“Vesta, wait, it could be…” Aica began to state, as his wife broke off in a desperate run towards the pile of food.<i>...poisoned.</i>No, he still believed it was a trap and he watched with frustrated eyes as his wife forgot her pristine dignity to fill her belly first. His own rumbled in protest, wondering why he stood so idle when there was food just ahead.<i>Because it’s a trap. Because it’s…</i>Again, Vesta interrupted him with another brash action, pulling out an old helmet, of a style not used since his grandfather’s day, with the skull and all falling out as she removed it. Aica watched it roll passively, before returning his eyes to his wife. Her recklessness was starting to get on his nerves and in those days, it didn’t take much to tick him off.<i>A pot? In a helmet that had a decomposing head for what, fifty plus years…? Gods, this woman…</i><br/><br/>Then something else caught his attention. He heard it before it appeared, head jerking to one side, to present his ear to catch the sound more keenly if he could.<br/><br/>And then it finally revealed itself, right before him.<i>Right. Infront. Of. His. Face.</i><br/><br/>Aica’s first reaction was instinctive. Something strange, uncertain, and very unnatural to the realities he understood was before him. He didn’t see a beautiful creature with lovely wings. He saw a threat. He snarled, jerked back, and swung his knife wildly in a defensive move. It was only fortunate the creature was so small and fast, or else it would be dismembered in various bits and pieces on the forest floor. It, or rather<i>her</i>, flew up ahead and Aica twirled the knife in his fingers, grasping it by the point with the handle up, one arm ahead of him for balance and aim. He was going to fling it…<br/><br/>But it spoke to him, flying off into a tree. Aica remained motionless, ready to fling the knife if he could, but watchful and not the least bit curious.<i>What is she? She speaks, she flies, she is as big as my finger...I don’t understand…</i><br/><br/>Then she dropped a chestnut on his head. She called him names.<i>Him</i>, Prince Aicanasse Larenzac, which she also seemed to know! The nut bounced off his head and he growled like a feral creature. He reared back and threw the knife at her...missing by a decent margin and striking a tree behind her with a thud. He stood there, fists clenched, listening as she continued to mock and insult him...to his wife! “Miserable fly.” Aica muttered under his breath, moving to the tree trunk and removing his knife, striding towards Vesta where the creature was hiding behind. It took off into the trees again, citing it would return in the morning.<br/><br/>He was having none of that.<br/><br/>“Come back here!” He roared, following it to the base of the tree and kicking it futilely. “If you know who I am then you know these woods are apart of my domains and territories. Therefore, I own them and any who dwell within it are under my rule. So come back here and answer for this…” Aica said, sweeping his arm over the campsite. “What witchcraft or trickery is this? What did you do the previous inhabitants? If you don’t come down and answer me truthfully...then I’ll set fire to your very tree! Come down. Down!” Aica demanded, kicking the tree again, shaking it slightly and dislodging a few leaves.<br/><br/>“Little fly.” He grumbled, turning and shaking his head, striding to the fire and sitting down beside it. He didn’t understand this but he wasn’t going to pass up on a warm fire and harvested berries, if Vesta hadn’t consumed it all. “Ignore that creature.” He said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards him. “Wash out that helmet and wash it out good. It could be diseased terribly if you want to use it as a pot.” He grumbled, opening the sack and taking out the rabbit, which he would finish skinning. He reached over to grab a handful of the berries, juices smearing his hand, as he stuffed them all into his mouth and chewed furiously. He kept glancing over his shoulder, as if expecting the sprite to do something terrible when their backs were turned.<br/><br/>“Probably put a spell over us when we’re asleep. We shouldn’t stay here.” He grumbled again to Vesta. And whose side was she on now?