It has been days since Maze had brought them here. Days in which Vital had huddled close to his twin, living in terror that the beast might find them here. That it might have followed them from the clearing to the safety of this lake in the mountains. But as the days pass and no threat emerges, Vital slowly begins to relax. Slowly begins to return to the boy he had been before that terrifying day in the forest.

Zephys is quiet, as he so often is, but Vital begins to grow restless. The part of him that had longed for adventure not so long ago still lays dormant, he finds himself itching to do something. Children are not meant to spend their time cowering in fear, and as the fear distances itself from him, Vital finds himself more and more fidgety.

So he begins to wander.

Not far (never far - not when Zephys is his anchor), but curiosity about this place overwhelms him. Though he does not stray beyond shouting distance of his twin, he begins to explore the confines of the small patch of woods and the lakeshore they had sequestered themselves in. As he meanders slowly forward, he reaches out idly to taste one of the purple flowers hanging low on a nearby vine.

When he finds it slightly sweet, a hint of bitterness to cut the edge, he nibbles a few more. And a few more, until he begins to feel slightly ill with the number he had inadvertently eaten. Suddenly regretting his impulsiveness, he drops the vine that had been in his mouth with a huff. Turning to return to his twin, Vital is taking a step forward when he pauses, eye catching on movement not too far away. He freezes, going still as a statue, suddenly terrified that the beast had come back.

He nearly sighs in relief when he realizes the movement is not a great scaled beast, but a small creature with a bird’s head and long, tufted tail. Though he is not certain whether the creature is friend or foe, it is at least small enough that he doesn’t believe it could carry him off to a lair where no one could hear his screams.

Eyeing the creature warily, he straightens and shifts to step slowly away when the grass nearby erupts with movement.

Nearly leaping from his skin, Vital scrambles backwards as his wide gaze falls on a colt with shimmering black feathers. Heart beating loudly inside his chest, he notices the other boy appears to be older than him. He is definitely bigger. Without even realizing he has done it, Vital’s coat shifts abruptly, red and orange and black changing to the greens and purples and muted browns of his surroundings.

When the boy steps forward, asking if he’s a snack (the creature behind him even appearing to chatter it’s approval), Vital scrambles even farther backwards. He’s moving so swiftly his legs nearly tangle together until his rump smacks right into the trunk of a tree. “No!” he quickly shouts, flames licking over his skin as the change threatens.

Then the boy grows excited and claims him as a friend. Vital nearly sags in relief at that. Only self-preservation keeps him upright. Maze had never told them anything other than that they would be safe here. He has no clue whether that meant he was supposed to be this colt’s friend, but it sounds infinitely better than being a snack.

So he forces himself to smile, though it is stiff and trembling.

“Yes,” he agrees, nodding vehemently. “Yes, that’s it.” He clears his throat and straightens again, coat fading into the familiar hue of embers. “I’m your new friend. I’m Vital.”

As the other boy follows with eager steps, Vital presses as far into the tree as he physically can. He’s still not entirely certain the older colt wouldn’t decide he is a snack again. His eyes dart between the stranger and the creature behind him. To his immense relief, the griffon starts nibbling at the feather’s at his side rather than following the other colt closer.

Luckily for Vital, Malik seems to accept him at his word and offers his own name in response. Though, considering his next words, he couldn’t relax even if he wanted to. He tries not to flinch when Malik gestures at him, seemingly unfazed by the thought of his mother eating whoever this Anath is.

Of course, considering Malik’s first reaction was to ask if he is a snack, Vital supposes maybe it isn’t strange to him at all.

Swallowing hard, Vital nods again. “I… guess so,” he agrees uncertainly. He had never tried to camouflage himself on purpose, but he would do it if he had to. And since Zephys hadn’t followed him, he could be sneaky enough. Glancing quickly around, he quickly double checks that Zephys hadn’t followed him and is relieved when he doesn’t see his twin’s familiar form.

As Malik fires off two more questions in rapid succession, Vital drags his attention back to him, eyes widening. “Um,” he starts with a frown, fiery eyes crinkling. “I don’t know Raum.” His frown deepens. “And I’m not sure.” His ears flick nervously as he glances to the sky shrouded by leaves. With a wince, he adds, “Not faster than a dragon.”

Oh how Vital would have squirmed if he knew that one of the biggest dangers in this kingdom and the woman who had been his savior are one and the same. Fortunately, he does not. To the young phoenix, Mazikeen is nothing more than the woman who had rescued him and Zephys from certain death at the claws of a monster. A part of him even now idolizes her for it.

When the other boy informs him of how lucky he is that he hasn’t been eaten yet, it startles a laugh from him. It’s an uncomfortable sound, but a laugh nonetheless. Of course, he knows exactly how lucky he is, and in his naivete, Vital doesn’t hesitate in saying so. “Yes,” he agrees. Swallows again. “I was almost eaten, but I got saved.”

A small smile pulls at his lips as he peers a bit owlishly at Malik. The first tentative offerings of genuine friendship are in that shy gesture.

He perks up when the darker colt mentions he is almost faster than a dragon. If it is something that could truly be taught, Vital would dearly love to learn it. He has no desire to be prey again, and if he could be fast, maybe he wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.

“Okay!” His voice is more enthusiastic this time, fueled by that desire to survive. If Malik would help him with it, he certainly wouldn’t turn it down. He is a little less certain about stealing someone, but getting auras and wings sounds pretty cool. For now at least, he would ignore the first part. Maybe his new friend likes to make jokes. Instead, with a thread of excitement, he asks, “When can we start?”

Despite his earlier fear, Vital finds himself gaining confidence rapidly. Before the attack - the terror of the dragon and the fortuitous rescue that had followed - Vital had always been the more daring of the twins. Had always been the one to push his brother into their escapades. He had been the reason they had been there that day, when the dragon attacked.

For days, the guilt of that memory had eaten at him. The only thing that had kept him from being consumed by it is the fact that Zephys is safe. Unharmed. Now though, Vital would do anything to ensure his twin stays that way.

So he shoves his fear aside, nodding again when Malik repeats how lucky he is. He tilts his head when he suggests maybe Vital is actually a good luck charm. A small laugh escapes his lips, quickly smothered. He doesn’t believe it, but all he says in reply is “Maybe.”

It’s clear the other boy is rapidly trying to reassess things. When he offers to start right now, Vital allows an excited grin to begin pulling at his lips. It’s tempered briefly when he remembers his brother. A quick glance around tells him Zephys still hadn’t followed. But maybe, if he were careful, he could go train and be back before his twin starts worrying.

Making up his mind, he turns his gaze back to Malik and nods. “Yes,” he says resolutely, fire-bright eyes gleaming with excitement. “Let’s go.”