Egil and Alvis were in the middle of one of their usual spats, something Alvis was getting used to. He would be a bit bratty and Egil would get huffy and they'd go like that until Linada or Vanea forced them to cut it out. Only difference was no one was stopping them right now.
Linada and Kallian were ahead, Oka still leading the way; while Vanea and Tyrea lagged a bit behind. The two men at the center of the group left to talk and do as they pleased. And so, Alvis didn't stop.
"Your usual venom is missing." He poked him in the side. "Did that goddess of yours say something?"
"None of your business." He shook his head, slapping his hand away. "Just be quiet."
"How mean." He pouted a bit. "Ever since Prison Island you've been like this. That giant was important to you, surely, but not enough to be like this. He's dead, Egil, no need to cling to him."
He expected one of Egil's snarky replies in return, but instead, there was silence. Egil looked at him and Egil's eyes widened ever so slightly, his mouth open, but no words coming out. And seeing him this way, Alvis experienced his first true emotion. Absolute horror at what had just come out of his own mouth.
"Egil-"
"No. You don't have to say anything." He was shaking now, flinching away from Alvis's hand. "Just leave me be."
He started off, dashing forward and leaving Alvis staring after him. Something he had said had upset Egil greatly, in a way he never expected… And all he could do was come to a stop, staring after him.
"You." An angry tone that was not normal for Vanea and the sound of heels quickly approaching pulled him back to the current moment. "What did you do?"
He was grabbed by his neck, lifted off the ground as Tyrea yelled out in shock. The look on her face was one of pure rage. The face of a protective sibling, he supposed, as she cut off his breathing with her grasp.
"He cannot answer you if you hold him by the neck!" Tyrea spoke up, clearly looking out for her own ass, but whatever. It got Vanea to drop him to the ground.
"What did you do? Why is Egil upset?" Vanea continued to glare down at him, holding him tightly by the shoulder now. "You better start speaking."
"I may have said something to upset him." He looked towards Egil's back with a frown. "I am… not sure what it was that upset him. Perhaps something about Meyneth or that giant-"
"You spoke to him about Zanza?! " Vanea shoved him roughly to the ground. "You know nothing of that giant's importance in Egil's life! You are not to speak to him about Zanza as if you know him!"
And with that, she stormed off, Tyrea giving him a somewhat sorry look before following after, leaving Alvis to sit on the ground.
For a moment, he left the body there, sitting in Memory Space by himself, trying to understand. He supposed he did not… understand boundaries well, and slipped up by mentioning Arglas. Had he missed something, though?
Why was Arglas so important to Egil? Was there a reason he was unaware of? It was hard to tell, though he supposed it did not matter, not anymore. He would give Egil his space, let things simmer down, and make a note to not mention the giant again.
That should be enough, right? Mortals usually let things go in no more than a week's time, Machina included. Egil would be back to his snarky self with him in time…
And so he came back to his body, Kallian looking down at him with a worried frown. "Ah, Prince Kallian. Is something the matter?"
"I noticed you were not with the group, and Vanea seemed upset, so I came back for you. Are you alright?" He offered a hand and Alvis took it. "You seemed to be quite out of it there for a moment."
"Ah, I was just… thinking." He shook his head. "Sometimes I get so caught up in my own head, it's as if I'm not here. I'm fine now, though."
"I see…" Kallian nodded as they began walking. "Are things alright with Vanea and Egil right now?"
"Not… exactly, but given time, things should be. Do not worry, Prince."
"If you say so…"
Tyrea was unsure of why she, Kallian, and Linada were the ones sent off to find more ether for Linada's rifle, but they were. After the drama earlier she thought getting Alvis away from the group would be better, but apparently not…
So now she was stuck sitting on a branch, a Jungle Quadwing having picked her up thinking she was their baby for some reason. Watching Kallian poke at it with his spear and yell about giving back his little sister while Linada watched, amused.
It almost made her long for the tense feeling the camp left her with.
"Linada! I could use your help! This Quadwing will not take Tyrea from us!" Kallian looked back at Linada and Tyrea wanted to roll her eyes.
"Of course, of course." Linada loaded her rifle with a hum. "Tyrea, how about you help, as well? Stun it for me and I can take care of it no issue."
"Me? I'd rather just stay here!" She said this, but stood as Kallian knocked it right off balance. "Just leave me!"
She knocked the thing to the branch, trying her best to stay steady herself. Looked like her actions and words weren't exactly lining up, but whatever. Not like that really mattered as Kallian dazed the monster where it lay.
Linada pointed her rifle then, a smile on her face and… Killed it with one shot to the head, Tyrea so caught off guard she slipped off the branch with the body.
"Tyrea!" Kallian dashed forward, leaping from the branch to catch her.
She felt odd for a moment, being held with such care as Kallian flew them back up to the branch and clung to her like she had almost died. She didn't even have it in her to say she could have done that herself, she had full-wings, after all!
But instead, she just sat there, and felt as if she was melting a bit. No one had ever shown so much care for her before, and she felt tears forming in her eyes. Dammit, she didn't want to cry… She didn't…
"There, there…" Kallian stroked her hair as tears finally began to fall. "I know you must have been terrified, but I've got you. You're okay now…"
"S… shut up!" She buried her face in his chest. "I hate you…!"
"Whatever you say, Tyrea…"
