Did we just become best friends!?

Although Iskra was in no rush to leave his family's side given the recent ordeal they'd all gone through and the loss of family it entailed, he just needed a moment to be alone and think. Although Zero was playing the role of big brother and new father well, putting on a brave face and standing like their pillar of strength, Iskra also felt the need to reduce the burden however he could. So if Zekle asked, hey Sparky, you all good?, Iskra would nod and smile. Even if the smile didn't beam like it used to, and Zero knew that, at least it was a smile for his brother, and that was something, however forced he made it - that was the part Zero didn't need to know about. They had all lost something, so he wasn't going to be a damn baby about it, but the shared misery didn't really alleviate the desire to just drop down and cry on the daily. So he shuffled off to do that instead, and at some point between all the sobbing and the moments where he literally couldn't walk anymore, Iskra finally went numb and looked up. He'd been wandering both the lands and within himself, lost to his own thoughts and oblivious to the world passing around him. He expected not to know where he was, perhaps to struggle on returning back to where he'd left Zekle and Mauna, except that wasn't the case at all. "I know this place," Iskra marvelled aloud, an edge of excitement perking up his tone that was thick from crying. Castiel bobbed morosely beside him; the whale was too young to really be sad about anything that had happened, but Iskra's sorrows spilled like brackish water between their connection, putting the otherwise playful creature into a funk. At the promise of a happier Iskra however, Castiel gurgled curiously from his blowhole, the vein of their bond pulsing with a questioning orange hue. Iskra was already off though, his gait quickened into a jog, ears perked towards the sounds of the sea - his crest feathers tried to lift as well, but were too damp with the constant rain to rise. "Cass, is this really it!?" he said with his more typical boyish lilt; the tangerine query hummed stronger between them. Iskra surged into a canter, racing down the shore with a newfound eagerness that left Castiel's tail flukes flipping fast and put Squishy in the dust far behind them. "This is the Isle, from HOME!" Iskra claimed loudly, nearly whooping with delight as he pounded down the coast line. The fact that the bleak sky with its streaks of neon light persisted either did not occur to Iskra, or he deliberately ignored them for the sake of rejoicing in at least one familiar place in this alien realm. Whether it was the recognition of the shores or the hopes that they could somehow send him back remained to be seen, for now Iskra was just happy, and that was enough for however long he could sustain it. He pulled up short upon seeing the filly, who perhaps heard his holler before he broke into view. Slowing with a cautiousness not accustomed to him, Iskra nonetheless approached, teal gaze flicking over her form, searching for proof - Helovian or Monster? "Hi!" he greeted, apparently deciding her normal enough as his eyes settled on hers, a weak smile growing on his lips. Castiel floated in beside Iskra, spinning lazily, flippers waving opposite each other. He blew a low wail in greeting and Iskra gave a brief, short laugh, realizing he'd need to start introducing his friend. "I'm Iskra, from Helovia, and that's Castiel!" Lumbering in behind him, the rock golem, Squishy, was also due to arrive. For now though, Iskra was keeping his grip on the thread of happiness, and he was eager to share it with her. "I'm so glad you found this place too! Do you think we can get home through it since it used to be there?" In his excitement Iskra's wings lifted and likely increased the pungent aroma of rotten eggs associated with sulphur. Since that change was still a bit new to him, he failed to notice and continued waving his wings about enthusiastically. Carry on my wayward son There'll be peace when you are done Lay your weary head to rest Don't you cry no more

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@Otem