When his father had proposed a plan to go out with just the two of them and their bondeds, away from the citadel and the masses of Delumine, Regis wasn’t sure he had ever experienced a greater excitement during his short lifetime. Throughout the night prior to their departure, the young Prince struggled to find rest, getting up to quietly peek out the window to gaze across the moonlit landscape and imagine himself out there exploring it alongside his father – but just as quickly as he began to fantasize the adventure they would share, a soft but demanding noise from either Alba or Tabbris would send him scurrying back to bed.

Eventually morning came, and with it the realization that he’d have to go all day and all night without his mother. The boy’s mood faltered as they said their goodbyes, for even if they were just for a short while, Regis had never spent an extended amount of time away from her. Before the tears brimming in his eyes had a chance to fall, the yearling turned to follow after his father, but not without one last look, a final goodbye and a promise to behave.

Putting the citadel behind them until it could be seen no more, Regis took the opportunity to stretch his legs and romp about with Milo hot on his heels, the kit yipping and yowling gleefully as he darted to and fro. Regis was full of laughter and danced about his father in circles, but when their play winded down, the Prince fell into step at his father’s side and took in the scenery with curious, wondrous eyes of blue and green. Questions spilled from his lips like a river into an ocean – what was that animal called, had his father ever seen this or that before, did Somnus think his mother would be worried over them, would they see anyone else while they were gone, and so, so much more.

With time they broke from the forest and into the rolling, grassy plains to the northeast of their home. Regis was more like a deer bouncing through the grass than anything, head held high as he attempted to see over the browning grasses. It was a futile attempt, however, and with a soft noise of disappointment he shifted closer as instructed. “I bet me and Milo could find our way back,” the dun piped up, ever optimistic despite having never been in this area before, “But… I don’t wanna get separated from you, papa.”

Abruptly his father stopped in front of him, the colt clumsily running into the back of his legs with a soft, surprised ’oof!’ Beside him Milo had halted as well, and from their strengthening connection he could feel the fox’s uneasiness. Turning, Milo hunkered down then leapt up onto Regis’ back for a better vantage point. Regis’ ears tipped to the outside and then forward, and moving just a little closer when Somnus spoke, the yearling squinted to try and see better – but of course, it didn’t help given his scrawny height. “… No,” he said with a shake of his head, “I don’t see anything. And neither does Milo.”

Together they progressed, and thank Oriens the grasses gave way for him to see. Indeed there was a strange glow emanating from a pool of water, and upon spotting it the boy gave a soft gasp. His eyes grew wide and he took three hurried steps closer before remembering his promise to be good, and from there he matched pace with his father. When they reached the edge of the pool, Regis lowered his head to better inspect it. His reflection was crystal clear, so much so that it looked like it could jump out of the water and join him at any moment. He would have entertained the thought further if not for the sudden, excruciatingly dry sensation that filled his throat, and without warning his ribs rattled with a cough just as the same happened to Somnus. To be completely honest, Regis was frightened for a moment that his father would see it as a sign of his sickness coming back and they’d have to turn back around – but oddly enough, he had coughed in the same manner at the same time, too.

Regis looked on in mild fear as his father began to enter the strange pool, but… against his worries, nothing happened. “Inane?” He repeated as though not understanding the word, his little face scrunching, “Do you mean… insane?”

Looking back down into the cool liquid, the colt shifted closer at his father’s gentle urgings and outstretched a single hoof to paw at the edge as though testing it. Gingerly he took his first step into it, followed by a second, third and then fourth until he summoned all of his courage and plunged himself in after his father. His weight send the water up in a splash, droplets raining down on them and splattering across the rippling surface and across his face. Unlike his father, he could only barely touch the ground and was on the verge of swimming, but where fear had once been joy now reigned, laughter on his lips.

"Speaking."