Xerxe checked on his team-most of them seemed fine. He couldn't find Lastelle, however-she was probably off breaking into vending machines. He found Lastelles Pegasus Bowler, however, discontentedly munching on a nose bag full of 'fat reduced balanced diet soygum feed grass'. To Xerxe it sounded like a punishment.
While the rider is away, the Pegasus will play.
"...Bowler, I saved you some snacks!" He said quietly, petting the Pegasus on the nose and reaching for a bag of Cool Ranch Ballistas (launch the flavor into your mouth! siege your hunger!)
Xerxe had always liked Pegasus-and there were lots of Pegasons, the children dropped off at the steps of a church by unknown parties 'By The Pegasus'...there had even been a time where he would sit on the steps of the war-cathedral and draw them in colored chalks pinwheeling freely in the fields beyond the spiked gates that marked his home, but art was not encouraged among Warriors of Light and Justice...seeing a thing so wild and free, able to go to the sky when it pleased...Xerxes life has largely been built to serve function and order. This required feet on the ground, a steady stance, and narrower vision.
Things were different with the Warriors. And yet some things never changed. Sometimes he wondered if he had merely traded one set of obligations for another-his new, rebellious nature questioned many things now. If that was the only way he knew how to live-within the narrow framework of rules and orders imposed by others. Yet there was loyalty here, and friendship. Camaraderie. Was it enough? Or just another way to apply the yoke?
His thoughts were heavy, but his heart was light as he sneaked snacks to Bowler.