You're a queen and I'm a lion-heart

"Whadda'bout whales that live inside the earth? Maybe they move around sometimes, an' that's what causes earthquakes."

At this point you pretty much use whale as an easy sub-in for something large, mysterious, powerful, and all around awesome. Iso doesn't seem to mind. She never seems to mind your endless stream of questions about the world, and you in turn never mind her answers, as inconclusive as they may sometimes be. Once upon a time you would have been bothered by this - why can't we know for sure? It either is that way, or it isn't! - but now it doesn't perturb you as much, and you're able to accept the grey areas of uncertainty with minimal distress. This could be due to the influence of Isopia and Sjal, or perhaps it's a result of your recent brushes with death.

Or maybe you're just growing up. But let's be honest, that's probably the least likely answer.

You're happy to keep your friend company - more than happy, in fact. The demigoddes is not the only one who is haunted by a need for companionship, and you follow in her wake like a cheerful, chattering shadow. (So nothing like a shadow, really. But you get the general gist.) Something's wrong with her - something's been wrong for a while, and so you distract yourself from your own darkness by trying to chase off hers. You're a hero, after all, a knight in shining armor - Zero the Badass, lover of princesses, slayer of beasts!

(Except when they try to slay you, and almost do, and everything is dark and everything is pain and you're drowning, drowning, drowning, as a monster grins through a mouthful of blood-)

NO! You've fallen behind now, lost in your flashback. It infuriates you when this happens, but there seems to be little you can do, so you swallow tightly and blink the shadows from your face, before hurrying to catch up with your friend. Your voice is bright as you call toward the mare, though your eyes stay trained on the surrounding trees.

"Hey, after this d'ya wanna go to the beach Iso-"

'-pia'.

That wasn't your voice.

You skirt around your mountainous friend, ears raised high, face turned to the forest - but it's wonder that fills it now, and curiosity, not fear. Sunbeam eyes meet molten gold, and you don't have to speak. Of course you're going to investigate the talking trees. Was there ever another option? Really?

You follow the voices into the woods, not stopping until you come to a great ring of dancing trees. Dancing. Trees. For a second you can only stare, flummoxed and amazed, your mouth hanging open and amazement in your eyes. You've never heard of anything like this before! Wait until you tell Ma and Sparky and the girls! Desperately you try to soak it all in, your head spinning (literally) as your gaze darts from dancing tree to dancing tree. "Wow!" you exhale, for once at an utter loss for words.  "Wow!"

You follow Isopia into the grove, your bouncy, limpy gait a ridiculous contrast to her stately stride. You stare at the tree through sunbeam eyes, trying and failing to understand what on earth is actually going on - but you're okay with that. You're okay with this, and you're more than okay with the way Iso's voice lights up and grows soft as she addresses the tree, a rare edge of emotion in it that a stranger may have taken for granted, or thought to be quite normal given the circumstances, but to you...

Well, frankly, hearing Isopia so happy is beautiful.

This is not an adjective you've applied to your (strong, brave, smart, loyal, thoughtful, empathetic, adventurous, enabling) friend before, and for a second it takes you aback. Your cheeks flush, but you don't know why - and quickly, before she can see you (oh gods don't let her look) you turn back to the tree, and babble the first thing that comes to your mind.

"You can talk! Can all trees talk? I bet you've got a lot of really interestin' stuff to say. What's your name?"

Word vomit, everywhere. Great recovery. Real smooth, kid.