Maleficent heard the scream, rushing over to where the sound originated from only to see Aurora laughing and Philip sitting on the ground, panting.
"What is that thing!?" the boy exclaimed, pointing to the strange looking beast in front of them.
"That's just Balthazar…He won't hurt you." Aurora stated as she helped him up.
"What on earth is he?" The young prince demanded, keeping a watchful eye on the wooden creature.
"He's one of the border guards." Maleficent stated—hiding a grin—as she landed in front of them.
She watched as he took a step back and glance nervously at Aurora who rolled her eyes.
"Forgive him." She requested earning a sound of amusement from the towering creature.
"I agree with Balthazar on this." Maleficent stated coolly, casting an unreadable look toward Philip.
"Mother! Honestly….Can you refrain from frightening him so?" Aurora stated in a low voice.
"Whatever are you talking about Beastie?" the fairy replied, a look of shock coming over her face though Aurora wasn't fooled by the woman's false innocence.
"Behave…the both of you." The blonde requested, voice almost pleading as she turned toward her godmother.
"Alright Beastie…just make sure that those imps don't get hold of him. There the one's that he has to fear the most." Maleficent replied with a smirk, watching as panic gripped the boy.
Aurora chuckled softly "Even though you're right; stop scaring him!" She retorted.
"What imps? What are you talking about?" The prince demanded, panicking now.
"Mudslingers. Nasty little creatures, they are." Diaval stated as he came through the timberline.
"Ignore them….He just doesn't like them because they helped me get back at him yesterday!" Aurora retorted, taking Philip's hand and leading him on through the moors.
Maleficent couldn't help but chuckle as she watched them go.
"I think the fledgling is a bit vexed with us." Diaval stated, earning an eye roll from Maleficent.
"Oh come now…she will get over it." The fairy stated before taking to the skies.
"What was they talking about?" Philip questioned as they walked.
"They were teasing…the Mudslingers won't hurt you." Aurora replied before adding "though you should keep an eye out for them….they do tend to be mischievous."
Later that evening Maleficent went to check on the two, finding that Philip was panting heavily.
"What happened?" She asked, slowly landing in front of them.
"She led me all over this place….and over every bloody embankment there was." He replied, earning a smirk from the fairy and a giggle from Aurora.
"I half thought that you may have been running from something." The fae replied with a chuckle before asking
"Have you met any of the other creatures?"
Aurora chuckle "the water sprites…..that was about it. I tried to keep him away from the mudslingers since he has white on." The teenaged queen replied.