"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Phoebus smiles when Zain agrees halfheartedly for him to tag along for a while. This agreement is met with squeals of excitement from Escense, who prances towards her father, encouraging the boy of fire to follow. Phoebus looks towards his mother, giving her a sly wink before nudging her gently. "Get home safe. I'll be here getting to know Escense and then..." His voice trails. He was actually unsure of what he would do next. He didn't feel it right to leave Escense alone with Zain, but at some point, he would have to leave. He hoped it would be with Escense in tow, if only for a visit.
"...I'll accompany Escense on her visit to the Dale, when the time comes." He says, looking back towards his little sister, who flounces excitedly, urging him to follow. "Please, get home safe. I love you, mom." He says to Aurora, nuzzling her cheek before turning to follow Escense and Zain. They begin to walk from the Pangean border, the fiery pair eventually leaving their mother in darkness behind them.
Escense is quick to explain what they are during - patrol. Phoebus nods, smiling. He remembers night patrols fondly, one of the only memories of his father that actually makes him happy. He listens to Escense's barrage of questions, laughing.
"I wish I was so lucky to be born with fire!" He says, gesturing to her flames that dance wildly in the dim twilight. "I went to the mountain, and the fairies blessed me with my armor. I wanted to protect my homeland, so they gave me protection to help me in that quest." He says this proudly, thinking to Kreation and the other Tephrans' quest to bring back their volcanic home. At the mention of Vic, Phoebus nods. He wonders how the colt was doing now...if he was struggling, if Jack was keeping him safe. He shakes the worry from his head. "Ah, well I hope to meet Vic soon." He glances to Zain, then back to Escense. "I guess it's only natural to become more and more different from your siblings! It is funny though that we've all been blessed with flames." He lets out a chuckle as Escense presses for more answers - this time, about his father.
Phoebus can only guess that Escense is not fully aware of how she came to be - that it was not love that brought her or her brother here. Of course, Phoebus does not mention this, especially in the presence of Zain's watchful eye. He only shakes his head. "No, Zain isn't my father," Phoebus says. "My dad's name was-" He pauses briefly, remembering his meeting with his dad. "-is Diable Rouge."
Bounding from side to side excitedly, awaiting the confirmation that our fathers were the same, I am only slightly disappointed when I am told they are not. Phoebus says his name, but I brush the thought away with my next yammering of questions. "So, what does your fire do?!" I say with wide eyes, expecting something as grand as my own powers. Ones that I haven't quite yet mastered fully. "Obliviously mine are all over my body, like I'm one GIANT fire ball. Oh, and my wings of fire of course! But I have these little floating balls of fire that follow me, I don't think the DO anything though, and I breathed fire once... I can't control it. Not yet anyhow but I'm practicing," my brow furrows for a second, allowing him time to respond before I add, "Ooooo would you help me practice? Vic was helping me but since he's gone you could help me instead! I know the perfect place! In the canyons where I can't burn anything... I started the meadow one fire once. Mom was very worried, but it was fine in the end. That's when we moved to the Dale. She said it was safer..." The true reason they moved to the Dale was protection from Zain, but I wasn't aware of that.
Prancing along the beaten path of the border I chatter away. My father follows only a few steps behind. His red glowing eyes never losing sight of me and suspiciously eyeing my brother. I hardly notice and only call back to ask of the canyons, "Father, can we go to the canyons tomorrow so I can practice my fire breathing with my big brother?!" A simple Yes of course Dear is song sweetly into the air as he agrees. I squeal in delight and continue on down the path.
Phoebus hadn't been around many yearlings in his life, save for when he was once one himself. So he listens intently to Escence as she talks, patiently waiting for a moment where he can answer her endless amounts of questions. He can feel Zain's eyes on the pair as they walk the border - they burn into his skin, hotter than the fire that decorates his flesh. He knows he isn't welcome, that he must tread carefully around him. However, he knows that the awkwardness is worth keeping his little sister safe, and even if she chooses never to leave Pangea, maybe his influence would keep her heart good.
Phoebus lets out a soft chuckle when Escence finally stops to take a breath. "Oh my powers aren't nearly as cool as yours!" He admits, smiling warmly at her. "It protects me from others. If someone tries to touch me-"He makes a sizzling sound through his teeth, laughing. His eyes glance back towards Zain, then back to Escense. Zain and Phoebus would never trust one another, but maybe they could learn to coexist - for the sake of Escence's well-being, he certainly hoped so.
Phoebus listens as she pleads with Zain to let her practice with the boy of fire. "I did know others who could manipulate elements like you. I think I could definitely help. Practice does make perfect, you know."
* * *
Patrolling the border went smoothly, and the trio decided to pack it in for the night. They head to the canyon, where Escence and Phoebus would practice the next day. Phoebus wasn't so tired though, so for a quick moment, he dips away from Zain and Escence, heading a bit further into the canyon. He never strays too far, though, always being within ear-shot of Escence.
He looks up to the evening sky, trying to identify constellations, trying to quiet his stirring mind. The stars gave him calm - they were consistent. He could always look up and see the same ones from the night before. They were so unlike life, especially his, as of late. The last weeks had been a whirlwind - finding out Tephra could come back; reuniting with his mother and father; discovering he had siblings - so many things happened all at once, and he not had a chance to really breathe. Lost in thought, he doesn't even notice one of his companions approaching...
The undead thing follows, allowing the sibling pair to chat. He wasn't stupid. He knew why the stallion stayed. The arrogant look in the blue-eyed man said it all. Two could play this game...
Following a pace or two behind, his glowing orbs faux scan the terrain. One ear trained on the pair, as well as his consciousness. Noting the fact the fire armor plates only protect him from being touched. A wicked grin curls on his devilish lips, well isn't that convenient.
Escense asks of the canyons and practicing in them tomorrow and he agrees, of course. Watching Phoebus potentially cook alive would be more than worth it. Luckily for him he was immune to the effects of fire, and death.
Circling around the border and headed to the canyons for the evening he settles in beside his fiery daughter. Her flames lick the air around her, warming it slightly, like a hearth. Being a creature of the night he simply stands, watching, as she drifts off.
Movement comes to the stranger and for a moment he muses an untimely death befalling Phoebus. One could fall victim to a number of things in the barren kingdom. Wild animal attack, fall from the canyon walls, sinking into the depths of the quicksand... Sickness. The thoughts cause a wicked grin to part his tattered lips, exposing more bone and ligament to show in the orange glow of his daughters light.
He waits patiently, assuring Escense is far enough lost to the dream world before stepping forward. The path the armored stallion took was quite easy to find, the smell of ash distinct in the air. Phoebus wasn't too far away either, but far enough to not jostle the girl awake if he might scream out into the night.
The undead thing examines the stallion as he approaches, looking up to the sky as if he would find answers there. Silly Phoebus, the only God within those stars was his master, and his master would not be answering any of his prayers. Not ever. Unless of course death is what he sought.
"What do you think you will accomplish here?" He snarls from the darkness, the red glow of his eyes piercing the nights darkness. Stopping, he waits for the other to answer. His dark magic twists a knot of hunger in his gut, begging to be unleashed.
The boy of fire does not move when the undead's voice snaps from behind him. He stands stoic, his flames never rising. Phoebus only glances back, chuckling at the question.
"Is it too out of the realm of possibility for me to just want to know my sister?" He asks simply, not really expecting much of an answer. Phoebus turns, finally allowing his eyes to truly meet Zain's. The crimson irises of his impromptu companion burn with contempt, and Phoebus tilts his head curiously. The boy of fire doesn't truly know this man's power - but he knows enough of him not to test his boundaries. Phoebus was nothing if not intelligent.
"She is nearly grown, I cannot make her leave if she doesn't wish to. I am still but a stranger." He says plainly, eyes never leaving Zain's. Even as the slight twinge of anxiety bubbled in his stomach, Phoebus never lets it show on his face. "I don't expect your pity or your sympathy, but Escence does not share only your blood. I've been robbed of enough relationships - let me have this one. If only for a little while."
This wasn't a complete lie. Phoebus did want to know Escence. He was desperate for a connection of some kind with family, and he was not yet ready to face his father and all the complicated emotions that went along with it. Being able to supervise Escence while she was in the presence of Zain was simply a perk.
Escence 
Zain 
