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Eldrin nudged the little filly awake. The sun hadn't even risen yet but they had a long walk ahead of them. He wanted an early start so that she would have chances to rest along the way and still have good time. He hadn't told her where they were going or why but reassured her that she would enjoy it in an attempt to keep her hushed enough to not wake her sister. He had, of course okayed the trip with her mother a few days before. This was also his first time alone with one of his daughters so he was almost as excited as a foal himself.
This whole thing had come about a handful of days earlier when the fillies' mother had been trying to teach them to use their wings. When it was obvious that Aldora was struggling with translation for her different type of wings Eldrin had started to brainstorm what could help her. The first thought that came to mind was Decadent. She had the same style wings. However he quickly dismissed that idea. Deca had had a challenging foalhood and wasn't the most friendly individual. But after several other failed ideas he finally made up his mind to go seek out her help.
They traveled all morning taking breaks now and then for Aldora to rest her little legs. Eldrin spent all of his time talking to, teasing, and encouraging his little gift. When they were close to Deca's meadow he decided that it was time to try to get Aldora excited.
"So, little gift," he started in and excited tone, "are you ready for your surprise? We're almost there. It's just ahead through those trees!" With that he nudged her forward with encouragement.

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Deca had awoken that morning in quite a mood. It had been earlier than she wanted to get up, before sunrise even, and she hadn't been able to fall back asleep. Most days she didn't mind waking that early. It aforded her a few moments peace before Pollux woke up. Unfortunately though, that particular morning, she hadn't had much sleep. Dreams of her past had kept her up most of the night. As they often did. Which those particular memories didn't improve her mood either. She wasn't sure what exactly had awoken her but she was going to find someone to blame. And that someone was the only other someone around. Pollux.

She stretched her legs and her wings, yawning, before she stepped off the edge of her cave ledge and let herself glide to the ground. She went over to where Pollux was sleeping and nudged him with a toe.
"Are you going to sleep all morning or ar you going my to get up and do something useful?" she grumped loudly at him. Before waiting for a response she wandered away to look over how her gardens had faired over night.

As the day wore on there wasn't much to improve her mood. The heat had been taking its toll on her precious plants. Despite her careful irrigation it looked like she might lose one or two of the edge ones. The summer had been particularly hot and it seemed her little spring was having trouble competing. Maybe she ought to have Pollux dig the collection pool deeper. The was the thought she was pondering when the little blue filly came trotting through the tree line at the edge of her clearing.

Deca was so awestruck at how such a little thing could have made it this deep into the woods alone that it took her a minute to turn her irritation at the thing. She didn't appreciate visitors to begin with and she especially wasn't in the mood for them now. So she spread her wings intimidatingly wide and stalked over to the filly.
"And what do you think you are doing here? she growled. You'd better not be here to cause trouble! Leave while I still feel like letting you. She flapped her wings a couple of times while looming ominously, believing she cut a terrifying figure.

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Eldrin came trotting out of the trees mere moments after his daughter. With a broad smile on his face approached the group nuzzling Aldora affectionately to reassure her. "Hello Poll. Decadent. You're in a much better mood than I was hoping!" he greeted brightly. "You didn't even threaten to eat her. " he chuckled good naturedly. Truthfully he had hoped Pollux would have been the first one she encountered. But at least Deca had made a brilliant display of her wings.

Unfortunately he wasn't sure that Deca hadn't traumatized the little one. But as she was half his he hoped that she was made of a bit stronger stuff than a grumpy posturing mare could upset.
"Decadent? Pollux? I would like you to meet one of my daughters. This is Aldora. Little gift? These are some of my good friends. " He looked at Deca with what he hoped was a non-chalant expression. No need to put her even more on her guard by seeming over eager. " We came to visit today because we need a special favor. You see, Aldora is struggling with learning to use her wings. Her mother and sister have a different style and the technique seems to not translate well. And since you, Deca, have similar wings we were hoping that maybe you could give her some tips. " he wasn't expecting her to agree immediately. But he did hope that eventually she could be persuaded into helping.

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Decadent had just been about to snap at Pollux for encouraging the little interloper by being friendly when Eldrin came out of the trees. She watched in dismay as he nuzzled the filly. It didn't bode well for her intentions of getting rid of her. "I don't eat such big things. she retorted to his jest about her way of dealing with strangers. "I'm not that much of a glutton. " disapproval colored her voice.
When he introduced her as his daughter Deca had to try not to gawk. She settled for glowering instead. Who would have thought that the wandering stallion would stop long enough to procreate. Well, she supposed he had stopped long enough to pester her.
Aldora, she mused over the name to herself. It was kind of pretty. Suited the little thing. Not that she would say so.

When Eldrin looked at her and began talking she knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say. And she was right. As he explained about The little ones troubles memories of her own flying lessons washed over her in a tidal wave of memory. Her father had not been a kind teacher. His methods were succeed or break. She had spent much time battered and bruised. Mauled and cut. It all depended on what he wanted her to learn any given. To defend herself, she was pitted against fierce creatures. To fly? Thrown off cliffs.

She shook her head to clear it just as the filly was saying how pleased she was to meet them. Oh, no. No. No. Deca turned and began to trot away. Leave. she said over her shoulder, though lacking her normal fierceness. She couldn't look at the filly anymore, nearly vibrating in eagerness as she was. Deca didn't know how to teach in any way other than she had been taught. The filly would only be disappointed she told herself.
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Eldrin was very impressed with the way his little girl had handled the situation with the grumpy mare. He knew that Deca wasn't the easiest soq to meet or deal with but Aldora had handled the situation like a master. Hopefully her reactions hadn't been lost on Deca. He smiled encouragingly at his daughter even as Deca abruptly refused his request for help. Of course he hadn't expected the moody antisocial mare to agree immediately. Nope. That had just been to get the idea out there so that Aldora could pursue it herself.

Though, Eldrin did have to admit that he was a bit surprised to see Poll's reaction to Deca's refusal. He seemed rather sad. But about what El was stumped momentarily. Until Poll blurted out the reassurance. That explained it. In their time together the Dino had learned to read Deca's moods and emotions. It made sense. It also gave him extra hope for his wish for Deca to help his filly.

He leaned down to get Aldora's attention. Then whispered in her ear "Hey, she may have said no to me but I bet if you asked she'd say yes. Especially if you don't let her say no." He gave the little filly a rakish conspiratorial grin and nodded toward Deca.
"Pollux. " he said the name just loud enough for the other stallion to hear him. " We should leave them alone for a bit. They'll be fine. I'm sure. " He began meandering toward the trees where he knew he could circle around to the top of a nearby rise where the view of whatever happened would be good.
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At Pollux's outburst Deca looked over her shoulder at him with an expression halfway between confusion and irritation. "You should." Her tone wasn't harsh. Just matter of fact. Still she continued on her course into the garden where she stopped to fuss over a rose bush. What did he mean he believed in her? She had to wonder. She couldn't be that easy to read could she? She was nearly savaging her rose bush as she fretted over her thoughts. Noticing what she was doing she stopped and took a deep breath.

The small voice close behind her nearly startled her. She had been so preoccupied in her mind that she hadn't even heard the filly approaching. Of course the little thing was continuing to be polite. Almost too polite. Nearly patronizing. Deca half listened with an ear cocked back as she made her little plea about having no other hope. Deca was about to brush her off again when she made the comment about her mother. Deca knew entirely too well about having a mother who didn't know how to deal with her foals. She turned her head slightly to look sidelong at the filly.

The little thing was such a sight to see, with her flashy coat and the way she was blushing down at her hooves. Deca took the chance to study her while she wasn't looking. She really did have some nice wings. They could be magnificent one day. If she learned how to use them. She could also see the bits of Eldrin in the filly. Especially in the way she carried herself. Deca gave a long suffering g sigh and turned to face the filly.
"Aldora. Why do you want to fly?" She stared hard at her, demanding an answer.
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Aldora looked right into the beautifully stern face of Deca and didn't hesitate even a second before responding "flying is like freedom. If I could fly I could go anywhere, do anything, see everything. I imagine flying is like heaven to some or necessity to others but to me, it'd be more like peace of mind. I could fly around and think and maybe I'll find out some things about myself while I'm finding out things about the world." She paused for a breath before continuing.
"And I mean it's good to know to fly just in case I ever need to escape from something or even someone. And with you teaching me there's a possibility that I might find out I'm actually good at something for once.." She said that part softly finally looking away and seemingly pained by revealing that last little bit.
'Fabulous.' She thought to herself 'there you go revealing your secret thoughts to a mare you barely know. Again. Brilliant.' She sighed and shook herself hoping that Deca didn't notice, though she was pretty sure she would.

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