Roman stretched as he sat up. His back was stiff like it had been every night he had spent in this silly cart. Once it had clicked satisfactorily, he looked about.

Logan was reading a large novel and Virgil was pouring over a map. Patton wasn't there.

"Ah, salutations, Roman. You're awake." Logan said, smiling lightly at his friend. "Patton has gone to the village market to buy some food, he should return momentarily. He left before you woke up because you and Virgil spent a long time dancing, and he believed you would be too tired to awaken."

"Hey, Ro, Logan, we're gonna run into some trouble up ahead," Virgil said, frowning at the map. A newspaper they had bought in Dragon's' Creek lay next to him as he traced several roads with his finger.

Roman climbed out of the cart, moving to Virgil, who looked up at him. "Put a shirt on before you stand anywhere near me, princey."

Roman looked down at himself, went red, and reached into the cart, rummaging around until he found a white t-shirt and slipped it on. He looked back to see Logan knelt beside Virgil, also frowning.

"What's the problem, guys?" He asked, sitting close to Virgil as he tried to spot the problem.

Logan replied, "We need to cross Siren Valley before we can travel without as much caution about being recognized."

"Okay? And the problem is?"

"The problem," Virgil leaned back, biting his bottom lip, "is that the newspaper has made a report saying that the bridge travellers use to cross Siren Valley has been in much need of repair, and it won't be long until it's all crumbled down and is unusable. If we want to get across with the cart, we'll need to move as quickly as we possibly can. "

"Ah. That is quite a problem." Agreed Roman, pursing his lips. "So we need Patton to arrive, like, now so we can try to get an early start."

A small cough sounded from one of the trees behind them. "Why do we need to get an early start?" Asked Patton, holding a wicker basket. A warm aroma wafted to the trio on the forest floor.

"We'll explain in a moment, Patton, but first," Logan stood up with a serious face, "please give us some food, I am ravenous."

.:*:.

"Mmmmm... So good..." Roman contemplated, holding a warm pastry that was called a croissant.

Virgil nodded enthusiastically as he agreed.

Logan smiled at Patton happily. "Thank you for fetching these pastries, Patton. They are more than adequate."

"Well, I've got to keep my kiddos happy, now, don't I?" Patton said with a bright, fatherly smile. Logan looked away, losing his smile. Patton winced.

Roman and Virgil glanced at each other and smirked at the hopelessness of their friends. "Anyway, Pops..." Virgil said slowly. "We need to get to a place called Siren Valley and apparently the bridge to get there is crumbling so... we kinda need to hurry."

Patton stood up. "Well, what are we staying here for? C'mon, guys! We need to go! We'll eat on the ride there, now let's go, let's go!"

.:*:.

Siren Valley whispered. It was a beautiful, soft, melodic whispering. It sounded like a thousand young maidens singing softly.

"That," whispered Virgil, wide-eyed, as he leaned over the cart railing, "Is the most beautiful noise I've ever heard..."

Roman smiled affectionately at his enemy, noting how innocent those big, brown eyes were. "It's quite a sound, isn't it?" Virgil just nodded mutely.

"Where's the bridge?" Asked Patton, steering Romans' pegasus, while Logan managed the thestral.

Logan frowned. "I don't know... Maybe we're too far east?"

Virgil shook his head. "The map showed the bridge coming straight off this path. It should be right in front of us."

Roman had disembarked the cart and had walked over to the edge of the valley. He pointed into the ravine. "Found the bridge."

"Oh no..." Whispered Patton.

"Well, what do we do now?" Logan said, worry creeping into his voice. "There is no way we can get this cart across! There isn't enough aerial power!"

Virgil grimaced, biting his lower lip. "We'll have to ditch the cart - fly over there on Roman's' pegasus and Storm."

"That sounds like a good plan. Patton and Logan will fly on the thestral and Virgil and me on the pegasus-"

"NOPE! Nope, I am not touching that thing!" Claimed Patton, shaking his head vigorously. "it wants to kill me!"

Virgil glanced apologetically at Roman. "Storm won't let a stranger ride him unless I'm also there, too. So, unless your pegasus makes three trips across this valley, someone will be staying behind."

"Patton and I could ride your pegasus, Roman, while you ride at the same time with Virgil?" Suggested Logan.

Roman felt his face go red at the idea of being so close to the other Prince, but he ignored it. "Good idea, Lo. Virge, Pat, that okay with you two?" The others nodded. "Great! Um, see you two on the other side."

Logan unattached the cart from the two winged animals and helped Patton unload it of essentials.

Roman stood to the side as Virgil saddled up his thestral. Virgil mounted effortlessly, a surprising feat for such a small person.

When Virgil was in the saddle, he smirked down at Roman. He stuck out a hand. "C'mon, princey. Let's get over to the other side before the other two have a blush fest about being in close proximity of each other."

Roman laughed, taking Virgil's' hand and letting himself get hoisted up behind the other Prince.

"Hold on, princey. You're in for one hell of a ride." Virgil warned, and Roman took hold of his shoulders. Virgil kicked the thestral sharply and suddenly the skeletal beast was charging and then it was up in the air, gliding at immense speeds.

The ground beneath them was blurred, the wind was hitting their faces at painful speed. Roman yelped in surprise, hands instantly wrapping around Virgil's' waist for support, eyes clamped shut. This was like nothing he'd ever done before. The speed and ferocity of the flight were unheard of in the Light Realm.

"Are all thestrals this fast?" He yelled over the wind.

Roman felt Virgil shake his head. "Nope! Just Storm!"

"Why do you call your thestral Storm?"

"It's his name!"

Roman opened his eyes to frown up at Virgil, whose face looked pink with the speed of the wind that was running into. "Why do you name your animals?"

"Because it's just what you do! Don't you name your animals?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Weird!" Virgil claimed as Storm turned sharply, dodging an unseen blur of a bird.

Roman looked up at Virgil: his hair looked marvellous, as it flew crazily in the harsh wind. "Could you help me name my pegasus?"

"Sure thing, princey!" Virgil smirked.

Suddenly, everything halted, and the wind stopped being so brutal. Storm glided down, touching on to the grass softly and lightly.

"Uh, Roman? You can let go now." Roman let go of Virgil quickly, going red.

"Yeah, sorry. Where's Patton and Logan?"

Virgil looked about, then pointed. Roman's' pegasus was flying along slowly across Siren Valley, and you could see the confusion in the faces of the riders.

They landed about a minute after Virgil and Roman. Instantly, Patton asked very loudly, "What was that?! You guys just blurred!!"

"Uh, heh, yeah. He's a fast one..."

Roman rubbed the back of his neck. "Storm is seriously fast. I think my face is bruised!"

"Yeah, so is my waist. You seriously held on tight." Virgil raised an eyebrow mockingly at Roman who made offended princey noises.

Patton smiled at his friends and Logan. "So, Lolo, do you want to help me find our camp for tonight? We'll need more shelter then before now we don't have the cart!"

Logan smiled warmly at Patton. "Of course I'll help. Roman, Virgil, if you could fetch some firewood and search these bags-" He gestured to bags that had been dumped by the legs of Romans' pegasus "-for some food we can eat, it'd be much appreciated."

"Sure thing, calculator watch. C'mon, Virge, I think we have leftover pastries from this morning!"

And as Roman and Virgil dived into the bags, Patton followed Logan as he headed towards the silhouette of a woods.