The Prince had caught wind of the rumors, the tangled, whispered words of Hector's reappearance. He had not dared to believe, too tired of having his hopes dashed and crushed like waves upon a crag. Surely if the soldier truly had returned, he would have sought out Cera and Megaera? Once upon a time they had been a trio, unbreakable, unstoppable. The Three Musketeers of the sand and surf. Except Cera knew all too well the finnicky nature of friendship, his own inadequacies when life had swallowed him whole into the blackness of despair a sore spot of hypocrisy. Yet as he coasted down the ivory stretch of sunlit sand, he could not deny the familiar glowing rust of the tribrid's coat. 

Gracefully ignoring the sting of loneliness and the barrage of questions, the Golden Prince instead turned his gaze to the wingless woman on the other side of the water. For a moment he hesitated, not wanting his reunion with Hector to happen in this manner, and unsure if his presence was necessarily required. But he had little else to do, and wasn't that a pathetic reason for swooping down to meet them? 

Hooves skimmed the shining surface of the water, landing with a soft whush of ruffling feathers on hot wind and cold water on long legs. A respectful smile and courteous nod were afforded Hector, too reserved to offer anything more with his fears and doubts made real. Especially in the presence of someone who was not of their flock. 

Speaking of...

Cera turned verdant orbs to the tiny dame, feeling oddly stilt-like next to her petite frame as his wings came to shelter his sweat-damp sides from the beating sun. 

"Hello, I am Cera, the head Forger here." The words were transported on a warm, welcoming smile. Cera did not fear those on the border, not when he bore the scars of far crueler, more gruesome monsters for everyone to see. So why not set them at ease instead with the radiance of his smile?

The pale golden rose stares between them as if unsure what to make of them, and Cera's smile deepens with undeniable warmth and amusement as she stutters senselessly for a few moments. It's cute, and endearing, and it helps to loosen the threads of tension coalescing on his frame from being so near to Hector. Who turns to speak to him as well, deep voice rumbling quiet apologies that the visitor surely did not need to hear. Cera nodded his head in similar reserved silence as he felt the gentle brush of Hector's feathers against his own, accepting the man's words. There would be time later for talking, but for now Cera turned his handsome face towards the shy dame on their doorstep. They had their duties, for now. 

"Always a pleasure to meet another crafter, Miss Eldala," Cera spoke kindly, his smile warm and excited with the prospect of another potential tie to the other herdlands with this shy visitor. But she appears to gather her courage with that announcement, and Cera's verdant orbs shine with pleasure at the prospect of helping her achieve whatever she had set out to do. The fact that she was alone was worrying, for normally there was a diplomatic entourage involved, and he was momentarily worried for her safety. Perhaps she would permit him escorting her back home after she was done. 

Hector answered her first, and Cera waved him off with a kind smile. "Ilaria and I should suffice, it would be remiss of me to take you from your duties to aid with my own." The red panda with her climbing skills and agile paws would be a perfect pair for his weight and wings. Cera pulled the leather thread around his neck free to dangle the key against his scarred chest with a smile before letting it drop once more. 

"This will help you cross the waters to the Throat without wings. May I escort you?" A boyish grin crosses his face as he turns, gesturing lightly with his arched neck towards the bridge entrance. It was always fun to see their reactions to the magical bridge, since Cera rarely used it himself except in events like this. "I'm sure we can send you back with enough fronds," he assured gently, a smile still present on his face as he waited for Eldala to accompany him across.