#verendus

"Why are we stopping?" Tylren called out, swooping down on Verendus.

"I don't know. Aerenstraz! Give me a moment to dismount," Endrov grunted, shifting his weight to land on his feet as the dragon transformed into his visage.

"I cannot go into the Azure Span. I would be unwelcome, I think," Aerenstraz said gruffly, raking a hand through his hair as he looked toward the snowy forest in the distance.

"Alright then," Endrov said, wandering to Verendus, preparing to climb up behind Tylren.

"What? No! We're not just leaving him here without asking what is going on?" Tylren said, steering Verendus aside to prevent Endrov from getting onto the saddle with him. "Why can't you go to the Azure Span?"

Aerenstraz turned back, looking rather annoyed by being put on the spot, but not enough to not answer. "Kalec and I are fighting. Probably. I don't know, it's been a decade or two."

"Kalec…Kalecgos!? Why would you be fighting with him?" Tylren pressed while Endrov watched with his arms crossed.

"I said things. He said things. I said more things back," he answered vaguely.

"Alright then," Endrov said again, readying himself to attempt to try and get on Verendus.

Tylren shook their head. "Endrov, please. We are not leaving him behind."

"He doesn't want to go forward," Endrov pointed out. "We have a mission."

"This is one of those times where there is more going on than what is being said" Tylren said, letting Verendus trot out of reach. "He is our friend, we should ask him why he really doesn't want to go forward."

"I would think of him as more of a steed," Endrov hummed.

"I am not your damned mount," Aerenstraz hissed.

"True, if you were we'd be in there by now," Endrov snarked back.

Verendus marched between the two as Tyelren spun whipped his head back and forth to give them a reproachful look. "Enough of that. Aeren, just explain what went on. Perhaps things are not as dire as all that. Especially given what we're trying to accomplish."

Aerenstraz held up his hands and shook his head in defeat. "Fine. It's a little hazy still, but it was just a bit after the Nexus War. And I…," he started, closing his eyes as recalled the memory.

"What do you mean you're leaving? You are the Aspect! You're the heir to the Blue Dragonflight! Call them back," Aerenstraz demanded "And if they won't, does it matter? You can rebuild your flight. Things are only as doomed as you let them become."

"You don't understand. They didn't want me," Kalec dismissed as he firmly shut his tome. "I am staying here in Kirin Tor. It is better this way."

"Then make them want you. Show them that you still have pride. I know you care. You deeply care. It is the root of who you are," Aerenstraz protested. "If you need help, then I will stand beside you."

"To what end? What could you possibly do for me? For my flight" Kalec asked.

Aerenstraz stepped back, balling his fists. Maybe some part of him knew Kalec didn't intend to mock him, but in the moment it felt like a low blow. "Forgive me for lacking the power of my brothers. It is always great to be reminded I am my mother's favorite also-ran," he spat. "You know damned well what I meant."

"I never know what you mean. When you manage to attempt to say or do anything that might show signs of depth, you subvert it by running off to whatever mortal vice has decided to satiate you in the moment," Kalec responded, staying collected in the face of Aeren's growing anger.

"My mortal vices?" Mine? I am not the only one who's….you and …," Aerenstraz started, struggling to restrain words as his rage built.

"Don't you dare bring her up," Kalec growled, Aerenstraz hitting a nerve.

Aerenstraz wanted to scream. No, roar. His skin bristled, as if he might transform on the spot. "Where do you think my father… My…. How I feel…and she…," he said disjointedly, starting to shake. He'd been there at her inception. He sang the lifesong for his father, aiding in the little way he could. How could a piece of himself not have been…

He shook the thought off. "If she was so damned important to you then go drown yourself in her then!"

Kalec said something, but he did not hear. He stormed off, transforming as soon as he felt open air then flew off. He barely recalled what came after, eventually waking up in some inn in Silvermoon being called to his mother's side for something or another.

"I said something that would hurt him. The most hateful thing I could think of. Because I was hurting. I'm not great with anger. I tend to say the opposite thing of what I mean to. And well, it might have been decades for you but as a dragon, in that time, it might as well have happened yesterday.," Aerenstraz answered, lowering his head.

"From what I have read, Kalec is a kind person. What could you have possibly said?" Tylren asked sympathetically.

"I'd rather cut out my tongue than ever let myself breathe life into it again. Like I said, it was the most hurtful thing I could have think to have said in the moment," Aerenstraz answered.

"Well, you can't know if you're unwelcome until you are told otherwise. At the very least, you can apologise," Tylren pointed out.

Aerenstraz furrowed his brow then wiped his hand over his face. "I suppose you're right."

"Oh!" Endrov let out, pulling the pairs' attention.

"Is something wrong?" Tylren asked.

"The opposite of hate is love," Endrov said confidently.

Tylren and Aerenstraz stared for a moment before the former tilted their head at him. "Yes, that is…correct. Why is that suddenly a revelation?"

"He says the opposite of what he meant; therefore, he is in love with Kalecgos," Endrov said, sounding much like he solved a great mystery.

Aerenstraz turned his head quickly, transforming back into his dragon form with a frustrated snort, starting to waddle away, ready to take flight with out them.