Spring had arrived in a slow flourish, thawing the ice of their surroundings and brightening hope into the previous shadows of his flock's faces. Winter was a harsh time for many of them, and though Kaj had been born on a tundra with snow present nearly all year round, Helovia's warm seasons had made him just as uncomfortable to return to such cold temperatures. Though mud liked to suck and cling to his lightly feathered legs, Kaj could forgive such transgressions of the earth if it meant he did not worry over the health of his family. There were no tasks to be done, nothing to forge or break in the world. It seemed everyone was merely reveling in the slow warmth budding on their skin, and peace had temporarily overtaken worry. Though he'd had no reason to be in the meadow, he'd learned from Cheveyo that it was good to escape the stress and work of his herdland, to take time for himself. From the sidelines, the king had watched with a quietly amused smile upon his face as young Ilios fought in solitude against gravity. Memories of his own failures at flight warmed him from the inside, and as he heard the muttered defeat in the young colt's voice, he stepped forward to be seen, mud squelching and signalling his appearance.

"It is not pointless, little one. Flight is difficult to achieve." Deep vocals thrummed out like a thunderous growl, but soft with care and affection. Let it never be said that Kaj was not pathetically fond over younglings. Large wings slowly lifted, flaring and illuminating every feather and filament. "How do you think someone as big as myself can achieve flight?" Humor laced his tone, eyes warm with amusement as his wings dropped to clasp round his sides once more. Spring had lifted the shadows of hunger from his ribs at last, and he was fit and glowing once more.

"This is a terrible place to first learn, and alone? You are very brave, Ilios," Kaj murmured. Turning to Nasreen he gave his brother's younger sibling a fond smile, looking between the two before coming to a decision. "Perhaps we can move somewhere more fitting? And then we can play in the mud as a reward for Ilios learning how to fly. May I teach you, little one? It would be my honor." Flight lessons were more appropriately done by the father of the foal, but as it was well known that Parelia had left with Ilios alone, Kaj felt as if it would be kinder to keep the colt from further self-harm. An adequate teacher was better than learning incorrectly in solitude.

Crowns dip and bow before him, a gesture of respect as he strides to meet them, envelope himself in the air of innocence they give off. A nod of acknowledgment to their displays are given, but he is far more intrigued by the stubborn youth and the playful Seer. Such political dances were not a necessity, not among family. Even outside the herd lands, they were held to his bosom through love and loyalty, and though he appreciated their respect he wanted only to be a carefree friend to them for one day.

Laughter tinted his maw in effervescent aural colors, unseen but audible in the deep ring of his chuckles. The child's wings stretched, still young and growing, and to his side the young seer's smile was soft and saddened by a burden Kaj could not know, could not heal. They all seem to be broken in some manner, yet they reserve those secrets to the dark corners of their minds and hearts. Would there ever come a time where Kaj could lift their spirits far enough to make them forget whatever travesties they held in the shadows of their pasts? The young boy was not nearly of proper age to have such sorrow etched into the runes of his eyes, and even his seer was far too little and sweet for such apparent despair.

Nasreen follows their lead, until all pairs are spread and inviting to the spring winds that shuffle all feathers lovingly. From the beautiful mare's lips falls a humble declaration that removes her from the position of teaching, and Kaj tutted softly and turned his full attention upon her with a handsome smile. "Nonsense, my dear. The more teachers the better." He would not allow her to merely watch, for she was a flighted figure as well. And with a slighter build than he, she would likely have different tips for the lithe boy in their midst.

Turning, he quietly started to lead them towards the harder packed earth north of their position, humming softly to himself before turning and facing the two of his flock. "Flight is all about air currents, Ilios. You need to gain adequate speed, as a new flyer, to achieve the proper liftoff for the currents to grab you. This hill will be your aide, to thrust you higher into the air." A hard thump of his forehoof upon the earth, and he smiled.

"The lower you are, and the less of a lift the current gives you, the harder you will need to flap your wings. You won't be able to lift straight from the earth until after you've built muscles into your shoulders and wing bases." Here, Kaj took a deep breath, and thrust his wings hard. He battled the weight of his own form, the gravitational pull of the earth, and with each hard thrust the buffets of wind lifted him higher until he hovered before them. Dropping easily, a light sheen of sweat coated his neck but his eyes were glowing with happiness. "Now, jumping off even a mild incline shall be a little frightful. Fear not, you shall land on your hooves so long as you prepare yourself for the landing." Gesturing to his side, Kaj awaited anything Nasreen had to share or build upon, before stepping back and awaiting whatever Ilios chose to do next.

The eyes on him do not inspire nervousness, rather they make him bold and surer than he was before. Nasreen's open appreciation of his frame was misunderstood for the practicalities of flight, and he turned and smiled at her winsomely as his wings dropped, knees bending to absorb the shock of reconnecting with the earth. She was everything of Quilyan that he appreciated, and at times it hurt to gaze upon her beautiful caricature, as it made him ever more aware of the fact that his brother was lost to him. Disappeared once more. Kaj made a mental note to pull Nasreen aside later, to ensure she was okay. He felt like a failure for not thinking to do so sooner, too involved in his own jobs, his own grief over losing one of the few people he could shamelessly confess to. But that would have to be later, as Ilios needed their full attention.

He was eager, perhaps overly bold and reckless with how he wordlessly declared his stance on Kaj's warning with a harsh snort. Kaj leveled a stare at the boy, mildly patronizing, and far too paternal for his own good. The boy's father may not be present, but that did not give the king the right to step in, no matter how his heart yearned for the possibility. "Do not be so flippant about the matter, Ilios." It was stern, but not in a severe, uncaring way. Fear was a normal, healthy emotion. Young foals often thought themselves invincible, and Kaj would not see Ilios breaking his legs because of his foolhardy desire to be fearless.

Nasreen chimed in softly, and Kaj turned his mighty head to smile upon her words, knowing well why she was warning Ilios against looking down. It was a sensation that disappeared with time, but looking down at such a low altitude was disturbing even for Kaj. It was far easier when he was higher in the skies, and why patrols were such a simple process for most pegasi. Not that there weren't disadvantages, but Ilios would not have to learn those for quite some time, when he was old enough to be assigned to a mentor and he would experience the tasks firsthand.

Together with Nasreen, Kaj watched as Ilios prepared himself, exploding off the hillside and catching the wind with ease. Kaj could not help but to beam proudly, though he knew it was a dangerous emotion to partake in. He was magnificent, no matter how awkward and fumbling his movements, and Kaj wanted to bellow out like he would have in his homeland. A cry that shook the mountains, that all the elders participated in, when such a passage was completed. He felt odd and empty without it, but his grin could not falter. Ilios landed and whinnied to the skies, and Kaj answered with his own call, forelegs lifting off the ground and wings flaring wide. He cast himself up and out, wings catching and rippling as he coasted easily down to the young flyer, grin as bright as the sun.

"Magnificent!" he cried as he landed gracefully, jogging up to Ilios and reaching a wing to nudge at him in delight, unable to contain his excitement. "You did very well, Ilios," he assured, a little more contained despite the light that flickered in his eyes. It was not an experience he would soon forget, teaching the colt to fly. Perhaps someday he could do the same for his own foal. Ilios had given him a great gift.

@[Nasreen]