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After spending nearly the entire evening laughing at, playing with, or teasing his bond, Westen was feeling pretty cheerful. It wasn't the same as having his tiger - it was even better. Like having another child, it made him feel young again, and that was what he seemed to have needed. He approached Xaira, Comar`ssavi pouncing the heels of his boots as he walked, growling lightly with each leap.
Xaira had been busy chatting with Shhra`yalii, to the extent that the little half-phoenix would do such. She soon learned, though, that the little tyke liked to snuggle quite a bit, an odd sight for the otherwise direct and occasionally rather short-tempered mage. At the moment, though, Xaira had just convinced Shhra to hop off the couch and play with a little ball she'd purchased, so they were busy with that as Westen neared. Xaira grinned over at him. "Well, hi. You're sure in a good mood."
"You too," Westen commented, with just a touch of knowing smirk in his good-natured grin. "Who is this lovely lady?" he asked about Shhra, kneeling down to her level. Comar wasn't the jealous type, quickly prancing past Westen's knee to investigate Shhra and the ball. "That looks fun! Can I play?" Of course he knows who Shhra is, pfft.
Xaira caught the ball and tossed it lightly to Comar in response, fine with having another 'player.' "Westen, meet Shhra'yalii, lovely lady indeed, quite intelligent, and looking to be a fine student." She gave a little wink, and Shhra looked almost bashful. "C'mon, I'm not that special... yet!"
Westen smiled. "We certainly think you are - both of you." He gestured toward Comar, who batted the ball to Shhra expertly, dancing around in anticipation of playing more. "This is Comar`ssavi."
Shhra nudged the ball upward, bounced it on her nose once, almost lost it before catching it again, giggled once, and then tossed it to Xaira, who deflected it toward Comar again. "Comar'ssavi... interesting. So you're part-tiger, right?" Grin.
"RAHR!" Comar growled in response, jumping to meet the ball in mid-air and swat it back at Xaira. His forelegs didn't make it under him for the landing, and the air went out of him in one big "OOF." Westen laughed, stooping to help the "tiger" up. "Only part - we'll work on landing on your feet more often."
Xaira couldn't help laughing a little as she hit the ball up, bounced it off an elbow just for Shhra, and headed it her charge's way, who bounced it around until Comar was back up -- and not a second longer, sending it toward him. Xaira smirked. "... and just when you get the hang of that, your feet will move on you." She well remembered those clumsy growth-spurt years.
"I'll find 'em!" Comar declared, dancing around the ball and then sitting on it. After a mere second, he batted it to Xaira with a wing. It was an awkward send, off by more than a few inches. Westen chuckled. "I'm sure you will... "
Xaira decided on a little something fancy, as she was prone to doing, and with a quick syllable, she had the ball floating back to her hand and above one finger before flicking it over toward Shhra, who was all but beaming. "I'm gonna learn that! I'll show you!" Xaira chuckled, glancing to Westen. "So... we have anything left here, or are we free to go? There are some new-bond classes, but... well, not sure how long we want to stay gone, Nate or no Nate."
"Whoa... that was awesome!" Comar wanted to learn to do that too... without all the hard work, of course. Westen hadn't thought about not attending the classes, and scratched his head as he thought. "Well, we don't really have anyone back home to ask questions to, but I know the time constraints are pretty tight. Give it the first day, maybe?" He didn't want to neglect something important for his bond, but at the same time, he really didn't want Xaira to feel obligated.
Xaira grinned to Comar. "Well, we'll just see, huh? It's a pretty rare gift." To Westen, she added, "Well, that's fine. Don't want to miss out on something important, and I don't think they'll notice a few days' extra aging. Unless you didn't shave, or something." Shhra giggled and rolled the ball all calm-like to Comar.
Truly, though, Xaira thought... getting home would be nice. She wasn't sure her brain could handle much more new technology.