[open] i was reminiscing just the other day

[Tarian]

Tarian had blinked and then, somehow, Starros and Areane were of a similar age that he had been when he had bid family farewell on the Pass. He had barely passed his second year when he had decided to make his way into the world, and as he watched the twins he shared with Altissima over the last few days, it made him all the more determined that they would venture into Tephra. The pair had spoken about the move several times, and some time before, had begun the migration towards the West, venturing over what used to be the South.  

Then they had lingered on the border of the kingdom until winter had set in, and though there was a part of him that had hesitated over his old loyalties to a kingdom and its Queens that were gone, the former Champion of Loess had finally decided it was time to move on. His family couldn’t stay in this stagnant state forever; with winter finally arriving and realizing that his children were growing so quickly without the protection of a kingdom, he knew that the time had come to change that. 

He had spent his entire life in kingdom service, and though he would have abandoned it if Altissima asked, she hadn’t. So they had decided on a place that would be warm, where they could both bask in the warmer temperatures and not become so reliant on hot water springs during the colder seasons. ”Ready?” he murmurs to her one frosty morning, finally ready to make the move official, looking to his mate - watching her color-changing gaze - for any indication of hesitation. 

Perhaps it was because of his own that he went searching for it on her lovely face. The last time he had done this, Tarian had only been seeking a place for himself. He had landed in Loess with the knowledge that if he was refused a place there, there was most likely a bachelor band or another place that would have taken advantage of his decade of fighting experience. Before that, it had been the Guard and Tarian had been too angry to care what would happen if they didn’t accept him. 

Now it is him and Altissima, Starros, and Areane, and though he tries to conceal his worries about what will happen if Tephra were to turn them away, Tarian begins to stretch out his wide wings and closes them again (the third time since the sun rose), mentally chiding himself since their journey through the dense jungle will be on hoof. They could fly over Tephra but finding a place to land would be another thing. The twins had ventured off earlier, and the only thing to do now was to actually go; the last thing Tarian needed now was Altissima's nod of approval (and perhaps a little reassurance) and they could be off.

@Altissima