When Mesec realized where they were, it had been his intention to go around rather than cut through any of the bamboo forest. He had not been there again since the battle with the wolves, since Aviya died and his father left, since he had first become a monster. It unsettled him enough to cause him to land, not wanting to soar above and risk seeing where she had fallen and what might be left of her now. He veered away from the strange forest but Lucius remained in flight, leaving Mesec to his solitude to hunt in the bamboo for some rabbits.

The zephyr caught the scent of their blood, his stomach grumbling in response, but what he found when he followed the scent was certainly not a rabbit. “Lizard-mare born lizard-pup.” Lucius’s assessment of the situation had Mesec rolling his eyes. It did the trick of providing a distraction from his thoughts, even if it meant he had to actually enter the bamboo to discover what was happening. Though there was some twisted comfort in the fact that the dark memories he had of this place mirrored his current pain. Lucius chortled his usual disapproval of such thoughts as he circled above the dragon-mare before returning to guide him through the plants. By the time they arrived, it was in time to see Amaris faint and a large, black stallion move to her in an attempt to wake her.  

“Amaris.” Mesec only let his gentle voice bridge the gap between them - did not think it wise to approach her past the two lengths he left between them. They had been reunited but who was he to presume he could approach her so casually - he envied the stranger with her already for his ability to do so. The blood that stained her cream and gold body did not look to be her own but his voice displayed his uncertainty and concern. His own bonding had been rocky, he had felt his stomach drop to his feet in fear and doubt, but he had not fainted and he worried over what had caused a reaction in his friend.

Lucius landed, his talons finding their grip on Mesec’s wings as he examined the winged lizards here with a detached sort of curiosity. The hierarchy of dragons meant as little to him as the hierarchy of zephyrs surely meant to them. Neither Mesec nor Lucius fully understood how unique this moment was - the roc was concerned with the annoying numbers of flying snakes in the area and Mesec only on the welfare of his fallen friend.

we'll go over the mountains and under the stars