the plan to visit the border had dissipated with the first mention of singing. the two men openly joked, now, trading songs in their respective tongues. no dead birds to deal with, either, though he supposed they would make good snacks to take back home, if they had fallen. then--

what's that? engel taunted. then a bright burst of ice, mixed with some leaves and dirt, came at his nose, and the older male was gone. sputtering from shock more than anything, aditya let loose a giddy chuckle and dashed after him, kicking up snow in his wake.

the sound of his laughter echoed across the plains, contagious. . .and freeing. he had not laughed like this in quite some time.

it was--as someone may have said, in another world--the beginning of a beautiful friendship.