Matthew looked up when he saw Arthur. "H-Hello Arthur….What are the rocks for?" he asked. Arthur's eyebrow twitched. "They're scones. I used to make them all the time for you and your brother. Would you care for some as dessert? I also brought you up some tea," said Arthur.
"Um…" Mattie hesitated before taking one of the scones to be polite. Arthur smiled so brightly when Mattie took a bite that he had to force himself to smile. "T-These are great…" he lied. Arthur grinned. "Why thank you. Now, why don't you tell me a little more about the village," he asked.
Matthew sighed. "Is that why Alfred got upset? Because you asked him about the village?" he asked. Arthur nodded. "Yes...I got a bit upset when I heard that they pulled feathers out of his wings," he said slowly, not sure if Mattie would tell him anything. Mattie blinked.
"What?! He never told me that! I only knew about them throwing rocks. I thought that was why he wanted me to go with him to the markets," said Mattie angrily. Arthur sat next to him. "I'm sorry. I've made you upset as well. Why don't you tell me about yourself? Have you and your brother gotten any schooling?" asked Arthur.
Mattie nodded. "We finished about thirty years ago. Alfred and I still go every once in a while to keep our minds sharp," he said. Arthur smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. I used to read to you boys when you were younger. Do you remember that?" he asked. Matthew smiled. "I remember some stories about knights and fairies," he said.
Arthur's smile widened. "Yes, yes! You boys would cuddle up next to me and get so excited for what would happen. I remember Alfred used to want to be the hero of every story. When you two played together, he would be a knight or something of the sort and you'd be his, as he said, 'loyal sidekick'," he said, laughing a little.
Mattie rolled his eyes. "He still has a hero complex. I'm the idiot who has to keep him from breaking his neck," he said. Arthur laughed. "I'm not surprised. Alfred did come up with a lot of stunts. I remember he'd convince you to climb trees with him and he once managed to get the two of you stuck. I had to fly up and grab you two," he said.
Mattie smiled and hesitated. "Arthur, did I ever actually fly? Y-You know, with my own wings?" he asked. Arthur smiled at him sadly. "I'm sorry lad. You managed to get yourself a few feet off the ground but nothing much more. If we needed to travel, Francis and I would carry you two. In fact, I'm surprised Alfred knows how to use his wings. We never taught him."
Arthur put a hand on the younger boy's back. "Matthew, I am so sorry for what happened to you. W-We tried so hard to prevent it. Francis and I will explain after dinner, but know that none of this was your fault. You didn't deserve to have your wings taken away. You're welcomed in our flock, in our family, no matter what," he said.
Matthew blinked and smiled. "I've been looking for you guys for years...Alfred didn't believe there was anyone else like him out there...I'm glad I didn't give up. I-I wouldn't mind staying if you and Francis d-don't mind," he said.
Arthur opened his mouth when Francis came bursting in, rushing at Matthew with a hug. "Oh mon petite that would be quite wonderful! I missed having mon infantile. I will cook for you every night and buy you clothes and I would love to show you the markets and have you travel with me!" said Francis.
"Frog! Were you listening through the door this whole time?!" asked Arthur with a slight smirk. "Oui and it was quite worth it. I have no regrets!" said Francis, squeezing the daylights out of Matthew. Arthru smirked. "As you can see, we have absolutely no qualms about you returning home," he said.
Matthew practically beamed, hugging the two of them. "Do you think your brother might stay?" asked Arthur when the french gushing quieted. Matthew hesitated. "I don't know. Alfred can get overwhelmed with this type of stuff easily. He would hate it if we pushed him too much…" he said.
Francis nodded while Arthur frowned. "I suppose we'll just have to work to convince him indirectly," he said. Francis blinked, grinning. "We can show him the market. I'm sure he'd love it. They both would. Besides, they could use some things if they plan on staying for a while," he said.
Arthur nodded. "It would be a good chance for him to meet the others. That, and I do need to pick up some ingredients for some potions I'm working on," he said. "Potions...Lukas said you just manipulate natural energy," said Matthew, confused.
Arthur smiled. "I do...but there's different ways of manipulating that energy. I actually sell potions from time to time at the market," he said. Francis nodded. "While I sell clothing and baked goods," he said. Mattie nodded.
"Alfred and I usually do chores for other people. Alfred doesn't really like the markets but he's known to build things or invent things and would sell them off to people who were interested in them. I help him with his bigger ideas and sometimes dabble on my own. Usually I just taking care of sick animals," he said.
Alfred ran into the room, wincing a little as he jostled his injured wing. "Francis, your bird came back," he said, waving a letter. Matthew jumped up. "What did they say?" he asked. Alfred's face became a bit stormy. "We're in trouble," he said. Matthew sighed. "They figured it out?" he asked.
"Figured what out?" asked Arthur. "That we left the village boundries...It's illegal for anyone to leave the village to go to the mountains. They sent someone to Carlos's house and he apparently covered for you and left me out to dry. Figures," he said. Mattie frowned. "Well if you two need to stop fighting so much," he said.
Alfred made a face. Arthur quickly jumped in. "If you two like, we could go fishing in the creek. I-" he was cut off by a brown bird hitting him in the back of his head. "Bloody hell!" he yelped, jumping. Alfred snorted and Mattie held back a smiled. "It looks like your brothers have a message for you mon chere," said Francis with a smirk.
"Now of all times? You two go on. I need to remind this bird of how to properly greet someone," mumbled Arthur angrily. Alfred grinned. "Sure. C'mon Mattie!" he said, grabbing his twin's arm and dragging behind him. Mattie rolled his eyes, happy to see his twin had some of his energy back after the past few days.
The boys climbed their way down to the creek, Mattie beating Alfred at their little foot race. "Not fair dude. I'm still aching from falling out of the sky," said Alfred. "I fell out of a tree! I'm hurting too," argued Matthew half-heartedly. Alfred rolled his eyes and walked into the creek.
Mattie followed, carefully rolling his pants up first. Alfred let his good wing trail in the water. "What do you think of them dude?" he asked, gesturing to the caves where Francis and Arthur were. "They're nice. They seem to care a lot about us," said Mattie. Alfred opened his mouth when he froze.
"Do you hear something?" he asked. Mattie paused, listening quietly. "T-There's something growling nearby," said Alfred. "B-But we shouldn't worry. Arthur has magical boundries up. We'll be fine," said Matthew. Alfred opened his mouth when a lumbering bear came out of the forest and tackled Matthew.
"Mattie!" shouted Alfred, running forward. The bear ignored Alfred, nuzzling Matthew. Alfred tried to push the bear off of his brother. The bear looked up and growled at him before pushing him outside the boundry. There was a splash as Alfred landed by the water.
"And second of all, I know you're Allistair's bird but must you really behave like him? You should-" he froze, feeling an electric tingle go up his spine. Francis paused in his baking, looking up. "Is there something wrong Arthur?" he asked. Arthur shot up, already running toward the creek. "Alfred went through the boundry. He's afraid," he shouted back. Francis set the cake on the counter and ran, apron stil on, as he heard a shout from the creek.
Alfred yelped as an eagle flew out of the forest and swooped down at him and a rabbit bounced onto his stomach. "Alfred?!" asked Matthew, struggling to find his brother from his position under the massive polar bear. The bear kept licking his face excitedly.
Alfred laughed as the bird jumped up onto his shoulder and nuzzled his face. "I'm fine dude. Are you okay?" he asked, not getting a vicious vibe from the animals. "I'm okay...This bear won't stop licking me," he smiled.
"BOYS!" shouted a british voice. There was a splash as the older avians slid down the hill and fell into the creek. Alfred looked up, laughing his head off. "We thought you were in trouble. I see you have found your bonded animals again. Or I assume, they found you," said Francis, getting up and wringing out his apron.
Arthur huffed but smirked as he saw Matthew squirm under the bear, who had not stopped licking him despite the interruption. "Okay Kuma. I think that's quite enough. I'm sure Matthew misses you as well, though he may not remember you as well," he said. The bear sighed and climbed off of Matthew.
"Alfred, come back into the boundries before more animals come to attack you," said Francis, trying to fix his hair. "Wait, we have animals too?" said Mattie. Arthur and Francis nodded. "That's so cool! I've always wanted an eagle! And a rabbit," said Alfred, picking up the bunny and carrying the eagle on his shoulder as he walked into the boundries.
Francis smiled. "I suppose they sensed you here and made their way to see you again. Last time we saw them, they were going back to North America. Arthur smirked, crossing his arms. "Which was quite alright with me. Alfred had a habit of bonding with every animal he came across," said Arthur.
Alred grinned, scratching the eagle behind it's head. "What's his name?" asked Alfred. Arthur's wings sagged as he realized that Alfred and Matthew no longer remembered how to actively use their bond. Francis put a hand on his shoulder. "The eagle's name is Sammy and you named the bunny Cinnabun. The bear's name is Kumajiro," said Francis.
Alfred grinned, petting the bunny. "Do you two not remember them?" asked Arthur. Alfred shook his head. Mattie hesitated. "I remembered carrying a bear around when I was little. I could never remember its name though," he said. Francis smiled. "You both were a bit forgetful of each other's name," he said.
Alfred grinned and set the bunny down. "So how do we communicate with them?" he asked. "You have to concentrate on your connection with them. If I remember correctly, Kuma was a bit more talkative than your animals Alfred. You tended to do all the talking," said Arthur. "Still does," muttered Matthew.
Alfred stuck his tongue out at his brother. Francis rolled his eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some baking to do. Arthur made me think you two were being murdered," he said before flying off back to the cave. Arthur made a face, blinking when he was hit in the head by the brown bird again.
"I can see why Allistair bonded with you," he huffed, turning to take the bird into his hands. "Who's Allistair?" asked Matthew. "My brother. He heard you two have returned and wants to come down with my other brothers," he mumbled.
The bird bumped bumped his nose. "And my other brothers are coming as well," grumbled Arthur. "You don't sound very happy about it," said Matthew, crawling out from under the bear. Arthur sighed. "I'm the youngest of the family. They get on my back over everything the bloody tossers," he said.
Arthur muttered something to the bird before letting it fly away. "I told them to wait a few days. I don't want to overwhelm you boys," he said. "Dude, don't worry about us. We're perfectly fine," said Alfred, wincing when the bunny brushed up against his injured wing. Arthur frowned.
"Is your wing still bothering you? I can heal it if you'd like," he offered, brushing a hand among the feathers hesitantly. Alfred shook his head. "Maybe later on tonight since it knocked you out last time. What are your brother's like?" he asked. Alfred rolled his eyes. "Loud bothersome drunks that are quite obnoxious. Only Rhys has a lick of sense among them," he said.
"We wouldn't mind meeting them if you're okay with it Arthur," said Matthew. Arthur shook his head. "Get yourselves settled in before they come and disturb us all," he muttered, stretching out his wings. Alfred blinked, noticing a large foot long jagged scar across Arthur's left wing.
"By the way Alfred, Francis and I were telling your brother that we were thinking of taking you to an avian market up on the mountains. I thought you might be interested in seeing a bit more of our culture. We also need to get you two boys some toiletries while we're at it," said Arthur.
Alfred grinned. "That sounds like fun." Arthur nodded, smiling. "I'll be sure to get some of the potions I'm planning on selling ready to go then," he said, flapping his wings and taking off. Alfred glanced at Matthew. "Did you see it too?" he asked. Matthew nodded. "I wonder what happened….but we probably shouldn't ask," his twin answered.
Alfred nodded, frowning. A flash of blood and feathers appered in his mind. Matthew frowned. "Is everything alright?" he asked. Alfred forced a smile. "Yeah dude. Hey, can you talk to your bear at all?" he asked. Matthew blinked and looked down at the bear.
"Hello Kumajojo. Do you remember me?" he asked. "Who are you?" said the bear, tilting his head. "I'm Matthew," said Mattie, looking a bit stunned. Alfred grinned. "Dude, I heard it too. But I think it's name is Kumajiro," he said. "S-Sorry aboot that," said Matthew. "I want pancakes," replied the bear.
Alfred smirked. "It's definitely your spirit animal," he said. Matthew rolled his eyes and pointed at the bunny. "And I'm sure that's yours," he said. Sammy cawed angrily, making both boys flinch. "I don't think Sammy appreciated that," said Alfred smuggly.
Matthew shifted. "Do they come back to the caves with us or do we let them run in the forest?" he asked. Alfred frowned, bending down to concentrate on Cinnabun. "So um Cinna dude. Do you want to stay with me or in the forest?" he asked mentally, thinking that would be the best way to communicate with the bunny.
The bunny wiggled its tail and sent back a picture of a clearing filled with flowers before running off. Alfred stood up. "Well I guess that answers that. What about you Sam?" he asked. The bird cawed, nuzzling Alfred. Alfred grinned. "Guess you're staying with me," he said happily.
Matthew smiled. The boys headed up the hill a few hours later, Sammy nipping playfully at Alfred's ear and Kuma nuzzling Matthew's hands as they walked. Francis greeted them in the at the enterance of the caves with some homemade treats for the animals. "Arthur told me we'd be having extra guests," he said.
"I hope you two are hungry because I fixed up a big meal. Arthur is starting a fire outside. Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. I shall be out shortly," said Francis. "Are you sure you don't need any help?" asked Matthew. Francis smiled and shook his head. "I have this under control. Just make sure that Arthur doesn't burn himself out there," he said.
The boys made their way to where Arthur was putting some logs onto the fire. Arthur smiled at them, gesturing to where a few blankets had been brought out. "Go ahead and settle in. We might be up talking for a bit, so I brought some pillows and blankets in case we decide to sleep out here," he said.
Francis came out, juggling a tray of food and a pitcher. He handed them to Arthur and left once more to return with more food. "I made chicken. I hope you boys enjoy it," he said. "It looks great," said Matthew. "It tastes great," said Alfred, already digging into his meal. Francis smiled while Arthur rolled his eyes, restraining himself from making a remark.
As they started eating, the atmosphere became a bit awkward as no one said anything or much less glanced at each other for fear of crossing an unnamed boundry. "So you said you guys were going to tell us about how we got separated and everything?" said Alfred, deciding that the awkwardness was worse than anything they would say.
Arthur choked as he accidentally swallowed his meal wrong. "O-Oui…How much do you boys remember of that night?" asked Francis, ignoring Arthur as he tried to regain his composure. Matthew and Alfred shook their heads. "N-Not much," said Matthew. "Just glimpses of things happening, nothing else," said Alfred.
"What do you remember?" asked Arthur. "Being afraid...A fight...Nothing really distinct," said Alfred, not elaborating. Francis and Arthur frowned. Both of them could feel that Alfred was holding back something that he was upset about. "I'll see if I can get him to talk to me about it later. For now we should just leave him be," said Arthur to Francis using the bond.
"Perhaps we should just wait until the boys come to us about it. We don't want to make him do anything he's not willing or ready to do yet," responded Francis. "Is it the same for you Matthew or do you remember anything more?" asked Arthur, ignoring him. Matthew hesitated. "I-I remember someone hurting me. I can remember them cutting off my wings," he said.
Francis bristled, Arthur having to put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from going after a hunter that was most likely dead after all this time. Teary eyed, Francis hugged Matthew. "Je suis désolé," he said. "I-It's fine...It happened a long time ago," he said. Francis nodded, pulling away.
"Well, it's hard to say where we should start. I suppose we should first tell you how we found you, hmm?" said Arthur. The twins nodded, Mattie hugging Kuma tight and Alfred leaning forward in anticipation. "I found Matthew when he was très peu, about two years old in humans years. I was quite young, a teenager then, and had decided to go exploring," started Francis.
"Wait, we weren't found together?" interrupted Alfred, his fork halfway to his mouth. "Hush, let him tell the story," said Matthew, elbowing his brother. Francis shook his head. "I found Matthew in Canada when the land was very young. Arthur was the one who found you mon chou," he said.
"Anyways, when I found you Mathieu, you were so shy and frightened with only Kuma here to keep you company. I almost missed you when I flew over. It was only because you were wearing a red ribbon around the neck of your white nightgown that I thought I saw something.
"It was snowing when I found you, so I had trouble finding you even when I was on the ground. It did not help that you were hiding from me when I did land. It wasn't until I heard you that bear of yours asking to be fed that I found you hiding behind a snowbank. You were so cute I just knew I had to take you in and take care of you. You were only un bébé. A cute one at that. I could not just leave you there," said Francis.
Matthew's face went pink and he quickly took another bite of his chicken. "Oooh what about me?!" asked Alfred excitedly. Arthur smiled warmly as he remembered. "I found you in America. It was actually in the spring, a few months after Francis found Matthew, that I found you. Believe it or not, when I found you you were riding bison hoping to find your brother," he chuckled.
"That sounds awesome," said Alfred at the same time Matthew said, "That sounds like him." Arthur nodded. "I was terrified that you were going to get hurt. I pulled you off that beast and led you to my camp by promising you sweets. That night, you had a nightmare and I let you sleep with me under my blanket and I knew I was going to have to be a good guardian for you," he said, trying to smoothen Al's cowlick.
"But how did you guys find us in two separate parts of the world? Wouldn't Alfred and I stick together if our parents abandoned us or did they just abandon us in different parts of the world?" asked Matthew, sounding concerned at the idea of being separated from his twin at such a young age.
"From what we could understand, you two were abandoned on the border but a freak snowstorm caused you two to become separated. You two apparently have been on your own for at least a year before Francis and I came across you. It was just luck that you two were reunited into the same flock after being separated," said Arthur.
"So you two were a flock before we came along?" asked Alfred. Arthur scoffed while Francis made a face. "Perish the thought. We hated each other then and we hate each other now," said Arthur. Francis smirked. "We have what you call a love-hate relationship. But before you two were found, we were not in the same flock," he said.
"Then how did you two get together?" asked Matthew. "We've been rivals for many centuries before you two came along," said Arthur. "Oui, though as children we were what you called frenemies. I looked after Arthur when his brothers were away or unable to do so," said Francis.
"We didn't become a flock until we realized you two were brothers. Francis and I lived on neighboring moutains. It wasn't until I was flying home from the america's a few years later and you started squirming so badly I nearly dropped you that I suspected he had your brother. Francis and I were kinda competing at that time at who could explore of the New World faster," said Arthur, scratching the back of his neck.
Francis nodded. "Sadly Arthur won, using some dirty tricks," he said. "I won fair and square!" retorted Arthur, looking shocked that Francis would say that. Alfred quickly jumped, in seeing that they were going to get into another fight. "So how did the two of us get reunited?" he asked.
Arthur let go of Francis's shirt collar and quickly smoothed himself out. Francis let go of Arthur's shoulder and dropped his fist. "I landed on the mountain because you were close to tears, squirming as much as you could in hopes of landing. I kept asking you what was wrong that you told me you needed to find your brother," said Arthur.
Francis nodded. "Oui. The same thing happened with Mathieu. One moment we were sitting down for lunch and the next moment he was up and running as fast as his tiny legs could carry him away from the next. You were a well-behaved boy, so I was quite stunned that you would just get up and runaway. I chased after you and demanded an answer. Mathieu started crying, apoligizng. You told me that you just were exctied to see your brother," he said.
"It wasn't until you started running toward Francis's nest that I realized what was going on. Francis had sent Pierre to rub it into my face that he had found a new fledgling and was going to take care of it. I dreaded the idea of having to hang around Francis just so you could see you brother," said Arthur.
"Mathieu grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him. I was so caught up in how happy you two little ones in seeing each other again that I didn't realize you were Arthur's little brother until he told me that I shouldn't think that this was going to mean we would become friends," said Francis, chuckling. Arthur rolled his eyes.
"You two were so happy to find each other, introducing us right away. I was suprised that someone in Francis's care could be so shy. I still swear he tramatized you somehow. Anyways, you boys were so upset when I said that it was time for Alfred and I to return to our nest that Francis let us stay over for the night," said Arthur.
"And one night turned into a week. A week turned into a month. Eventually, the two of us decided to put our differences apart and stay together. After a few years, and some persuasion, we decided to become a flock," said Francis. Arthur crossed his arms. "We did it for your boys' best interest."
"Then why did you guys stay together after we were gone?" asked Alfred in a teasing tone. "It was necesity! One of us needed to be here if you came back. You would have gone to the nest and I was not going to let Francis be the one who greets you. Nor am I going to leave my nest. It was mine first," said Arthur.
Francis rolled his eyes. "If I left Arthur, he'd have to survive off his own cooking and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even him. He'd be lost without me," said Francis. "I beg to differ! I would have been perfectly fine! I've been on my own for decades before I found Alfred," said Arthur.
"Didn't you have a flock?" asked Matthew, putting his plate to the side. "My brothers and I don't have the best relationship. They tended to pull a lot of stunts at my expense. I was, am still I suppose, a part of their flock but I prefered my own isolation. It was splendid," said Arthur. Francis rolled his eyes. "You should put that in crossstitch mon chere. 'Splendid Isolation'," he said.
"What about you Francis?" asked Alfred. Francis shrugged. "I actually was cared for by my grandfather for a while with some siblings. I have two brothers from Italy and one from Spain. When I got old enough, I didn't really join a new flock. I was part of a trio of friends, but once I found Mathieu I didn't hang out with them as much. Gilbert was one of the trio," he said.
Alfred's feathers bristled at Gilbert's name. "That jerk's your friend?" he asked. Francis put a hand on Alfred's knee, reaching around the fire. "We are very good friends, but that doesn't make what he said to your brother right. Gilbert and I have gotten in fights before and this wouldn't be the last one," he said.
"Y-You got into a fight with him? B-Because of me?" asked Matthew. Francis and Arthur exchanged glances. "What did you guys do?" huffed Alfred, adjusting the splint on his right wing. "I may or may not have kind of...hit him… After Francis started shouting at him," said Arthur, face red.
Alfred facepalmed while Matthew sputtered. "You guys didn't need to do that. I'm not worth fighting over. He was just being a bully. He didn't know how I lost my wings. Tino already had to keep Alfred from punching him," he said. Arthur smiled. "Glad to know I raised him right," he said as Francis rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry about it Mathieu. We didn't hurt him that bad. Just one punch to the gut. He'll be fine. He deserved at least that much," said Francis. Matthew frowned but didn't argue. Alfred grinned. "I wish I was there to see it," he said. "Hopefully he learned his lesson," said Arthur, nodding.
"So how did we get separated...if you don't mind me asking?" said Matthew, fidgeting a little. Alfred squirmed too. His back was starting to ache from keeping his wings up. Arthur and Francis's faces fell. "Do you want to start or should I?" asked Francis. "I suppose I should," said Arthur, setting his plate down.
I'm BAAAACCCK! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I got some really good ideas for what's going to happen later on in this story so don't worry about the last hiatus. You should be more worried about the twins. *Cue evil laugh*