Rapax was becoming a frequent haven. There was something about the place that soothed him. Perhaps it was the sound of the river, the waves crashing and churning as the currents drifted downstream. Maybe it was the feeling of the breeze, rich in the scent of spring’s new life and caressing his body like a familiar friend, followed immediately with the sound of the leaves as it ruffled tree branches. Somnus did not know. It was a part of Delumine, the Rapax River, a part of home, and he loved it all the same. Whenever the Dawn King found himself within the region, his stresses seemed to melt away, the weight of Kingship carried off in the currents. Out here, he was not a King. He was simply a man, flawed and imperfect and fallible, but no matter his imperfections, his love for this beautiful land would remain.

It made him feel so incredibly young, so alive…

Somnus strolled a leisurely pace as he followed the river, Alba fluttering overhead. The barn owl would dart off on occasion when something caught her eye, but otherwise would remain by the dunalino’s side. Together they stalked along the river and Somnus took caution to not slip upon the wet earth and tumble into the rushing waters below. As they progressed, keen verdant eyes would glance into the clear water at his side, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive pink dolphins that he had yet to see. They existed, he knew. It was a fact. There were no doubts… But he did hope to see them with his very own eyes, at least once, elusive and rare as though they may be.

Not too far into their stroll, Somnus’ emerald eyes focused on an ivory and sunlight form just up ahead. A pale maiden with golden tresses of molten sunlight, her hide mottled with sparse ebony spots, stood staring into the depths of the river. Had she lost something? She looked incredibly focused, if not lost in thought. Familiarity nagged at the back of the tactician’s mind, recalling the most recent Dawn Court meeting and her melodic vocals. Eulalie, a proud warrior of their Court. They had yet to truly meet, one on one. Somnus smiled, fully intending to right such a wrong.

“… Searching for something?” He questioned, the elegance of his accent warm and jovial. Alba perked up at spotting the woman, sweeping her wings upwards to venture closer to the warrior. The barn owl settled nearby on the trunk of a fallen tree, half of it submerged within the clear waters. Beady black eyes stared at the Dawn warrior, head swiveling, and Somnus chuckled at the feeling of Alba’s barely concealed curiosity. “Eulalie, wasn’t it?”

---

Elegant brows raised at Eulalie’s admittance. The tactician’s keen gaze drifted from the pale maiden to focus instead on the rushing river at their side. The waves churned and kicked up mist as they passed, the waters clear as crystal as sun shone down to reveal the colorful stones underneath. Ah. Would there ever be a day where the elusive pink dolphins would show themselves? How often had he come out here, searching for that very river mammal, but to no avail? Often. Too often. With Kasil, with Florentine, with Ulric, with no one save Alba… Yet not once had he spotted them. If they had not been written about in such detail within the books sheltered within the library, he would probably not believe that they even existed. However, Somnus was a man of facts and proof, and their multiple accounts journaled in fantastic detail helped to solidify their existence, but he would enjoy seeing the dolphins with his own eyes.

The Dawn King’s head turned to regard Eulalie, and his smile remained. “I’m afraid that they’ve yet to grant me an audience,” he murmured thoughtfully, “Though I find myself out here often, hoping that will change. To see only one would be a great honor indeed.”

The Dawn King advanced, growing closer once he was certain that his proximity wasn’t unwelcome. The last thing he would wish for would be to disrupt Eulalie’s peace and tranquility. He joined her at her side, mindful of the space between them so he would not bump her with his wings, and peered thoughtfully into the churning waves. From there, he grew silent, content to listen as she spoke. A golden head nodded, eyes skimming the waves before looking back to the sunlight stricken lady at his side. The following chuckle was deep and short, but genuine.

“Please. I’m hardly anything special.” A man, really. Nothing more. Somnus hardly saw himself as a King. Perhaps that was why he never sought out a crown to hold, like Kasil had, or the other Sovereigns of the past. “But the pleasure is mutual.” Her following words caused his ears to perk forward at attention, worry blossoming within his breast. His tendency for perfection nipped at him, churning his gut.

Not enough. You aren’t doing enough.

Was he not doing enough? If he was supposed to lead them and those of his own Court did not know his face, then was he doing enough? Were they satisfied? Happy? Safe? He had promised Kasil, his King, that he would do everything that he could to ensure the Dawn Court would prosper and thrive, yet Eulalie’s comment, no matter how innocent it may have been delivered, stung all the same. More. He needed to do more. It was only by the years and years he had spent in politics that his distress did not show in his face. Instead, the dunalino’s expression shifted to one of intrigue, brow raising, emerald eyes glittering with lighthearted mirth between their locked gazes.

The stress and dangerous need for perfection dissipated, however, its grasp upon him loosening at her teasing inquiry. Eulalie’s eyes shone is mischief, her expression honest and open, the sound of her laugh still echoing within his head. She did not judge him. She wasn’t judging him. If he could not differentiate, then perhaps he needed to stop being cooped up within the Citadel so much. Perhaps Alba was right. Despite their recent acquaintance, Eulalie’s presence was becoming oddly soothing, and he grinned ruefully. Leaning towards her, he lowered his head, his voice dropping an octave as though in conspiracy.

“Hiding, my good lady? Perish the thought. No, more like held ransom by the confines of our very own Court. There is much to be done.” His smile returned, handsome, content. Upon her perch, Alba let out a little pop, head swiveling about in search for a snack. “… But Ulric might tell you otherwise. It’s no secret that I’m far more an introvert than an extrovert. He frets that I stay inside far too often… But my number of compatriots who might accompany upon an afternoon stroll are dismal. Still, he worries.”

Never mind the time that Ulric had found Somnus cooped up within the library with copious amounts of coffee thrumming through his system, forlorn and distraught and far too many hours without sleep. Perhaps his Warden had reason to worry. Pressing on and refusing to linger, Somnus straightened with a roll of his shoulder, letting his gaze peer back out upon the river. Still no flash of pink within the currents.

“… I believe I could ask the same of you, Eulalie. What has occupied your time?”

---

The words spoken were earnestly genuine, but Somnus could not find himself believing them. Not quite. He, deserving of an imaginary crown? Hardly so. He was just a man. A flawed, troubled man, left to carry the heavy mantle of Kingship in the wake of a far more deserving man. Still, Eulalie’s heartfelt faith kindled a timid flame within his golden breast. The stresses he faced were numerable and sometimes insurmountable, but this faith, so innocently yet passionately placed, served as a reminder that he needed to simply stand back and enjoy the little things.

Funny. He could almost hear those words in the back of his head as though spoken from Ulric’s lips.

’Just enjoy the little things, Twinkle Toes.’

Alba’s words, teasing and heartfelt and loving filled his head, and it took everything Somnus had to not simply roll his eyes at the barn owl’s mocking statement of Delumine’s fine Warden. The said avian gave a satisfied flutter of her wings from her perch, beady black eyes knowing and keen as she stared upon the golden Sovereign before averting her predatory gaze into the churning waves of the rushing river.

So be it. And just like that, he let it go.

Giving a hearty laugh, Somnus pulled back just a touch as he shook his head, amusement lighting up his features. Verdant depths glittered mischievously beneath a veil of ivory silk and he spoke, lighthearted and amicable. “Perhaps I should plead for you to be my attendant,” he stated, good naturedly, “To deter the masses that cry for my attention.” From there he grew quiet, content to listen to Eulalie as she spoke. There was a melodious tone to her words, jovial and carefree and sure, as though she did not question the workings of her very own heart. It was a wonderful change from the typically cloying and stressful atmosphere that he found himself in, a breath of fresh air, and Somnus found that he was quite fond of the sound of her voice. It was curious, however, that she seemed to be so acquainted with Ulric. He had never known.

Eulalie spoke with a deeper understanding, of a wisdom that excelled beyond her years. ’I’ve spent my time getting reacquainted with myself, discovering what it is I’d like to do now that I have a whole world before me, unchained.’ Somnus’ gaze narrowed in careful scrutiny, confusion marring his expression for only a moment before it was brushed away beneath that neutral mask that he often wore. What did she mean by that? Her poise and dignity bespoke of a sense of pride, of overcoming, but the dunalino knew that it was not his place to press for answers.

They had, after all, just formally met, and Somnus was no demanding brute.

His head turned, following Eulalie’s warm chocolate gaze, to see the flitting shapes beneath the water. Upon her perch, Alba’s feathers ruffled in surprise, as the barn owl’s eyes had also caught the movement shimmering beneath the waves. Dolphins. The elusive pink dolphins. Somnus’ dark lips parted and his eyes roamed their features, watching as the two small mammals darted about in the waves, twisting and dancing within the water with a grace he could never even hope to emulate. Awe filled his breast, cataloguing every detail, every second, and a golden ear twitched back towards his companion as Eulalie spoke once more.

’The world is full of miracles, we just have to be patient enough to let them reveal themselves.’

“Truer words have rarely been spoken, my dear,” Somnus stated warmly, impressed and transfixed. The dolphins turned amidst the clear waters, dorsal fins breaching the top of the river as they played among the waves. It bespoke of a greater meaning to their life. Somewhere within the message that had been sent, by Oriens or the other patron Gods or from some higher force, was a lesson, and Somnus desperately found himself wanting to unravel the depths of it. Perhaps it was a lesson that Eulalie seemed to already understand, given the truth of her statement.

Perhaps there was much that he, a tactician and King, could learn from this jovial, heartfelt warrior at his side.

Somnus could not say for sure how long he stood there among the sun and the breeze, standing at the sunlit lady’s side, watching the dolphins play in the river. Eventually the two shimmering mammals grew bored, unaware of their spectators, and drifted further down the river until they were completely out of sight. It was a humbling experience, yet the Dawn King felt all the more privileged by it. Letting out a breath that he had been unaware of holding, he spoke, his voice hushed as though speaking too loudly would interrupt the moment that had fallen upon them.

“To witness something like this is an honor. I’m glad that I was not alone for it.” Straightening with a roll of a shoulder, the Dawn King regarded his compatriot with a certain fondness. “Imagine when we tell Ulric, hm? What might he say?” Somnus laughed, deep and full and completely. “I wish that I had brought a quill and paper, if only to document the moment on parchment. So few texts detail meetings of Rapax River dolphins."

---

“Perhaps he might,” Somnus deduced after a moment of contemplation, thinking fondly of his dear friend and the Warden’s tendency to work himself into the ground, rarely seeking respite from his bouts of patrols and guard-duty unless otherwise forced. Truly, if anyone needed a good rest away from duty, it was the blue roan. Always bound by duty and dedication, that one, and while Somnus appreciated such fealty, not that he felt he deserved such a thing, he couldn’t help but fret over his dear friend’s welfare. He and Ulric had gone a long way back, after all. Somnus only wanted him to be well and happy. “I may need to co-conspire with you to attend to him as well.”

Then, came the offer. Eulalie’s thoughtful suggestion of accompanying him to the library to pen down their breathtaking experience caused the dunalino to pause, brows raised. Verdant eyes regarded the young sunflower maiden, gaze roaming to meet her own eyes of deep mahogany. It was sudden and rather spontaneous, her kind offer, but as he mulled it over he found that the idea had a certain amount of appeal to it. While a brilliant mind, Somnus knew that two accounts of what happened would serve to better prove their documentation as true, as they had both witnessed the rare and elusive river dolphins in their brilliant splendor. Allowing his surprise to slip, the Dawn King dipped his head in a nod, the smile on his lips growing.

“That would be splendid, my dear. Your assistance in penning down the experience would be most appreciated.” Turning slightly so that he faced the waters once more, hooves shuffling upon the shoreline of dirt, stone, and grass, Somnus turned his keen eyes to Alba. The barn owl, knowing that look upon her bond-mate, spread her wings and swooped into the sky in one graceful arc, coming to rest upon the Dawn King’s croup. Sharp talons bit into his skin, but he paid it little mind, instead turning away from the river at last and tilting his head for Eulalie to fall into step at his side.

Once more their conversation turned to that of Ulric, and unbidden, he laughed. His voice echoed among the trees, pondering in good nature and affection what Ulric may think upon hearing of their little outing away from the Citadel. “Oh, indeed, my good lady,” Somnus preened, continuing to chuckle even as they began their departure from the churning waves of the river and the dolphins that called the water ‘home’, “I daresay that he will. Perhaps next time he can accompany us on a stroll, and should we get lucky once more, he will get to see the dolphins.”

That, of course, was for another day. For now, Somnus was itching to reach the library and document the rare and exciting experience they had been blessed with. Such an excitement to hold a quill and transcribe the experience would have typically caused him to launch into the air and race to the library, but, well… Eulalie was ground-born, and her presence was heartwarming and pleasant. They would walk together, arrive together, and, as one, document the events of such a riveting afternoon.

A blooming friendship, indeed.

---