The black-furred creature stared blankly. "Wh--what? I...what??"

A loud growl of thunder rolled over, so loud Numair felt it travel down his spine. The sky had gone dark and flat, the high grass almost glowing yellow against it. A tongue of lightning forked across overhead. He shot a wide glance at Hawk, who had gone very still, though the feathers on his back were fluffed out and quivering.

Aries sucked his teeth. "C'mon, man," he told the black-furred creature. "I know he ain't been in the papers since, what, '89? But you should really know what the fuckin' Cynn of Aetheri looks like. So what is all this, Numair?" he asked, turning his attention away from the dumbfounded black-furred creature.

Numair looked at him. The light around him seemed very bright, blindingly so. He gestured between Hawk and Numair.

"This thing," he said. "What are you up to?? Can't see why you'd be within ten feet of this guy, not unless it got you something." He snorted. "So what is it?"

Hawk stared forward, something dawning on his face. Numair said nothing, nor did he move. He could feel the electricity, reaching down out of the sky towards him. When he didn't respond, Aries turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow.

"...What?" he said archly. "Trying to give yourself some plausible deniability?"