forum Five Half-Princes and Their Quest for A Kingdom

Started January 24, 2019 by @Bandito

tune

Damian looked over at Copper, an idea stirring in his head. “What if we used the birds?”

((aaayy that was just going through my head
"As in, got them to flap their wings a lot?"

“Yes?” Damian responded uncertainly, looking at Catori for assurance.

"That's a pretty good idea. Copper, think you could help us out again?" She turned to the bird, waving another cracker.

Copper happily accepted the cracker. ”Sure!”

Damian nodded. “Copper, go get as many birds as you can. Tell them I’ll grow some blueberry bushes if they help.” He watched the small magpie nod and take to the skies, staring nervously at the creeping mist.

"She's such a helpful bird." Catori stated, watching where she had gone for a moment. "I really hope that's just mist."

Fletcher quickly reached the highway by teleporting and riding and was halfway to Valemnia, when he decided to turn up the heat. quite literally. With a twist of a wrist he had magical energy flow from his hand extremely quickly and into the distance where he had come from just minutes before. Fletcher hope that this would certainly light a fuse of worries.

“Me too.” Damian eyed it nervously. Quintus kept trying to back away, but Damian stilled him. “I really do hate my brothers.” He sighed. “Do you see why we can’t rest?”

Catori nodded, appearing calm. If one looked closer though, they might notice her white knuckled grip on her saddle. "Incredible. You really do hate each other."

“Yeah…” Damian snorted in amusement. He looked up to the sky as it clouded over with a large flock of birds. “Reinforcements have arrived.”

"That is a lot of birds." She laughed, head tilted back as she looked up at them

“Agreed.” Damian held onto Quintus as they swooped down, beating their wings to clear the mist.

Let's hope this works. Catori watched, grinning. It was quite the sight.

After several minutes the flapping slowed to a stop as the birds landed in the trees. The forest now cleared of the fog. Damian slid out of the saddle, kneeling on the ground as he channeled his energy into growing several large blueberry bushes.

Catori watched him with a small frown. The energy draining didn't sit well with her, but she knew that it was a waste of effort to mention.

Damian remained on his knees after the bushes grew, ignoring the swarm of birds as his vision swam in front of him. His hands were both clenched in the dirt as he panted for air. Quintus swung his large head around, whinnying softly and nudging the prince with his head.

Catori slid off of Asterin and hurried over, crouching next to him. "Damian, are you okay?"

“Exhausted.” Damian wasn’t a fan of being honest with someone he hardly knew, but he was on the brink of losing consciousness and something in his gut told him Catori was a safe outlet for this. He allowed himself to lean against her to rest. “We need to keep going. I just need a moment.”

"I don't like this at all." She shook her head, but stayed otherwise still, so as not to disturb him. "It's worrying, to say the least."

“I assure you I will be alright. I fear more for what my brothers may do if we delay.” Damian didn’t seem very interested in moving. Catori was warm and comforting as far as he was concerned.

"Hmph." Catori tentatively wrapped an arm around him. She wasn't sure if that was too much, but it might be a bit more comfortable.

Damian instinctively leaned into her touch, cuddling right up to her as his eyelids fluttered shut. Copper landed on his knee with a disapproving squawk of ”Faker!”

"Copper, shush." Catori scolded, relaxing at Damian's acceptance.

“We need to get moving.” Damian murmured quietly, not moving a muscle to follow his own instructions. Catori smelled like woodsmoke, reminding him of the nights he’d spent with ambassadors encamped in the woods on their way to subkingdoms so he could learn how to be a diplomat. Peaceful nights away from his brothers and the chaos of the castle.

Copper stared at Catori, expecting her silence to be bridged with a cracker.

Catori fished another cracker out, careful not to upset Damian, and held it out for Copper. She really didn't want to move, and she was glad it didn't appear Damian actually did either.

It only took another minute or so before Damian was completely out cold. The events of the day, stress of dealing with Fletcher, and Catori’s warmth was too powerful a combination for the prince to combat.

Copper took the cracker and nestled herself in Damian’s lap to eat it.

"I know it would," Pine agreed quietly, glowering icily through the windows of the carriage as they passed far too many excited crowds for him to be comfortable. "These nobles are so worked up because my father told everyone me and my brothers were leaving. We're not exactly popular."

Victor looked back and decided his companions could handle a long ride. "You want to see the country before we start to freeze?" he yelled, turning around in the saddle.

"I see," Lotus looked out the window to see the crowds, "Are you quite sure this was the best way to leave the city?"

Catori hummed softly, watching creatures skitter through the forest around them peacefully. It must really drain him, to fall asleep so easily.

Alexia nodded, a grin on her face as she rode. It had been a while since she'd been able to ride like this and not worry about her father yelling at her for being gone. "Absolutely, just as long as it doesn't get to hot." She yelled back, urging Poe to go a little faster.