The steel knight continued to walk, wings arched and outstretched one tip running along the rough damp walls of the cave, and the other delicately placed upon the feathers of Nasreen. A laugh, gentle and bittersweet sang to his ears as she began to speak of her family. He was envois of her siblings, to have that blood companionship as a child of youth. The one he noted in his mind however, was Quilyan. He resided somewhere here in this kingdom of Helovia, reunited and then segregated by darkness. And for a moment, he wondered if she held that same sadness, as he did in his heart for his brethren.

They were not bound by blood, but raised together in a kingdom, they fought together, learned together, bled together. These were his most trusted companions, his friends, his brothers. Soft thick lobes fell to the sides in though as he remembered their bold faces. The last he saw of them before the dragons had taken Artemis. A gentle shake of his head warned himself not to get too deep in thought, in fear of regret, in fear of wondering where they were, if they were alive.

A faint hint of glowing gray appeared in the distance, perhaps the reflection upon the dark walls of the entrance. In hopes the light would have shimmered upon his delightful companion, he turned to gaze upon her, where she was standing in the darkness, and still nothing. But she questioned him now, and a faint smile creased his ivory dipped lips.

."I had many brethren, none bound in blood however. They were my dear companions, my friends, my brothers." Tones were deep, humble and proud to speak of them. A noble band they had called the Squadron Hawks. He let his memories of them be strong and powerful, as he returned his golden gaze to watch the journey before them. "Artemis.." He breathed the name of home softly through baritone vocals. "A kingdom of rolling mountains, lush waterfalls and rainforests below the haze of clouds. Artifacts of gold glittered with the rise, and the setting of the sun. " His eyes closed for a moment, as if he could see it again, to feel the warmth of the breeze upon his skin, the waterfalls mist to clean his wings of this dusty mess. The feeling hit him in the gut, as he lowered his silver crown slightly. "Now it’s a wasteland, of ash and dead pine." His voice mixed between anger and a somber loneliness.

Lobes arose from their slicked back status, to perking towards the growing rays of light. Turning to gaze into the shadows and gazing down upon his hooves, a small glint of gold could be seen. They would be free of this darkness soon.

@[Nasreen]