"You don't necessarily have to hand it over." Tae observed, her pale, ghostly eyes landing flatly upon the creature. It wasn't a threat per se. Maybe she was actually quite philosophical, and meant that instead of handing it over, he could have thrown it, or tossed it, or made them all do tricks to earn it.

Then again, she - and the two bristling black canines are her side - might have indeed meant something decidedly more hostile.

Then again, being one of the smallest around, suggesting a physical confrontation would most likely not end up in her favour. No ... she needed to do better than that.

"Why give it away? What do you want? A trade?" Tae had a plethora of things in the offering: vials of blood, bone creatures that she and Grusha had made, her wolf pelt, and a few other shiny baubles she had found along the way. Perhaps if she was fast enough, she could persuade the creature to hand over the magic? Quickly, before any of the others could suggest competing offers? Then again if not ...

Wisps of magic began to appear around her. Ghostly shapes emerged from her side, making it seem as though there were two additional canines, albeit ones composed of some sort of astral-vapour, like spirits. After all, she didn't know what she was up against. Both Mal and Hel looked at their spiritual counterparts without surprise - they of course had seen Tae do this on multiple occasions. However frightening it had been the first few times, they now knew that Tae wouldn't use her magic to harm them. At least, not without a warning first.

So many had come to see this creature, and he didn’t seem particularly pleased to have an audience.  Najya couldn’t blame him.  A’mal, however, was fascinated and wanted nothing more than to peer into the crater he perched on.  However, the wariness from her bonded was enough to keep her atop the mare’s back.  Though she made it perfectly clear just how disappointed she was at the prospect of potentially missing out on something. 

The flaxen mare thought that perhaps a more cautious approach would be wise, though some were bold in their approach to the bird.  The bird’s voice is grating and angry and A’mal recoils immediately when it speaks.  Najya, however, retains her decorum and stands quietly amongst the crowd.  She was tempted to laugh when she heard the bird’s reasoning for being here – she supposed it was rather cold – but suppressed the giggle.  She imagined the grumpy thing wouldn’t be amused at all by an outburst of laughter. 
 
Others were quick to answer his inquiry offering trades and gifts and assistance.  Najya immediately began thinking of what she had to offer the bird.  A’mal, however, had quite a different reaction. When the little white dragon saw individuals begin offering items and trinkets, she clung more tightly to the glowing blue scale hanging from Najya’s shoulders. Anxiety flooded their bond as A’mal considered the possibility that one of her shiny treasures may be torn from her position in a matter of moments. 
 
But then the little mare spoke, and the dragon’s anxiety fizzled away into nothing but sheer relief.  “I could tell you a story!” Najya offered the bird, “I have many stories I think you’d enjoy and I’d be more than happy to provide some entertainment until you warm yourself up,” she finished, with a smile and a dip of her golden-crowned head.  If there was anything in the world that Najya loved – it was storytelling, and with her magic she hoped she could make the experience enjoyable for the creature should he so choose.