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Flying over to the pool, Dusty hovered over it and looked down at her reflection. Bright orange, flaming red, and golden yellow feathers created a fiery illusion, and one could have almost have reached out and been burned by just the image.
"I guess that makes sense," she acquiesced, flying back over to her perch. She turned back as soon as her talons hit the rock, and she crossed one leg over the other as she sat on it.
Maddox changed back as well, dangling his legs in the pool. Frost appeared on the water's surface wherever it touched him. His silvery blond hair seemed a bit disheveled from the transformation, and he looked over at Koprin again. The unicorn was very old, and Maddox worried for his health sometimes.
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Dusty looked in the direction Maddox's attention was turned to, and she noticed Koprin looked very old, almost fragile. Turning her gaze back on Maddox, she could almost feel the worry radiating off of him.
"You're worried about him, aren't you?" she asked softly, moving to sit beside him. She didn't stick her feet in the water, mostly because she wasn't a big fan of the liquid.
Maddox nodded slightly. "He's getting old, and… well, I don't know how much longer he'll live. His health is deteriorating, and he can hardly get food for himself anymore. I don't even know how old he is. He was already around middle age when he found me, and that was sixteen years ago."
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(Ah, I've gtg. I don't think I'll be back later tonight, but I'll try to be on tomorrow.
I will try to get on again tonight, but I can't promise anything.)
Dusty hummed in acknowledgment of Maddox's statement, biting her lip. She didn't know how to comfort him about his (possibly) dying guardian.
A small flame ignited in her palm as she held it in front of her. Perks of being part phoenix: you're never cold, and you always have something to start a fire with.
(Rip)
"He's the closest thing to a parent I've ever had." Maddox said quietly, watching as the thestral cared for Koprin. "Thestrals usually don't get close to anyone or anything, but they all love Koprin."
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(You changed your name!)
"He sounds like he's a great guy– uh… unicorn…" Dusty corrected herself awkwardly.
(Ye :D)
Maddox nodded. "Wonderful. His mate died about a year ago. The whole forest mourned for weeks."
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Dusty frowned. "That's really sad. I'm sure he was heartbroken."
"Yes. Nami was quite lovely. Very elegant and beautiful. He still talks about her, but mostly the happy memories of her. He doesn't like to dwell on sad things of the past too much. That's why he was such a great caretaker for me."
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"Well, I'm… I'm glad you can be with him while you can," Dusty said, trying to be comforting somehow.
Maddox nodded. "I hope he lives awhile longer. Unicorns do live for quite a while, after all. However, I'll only live as long as the average human. Half breed thing…"
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"I get that. Phoenixes can live for hundreds of years, but because of the human half of me, I'll only live as long as one. Maybe as long as one of the oldest, but still not hundreds of years," Dusty explained, playing with the fire in her hands.
"Technically phoenixes live forever, but I get what you mean." Maddox laughed dryly, staring at his reflection in the water. "Do you know them? Your parents, I mean."
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(Idk when I have to go, so don't be surprised if I suddenly disappear.)
Dusty laughed. "Okay, yes, true," she agreed, nodding. "Yes, I do know my parents, though my mother passed away when I was younger. My father raised me on his own."
(Okay lol)
"Mm… So it seems we've both only got father figures, huh?" Maddox ran his fingers through the water.
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"I guess so." Dusty let the flame trail up her arm as she watched it. "It's odd how that is, isn't it?"
"Yes, a bit." Maddox was silent for a moment. "How would you like to meet Koprin?"
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Dusty's gaze turned to Maddox at his suggestion. "Could I? He seems amazing."
Maddox smiled softly and transformed into a unicorn, trotting over to Koprin. "Hey, Koprin! How are you today?" Koprin looked up at Maddox blearily. "Hello, Dox. I'm quite well. And you?" "I'm great, Koprin." "That's good… who's your friend?" He looked over at Dusty.
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Turning back into a phoenix so she could understand what was being said, Dusty flew over to the pair of unicorns.
"Hello! My name is Dusty. It's a pleasure to meet you," she introduced herself.
Koprin nodded politely to Dusty. "Hello. My name is Koprin. This here's Dox, or as you likely know him, Maddox." He swished his tail, rustling the fallen leaves.
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"Yes, Maddox was telling me about how you raised him," Dusty said, nodding. "From what I've noticed, you did a very good job."
Koprin dipped his head again. "Hardly born when his parents abandoned him. The mother was human, I believe. Father was a unicorn. He appeared to be a mere human when he was born, but he soon revealed himself to be able to transform into the likeness of his father. They really looked very similar."
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"You knew his father?" Dusty asked, curious. She settled down on a tree branch just high enough above their heads so that she could see them well.
He nodded. "I know every creature who lives in this forest. Almost all unicorns are good, but there was something different about Dox's father. He lusted after humans. He refused to listen to my advice, and he got himself in over his horn." Koprin shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, I do not know what has become of him. He fled the forest, and he has not returned."
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Dusty fluffed her feathers, seemingly for no reason. "Oh… Wow. I– I hope he's okay." She looked down at Maddox, her golden eyes somewhat sad.
Maddox glanced up at Dusty. His expression was unreadable. "I presume he ran off with the mother," Koprin continued, "but they may have parted ways. There is no way to know. However, I took Dox here under my wing and I'd say he's doing rather well." Koprin touched his horn to Maddox's, a sort of glow emanating from both unicorns.
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"It seems so," Dusty agreed with a nod. If she were human, she would have smiled, but, instead, she settled on nodding again. Nodding was one of her weird tics when she was a phoenix; it was like she did it all the time, for everything.
"Now, you two have fun." Koprin lay his head down on the ground, seemingly having fallen asleep. Maddox stood up and walked back over to the pool, sitting on the bank and staring into its silvery depths.
