“An’ we walked through a ginormous forest an’ we made shelter in a cave an’ that’s when Pater-Thorax screamed ‘cause o’ a bunny an’ we-”
Pharynx nearly spat out the water he had been taking a sip of. They’d stopped to refill their canteens at a stream.
“P-Pater-Thorax?” Pharynx stammered
Thorax blushed, but Apex kept chattering.
“You like i’? I tol’ Thorax I wan’ed a name for him like how 'm Apex-discipulus, an’ when I was ‘scribing all the stuff he’s done for me he sai' ‘Pater’ an’ tha’ i’ means friend! You wanna be called Pater-Pharynx, too?”
“E-Er, I’m good…” Pharynx said. “Hey, Apex, why don’t you scout ahead and practice aiming the crossbow at that big dead tree over there?”
“Sure!” Apex raced ahead, and Pharynx waited until he heard the crossbow going off to turn to Thorax.
“Thorax what the heck were you thinking?”
“I-I was just talking to myself, I whispered it! I-I thought he couldn’t hear me! And I knew he wouldn’t drop it so I panicked and… I told him it meant friend…”
“Yeah, that makes so much sense. Question though, why not just tell him the truth?”
“Y-You didn’t see him Phar… he was asking me if I thought his mom and dad would be proud of him… the wounds are still fresh-”
“It was three months ago when the raid happened!”
“I know… but he’s a nymph, Pharynx…”
“Well… I can accept that. But you’ve got to tell him sometime. We’re going to be teaching him our culture, he’ll find out anyway…”
“I know…”
“Tell him at some time during these nine months. Or I’ll find a way to.”
Thorax sighed. “That’s fair…”
They heard a soft thud, and Apex’s cheerful voice reached them.
“Pater-Thorax! Pharynx! I kill’d the tree!”
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Thorax sat in a grassy field, watching Pharynx show Apex how to pounce. Apex eventually began pouncing at bugs and butterflies instead of the flower Pharynx was trying to make him target. Pharynx sighed and glanced over at Thorax, who pretended to be looking in the other direction, to avoid Pharynx’s pressing stare. Pharynx sighed again, then sank onto his haunches, wagging his rump in the air as he mimicked Apex’s playful stance. He chuckled, leaping on the nymph and sending them rolling down the slight hill. Thorax smiled before racing over to join them.
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Thorax trotted beside his brother alongside the railway tracks. Apex was walking along the track, and after Pharynx had explained how trains worked, was pretending to be one. Thorax was giggling and smiling at the nymph’s antics. Pharynx looked at Thorax, and he shook his head. Apex was cheerful and happy now, he didn’t need this ruining it. Pharynx rolled his eyes and returned to scouting. He then abruptly turned and yanked Apex off the rails, dragging him backwards and glaring at Thorax to follow. Thorax galloped after him and they hid in some trees as a train came barrelling through. Thorax stared at it, wide-eyed. It could’ve crushed Apex…
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Thorax smiled as he lay beside Pharynx and Apex, tucking into a good meal for once. Pharynx had refused to say how he’d procured the daisy sandwiches, but Thorax opted not to complain. They were fresh and juicy and perfect. Apex cuddled up close to Thorax, smiling as he took large and greedy bites from his sandwich, drinking from his almost full canteen as well. Thorax gave him a nuzzle, and he giggled. Thorax looked up and caught Pharynx’s eye. The elder changeling gave him a look, and he blushed before shaking his head. Not yet.
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Thorax sat and watched as Pharynx stood knee-deep in a stream in the evening. Apex waited beside Thorax, having been told by Pharynx to stay quiet. Though he kept leaning forwards to see what Pharynx was doing. Pharynx lunged as the silver blur of a fish flashed by. He bit down under the water and resurfaced with a fish. He tossed it onto the shore, where Thorax picked it up and carried it to their fire. He then heard a splash and Apex laughing. Thorax turned and began laughing as well. Pharynx was sitting on his rump in the middle of the stream, a fish flopping on his head. He glared at the laughing changelings, and Thorax smiled. Not today. Pharynx was finally letting his guard down a bit. He couldn’t ruin that.
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Thorax couldn’t believe their luck. They’d found a nice shady glen to rest in. Pharynx was building a fire, while Apex curled up by Thorax’s side. The little nymph had been tired, and when Thorax nuzzled him, he seemed a little warm. Thorax worried that he might have caught a chill from all the nights sleeping out in the open, despite how he and Pharynx did their best to keep Apex warm. Pharynx came over, lying down by them and opening a canteen of fresh and cold water. He splashed some drops onto the nymph’s forehead, then waited for him to stir before letting some fall onto the nymph’s forked tongue. Thorax heard Pharynx murmuring to him that he’d let him off for now, and Thorax was relieved. He didn’t want to have to tell Apex while he already wasn’t feeling well.
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Thorax sighed as he carried Apex on his back. He was extremely relieved that Apex had merely caught a slight chill, he wasn’t in any danger. Apex hadn’t realized anything was wrong, and was chattering to Pharynx about what he wanted to learn next. Pharynx was agreeing to complex shapeshifting when they heard a growl. Pharynx shepherded Thorax and Apex behind him as large yellow eyes and stinking breath emerged from the trees nearby. Pharynx snarled and took his signature monster form. The Timberwolf went running, and when Pharynx transformed back he was greeted by an eager nymph begging him to teach him how to do it. Thorax smiled. There was no way he could tell him now, not when Pharynx was so engrossed in sharing his skills with the nymph.
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Thorax hurriedly pressed cobwebs against the gash in Pharynx’s leg. He continued reprimanding him, why did he have to chase that quail, they had other food and Pharynx was more important. Thorax ignored Pharynx’s protests as Apex trotted up, goldenrod and burdock root clamped in his jaws. Thorax took them, grateful that Pharynx had learned medic skills as part of his General training, and that he’d taught both his brother and his apprentice the basics. Thorax began chewing the goldenrod, spitting it out on the leaf he’d prepared and beginning to lick it into Pharynx’s wound, seeing Apex trot over with the chewed burdock root. Though Thorax was concerned for Pharynx as he began wrapping the cobwebs around the poultice, he was grateful that this would distract Pharynx from making him tell Apex.
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Thorax giggled as he ran alongside Apex. They just had to cross a valley in the Crystal Mountains and they’d have reached the Crystal Empire. Or the territory outside it, to be specific. Pharynx was rushing along behind them, the gash in his leg fully healed now. They were playing tag though, and Apex had tagged Pharynx. So of course they had to run faster than Pharynx. And Thorax didn’t have to see Pharynx’s reminding look. They reached the valley and settled down in an alcove, where Pharynx set to work building a fire. Neither wanted Apex to catch a chill again. Thorax curled up around the little nymph, warming him with his body heat. Apex yawned and rested his head against Thorax’s chest, asleep within minutes. Oh well, no point in waking him up just for one thing. He’d tell him later.
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Thorax held Apex close against him as they moved. The winds had really picked up since arriving at the Frozen North, as it was called. Thorax could’ve sworn he heard a howling from within the winds. Pharynx stuck close by their side. Apex was shivering so badly, Thorax transformed into a polar bear and curled up around him. Pharynx transformed into an identical, but larger, bear, and closed the circle around the nymph, who transformed into a bear cub. There was no use explaining anything over this wind, and Apex getting warm was top priority, so Thorax was sure even though his time was up, Pharynx wouldn’t complain. Together, the brothers huddled closer to each other as the wind piled snow over them, unknowingly creating an air pocket that would be relatively warm. They pressed closer to each other and Apex, hoping the snow would die down soon.