Forest sat next to a sleeping Iago who was twitching and mumbling in his sleep, it was normal for Iago to mumble in his sleep but never like this, never with the twitching or the crying.
¨Algiz, is that you?¨ A voice Forest had not heard since before he had died called from behind him. Forest turned to face the voice, he let out a small squeak of excitement seeing who it was. Forest got up and flung himself into Copper, causing both of them to fall to the ground.
¨I'm glad you're this excited to see me, but honestly I forgot how weird spirits feel...I love ya, but please get off.¨ Copper chuckled lightly as Forest pulled himself off of Copper. Forest couldn't help but blush as the rosey eyes of the man he hadn't seen for half a millennium met his.
A sudden cry from Iago distracted both Forest and Copper. Forest looked behind him glad to see that Iago was still asleep.
¨Algiz, what in the goddess name is that? And would you please get away from it before it..." Forest smiled as Copper's protests faded into angry mumbling. Forest stepped forward so that his face was only a short distance away from Coppers, As he spoke he held up his ghostly wings to try and put a barrier between Copper and Iago.
"Lots happened since we both fell for Aurthur's traps, you've gotten scrawnier, more foul tongued and clearly aren't as agile as you used to be..." Forest looked Copper up and down examining his thin body and his injured leg. Thinking to himself "I don't even know where you've been..." Forest continued focusing on distracting Copper from the human he seemed intent on getting to. "Also it's Forest now, and seriously what were you fighting; your ankle isn't sitting right."
¨Algiz, I mean Forest youre being a dick. But my foot will be fine, probably just sprained it badly. You don't need to try and hide the human, I won't hurt it unless it hurts one of us." Forest lowered his wings and stared at the ground struggling to find the words he wanted to say, as if he had read Forest's mind Copper explained softly; offering his hand to Forest.
"I'm so sorry I was gone so long, I was trapped under Aurthur's manor" Coppers explanation was cut short as Iago bolted awake and shouted at Forest and Copper.
"Lenny! How? The sword get sword. Lenny need to go!" Forest slowly walked back over to Iago and sat down, talking to Iago in the tone he would to a panicked child.
"Iago, it's okay. Can you take a deep breath then try saying that again?" Iago stuttered as he quietly watched Copper through Forest's transparent body. "L-lenny, I need to find her. Dream she-e had the sword doesn't ma-ake sense. I left her. Forest, I need to find her!" Iago had pulled himself up onto his crutches and was still mumbling. Copper's pink eyes were filled with curiosity hearing Iago's voice but shook his head, his expression returning to one of irritation.
"You know I'm no longer worried about the human, for once you found one I don't think could hurt anybody if it wanted to." Copper said in Ender. Forest turned in Copper's direction, his head nearly falling off his shoulders, snapping back in the same tongue. "You say I'm being a dick? If you're gonna insult him, at least do it in the language he speaks!" Iago looked between the two men completely confused on what they were talking about.
"What are you two talking about? You know I don't speak what's it, Ender?" Iago huffed and continued "Who even is this guy, Forest, you seem to know him?"
Forest chuckled looking between Iago and Copper, Copper was flicking his tail angrily and Iago was just leaning on his crutches, his expression unreadable.
"Copper here, he just never learned when to shut his mouth, but yeah I've known him most of my life, he's my..." Forest trailed off glancing over to Copper hoping he would finish the sentence answering both Iago and his questions. "What are we Copper? I don't know...after everything I did?" Forest thought to himself and he turned to look at the ground wishing he himself knew when to shut his mouth. Copper once again he read Forest like a book and walked up next to him and despite flinching slightly at the wet feeling of Forest's hand, grabbed it and started with a proud little smile.
"My mate."