Sherry
His jaw clenched and heart pounding, he had time to take in the vibrant IceWing who held a suspicious amount of warmth in his voice, flinching away as he held out a talon, growling softly. He watched as he bowed, words lost as Calve joked, merely shaking his head in response. He didn't want to go back- even if so many paths he went on led to there- he just wouldn't. His talons, curled in the snow edged for solid ground, to plant himself in the earth if only to keep him upright. He faintly recalled classes he used to have- how carefree he and his classmates were- he shook his head again. He wouldn't go back.

He tilted his head at the position Calve held, releasing his grip on the earth from his front right leg and taking a step back at the mention of new faces. He didn't know what Calve saw behind his calcuating eyes- but figured whatever it was wasn't good, something that held reasons to leave- yet the mention of food made him stay, and Calve seemed nice enough, even if abit haughty at times. He attempted a laugh- albeit being fake and forced at the mention of manners, trying to dishevel the unease that built into him which made his movements stiff and cautious.
Elaine
Iceberg seemed tense and anxious - this was a dragon that had something to hide - but had little in the ways of experience regarding *How* To hide it- Calve just hoped he wasn't dealing with a serial murderer in the midst of the snowy evergreen forest- though Iceberg would only be a problem if there were more dragons about of course. He pushed the thoughts of suspicion from his mind- whether this dragon was good or bad- at least in this moment, that was irrelevant. "So, tell me- your quietness- what's your name? I'd at least like to know what to call you..." He turned his back to Iceberg, gesturing with a talon in a beckoning motion to follow him and started walking in his desired destination- the edge of the forest near the tundra, it was the best place to catch critters in the snow - especially as the day began to grow colder, the tunneling voles, shrews, and mice would be heading in from the fields where they foraged for yellow berries hidden under the snow during the day. 

As the two walked- should Iceberg have at least headed the call of his own stomach - Calve continued to converse, trying to break the tension to the best of his ability. "So- do you come out here often?" He chuckled at the cliche nature of his own question. "I mean- it's beautiful is it not? Certainly, a destination worthy of an admirer- and before the scorching - it was one of the key hunting grounds for or kind... You could say we've domesticated ourselves like we've done to scavengers- but hopefully after today, you'll at least know how to get yourself something to eat." Calve tried to smile warmly at Iceberg- but it came off as- conceded if not smug- though in truth, he was worried- not for himself, but Iceberg- he wondered what brought a young dragon to be all by themselves in the wild like this- away from friends, family, and future - where did this dragonet belong? What was their story?
Sherry
Slowly, he followed Calve, eventually catching up to be side-by side yet still a wingspan apart. He didn't answer the question, even if Calve did acknowledge his quiet nature- instead shaking his head, ready to bolt if the stranger dared to inflict a scratch or even come too close. The lure of food was intoxicating, but he wouldn't be caught with bait. 

Calve's vibrant, gleaming scales were an oddity to Iceberg, never seeing such pristine, healthy scales before. It made the forest look somewhat dull in comparison. *Definetly a palace dragon* He thought, keeping his eyes to his talons and ignoring Calve's attempts at conversation, taking the words in but acting like he was in a different world entirely. After his final words, he glanced back toward Calve, immediatly turning hostile to the smile, growling in suspicion that turned into fear. *What did he want? Does he know?* And perhaps more importantly, *Is he leading me to a dead end?*
Elaine
Calve didn't mind talking to himself - it was kind of therapeutic to be able to talk - to be able to lead the conversation instead of following it like he usually had to do when talking with the various members of the icewing court. He could probably talk on and on like this for hours, even if Iceberg didn't answer and looked like they were drifting between realities. The older icewing chuckled after giving a glance to Iceberg. "I suppose that's fair- I guess following is enough to hint that you're perhaps at least listening to what I'm saying." He continued his laugh- though gave a pained wince at Iceberg's growl- "Er- sorry, smiling isn't particularly my forte- or at least making it genuine... When you're dealing with royals, everything's forced to some degree- not to say I don't like serving the palace of course- it just has it's own- extreme version of our cultural norms." 

The two finally came out to the edge of the forest- in front of them stretched hundreds of miles of frozen wastelands dotted in hills, mountains, ice caverns and ravines- and behind them was the stark contrast of the living- but quiet forest. Calve pressed his snout to the ground- taking in the area's scents as he stepped forward, his tail flicking right- then left sharply as he silently marched to the left... He talked in a hushed tone as he continued. "The trick is to distribute your weight-" He glanced back at Iceberg with a more convincing smile to say the least.

"If I had to guess- while you were walking through the forest, your upright compact posture was making it difficult for you to catch anything, let alone get within tail's length- Observe~" He stretched his legs out to either side and opened his talons- in any other situation it would look rather awkward to say the least, but as he stepped forward and opened his wings, the imprints he left in the snow lessened to a considerable degree- as he stepped forward the crunching of the snow that could be heard before became a whisper as a puffed up portion of snow moved along the empty field between tundra and forest- slowly. Something was moving beneath it, and Calve had already been heading in the direction of its approach- once he was close enough, he jumped quickly in the air and dove headfirst into the deep snow- his tail and blacklegs sticking out in an unceremonious fashion, but when he claws his way out of the snowbank - in his jaws was a large snowrat- still squirming for a moment before he dispatched it with a quick flex of his jaws. 

He pranced over to Iceberg and set the food down in front of him with a smile, wiping the crimson from his face with a grin. "It might be a little unsightly- but... It's the best way to do it- three of those and you'll be full. Wanna give it a try?~" He sat and closed his wings tight against his back- seemed the 'palace dragon' knew more than perhaps half of the court- a subtle hint that he might not have been entirely what he seemed himself.
Sherry
He listened to the IceWing drone on about offending and not offending higher ranks, dismissing it with a grunt. He was curious on why he would be sorry though, was he supposed to be sorry? Surely dragons have done worse things without apoligising. Well, it was true, but he guessed in some instances dragons deserved it, jaw clenched as a fear grasped as his throat. He moved on, putting one foot infront of the other until they reached the edge of the forest- a sight that was incredibly jarring, especially when previously met with what seemed to be endless trees. 

Sitting down, he watched Calve move, adjusting his posture and 'distributing' his weight, Iceberg sneering distrustfully at the smile- even if it were more genuine, flicking his tail. He felt quite bitter as Calve critiqued his movements, who wasn't even there to see his own posture. Yet he watched, acknowledging how stupid Calve looked whilst he leapt into the snow, tail and legs a strange but funny sight. 

He flinched as Calve pranced proudly over, standing up with a defensive hiss, stepping backwards. The snow underneth the rat slowly became crimson, and Iceberg's eyes looked up at Calve then down to the rat, as if asking permission- almost desperate, even. After a moment he swiftly ducked his head, possibly cracking a few more of its fragile bones as he grabbed it and darted away in one motion, keeping Calve in the corner of his eye lest he tried something as he tore at the flesh of the rodent, hungrily gulping down the scarce meat.

It wasn't long before he was done, licking the blood off his teeth. Personally, he doubted three would be enough to fill him up- especially of how small they were- but food was food, no matter how much there was. If Calve was focusing, he would've noticed how Iceberg's shoulders slightly relaxed. Still a suspicion still piquing his eyes and caution in the way he held himself but a little less so, but fear told him to keep his secret, and he obliged with a sudden snarl.

Leading with Calve's advice, he wandered toward the frozen wasteland, ear flicking and adjusting his posture- mimicking Calve, spreading his wings and talons. Strategically- or rather just so Calve didn't realise,- the left side of him was in view, so if Calve didn't notice the burns already, he wouldn't this time either. He knew it was inevitable, but delaying the inevitable was better than nothing, he guessed.

Sensing some movement, he crept upon the snow before pouncing, diving snout first into the snow, feeling engulfed of sorts. Snapping his jaw on an old, discarded root from a tree long gone, he yanked it from the ground, emerging from the snow and instrantly spitting it out- the taste of dirt not the most desirable.
Elaine
Calve watched with intrigue at Iceberg's habits- oddly enough reminding him of the sparse encounters Calve had with scavengers from time to time- or perhaps observations of any wild animal- the way Iceberg snarled, hissed, as well as just the way he carried himself across the snow when around Calve- it was distrustful- though that wasn't to say he had earned any semblance of trust- but it was more like even when others didn't entirely trust each other, there was at least a somewhat cordially friendly demeanor that was almost uncanny depending on the level of distrust between individuals. 

As Iceberg looked up at him with a hopeful, pleading expression- Calve simply nodded before Iceberg grabbed it and raced away as to not eat close to him, another rather- animal-like habit, he noted- though there was a glimpse of the younger dragon lowering his guard if only for a moment, which proved to be promising. Seemed he unconsciously set a goal of at least getting Iceberg to say something, and any progress in the right direction was pleasing.

Indeed, Calve hadn't noticed Iceberg's burns- the way he held his wings taught to his body obscured any visual of them and the way Iceberg responded to Calve looking at him wasn't always with the most positive reaction- so he rarely kept his eyes on him for long. 

Even still, Calve watched with interest as Iceberg mimicked his hunting strategy- it was odd seeing someone echo your movements- he had never fancied himself a teacher, but here he was nonetheless... At Iceberg's dramatic failure of pulling the root from the ground- he let out a lighthearted chuckle. "It's okay- I promise I didn't excel my first few tries either. No matter how hard that may be able to believe.~" He grinned and paced over to his new pupil but kept Iceberg's preference of keeping him at a distance of a few meters. "The trick isn't so much your eyes, but your ears..." He cupped a talon around his right ear as the sound of another approaching rodent resonated through the cold air and another mole trail through the snow made itself known. "Sometimes the sight of the hill itself is misleading, face your ears towards the origin of your prey, it'll help you know whether to calibrate yourself left or right when you make your leap... No go on, give it a try. If you don't succeed, don't worry about it- we can try all night till you can get it down." Calve smiled happily, though it didn't subtract from how serious he seemed to be taking this if he were willing to stay out here 'all night'- in truth, seeing Iceberg in such a state wasn't something simply catching him something to eat would mend- he had to do more than just give him a temporary fix to the plight of hunger, give a dragonet a snowrat and he'll eat for a day, teach a dragonet to hunt that snowrat, and he'll eat for a lifetime- that was his philosophy on it anyways.
Sherry
The support he recieved was strange and he merely sniffed in response, utterly confused by the determination of the palace dragon. *Maybe they're all like this,* He thought, tilting his head. Strange, haughty and nice- he wasn't even sure of those words went together correctly. But what if he was wrong, and it was all an elaborate scheme? Reason fought his emotions, merely making him more conflicted than before. At Calve's encouragement to try again, thought for a moment, wondering if he was serious. Anyways- he flicked his ear, listening out for the small thuds as the critter moved, the soft squeaks of it calling to its friends, something or other anyway, inner turmoil forgotten for now. Mimicking Calve's movements once again, distributing his weight evenly among the snow, closing his eyes and bringing his head to the snow for better sound. 

A flash of excitement went over his face as his jaws latched around something live and squirming, accidentally dispatching it with rough jaws whilst underneath the snow, bringing it up and proudly showing Calve. Sure, the rat was probably old and slow, but he ate the meal triumphently anyway, piercing through flesh with sharp teeth as it filled his belly. Besides- it was much better tasting than old roots. Greedily, he finished the meal with a couple gulps, licking the blood from the side of his maw before wincing, looking up at the vibrant IceWing.

"Sorry," He said, pausing, clearing his throat so to make his voice not as weak, considering he hadn't talked in a while. "I should've got you some," He looked down, ashamed to meet his eyes. His wording wasn't exactly right- perhaps *Left* Was a better word, but to him it didn't matter.
Elaine
A sense of pride washed over Calve- for the first time in a long time- it was for someone *Other* Than himself as he saw Iceberg succeed at the task- no matter if the prey was old or weak, the point still stood that he did in-fact, succeed- and typically someone's more encouraged to keep trying the more they succeed- especially the first few times they do. The victorious look on the silent, skeptical dragon's face was a nice change of pace he couldn't help but be beaming over as he gave Iceberg a 'thumbs up' gesture. 

Hearing Iceberg's voice for the first time was almost startling- a part of him almost accepted the dragon might've been mute entirely- but the fact he had succeeded in his own subconsciously formulated goal of getting at least one word from him- made him exceedingly happy - though he tried to subdue that joy out of habit and partially not to make Iceberg feel *Too* Out of place. "Nonsense- I take it you haven't eaten much in a great deal of time- besides- It's not like I'm hurting for prey myself. Serving in a castle has its perks. Anything you catch is all yours, though that's not to say I haven't taken your consideration for me for granted." He gave Iceberg an encouraging nod- an ice crystal of Calves being wondering if he would've made a better teacher than Butler- though it was easy for him to get overzealous at his own success.

"I'm just happy you were able to succeed- don't suffocate that sense of pride with guilt, savor it. It's part of what being an Icewing is all about- at least in my perspective." He paced a bit closer- though continued to adhere to Iceberg's preference for a considerable degree of space. He didn't comment on the grammatical error- though in most situations, he certainly *Would* Have- and without a second thought- Iceberg seemed to be a special case- and that was only exemplified by the sight of scars along the younger dragons body- only adding to the questions on Calve's list. With how Iceberg moved though, seeming to avoid showing those scars by going out of their way to prevent the potential sight of them being obvious- it was perhaps best not to discuss them. A dragonet like Iceberg shouldn't *Have* Such scars in the first place- though among older Icewings - scars could be seen as a sign of prestige and victory over whatever delt the blows that created them. 

"Now that you've gotten your first taste of victory against the snowrat scourge, perhaps we can work together to catch them moving forward- It'll be twice the efficiency, and of course- I'm not hungry at all. Any extras we might catch - you can save in cold-storage wherever you sleep- that way you'll certainly have something to eat even if luck runs dry and few snowrats show tomorrow after our little war on them today." Calve stepped past Iceberg, seemingly ready to participate as an idea flashed to his mind. "We could always make a game of it~ Since I've got a great deal more experience- every rat you catch is worth two points, every rat I catch is worth *One*."
Sherry
He smiled at the praise- even if he didn't want to. It felt *Nice* And warm, like his Mother congratulating him on a sorry excuse for a trick he'd been trying to master for hours on end, all the hard work paying off with a gentle smile and soft eyes. The thought of her made him worry, and he looked up at Calve, bearing a question on his tounge- not one he had been asking himself for so much time now, but a new one, tailored to him. He never said any words, but there was a curious glint in his eyes.

He kept this question at the back his mind, listening to Calve intently, repeating his words in his mind so he wouldn't forget them. The knowledge felt valuable, watching carefully as Calve paced closer, wrinkling his snout slightly. Calve seemed knowledable and maybe a little trustworthy. He was nice to be around atleast, sometimes forgetting to fret about his fears. 

He smiled at the proposition of a game, showing his teeth. He hadn't played in a long time, and though he would've never thought he'd play a game with a palace butler, he was certaintly willing to try. Before Calve could announce any start or finish, he bounded off, swiftly sprinting to an area more secluded but still within sight of Calve, for optimal hunting area, of course. As he pounced into the snow- and sometimes getting stuck- sometimes gaining a rat for his troubles, promptly returning the kill in a pile near where they originally stood. In one case, he saw an arctic hare, racing toward it before it could burrow under the snow, smiling boastfully as he added it to the pile.
Elaine
"I didn't say-! Oh- whatever, I'll win anyways~" He chuckled and off the both of them went off to the races - as nightfall fell fast over the tundra, more and more prey retreating from the darkness and towards the forest made themselves known- snowrats, arctic hares- and lone caribou Calve tipped Iceberg off to instead of precuring for himself - by the time the two had finished their little game and the points were tallied up- it had become clear that Iceberg had one- though certainly in-part by the fact his points were doubled and Calve counted the arctic hair as *Four* Points and the caribou as *Twenty-four* Points. Regardless of wins and losses, Calve sat and gave Iceberg a round of applause for Icebergs haul. "Excellent work!~ You're much better than most nobles- and..." He leaned in with a grin "Don't let Hyperborean know- but I think you'd beat him *Too*." He chortled softly and gestured to the feast the two had put on the metaphorical table. "Eat as much as you please, you've certainly earned it- as for any leftovers you have, we can store them near your place of residence. Though- I must admit, if you're ever hungry again and can't find anything to hunt- you should go to the 'Gift of Subsistence' it's south of here towards the Sand Kingdom- three holes carved in the ice where you're guaranteed to catch something to eat."

Even from hunting, Calve was particularly hunting- and it felt right to let Iceberg keep everything caught given the circumstances. "That's the most fun I've had in several moon cycles- and I haven't hunted like that since I was your age-" Calve cringed at the comment as if it brought up somewhat unpleasant memories - but quickly threw the smile back on his face and continued. "Though- now that we have a moment of peace between us and the game is won- perhaps you wouldn't mind answering a few questions?" Calve scoffed at his own comment. "Three moons I sound like a member of the guard- apologies... Anyways, perhaps we can just start with a simple question - what's your name? I ask out of curiosity - but mostly so I don't have to call you 'boy' or something like that." He chuckled and made himself comfortable while Iceberg was able to dig into his meal.
Sherry
He laughed at his remark about the King, even though he felt the thought was hyperbole, laying down as he ate parts of the feast, pulling the hare to the side- it being a particular favourite he was saving for last. He bit down hungrily, lavishing in the feast the duo had prepared. Iceberg glanced at Calve when he mentioned the gifts, something he had neglected to acknowledge much at school. The reason he avoided those towns were true in his mind, but perhaps if he went under the guise of night... He'd also have to work on his flight, aswell. He nodded at the suggestion though, 

Iceberg rolled his eyes as Calve spoke "Since I was your age," Raising a brow to see if Calve was serious. Watching Calve's snout wrinkle up as he cringed amused Iceberg, continuing on the caribou leg, the hunger slowly being sedated. He listened to Calve waffle on, figuring it must be pretty easy, considering his own quiet state- the sudden jarring silence making him stop eating and peer at Calve for a moment, recollecting what he said. The silence was uncomfortable, with no cracking of a fire, bugs songs or an owl hooting to help soothe the silence into quiet. He debated whether or not he should pass on a fake name, espeically since he was in the higher ranks of IceWings... Yet Calve had been kind to him and seemed to be genuinely so.

"'Berg." He said, somewhat like an unbelievable lie or a cautious truth.
Elaine
Calve found amusement as Iceberg's lively and less hostile reactions - "Well- I suppose it was more like I haven't had this much fun hunting sine I was your age." He rolled his eyes in response- enjoying the bit of banter. 

When Iceberg revealed his name, Calve raised an eyebrow as his expression shifted to something more questioning. "Berg...? So like- short for Iceberg, right?" He tilted his head - if that was this dragon's attempt at a pseudonym, then it definitely needed some work. "Well- *Berg*, what brings you so far from civilization?" Calve laid down on his side, throwing his legs out a bit and resting his head in one of his talons. "I can't say I haven't enjoyed a bout of solitude myself, but all things considered... You've been out here for a while, no? I'd get awfully lonely without someone to talk to . . . Though it doesn't seem you're much the same, though at least you're a good listener." He chuckled and continued on.

"Certainly, you must have a home to go back to. I'm sure someone's worried sick wondering where you are." Calve's eyes drifted upwards towards the starry night sky as the sound of a nearby snow owl filled the gap in his tangent. "Even so- it's not my place to drag you back - whatever reason you're here- it must be because you're running from something, a dragon- a situation- maybe yourself- if you're happier out here, I only hope that you're *Safe*." He debated saying something but seemed to give into the impulse to bestow his righteous wisdom upon his new pupil. "When I was younger, my father used to make me stay out here all alone- I was much younger than you, so I'm sure you're fine- but when you're little more than a hatchling, a polar bear can be quite intimidating- though, even though those long nights scared me- I guess my experiences in the wild led me to being useful for you today- it's weird how things work like that. It's like some nightwing prophecy." He cackled at the idea-

"Though, if you ever need any assistance- you can find me at the palace- or perhaps from time to time- I'll come back here if you're not comfortable going to the great Icewing capital. You're alone- but you don't *Have* To be alone."
Sherry
His heartbeat seemed to rise, pumping against his chest as fear made his full belly feel weightless. He had his mind to keep him company, and when it drilled fears and guilt into his head, he had his stomach to look after. Solitude fit him like an awkward yet still usable glove, on his own he learnt how to hide, to adapt to his environment, and even if he couldn't find enough food, he chewed on the bark of trees, growing used to the uncomfortable circumstance he'd put himself into. He didn't say anything, merely creasing his brows.

At the mention of a home to go back to, he folded his wings tighter against his back, shuffling his right foot underneth the bloodied snow, muscles tense. Earlier fears started to dawn on him as Calve talked, flinching as the owl hooted. "I am safe." He managed to say, not meeting the IceWings' eyes. He shuffled his foot out of the snow, in a position to bolt if he needed so. He glanced up worridly when Calve mentioned NightWings- Iceberg himself never had a predjuice against them, but their powers spooked him- prying into his mind and leaving spiders to wander and dig- stories his brother told him late at night in their shared bedroom, using the moonglobe he'd taken from one of the trips to the IceWing palace and demonstrating to Iceberg how the NightWings had stolen the moon for themselves. Reason told Iceberg Calve was joking, especially with the burst of laughter- but stepped but nonetheless.

He took Calve's words with a grain of salt. It was safer to be alone, whether he liked it or not. His expression showed how he took Calve's final words: skeptical, distrustful and perhaps a little desperate.
Elaine
Calve noticed Iceberg's negative response and turned away with a pained expression. "I... See- that's alright, I suppose- as long as you're safe." It became apparent a questionnaire wasn't the best approach for this easy-to-spook individual. He let out a deep sigh. "You can leave whenever you wish- I can tell you'd like to go, but at least mark the spot so you can come back for your food when I'm gone..." Calve stood up and paced away from Iceberg- feeling he'd overstayed his welcome from the younger dragon's panicked responses to his words - 

"You have no reason to trust me, but I won't tell anyone of your existence- perhaps you are just happier out here, and that's okay. At least we had a little fun, right?" He gave a nervous chuckle as he continued to walk further away from Iceberg, seemingly getting ready to leave as his tail flicked about- "I suppose this is farewell- I have duties to attend to anyways, so that's quite alright." He forced a pleasant grin- even though he was sad to leave Iceberg out here by himself in the wild. He wished the best for the dragonet- but felt there was nothing left to be done- Iceberg was certain to run off any moment- at least if he left, Iceberg wouldn't abandon all the food they had caught and thus let it go to waste. 

Calve opened his wings and looked back one last time at Iceberg - "If there's anything you'd like to say before I go- now's the time."