Palm fronds and palm-life trees and thick lattices of vines above filter out much of the sun and keep the heat off my furry back while I have my nose to the ground, sniffing for prey. Although it's not the prey that Niall expects. Or that Maartenwitz expects, for that matter.
Do not ask me how Maartenwitz got invited along on this outing, or why he and Niall are suddenly such besties. I suppose that beast taming is their life. That's what they have in common.
"Step lively," Maartenwitz orders.
"Find a good one," Niall says. "A big beast, a splendid one, one that takes all four of you to bring down. Wouldn't that be a triumph!"
[A big beast for this tiny halfling.] Demos puffs out his fur. [I like it.]
[Maybe we should think small?] Lobo is playing devil's advocate. [After all, Gussie is proof that you don't need the biggest beast. What do you think, Gussie?]
The parrot squawks, "Big beast!"
