Chapter Text
Ezran stared at the forest before them. It was somewhat familiar, he remembers traveling through it in search of the second entrance to Rex Igneous' lair. He frowned slightly at that, it was all for nothing because now Rex Igneous and the rest of the Arch Dragons were dead. "This is pretty." Ezran glanced at Ellis, who already managed to capture the attention of Aanya.
Do I really have to do this alone?
Ezran looked at Zym. Zym was laying down, raising a metaphorical eye brow at him.
You have Ellis and Aanya.
Ezran raised a brow.
Really? Because it seems they're much more interested in each other at the moment.
Aanya's sudden laughter just proved his point. But all Zym did was huff.
Well I don't wanna deal with it plus I think I'd scare those little Mushpals.
Ezran looked back into the forest.
Why not find N'than? He didn't have any issue helping us before.
That was…true, very true actually. N'than helped them with very little issue the last time they were here. Which was odd considering he admitted that he was told that outsiders were dangerous.
We just stumbled upon him after you were chased by Drakeriders, it was complete chance. Plus he could've only helped because he felt bad for trying to kidnap you.
Ezran looked at Zym again.
Or maybe because he just felt bad for us in general, just find him otherwise you're stuck with those two alone.
Ezran sighed as he looked at Ellis and Aanya. The two were enamored with each other already, blushing and laughing at every thing said and every little touch. Honestly, it reminded him of how Callum used to act around Claudia when they were younger. But instead of it being annoying, he found it to be sweet. He was glad that two of his friends were so close, even if it meant he'd have to be a third wheel.
"I know someone who can help us." But he wasn't willing to deal with them alone. "Who?" Aanya raised a brow.
"N'than, last I saw him, he lived within the forest so if we can find him then we can ask for his help." Ezran looked back to the forest. It'd probably be quicker with N'than anyways so it's like a double benefit. "Is that a good idea? What if he doesn't live within the Uncharted Forest anymore?" Ezran pressed his tongue into his cheek at that question.
She's right, he was at the opening of Evrkynd.
"Aanya's right, it'll be quicker if we just go without looking for him." Ezran looked at the two, a small pout on his face. "Or it'll be longer."
We would've seen him in Evrkynd if that was true.
"Do you even know where he lives?" Ellis put her hands on her hips, pouting back at him. "No but-" Aanya raised a hand.
"Then let's just do this without him, it'll be quicker." They're not even dating but are already agreeing with each other like Rayla and Callum do. It's mean and unfair. "It'll be quicker with him! We don't know where to find the Mushpals but he might!" Ezran gestured with his hands to try and convince the two.
Two against one, who will win?
"Wait, wait, wait, you want us to find someone who might not even be able to help us?" Ezran let out a small 'maybe' which caused Ellis to groan while Aanya crossed her arms. "That's the stupidest thing we could do." Ezran rolled his eyes.
"Or the smartest! Because it's a fifty-fifty chance!" Ezran looked to Zym. "Zym help me." Zym only huffed.
"I'm not going so I'm not getting involved." Zym rested his head on his front paws.
You're so mean!
"Zym!" Ezran felt like a little kid again with how he was whining.
It's your mission so it's your problem.
"Let's compromise since it means so much to you that we find N'than." Ezran looked at the two oblivious lovebirds. "If we don't find him by tomorrow then we continue on without him." That was…doable in theory.
"What about going on without him the day after tomorrow because it's midday?" Aanya and Ellis looked at each other, seemingly communicating telepathically. He felt like they were judging him. Is this how people feel when he and Zym do it?
Maybe they think you have a crush on him.
Ezran looked at Zym with a glare.
No they don't.
Zym rolled his eyes.
So if…let's say Soren, started insisting that we needed to find someone to continue on with a mission, you wouldn't think he has a crush on them?
Ok, Zym had a point there. But that didn't mean anything. "Alrighty." Ezran looked at Ellis who was smiling. "Lead the way oh great king." She did an overdramatic bow that made him roll his eyes.
"I think amazing would be a better word to describe but I'll take great." He went into the forest with Ellis laughing after him while Aanya just groaned.
Don't get kidnapped.
Don't try to give up your crown.
.
.
Ezran ignored Ellis' and Aanya's strange flirting as he kept an eye out for N'than. The setting sun seemingly making them extra flirty for some reason.
I should've dragged you along, maybe we could've used you as bait.
Ezran paused when he heard a noise, it sounded like something walking. The steps were light so he was assuming a deer or something similar.
You're just bitter that I'd be able to find your crush faster than you.
He walked towards the noise, making sure to stay open incase it was an animal.
I don't have a crush on N'than.
Ezran smiled at the sight of a Xadian fawn munching on a few berries.
And Soren, Terry, and Corvus aren't in some weird mix of a friendship and relationship.
He could faintly hear Ellis go 'aw' as she and Aanya got closer.
Don't bring their stuff into this, it's not the same.
He looked around, maybe N'than was close by?
Mhm.
Ezran frowned a bit at Zym's tone, rude much? But whatever, he had to focus on finding N'than. Which was harder than he expected. Why couldn't they just stumble upon each other like N'than said?
"You're going back to the Drakeriders?" Ezran didn't get it. N'than didn't seem to enjoy or seem to want to capture Drakes, so why go back? "No, I'm going back to my Uncle! He lives elsewhere but still within the forest." N'than put his hands on his hips like his explanation made any sense.
"But wouldn't your Uncle be a Drakerider?" N'than shook his head at Callum's question. "Nope! He's a mage, he doesn't even interact with Drakes unless they need help." Well that was odd. Why did N'than hang around the Drakeriders?
"I don't get it." Ezran tilted his head. "Why hang around the Drakeriders then?" He voiced Zym's question.
"Because they're my friends plus my Uncle won't let me go out unless I'm with people who won't let me get lost." N'than let his hands fall from his hips. "Which means, bye! At least until the next time we stumble across each other." N'than spun on his heel and headed off.
Maybe he should head for the place the Pit of Despair was? There's a chance N'than could be there, hanging out with the Drakeriders. But N'than would be older, his uncle probably wouldn't need him to hang around the Drakeriders to not get lost.
"Something wrong? You're not fawning over the fawn." Ezran snorted at Ellis' joke and turned to face her. "I'm thinking of where N'than could be." Ellis raised a brow before sharing a look with Aanya.
Ezran pouted before looking away from them. "Quit communicating telepathically, it's mean." Ellis snorted and Ezran jumped slightly when she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't feel left out, we still love you." Ezran rolled his eyes and weakly elbowed Ellis, causing her to laugh.
"Our love for you aside, where do you think N'than is?" Ezran looked at Aanya. "He used to hang out with the Drakeriders so he might be in their village or near their pit of despair." Aanya raised a brow at that.
"The pit of what?" Ezran gave a weak shrug. "The pit of despair, it's probably not even used anymore."
Then why bring it up?
Do you have any better ideas?
Yeah, I look for him.
I didn't know you knew what he looks like now.
…ok, it's flawed but it's better!
"Then why go there?" Ezran shrugged. "He carried a crystal on him so he might like them?" Aanya sighed.
"So we're going off the assumption that N'than likes crystals and would hang around the pit of despair- which is a crystal cave?" Ezran sighed but before he could speak, a small cough interrupted him. He turned and felt excitement bubble up.
"It actually leads to the Zones of Peril and it's not a crystal cave but a crystal labyrinth, they're vastly different."