Darwin&&Antaa

Got so much to lose, got so much to prove

God, don’t let me lose my mind.

It was already far too hot for the man. Sweat prickled at his pelt, creating darker discolorations along his pale coat, where his wings met his body. You would think, that someone that literally had fire within and the ability to shift into a form engulfed in flames, that he wouldn’t mind a little bit of heat. But no, Darwin couldn’t handle it, and with it came a rather annoyed mood. He did his best to look put together, though, despite all his years outside of Helovia and the slight hint at scarring along his back and legs. He was meticulous, especially with Antaa’s help, on removing burrs and leaves that had managed to get stuck into his feathers and the plumes that adorned his appendages. Even still, despite all that, the sweat and humidity made him feel as though he looked a mess.

His phoenix did her best to soothe his nerves, reaching out for him and calming him as best she could. She had been learning, secretly being the softer side to the boy that seemed to be trapped in an angry man’s body. Darwin needed that outlet. He did his best to look strong and tough, especially when he was thrust in front of his brother as if he were on a pedestal, asking to stay among the ranks of the Falls with the chance of possibly being a family again. His pride wouldn’t let him admit the need to feel such things. Antaa would though, and would let him feel it when no one was around. And so, they often ventured outside and away from people. Away from uncomfortable interactions from those that might recognize the markings that apparently looked so vibrantly similar to his fathers that he couldn’t even catch a break.

He wasn’t his father. He didn’t even know what his father was like. But he did know that he found solace in the Deep Forest, where the first interaction took place with his nephew. It was still a strange term as the stallion tried to figure out how Knox could’ve had a child. Perhaps it was a bit selfish, upset in the fact that everyone seemingly forgot about him, pretended as though he had been dead all this time. Nobody even looked for him, and that seemed to be the most upsetting. And so, the duo flew, weaving in and out of the treetops until spotting a clearing among the breaks in the clouds. They dove, feeling the wind press against their plumes in a blaze of fire as they headed for the soft rich earth. Darwin’s hooves reached it first, and he landed as gracefully as he could for being quite disproportionate. Antaa continued to fly, though. She enjoyed the idea of scouting ahead for any possible signs of life aside from the usual deer that were speckled across the forest.

Darwin pranced after her as he always did, strong pillars for legs carrying his weight as he folded his wings neatly across his back. His river stone eyes dancing across the faces of the trees as he went, partially in boredom and partially in curiosity as Antaa sent brief flickers of information back to him. She seemed content, chirping through the trees until finally, she saw something.

“Ed-gar!” Holy shit that was loud. “El-sa!” You’ve got to be kidding me.

For the first time, Darwin heard the sing song sound of his companion. It was loud and high pitched, probably what any sane person would expect. He pushed back the names for a mere moment as he regained his attention, never knowing that companions could speak, and if so why Antaa hadn’t done it sooner. Unless she had been learning recently? Waiting for the time to strike? And what better time than coming across the duo they had met right after her hatching? Perhaps the Ice Queen could tell him more about it. With that in mind, Darwin obliged to Antaa’s words as she appeared and hovered a little ways away from Elsa and Edgar, chirping an excited hello to the Zephyr that had taught her how to walk in her first few minutes. The stallion wasn’t far behind his bonded, and he calmly appeared behind her as she hovered in the air. A smile found his lips and he dipped his bearded cranium to the Icebound and then to Edgar. “Elsa! It’s great to see you again.” His voice was a big gruff, hoarse in some aspects of not using it too often. Nevertheless, the man was happy to see the mare once more. “How’ve you been?” He questioned as he stepped a bit closer, but still enough to give her space.

"Talk."