Orange eyes fell under muddy lids and into peaceful darkness, feathers flickered against the warm air and adjusted in graceful flight patterns. A sturdy body glistened in the sun's welcome embrace with a gentle head adorned with dangerous swords in the form of brown, solid horns. Mane that was once cropped in militant style had now grown in great length, maybe one day he will find the best way to cut it back to the way it was before. Long, swishing from side to side, was a leonine tail covered in drapes of fiery hair, wrapped tightly around an egg that had begun to wriggle on natures tender summons. Lids darted open, daylight flooding back in and Hector's once pleasurable flight turned to one of panicked excitement. His equine hooves touched the ground that edged the vibrant lake and carefully he placed his egg upon the surface.

The movements were slow, tentative at first, almost shy in their innocent prodding of it's protective barrier. Like a swirling shadow the time had finally come for the creature to emerge from it's shell, the pressure exerting on the egg became stronger and soon cracks began to appear. It lasted a few hours until the rocking egg finally fell apart and for a moment, Hector stared at it in astonishment.

For nothing physical had lived in this shell apart from an almost audible sigh and the slither of a shadow into nothing.

Ears twitched and head drooped in an almost heart breaking sadness as Hector mourned over the vacant babe that should of inhabited it. Had he done something to anger a God? Was this why there was no child inside his carefully cared for egg. Or was his father truly correct in his condemnation of him, a cursed child whose presence was insult to all and any.

There was something though, a presence, an almost mischievous touch on his mind. Tail twitched and hope dawned in Hector's eyes as mind reeled, trying to figure out the mystery of his egg. It was almost like a click as he bravely reached out with his own mind to find the 'other'. A bond with a creature that could not be seen, perhaps for a shadow, a ghost that from now on, Hector would always know was there.

For some moments he was sad once again, wondering if there had been a creature in his egg that had died. Yet the lack of carcass dismissed that idea. Hector had never heard of ghosts being born, didn't they just normally... Appear? It would no doubt trouble him from days to come but nothing could deny the fact that his life would no longer be the same as it was.

In time, Hector came to call his invisible friend; Veci. Who would soon reveal himself to be more than just a floating presence.