Morning slowly broke the surrounding darkness while Axis stared at the ashes filling the pit before he glanced at the two sleeping girls, but surprise found him as he met Flora’s direct gaze. She quietly moved, keeping the pit between them as she sat down, and she watched a whisper of a flame travel over him.

“So… fire?" she pressed quietly, and he gave her a quizzical look. “What can you do with it?” her nerves were tested in a conversation she never had before.

Axis held out his hand before a ball of fire appeared in it, making her squeak.

“Whatever I want,” he grumbled to hide his amusement, and she reflected him but darkness covered her hand instead.

“You’re my opposite!” she chimed with a cheery smile.

“What do you mean?” he pressed, and she smirked.

“Well, you’re light and I’m dark.” she revealed while the shadows pooled beneath her, and his eyes widened, “Also I like talking, you’re a mute. Imma girl, you’re a boy. I’m cute, you’re weird.”

“Hey!” he snapped as flames flashed over him, and Allura stirred in her sleep, earning his curious attention.

“She doesn’t have any powers,” Flora sated his question with her eyes settling on Allura as well for a moment before she shifted her attention back to Axis. “How did you get yours? Do you have a friend like Uki that shares it?” enthusiasm fueled her questions, and Axis mindlessly placed a stoic hand on the large scar that crossed over his chest.

“A god changed my soul.”

“Which one?” Allura’s voice yawned, and Axis jumped slightly with his eyes flying to her as she sat up.

“Lar- Larsolis, the Phoenix God…” Axis hesitated.

“That perv?!” Allura blurted while crossing her arms over her chest with a faint blush, and anger erupted.

“What did he do to you?!” Axis barked, instantly moving to Allura.

“N-nothing really,” Allura stuttered with the embarrassment in her cheeks growing as she looked away.

“I swear...” he growled with flames whispering over him. “I am going to-” he lost his voice as his breathing hitched in his throat with the feeling of her touch on his skin. She lightly traced the scar that crossed his chest, from shoulder to hip.

“That’s what he did,” she whispered, and a blush burned across his cheeks as he stumbled back from her. “I-I’m sorry… Anyways, we should pack up, Flora.” she mumbled as she set to work, placing her bedroll on top of Flora’s before rolling them together.

“Where are you going?” Axis pressed with his voice barely above a whisper as he looked to the ground with a pit forming in his stomach.

“Hmmm,” Allura hummed while glancing about for a moment before pointing down the road, “That way, we got a little lost, and we’re trying to find a town. We need to resupply.”

“Can... Can I come with you?” Axis asked, and Allura paused before she looked to Rune.

“Ehnh!” Rune exclaimed, and Allura picked him up, placing him on her back.

“Sure,” she nodded.

“Does this mean we are friends now?” Flora pressed, and a lost look spread over Axis’s face.

“Yep,” Allura answered for him, while flashing him a gentle smile, and a new beginning simply found Axis.

The day went on with simple questions to grow familiarity and mundane chats that were comfortable for each of them until they paused their travel for a well-deserved break.

The hill rolled sweetly as the serenity of the wind brushed its grassy top, fluttering Axis’s sunny locks. His hands rested against the back of his head with the breeze caressing his skin, and his eyes fell shut with a peace he thought gone.

“Hey Axis!” Allura called out, and slowly his gaze found her further down the hill, waving to him.

‘She makes me calm…’ a silent thought of appreciation found him as she made her way to him.

“Are-are you hungry?” she tried to catch her breath after reaching him.

“You should rest,” he frowned while looking back at the horizon, and she rested her hands on her hips.

“Nah,” she sighed, and he peeked at her. “Are you hungry?” she persisted, earning a grumble from him. “Then come on,” she patted his arm, earning his attention before she began walking away.

A defeated sigh left Axis before he let his arms drop to his sides, and he followed her back to where Flora and Rune waited for them with a steaming pot.

“I made stew!” Flora announced proudly.

“It smells great,” Allura commented while sitting beside Flora, but Axis didn’t notice any pleasant aroma.

“I hope you like it!” Flora giggled excitedly while handing a bowl to Allura.

“Mmmm, you’re getting better, Flora!” Allura exclaimed after a taste, and Flora smiled brightly with a blush taking over her cheeks.

“Here you go, Axy!” Flora reveled in her success while offering him a bowl, and he hesitantly took it before glancing at Allura to find her eating with a content smile.

He focused back on his stew, and he hesitantly tasted it only to instantly grimace.

“What is this crap?” he huffed as his flames flashed over him, and Flora’s face fell, earning him a glare from Allura. “It tastes horrible.” he added bluntly, and Flora took off crying.

“Damn it,” Allura growled at him, earning his confusion along with a frown.

“What?!” he barked defensively.

“You’re an asshole! She’s still learning!” Allura snapped back at him, and his eyes widened before she let out a heavy sigh. “She was so excited too...” she lamented while placing her bowl down and rising to her feet.

“Ehnh?” Rune pressed from the ground.

“Where are you going?” Axis echoed Rune.

“To cheer her up,” Allura answered quietly. “You hurt her feelings,” she made him accountable, and his face fell.

It had been a long and lonely five months since Axis had been shoved onto his path as a human phoenix. He had nearly forgotten how it was to be with others that had no intention of hurting him, and he had forgotten how easy it was to hurt those that cared. A heavy sigh left him, and he moved to his feet before he began making his way from the small camp.

“Ehnh!” Rune called out.

~

“Flora,” Allura found the young girl sitting under a tree with her knees drawn to her chest, “You ok?”

“I tried so hard,” Flora sniffled, and Allura sat beside her, placing an arm around the girl’s shoulders.

“I know, and it was so much better this time,” Allura assured her, “He just didn’t know, but you know what?” she pressed, and Flora wiped her eyes before looking at her. “Now you know that you need to keep working on it, and because of that you are going to get better!” she promised Flora with a sweet smile.

“Y-you really think so?” the girl whispered with another sniffle.

“I know so,” Allura answered confidently, and Flora found a smile before burying her face in Allura’s chest, hugging her tightly. “Now, how about we go back, and see what we can do to make it better?” she suggested, and Flora slowly nodded before they began making their way back.

Each step brought a bit more confidence and hope as Flora thought of ways to improve her cooking, and before long the two returned to the small camp. Allura’s eyes widened as they swept over its emptiness.

“Rune?” Allura called out hesitantly, her heart was silent, “Rune?!” she blurted with panic starting to take hold, and her eyes darted with fear consuming her.

“Maybe he’s with-”

“RUNE!” Allura nearly screamed as she started to hyperventilate, abruptly swiveling her gaze in the desperate search for the sloth, igniting Flora’s own panic.

“The beam is cracked more deeply than I thought.” Viserus lamented.

~

Axis meandered through the surrounding forest, occasionally stopping to pick a plant or two.

“Ehnhh!” Rune commented happily from Axis’s shoulders as he stopped to pick another plant before the two started making their way back to camp only to hear Allura scream.

Axis bolted without a second thought, and he swiftly returned to find Allura in a full-blown panic of tears and screaming while Flora cried in fear.

“What’s going on?!” Axis’s heart raced with terror that erupted in chaotic flames at his feet, and Allura’s attention darted to him as her legs shook.

“Ehnh,” Rune called softly, and Allura fell still.

Tears stained Allura’s face as she slowly walked to Axis. He could not pull his gaze from the emptiness of hers, and his flames gradually dissipated as she reached him.

“Are you ok?” he whispered as if afraid to disturb her void, and she carefully took Rune from him.

“Ehnh,” Rune apologized as the sloth wrapped his arms around her neck, holding onto her as she embraced him, and she fell to her knees.

“I’m so tired,” she whispered her confession to Rune, closing her eyes while Axis knelt in front of her, and he hesitantly reached towards her. “I’m ok. I’m sorry.” she quietly dismissed Axis, and his hand slowly fell while she offered a sweet smile before she stood on shaky legs. “I’m sorry I scared you, Flora.” she found herself while moving to the young girl, and she began gently petting her head. “I just got scared. Now… how ‘bout we go, um… fix the soup.”

“O-okay,” Flora replied hesitantly, and the two sat by the pot while Axis watched, pulling his mind back from the chaos that had occured.

“Now then… How about we-”

“Here,” Axis interrupted Allura, “Use these,” he muttered while handing Flora the plants he had gathered.

“Wha-what are they?” Flora accepted them.

“Herbs,” he muttered, and Allura looked at him in surprise. “What?” he huffed defensively. “I liked cooking!” he barked, and she shook her head.

“Nothing, thank you,” she answered in a small voice, and Flora gave her a worried look.

“Y-you’re welcome,” color found his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head, finding himself once again looking away from the girl that continued to challenge him with gentle lessons.