Songbird's eyes trailed on the sky, waiting for any sign that Alkiz was somewhere above him, just out of reach. His talons switching between gripping the branch underneath tightly and loosely. He ruffled his feathers a couple of times before letting his eyes wander away from the sky above and back in the direction they had come from. He shifted slightly as a strong wind whipped his cheeks, cooling his body. He waited a little while more before lifting his body up onto the wind currents with his wings. His head turned upwards before he turned his body back towards the house. His wings beating on the wind as he glanced one last time at the sky before flying furiously towards the house.

Ty smiled as Sky hummed lowly, the reverberations of his voice bouncing around in his chest. Ty closed his eyes and let his mind drift as his head rose in time with Sky's breathing. Sky looked down and closed his eyes, his mind and body awake and working as his conscious wandered. He was jolted back to reality when a furious tapping on the glass window began. He opened one eye and saw a very panicky Songbird flapping around outside Ty's window, tapping on the glass with his talons. Sky shifted to get up, causing Ty to fall off his chest and onto his side on the bed.

"What's wrong?", Ty grumbled sleepily.

"Your pet's at the window. I think he wants to get in", Sky said huskily, heading towards the window.

Ty hummed lightly and looked towards the window. His eyes opening wider at the sight of Songbird.

"I think there's something wrong with him", Ty said as he got up, padding slowly over to where Sky was opening the window.

Sky frowned as the window was slowly pulled up, something was off. He could feel it.

"Here let me help you. It…ugh…can get really stuck…uhm…sometimes", Ty said as he tried to help Sky pull the window up.

"Yeah…uh…I noticed", Sky grunted as the two slowly lifted the window up.

Songbird flew into the room and began to fly frantically around Ty. Ty turned around, trying to get a proper look at the skittish bird. Songbird seemed to finally tire and flew towards Ty's bed. The two men walked towards the bed and looked down at the bird as it lay, breathing heavily.

"What do you think that was all about?", Sky asked, crouching next to the bed and placing a gentle hand on Songbird's back.

"Don't know, but he seems tired", Ty said as he sat down next to Songbird on his bed.

Songbird looked at Ty and closed his eyes. Ty and Sky watched, waiting to see if Songbird would do anything else. When the bird showed signs of having fallen asleep, the two men smiled and looked at each other.

"Wonder what that was all about", Sky mumbled quietly.

"Yeah", Ty whispered.

"It's almost night. I'll go get something to eat, want anything in particular?", Sky asked as he checked his phone for the time.

"No, just something that isn't too heavy, I'm not really that hungry", Ty answered.

"Okay, how's a cup of noodles sound then?", Sky asked.

"Yeah, that'd be good thanks", Ty responded.

Sky smiled and walked over to the door, leaving Songbird and Ty to themselves.

Songbird opened his eyes and lifted his head, his neck twisting to get a good look at his surroundings. Where was he…all he remembered was flying onto Ty's bed and falling asleep. He shielded his eyes as a bright, white light enveloped his body. His eyes slowly adjusted to the new light and his eyes widened as the world was revealed. Clouds, gold pathways, and lifeless, grey trees surrounded him. He knew this place…this was his home, the aether.

He felt his body move forward, pulling him towards the nearest gold pathway. He felt the cool, metallic surface under his feet, it was nice, pleasant even. Songbird looked around once more before his memories began to flood back, waves of knowledge crashing against his conscious psyche. Alkiz, he was here. Songbird would find him and stop the other from doing anything irrational. With this thought at the forefront of his mind, he began to run down the largest gold pathway, the one he knew led to the Estrid village.

Songbird looked around, searching the empty looking village. It never came into his mind why a usually bustling village was now more of a ghost town. The only thing he could think about was Alkiz, finding Alkiz. He ran about searching for his friend. His eyes were drawn to the large, temple looking building. He ran towards the building and threw his body against the doors. He tumbled forward and lay on the ground coughing, trying to catch his breath.

"Please, just reconsider. Think about this rationally", a faint voice came.

Songbird's head shot up to look around. He would know Alkiz' voice from anywhere. He clambered to his feet and took off in the direction of Alkiz voice.

"And why would I do that? You should know by now that these things cannot be changed just because a loved one is in danger", another voice came.

'Camen', Songbird's mind supplied.

Camen, the oldest and harshest leader of the Estrids. As unforgiving as he is wise, and the last Estrid that anyone would want to talk to.

Songbird felt his legs burn, his wings flapping to give him more propulsion. He rammed into another door and felt his heart stop. Alkiz kneeling, his hands clasped, eyes on Camen. Songbird fumbled a bit before rushing towards Alkiz. His hand reaching for the other, but upon reaching him going through the kneeling man. Songbird tried to grasp at Alkiz, his hand swiping at air.

"You bore me, you have nothing to say that will convince me", Camen said as he stood up from his throne.

Songbird's eyes tore from Alkiz to Camen.

"I'm sorry, Camen", Alkiz said as he readied an attack.

"Don't apologise, when you apologise you show weakness", Camen said, readying to defend himself.

"Yes, Camen", Alkiz said as he moved forward at an absurd pace.

The two fought until Alkiz was thrown back into a wall. Songbird ran towards his friend, trying to heal his injuries. He heard something behind him and turned to see Camen approaching, his hand and eyes glowing. Songbird stood and tried to shield Alkiz from the attack. Camen steadied his hand and watched, bored, as the white bolt of energy hit the younger Estrid. Alkiz screamed and Songbird watched Camen, his face shocked. Songbird felt his throat constrict and his heart stop for a moment before he turned to Alkiz and knelt beside the younger. Songbird could feel Alkiz life drain as his hand rested in the air above his body.

"What a waste of potential", Camen said, turning back to his throne and walking away.

Songbird felt something dark well up inside him. It clouded his mind and heart, filling every one of his senses. His face became unreadable and he turned to Camen. He felt a strange new power fill him. His eyes focused on Camen, his hand coming up from his side to point at Camen. A dark energy coursed through his veins and formed at his fingertips. The mass of energy convulsed, crackling like lightning, before shooting off towards Camen. Songbird felt a strange sensation fill him as the dark energy connected with Camen.

"Songbird", came a whisper, "what have you done?"

Songbird stopped smiling and turned to see Alkiz, standing there. Body glowing white and grey, eyes like neon, green gems filled with fear. Songbird looked at the other confused, why was Alkiz afraid, he should be happy, Camen was gone now. Songbird stepped towards Alkiz, but the other moved back. Now Songbird looked at himself, his body no longer gold and white, now clouded with black and silver. He tried to pat it away, but it began to spread faster.

"Why…why did you kill him?", Alkiz choked out, looking at Songbird, his eyes watering.

"N- no…Alkiz please", Songbird tried, falling to his knees, his hands flying to his head, clasping at it. The pain growing every second.

"You're a murderer…"

"No!", Songbird shouted as he woke.

Songbird's eyes scanned the room, then his eyes flew to the window leading to the outside world. How long had he been sleeping? It was night already. His dream flooded back to him. He swallowed and willed his body to the windowsill.

"Oh, Alkiz…", he whispered as his eyes grew heavy, sleep dragging him back into its cold embrace. His dreams now fraught with darkness and images of Alkiz with fear in his eyes, directed at him.

Ty opened his eyes and looked at Sky, still asleep on the other side of the bed. He smiled and looked over at Songbird's perch when he didn't see the bird he looked towards the window and smiled sadly at the image of Songbird sleeping on the windowsill. Ty raised the top half of his body and stretched as he got out of his bed. Ty looked towards the door where a quiet knocking sounded.

"Yes?", Ty asked.

Sky turned over and grunted.

The door opened and Husky casually walked in, his feet muffled by the carpeted floor.

"I just wanted to see if you were going to have breakfast", Husky whispered.

"Yeah, just wait by the door, I'll get up and be with you in a minute."

"Okay, should we wake Sky and Songbird up?"

"No, I think they both need the sleep."

Ty smiled as he carefully maneuvered over Sky's body and walked quietly to the door. Husky closed it behind him and smiled as Ty walked down the stairs. Husky's smiled faded when he saw something on the stairs. Ty's shadow. It was wrong, like Ty had a large tattered cloak on, and the proportions were all wrong. It looked like the shadow should belong to someone much taller and bonier than Ty. Husky shook himself and smiled crookedly. Whatever was wrong could be dealt with later, for now, all that mattered was breakfast. And with that Husky walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.