She was watchful as he taught her things about that faraway island, the only other territory she could see from her recent hiding places near the coast. The only one she’d ventured into had been Sylva, where she’d met him as a child. But she did enjoy studying him. She liked to see his expression when he spoke, liked that it seemed to always soften hers too. He was her only friend, maybe, if that was what they were.
”Tephra has a forest too, a rainforest,” he told her. She smiled, her eyes alight with curiosity, wondering at the distinction between those types of forests. An island forest, her forest, a rainforest. Maybe she could see them all one day and know as much as Ivar did. Tephra, she committed to memory. Tephra has a rainforest.
”I do like it here,” he confirmed, which was met with a mix of pleased pride and uncertainty beneath her smile. Perhaps it was the forest he came to visit when he made these trips. Maybe he did it far more often than she knew and only happened upon her. She couldn’t help but feel doubtful anyone would want to see her when she’d been abandoned as a child, and now also by her almost-mother, perhaps. She’d never truly know.
He began reaching for her, and unlike the last time, she held still without flinching, showing a little trust in him this time, though her pulse skyrocketed and raced the beat of hummingbird wings. It almost felt like time had slowed to a dramatic crawl as her skin tingled and the flow of the fog shifted. Her attention caught on something, her gaze almost sliding to the side to see, but then she saw his smile quickly drop and locked back on him again with eyes slightly widened.
In the next moment, his almost gentle touch had turned rough and he shoved her back and stood before her, shielding her with his body. She squeaked in surprise, stumbled a little in a mess of willowy legs. Her wings shot outward, balancing and aiding her to right herself quickly. Huddled there with them bowed, she hesitated, ready to take flight. But Ivar held steady, so solid and sure, and she realized she hadn’t been afraid. Only surprised by the sudden movement.
”You two seem to be lost,” a new voice said, one she certainly didn’t recognize and had her peering with a puzzled frown from around Ivar. Far too sharp, too bitter, to be anyone she’d met here before. New to their home. But it didn’t sound like anyone the ice king would allow to be here either, and she’d seen how he was especially particular about who was welcomed into their Taiga. It had always made her feel safer knowing they were hand-chosen, and Daddy had yet to run into a problem with a single one of them.
”Since you disrespect my kingdom, I might as well show you what staying will entail...” he taunted, trying to come closer but blocked by Ivar’s larger form before him. The way saliva was flying after his words reminded her of a poor creature Daddy had to take away, put down so it wouldn’t infect the others in it’s helpless, mindless madness. It can’t help it, he’d said sadly, this is the best thing for it now. She watched him warily from where Ivar had placed her, remaining silent as she processed his strange words. This was not Ruan.
”I think we’re in the Taiga,” Ivar responded, standing resolute before her. She moved then, thrusting herself into the air and hanging aloft to watch safely from above them, her wings vanishing and sides turning as smooth and sleek as those without the same. If there’s ever trouble, just stay clear of it until it’s dealt with, another lesson affirmed her instinctive maneuver.
”And since when is just standing by the river disrespectful,” Ivar taunted back to the stranger. She wanted to point out to Ivar that this was not the king, was not Ruan, not realizing Ivar had already met him once before. But she held quiet for now, watching intently with alert, green eyes for any reason to dive back down.