The sounds of the mountains were near silent, a sort of tranquility there was calmness an almost silentness as all the animals and monsters seemed to take rest as the sun rose.

well except two monsters.

The two boys were put to bed, Wilbur and Leo—Leo after a while became a loud and rowdy kid Hester knew he truly was—he was quiet and scared easily but he screamed and laughed loudly when it was just Wilbur, when he thought it was just Wilbur.

After the fiasco of trying to find enough room for everyone to sleep, Alexander finally graciously offered his bed for both boys as Wilbur had hit a growth spurt and it was now uncomfortable for him to sleep on the tiny sofa.

Hester could hear the gentle snores of the two boys and Hester beamed to no one in particular, giddy in that way that came with a child-like excitement of finding something new.

"Why are you smiling?" Hester heard Alexander drawl behind him not rude or bothered, just genuine interest. Hester didn't need to turn to know he was reading a book sitting on the soft sofa that Hester slept on.

"Can I not be happy? Is that against the rules of living here?" Hester teased, smiling as he reached his hand to the pile of wood, he threw another log in the fire, stretching his wings out as if he could take the energy from the flames itself and use it as his own.

He wanted to stay up tonight. No particular reason, just to chat with Alexander. (and maybe because Hester had no idea where he's sleeping tonight)

"It is strictly against the policy that I have in place, yes." Alexander quipped back light-hearted and kind.

"Well then I guess I must leave, goodbye Alexander." Hester said dramatically, flapping his wings sitting crisscrossed on the floor. "You are not going anywhere, you will freeze before you make it anywhere."

Hester hummed in acceptance it was freezing outside—and for no reason at all—shifted closer to the flames smiling pleasantly as the heat seeped into his wings, the feathers flare up with the movement.

His wings were bruised from the scorching disaster that was meant to be getting Wilbur back. The feathery monster strapped to his back became an intolerable weight that screamed in protest at every muscle stretched.

Hester tried to strain them unconsciously, then feeling a flaming spike of pain shoot through him, like a dagger being twisted. Hester winched from it, biting his tongue and back a curse.

Alexander noticed the movement and what it meant. Nothing of concern, of course, but regardless, Hester would heal eventually—even if he didn't want a potion to help the process.

Hester heard Alexander set his book down beside him and slips down off of his place on the sofa, settling down with his back braced against the foot of it. Hester blinks at him for a moment before smiling, shoulders slumping as he recognizes the familiar position, feathers already ruffling in anticipation of preening.

This had quickly become one of their day-to-day 'chores' as Alexander only half-heartedly would call it, but to Hester it was an exercise of trust between the two of them. His wings are the most precious part of Hester more than his heart and soul half the time—scratch that, Hester's wings are his soul.

They were tattered, and ached every moment—like phantom flames, though Hester wasn't afraid of fire after the incident. If anything, it made him want to heal so he could teach Leo how to fly, it gave him determination to become well. To become better.

-Thought- A small pestering voice in the back of his head said. -What if you're trapped forever on land? What if you never fly again?-

"Come here, you bird." Alexander said as Hester shuffled over. On reflex spreading his wings as far as they could go, the heat seeping into every crevice of them—it felt like it was warming his very soul, leaking into every part of his body like the...