They are kissing the sky.

At last, he has learned enough to keep himself comfortably within the boundaries of the air. Heart pounded in slim chest with wild abandon, rejoicing in the feeling of flight that was ingrained in the very marrow of his bones. Long caramel and white wings stretched out to embrace every draft, every breeze. Though his body is still stuck in a time seasons ago, his feathers have grown to the proper match. He was simply built for flying, body constructed with the lightest touch so that he could embrace the bright sapphire of the sky with wild abandon. So many lessons, a thousand starry nights where he had snuck away from the warmth of his father's side to let the warm currents drift lovingly beneath him. At last, it had paid off. Soft, bubbly laughter fell from tender lips, only to be swept away behind him on the wind. Ilaria clung to his shoulder, used to the repetitive motion of his body by then. Together they surveyed the small world beneath them, dark umber and bright emerald eyes sweeping together over crevices that, though well-known, were suddenly so new. Cera didn't dare climb too high, but it was so impossibly hard not to. Everything within told him to move, every change in wind making something instinctual twinge inside him, telling him to move with it, muscles preparing for something long before his mind made the conscious decision to continue a plain flight forward.

But he could not stay forever, as much as he wanted to. Midas was sure to be off by then, and he never missed welcoming his father back from his duties. Ever since the death of his mentor and idol, Cera had been very careful to always shower him with more love. Ilaria would just watch with calm, knowing eyes. They had grown exponentially closer with every day, becoming so in tune that they moved like magnets. Words were not needed, for she was still just a babe. Emotions had always been worth more to Cera anyways. Realizing he was stuck in thought, Cera dipped his left wing and turned in a slow, loose spiral, letting the wind guide him down without a thought. After a few times crashing and burning, and Ilaria hissing unhappily at their bumps and bruises, Cera had realized that if he over-thought everything, he would definitely mess it up. If he relied on age-old instincts that were born into every winged creature, and simply let his mind go, then anything was possible. Ilaria moved with him as he spiraled down, Cera being aware of how far to tilt to make sure she was not dislodged. Carefully he alighted on the sand once more, trying to make it as smooth as possible for his bonded. Jogging for a few steps to get rid of the extra momentum he had, the growing colt glanced around eagerly for Midas, or even Fina. He'd gotten a bit more attached to the fire bird, and she didn't scare him nearly as much as before. Sandy ears flickered as he moved over to their tree, finally used to the impossible lengths of his legs. It hit him at random times that he really was growing. How long had it been since he'd tripped helplessly over his legs? Or had been completely oblivious to the uses of his wings? That, perhaps, was a gift. Ever since he'd accomplished the basics of flying, he'd been working on overcoming every last trace of fear that had been placed inside him from the attack. That warm Tallsun day, he could say with the softest courage that he was almost normal again.