Rebels. The word held the weight of a profane concept, something he should be careful on mentioning. But, what else could he do to describe the opal's actions? The others were teetering on the edge near constantly, it seemed.

"He attacked someone the- yes, Bonebound- were protecting. Spoke against the Masters." Desert's claws tapped at the sand below him. He wasn't aware of much they stood for, but if someone against the Masters opposed them, they might as well be on their side. "Doctor's out healing him now."

As much as he could've let Opal pass on, it was strange he didn't revert to his chrysalis, and he wasn't in his right mind. Let the vulture practice his medicines on him.

"Perhaps it is," Desert mumbled a claw he brought up to tap at his face, cradling his chin in thought. Hemlocke had chimed up, though, and he huffed, about to reply with his own flat joke but instead overruled by the alien's own. It wasn't wrong- and, he already had his legacy.

He let out a brief chuckle at that. Maybe he'd be mad in another time, but now, he found the humor in it. "Sure." Yeah, there you go buddy- just say 'sure' to everything.

His gaze cast out at the children as Hemlocke spoke. Perfect and orderly- and yet it rode on these experiments' shoulders. They were children. They were bound to mess up. He had mind to begin testing them himself, but he wasn't about to place himself in the shoes of an Overseer. Not yet, anyways. He'd have to address that when he returned. "I expected more of a struggle. More opposition, more rebellion thanks to the outside lines." He nosed in the direction of the Palefur children. "Everything I do feels like it's stepping on thin ice. But- for now, it's... It's good. It's how it should be. How I hope it stays." He sighed softly, gritting his teeth and flaring his nostrils.

"Sound advice. I suspect I may be able to forge allies with some of the beings who arrived; they seem suited to this cold." He squinted, internally cursing himself for having to run this unfamiliar territory, his scales prickling with unease. "I'm glad I've got this mane, but it doesn't help against the chill, as far as I've seen. It's all guard hair." A claw papped at the fur and ran it through, pulling out a few loose hairs and letting them drift to the floor with a half-assed sense of interest. "Better than antlers, I guess. I never expected to be able to sit on my ass one day."

A laugh underlaid with grumbly growls escaped him. Might as well make humor, too.