"Ah, you're awake!" Discord exclaimed, brewing some tea and scrambling some eggs. "You had a good night I hope?"
Frozen smiled and nodded, "I did," he said, "she's good company and tells some of the most wonderful stories." Frozen sat across from his father and took a cup of tea, taking a sip.
"Yes, zebras are known for that, if I recall," Discord said, nodding. He remembered from his time in the zebra homeland how important stories were in their culture; they were not so fond of singing, as ponies were, but instead preferred fantastic tales and strange fables, which were traded around campfires and taverns alike. Even their foals were taught through parables, wherever possible. Discord's travels had been a long time ago, but the lands he knew had been the same lands Xarame once called home, and he remembered that time fondly. Of course, their incessant rhyming added another dimension to the experience which could be an acquired taste...
"I bet you have a lot of interesting stories to tell, as well, father," Frozen said with a soft smile.
"I suppose you could say that; did I ever tell you about the time I escaped Celestia's clutches and became the most feared Pirate King of the Equestrian seas? A good story that. Long though, maybe some other time..." Discord said, dishing up the eggs and toasting some bread. "I'm not missing a story am I?" Xarame inquired, emerging from the tent with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her slightly put out looking Babel Bird peering out from beneath. "You ought to have waken me for that, Frozen." She said, jokingly, sitting next to the Windigo.
Frozen nuzzled her, "I thought perhaps sleep was more important. I kept you up most of the night with my stories about Chineigh and the far east."
"Oh, you thought I was awake for that?" Xarame mocked, with fake innocence, before grinning cheekily. Her cheeks were starting to get slightly sore; there had been little cause to smile before Frozen and Discord turned up, and she wasn't used to it. "Well I hope you're both properly rested," Discord said, pouring Xarame a cup of tea and handing out the toast. "We've got a long day ahead of us, I fear,"
As they finished their breakfast, Discord took a look at the map he'd brought with him from their tower. The Western Citadel was more of an island than anything else; surrounded on three sides by water, a direct assault on the single narrow land approach would be suicide, even if they gathered their army, but a siege may prove a useful distraction... "How's your swimming?" He asked the others, a slight grin on his face.
Discord rolled his eyes. "I suppose I should have seen that one coming..." Xarame nodded her affirmation also, "My tribe were riverfolk; I am no stranger to water, though I fear the seas here may not be as... pleasant, as back home." "Well, I'm sure we can figure some way to warm you up, but un-drowning you may have proved more of a challenge." Discord replied, with a smile. "I'll send a message to Healing Hoof; ask him to gather what army he can and bring them to the enemies' gate." He conjured up some parchment, scribbled down the note, folded the page into a plane, and sent it flying North. "Well then, unless there was anything else, I suggest we head off!"
Frozen nodded. He wrapped Xarame in his cloak, to protect her from the cold, and used his magic to dispell the tent, sending it back into the aether. "This chaos magic is quite useful, you really must teach me more, father," he said.
Discord watched the tent disappear with approval "Well, I'm no teacher, but I'll be happy to help you unlock your potential if I can. seems the least I can do, considering... But we should be careful, I don't know what effects it may have on you; you are only half draconequus after all."
Frozen nodded, "I am well versed in many types of magic, I believe I can handle it. We will be cautious, however!"
Discord grinned. "Well, you've got your mother's looks, could be that you've got your father's capacity for chaos! Well, some of it anyway; you're not the avatar of chaos but you might be a representative at least... At any rate, it's a better combination of parental qualities than the reverse." He chuckled.
Frozen chuckled as he tried to picture the latter of the two. "At any rate, we'll explore that route as time allows."
Xarame issued a slightly impatient cough, and Discord gave her a slightly sheepish smile. "Uh, yes. Talking of routes, I suppose we'd better start making tracks!" He lead the way out of the clearing and into the woods, starting their long walk West...
Frozen kept a wary eye in each direction, particularly to the woods on their right. The silence was unnerving, and he couldnt shake the feeling of being watched..
Discord strolled along, whistling merrily, either unaware or unconcerned by the presence. Xarame however, was not so oblivious... "You can feel it too, yes?" She whispered, walking alongside Frozen. "I fear I may know what stalks these woods, I only pray that I am wrong..." She trailed off as she noticed Discord had stopped; the path ahead was blocked by an enormous spider's web, and it looked fresh.
Frozen stopped in his tracks, listening to the wind. A cold mist blew around him as he looked about, trying to ascertain the source of the sound.
