less... you need to leave, too?" Unconsciously, he clutched at the dragon's fur, willing him to say no.

Booker grinned, leaning down to nod eagerly in front of the dragon's pink eye. "Yeah, let's go ex-plor-ing!" He tried to memorize what Magdalena had said, willing himself to recall it for when he'd go to... wherever Monoceros was. He didn't have any idea, but the girl's friends sounded almost too good to be true, and so he nodded to himself. Finis originae pende.

The numbat swayed on the dragon's head as the duo trotted off, off to the first of what would surely be many adventures.

[ Exit Booker ]