Gareth froze for a moment as Winter pulled him into a hug, although it felt as good as it always did to be embraced by her. But if she wasn't worried about her parents, he supposed he shouldn't be either. He relaxed into the hug and wrapped his arms around her tight, feeling how good it was to just have a moment of intimacy between them. Although the kiss they'd shared did play in his mind once or twice.

He smiled openly at her offer, and he took it like it was water and he was drowning: "of course," he said emphatically. "There's so much more I'd like to learn with you. And I can't think of anyone I'd prefer to teach me." But Zagan cleared his throat and Gareth glanced up like he'd been caught making some kind of embarrassing confession--which, of course, he had.

"That's right," Gareth supplied to them. At least Eira was smiling, although he imagined the expression could mean just about anything. "I'm fascinated by Dragons, always have been. I'd love to hear anything and everything if you two have time."