ERD
It had started like a peaceful, easy-going morning. The twins had left their shared room within the walls of Terrastella’s capitol to settle down together and watch the sun rise. Ard had wanted to sketch the scenery around them and who was he to tell his typically reserved brother ‘no’? So, together, they had laid down in a nice little secluded corner, relishing in the cool morning air, and watched the sun slowly break atop the horizon. It was peaceful and nice, allowing them to get some fresh air without being bothered, but that peace didn’t last.
Erd immediately recognized Ard’s distress as the courtyard erupted in a cacophony of noise and bustle. It was a subtle, eventual enough event, but still far too sudden for Ard when he had been so focused on his art. The older twin could not see what all the general hubbub was about from where they had gathered to watch the sunrise, nor did he particularly care to investigate quite yet, because it was clear by Ard’s wide turquoise eyes and parted lips, his expression a cloud of urgency and desperation, that his brother was ten seconds away from some sort of panic attack.
“It’s okay.” Quick, warm, and loving, Erd spoke quickly to keep his brother from having a full-blown meltdown in the middle of so many gathered people. “Just ignore ‘em.” From there, he shifted where he had been standing and pressed his left side up against Ard’s trembling frame, pressing his muzzle into the taupe waves of his twin’s mane.
Court life was, in a way, similar to the life they had shared in Vreis’ rebel camp. They were treated way better, but the hierarchy - or was it a monarchy? - was far too similar for either warlock to simply settle into this place with ease and welcome it as their new ‘home’. Erd was ready to go out and meet the others who lived in Terrastella, but Ard did not. His brother had always been a recluse, but he was trying. Surely not everyone here was cruel and manipulative?
Pulling back yet remaining side by side, Erd cleared his throat to catch his brother’s gaze. He flashed a grin, all bright and merry and innocent, and motioned towards the congregated group. “I know you don’t want to, but we should take a peek. Just to see?” His brother did not need to speak for him to know that Ard thought it a dumb idea, yet there was no sign of protest on his face or in his eyes. With a growing grin, Erd reached out and nibbled along his twin’s jawline before stepping closer, bumping the other warlock teasingly with his hip as he did so. Ard, inevitably, followed.
They reached the back of the gathering, but it was still impossible to see anything given their shorter heights. Eventually there was a break in the crowd, and Erd was able to make out the form of a large goose at the center of it all. It carried a message, but they were too far away to read it. Ah, well. Perhaps they’d figure it out in time.
Just plopping the twins in here so they can see what's up
