It had been a rather slow day for Vortigern as he had lazed beneath the enormous spruce trees that dotted the landscape in Taviora. On some days he would grow curious and would move slowly from tree to tree with his head thrown clear back to try and judge which ones were the same and which were different. He had tried counting the amount of different ones but found he often lost count because he tended to trip over rocks or sticks when he wasn't paying attention to the ground. It annoyed him to no end and oft times he wished he was older and taller so that his body would be a sturdy as his mother's or his father's, both of which moved with a complete confidence that Vortigern was sure age only rendered. As it was, he had given up on such foolish pursuits today in lieu of some sleep so he had found himself a nest of soft flower to crush beneath his fast growing puppy body and had taken a short nap.

Until he heard the voice that was offering a trip to Spirane. He had heard of the mountain Kingdom from a few of the other kids in Taviora who had family members there. Besides, Astraea had told him of her friend Ankh who apparently visited the place and had spoken of caves in the mountains. It reminded him of the trip his father had taken them on to try and keep them entertained and how scary (at first) it had been then how fun. He loved moments like that, shared with his siblings and his parents. Vortigern felt whole and strong in their presence, as if all would forever be right in his world.

He jolts up from his bed, spinning his head left and right until he catches sight of his smaller brother, Tzadkiel, who was trotting behind the figure of Mikken who was now moving away from him. "Hey! Wait up!" He shouts and barks, a high pitch noise, before running towards them with his ears flat. The moment he moves abreast of his brother he slows to a chipper walk, grinning with his tongue hanging out of his mouth at his quiet, diligent brother. Tzadkiel was the most pragmatic of the children from Astrid and Zaphkiel, but Vortigern didn't find him weird. He loved him as all siblings should love their brothers or sisters.

Rather than talk on the walk, for he was still waking from his nap and his mind was taking a sluggish time to comprehend even as his body moves, he follows the small group and adjusts his body to the strides of his brother, slowing if he fell behind and pressing on when Tzadkiel picked up the pace. It didn't bother him and he didn't think anything ill of it - it was the way they were. Mikken tells them that they must be mindful of crossing borders and Vortigern nods solemnly, agreeing with this sentiment, before they find themselves in a group of wolves.

As Tzadkiel sits a girl pushes right up to them and Vortigern moves a bit to the side of his brother, watching her with interest and wondering how his brother would like her being in his space. "We are from Taviora," he says with a friendly wag of hsi tail and a boyish grin. "I'm Vortigern."