#'the sort of RBF that you only read about in scripture'

[ikarosx]

No one could cheapen sacrifice, Ikaros knew that, and Abelas would do it again, he was sure. Risk everything to save the Owlbear he loved. They both were always thinking of others before themselves, but it was true – Ikaros would stand by Abelas no matter how ridiculous the situation got. And they'd been in plenty.

The thoughts of the days that Yavanna and her pegasus had ridden together – it made Ikaros think of her stories. The power that the former queen held, the one who didn't treat Abelas the same as Titania had perhaps. As a constant reminder of what had happened. "Perhaps I'll do that." A streak of blonde in the black pegasus' mane, something that he would remember the Queen by. Something told Ikaros that maybe the old creature wouldn't last much longer, either, but he kept that to himself. His hand had remained on Abelas' shoulder, dropping after a moment as he tried to collect himself and take a breath, "Do you want to tell me when you wish to go to Ankhuria? Maybe these Griffons are the answer for the Legion, you must've been pulled to them for a reason."

"Hey-" Abelas smiled and took his opportunity to squeeze Ikaros with as much force as he could muster, which admittedly wasn't much but he didn't get many opportunities for this. He loved his brother though, if he could squeeze the life out of that cute face then he absolutely would. Sure, Ikaros was scowling all the time, never smiled, and had the sort of RBF that you only read about in scripture - but who could ever say no to a hug from him?

Abelas pat the other on the back a few times, taking in the apology that he didn't think was even remotely owed. Heavy was the head, Abelas had never envied his brother for everything legacy dictated he'd carry. "this isn't on you," Abelas said as Ikaros pulled away, kind of a bummer but the elvhen wasn't going to get greedy. He glanced at Icarus again, frolicking before he was tackled by the pair of young dragons. "I made my choice and I stand by yours. Always." It was likely that Abelas wouldn't have given Aventia a second thought if Ikaros wasn't there, but his brother's battles were his battles. He hoped the Prince understood that.

Abelas remembered a stern woman with a layer of softness beneath an otherwise prickly exterior. He didn't have the same relationship with Yavanna as Ikaros, but she was a fair ruler and a good Queen. She deserved better than a slow, bedridden death. "Freshwater and pears will help with his energy," a small kindness, something brisk and something sweet. Nobody could tell someone how to grieve, that was his choice, but an understanding presence went a long way. "I've seen pegasi with hair from their fallen riders braided into their mane, songs sung during the days they rode together." Another pang as he thought about how Yavanna would die and he wouldn't get to say goodbye. They weren't close but she'd never been cruel. It was hard to imagine his brother standing at her funeral without Abelas there at his side. Abelas didn't know if that would be enough, the winged-creatures were as sensitive as they were intelligent, but it could be a start.

[abelasx]

"Hey-" Abelas smiled and took his opportunity to squeeze Ikaros with as much force as he could muster, which admittedly wasn't much but he didn't get many opportunities for this. He loved his brother though, if he could squeeze the life out of that cute face then he absolutely would. Sure, Ikaros was scowling all the time, never smiled, and had the sort of RBF that you only read about in scripture - but who could ever say no to a hug from him?

Abelas pat the other on the back a few times, taking in the apology that he didn't think was even remotely owed. Heavy was the head, Abelas had never envied his brother for everything legacy dictated he'd carry. "this isn't on you," Abelas said as Ikaros pulled away, kind of a bummer but the elvhen wasn't going to get greedy. He glanced at Icarus again, frolicking before he was tackled by the pair of young dragons. "I made my choice and I stand by yours. Always." It was likely that Abelas wouldn't have given Aventia a second thought if Ikaros wasn't there, but his brother's battles were his battles. He hoped the Prince understood that.

Abelas remembered a stern woman with a layer of softness beneath an otherwise prickly exterior. He didn't have the same relationship with Yavanna as Ikaros, but she was a fair ruler and a good Queen. She deserved better than a slow, bedridden death. "Freshwater and pears will help with his energy," a small kindness, something brisk and something sweet. Nobody could tell someone how to grieve, that was his choice, but an understanding presence went a long way. "I've seen pegasi with hair from their fallen riders braided into their mane, songs sung during the days they rode together." Another pang as he thought about how Yavanna would die and he wouldn't get to say goodbye. They weren't close but she'd never been cruel. It was hard to imagine his brother standing at her funeral without Abelas there at his side. Abelas didn't know if that would be enough, the winged-creatures were as sensitive as they were intelligent, but it could be a start.

Ikaros wasn't a touchy person, never had been. With the force of his abilities, he tried to limit the amount of time he came into contact with one, spurned on more by touch than anything else. It wasn't always the case, sometimes it just took a glance in someone's direction, or the moment to seize him in a precognitive sense. Other times, the visions were so far ahead, it continued to haunt him. Such as the vision he'd received when he'd taken Yavanna's hand. Abelas' question had struck a nerve within his chest, one that he ignored day after day. Perhaps they were both like their father in that sense – they liked to ignore things until they were forced to stare at it in the face.

He moved forward after a second, and with only a brief second of hesitation, he pulled Abelas into a hug. His brother was always hugging, throwing his arms around Ikaros at times when he hardly expected it. But for now, he needed this. Ikaros knew he should've never let Abelas follow him to Aventia – he'd done that for him, and here Ikaros had gone and told Mythal to take the light from him to save the owlbear. But that's where Abelas' heart laid, with the land and the animals. Ikaros could never force him to understand Avalon and what it meant to Ikaros, but they always tried. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, though he wouldn't take a brush off of his apology. He was carrying guilt, but for now, Ikaros pulled away, finally thinking of an answer.

"She's fighting, I'm just not sure for how much longer." Frailty did not suit the former Queen, but she was intent on finding a way to push past it. Either way, Ikaros spent a lot of his time close by. Perhaps they all had something in common, with Abelas' loss and Tianyou's father in danger of death as well. "Her pegasus refuses to leave her," he said after a moment, thinking on when he'd tried to ask Tianyou about what his liked so he could help the grieving creature. "I've tried to get him to fly around Avalon again, but I think he's...waiting. If you have any suggestions..."