Ebony lips turning down upon his appearance was the first warning bell that went off in the cherub's mind, knowing Midas was never upset enough to greet him with such a distasteful expression. Both companions were still clamoring for his attention, but desperation made many foolhardy. Fina was screeching loudly enough to scare other birds into flight, working hard to get away from such a deadly predator. Ilaria was hissing and snarling, but it was the snarl that whipped Cera's crown back away from the stud that held the appearance of his father. Shrinking back at the lashing words, cream auds flicked back to half-mast and head lowered submissively, taking multiple steps back. Mottled wings held themselves in preparation for flight should this...achingly familiar foe decide not to deal with his chipper attitude anymore. Ilaria positioned herself on his crown protectively, body much larger as every strand of obsidian and carmine fur stuck on end as if she had been electrocuted. Though Cera couldn't tell if Fina was enraged over this now glaringly obvious imposter or the possible danger he was in, he hoped desperately it was the latter because he suddenly felt small and weak. Just like he had felt when the demon drenched in crimson had sliced his chest apart and nearly killed him with his poison. That emotion had never been linked with the face of another, and it made him feel dangerously ill for the face of his beloved father to be the first. Even so something protective flashes in his eyes at the horrible, derogatory name he dares to call Midas. Teeth grind, eyes narrow slightly, and ears neared his crown once more. Hopefully the position he was in would make it seem like fear instead of anger. Had he not been a clearly seasoned warrior, and had Cera any experience, he would have attacked the stallion without a second thought for slandering his father's name.

Fleeing to find the real Midas- though this entire scenario confused him- was indeed his first thought but it was immediately quelled by his sharp vocals. "Y-You're in Helovia, a peninsula with four gods and four herds, you're in Thistle Meadow right now," he said quickly, eyes pained. This wasn't Midas. Midas would never forget Helovia, or the herd he served so faithfully. They looked the exact same, but even Fina was loudly screeching her displeasure at the imposter. If Fina did not trust him, then Cera wouldn't either, because a bonded would never react in such a way to the one they were forever tied to. Devilish smile alights on coal lips and Cera's eyes drift down and away from the golden gaze that held no warmth that he knew of. "What...what is it you want to know?" Query was soft, hesitant, but his submission showed that he would obey and answer whatever it was this stranger had to ask. Cera had no means of defending himself, and Midas was nowhere nearby. If he didn't go along with it, he doubted he would be allowed to escape unscathed.