An early morning had been nigh unavoidable after the beating Ampere had given him, inspiring soreness in muscles Cera hadn't even been aware he'd had until he'd awoken too late to reclaim sleep and too early to go about on rounds. With a groan of pain he had set out across the sands mindlessly, ashamed to admit that somehow Ampere had gotten through to him. Truly, he had felt so alone after Hototo's death. It was still hard for him to breathe sometimes, when it really crashed down upon him that this wasn't a nightmare. This was real, and he couldn't escape it, even if he wanted to. Still, when he was dizzy and falling down into that horrible, dark pit of realization, all it took was a rewinding of time. He would shudder his way through the sobs he held within, lest he be shaken apart at the seams by their ferocity. And he would clench his eyes and teeth, and force himself to recall those who had risen in his support in the wake of the greatest loss he could have imagined experiencing.

Amani's soft whisper of his name, the broken heart shining in her eyes as she watched him scream his agonies at the Earth god, the silent support as she went to his side in his grief. Hector's solid, reliable warmth nearby as he stood broken and stony at the herd meeting, the tribrid he'd grown to adore standing like a weathered guardian over and beside him. Megaera, who had already won the heart of his nephew, taking up residence on his other side. The two of them blanketing him in the sunlit robes of their love and protection, both allowing him their strength and their guard, warding away those with faulty words and meaningless condolences. Gaucho's fierce denial of Cera's claims of his own self-worth, the unfailing tenor of his voice as he spoke out in faultless praise of the gilded son. Even Ampere, in her violent nature, taking care of him even as he hated her for it, showing him that life was so much more, that he had to keep living or be spoken of as a coward for the rest of his legacy.

It had given him enough to move on, for the moment. And mostly it was knowing that Hototo wouldn't have wanted him to suffer as he did, that his brother would only be pained to see him on the other side so soon after the earth singer's sacrifice was made. So instead he turned his attention to his duties.

Except...he was far too sore to do that right in that moment.

Still, the sun was rising, and athleticism would help ease the burn of his strained muscles. So the painted boy set out, wings loose and happily held at his sides. Cera breathed deep and allowed his hooves to carry him where they pleased, feeling...peaceful. It was a hard road ahead of him. Ilaria chirped in soft agreement from his shoulder. Cera turned, never breaking stride, and met the soft tap of her paw upon his muzzle with a smile. "We'll make it through." Ilaria purred happily. Yes. We will do it together. Cera smiled and turned to face the horizon, rising happily in the distance. Yeah...he could do this.

Ilaria pulled on his mane, her eyes off in the other direction. Cera. Meg, she is off patrol. Cera's heart lifted with the news, and he turned quickly in the sands, conjuring up a new burst of speed as he approached the beautiful, powerful woman in the distance. He considered her a friend, and he had neglected them as of late. So he danced across the sands towards her, eager to rectify that. "Megaera!" It called as jovially as he could manage from his lips, and Ilaria preened, a flood of love and pride washing over Cera's emotions. You look...good. Happy now. I am happy. Cera smiled to himself. Yeah, maybe he was finally getting there.

The closer they got, the clearer the scene became, and Cera's eyes widened to see the egg Megaera was tending to so faithfully. "You found a companion egg?" he asked on a happy breath, eyes dancing joyously. Ilaria squeaked from over his shoulder as he slowed, careful not to disrupt the scene or kick sand towards the egg with his prancing arrival. The red panda dropped down to the sands, scampering towards the egg and happily circling it, looking up at Megaera for permission that she couldn't really express. Cera laughed, the first he'd had since Hototo's death, and easily translated for her. "She'd like to help, curl around it if she could." Then his eyes fell to be a bit more serious, and he stepped forward, extending his muzzle for a brief touch from the mare. Nothing more, she seemed to be less like the type for affection after all.

"Thank you," the Prince spoke softly. There was no need for clarification. Surely she would know what he meant.

@[Megaera] and @[Hector]