Nesaku’s head turned slowly in the younger courser’s direction, mouth pulling down in a frown, the whiskers that extended from his muzzle tilting down with it. Tamsin did not look his way, however. In fact, Nesaku was fairly certain that they were being careful not to. From the way his head tilted almost unnaturally so far away from him, humming under their breath curiously as they peered oh so intently at… nothing. They were looking at nothing.

“Tamsin,” Nesaku said disapprovingly, narrowing his eyes slightly at the back of the other’s head. “Did you forget to eat before we embarked?”

The expression the bay turned back his way was all wide-eyed innocence. Poorly feigned, wide-eyed innocence. “Oh, are you talking to me? Oh noooo,” the bay shook his head back and forth, the mullet of their mane rustling. “I never forget to eat.”

Tamsin’s stomach growled again, calling him a liar.

Nesaku waited.

“Well, funny story, haha,” the laugh held little humour to it, “You kinda came a little earlier than I was expecting.”

Nesaku interrupted them smoothly, voice a low rumble. “I arrived at exactly the time agreed upon.”

“Oh yeah, no for sure, that was just earlier than I had hoped cause I was running late.” Bemused, Nesaku shook his head as Tamsin continued on, the younger Courser’s words becoming a low drone in the background, as Nesaku tried to parse that particular timeline. How was that Nesaku’s fault?

Tamsin’s stomach growled again, enough to break through Nesaku’s musings. “Enough,” he snapped, and Tamsin quietened, head lowering a little to hang, eyes downcast. The heraldic quietened his tone a touch, although he did not gentle it. Gentle was not a tilt to his timbre he was familiar with enough to take on with ease.

“Shinda will take your bat to find you something to eat.” The skeletal servant unfolded itself from its sheath strapped to Nesaku’s side, bones clattering softly, as skeletal hands helped it to climb down the heraldic’s gleaming armour. “We will wait here, to ensure they know to find us. In the meantime, I would advise you to be more circumspect with your time. Your ordinary party may tolerate your faults, but I do not. In future, should we travel again,” Nesaku hoped that the bay could tell from his tone that such a thing was unlikely, “I expect you to be prepared at the time discussed.”

Tamsin mumbled something under their breath, shifting a little awkwardly on their hooves.

“What was that?”

This time, the bay’s voice was loud enough for Nesaku to hear, although tinged with shame and embarrassment.

“Yes sir…”

Nesaku felt content that perhaps the bay had learned their lesson.