The last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees as Theo left the House of Pan behind. The forest was quiet, the fading light casting long shadows over the path ahead. He walked beside the cart, the goat pulling it at a steady, deliberate pace, its golden horns catching the faintest glimmer of the evening glow.
"You really think you're something special, huh?" Theo muttered, glancing at the goat as it strutted forward, head held high like a king surveying his kingdom.
The goat snorted, tossing its head slightly in response.
Theo chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "Yeah, alright. I'll give you this one. But don't let it go to your head."
The boar plodded along on the other side of the cart, letting out a soft grunt as if to second Theo's statement. Theo reached down, patting its thick hide. "At least you're not a diva," he said with a grin.
The bird, perched on the edge of the cart, let out a sharp screech, its metallic feathers catching the last bits of light as it ruffled them.
"Oh, don't start," Theo said, glancing up at it. "I already know you're impossible."
The bird tilted its head, watching him with an unblinking stare before fluttering its wings and settling back down.
The trio fell into a steady rhythm as they moved deeper into the forest. The creak of the cart's wheels and the soft thud of hooves filled the silence, blending with the faint rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.
After an hour of walking, the goat suddenly stopped in its tracks, planting its hooves firmly in the dirt. Theo sighed, coming to a halt beside it.
"Really?" he asked, crossing his arms.
The goat ignored him, lowering its head slightly and pawing at the ground.
"Come on," Theo said, stepping in front of the animal and giving it a light shove. "We've still got a long way to go."
The goat didn't budge.
The boar let out a loud snort, stomping one of its own hooves in what sounded like an attempt to egg the goat on. The goat turned its head slightly, fixing the boar with a look that was almost disdainful.
"Oh, great," Theo muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "A standoff. Just what I needed."
He stepped back, letting out a resigned sigh. "Fine. If you want to play king of the road, be my guest. But we're not camping here, so the sooner you figure that out, the better."
The goat snorted loudly, almost as if it had won the argument, and then resumed walking with its deliberate, regal stride.
Theo rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small grin tugging at his lips. "You're lucky you're useful," he muttered, falling back into step beside the cart.
The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy above, spilling faint streaks of silver onto the forest path. The air had grown cooler, the warmth of the day now replaced by a crisp, earthy chill. The cart creaked softly as it rolled along, its sturdy wooden frame steady under the weight of its heavy cargo.
The goat moved with its usual regal stride, its head high and deliberate, as though the cart it hauled was a throne and the road beneath it a royal procession. The boar walked alongside, its sharp tusks gleaming faintly in the dim light, snorting softly every now and then as it turned its head to scan the shadows.
Above them, the bird glided silently, its wings cutting through the air like blades. Occasionally, it dipped lower, its golden eyes scanning the path ahead before it rose back toward the treetops.
Theo sat near the front of the cart, legs dangling over the edge as he leaned forward slightly. His gaze shifted between his companions, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the weight of the journey ahead.
"You're all show-offs, you know that?" he said softly.
The boar let out a huff, almost as if in agreement.
The bird screeched faintly in response, banking slightly to loop back toward the cart. Theo tilted his head up, watching it as it swooped low, its metallic feathers shimmering faintly as it passed just overhead.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small strip of dried fruit. He held it for a moment, glancing up at the bird again as it circled back. "Alright, let's see how this goes," he muttered, his voice low.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the strip of fruit into the air, aiming in the bird's direction.
The bird swooped down in an instant, its sharp talons catching the fruit midair with a precision that made Theo blink. It didn't slow, its wings beating once as it soared higher, disappearing briefly into the shadows of the canopy.
Theo leaned back, his grin widening. "Impressive. You're not just looks, huh?"
The boar glanced up at him, snorting loudly as if to remind him it was still there.
Theo chuckled, reaching down to pat the boar's side. "Don't worry, you're still my favorite," he said. "Not that I'd ever tell them that."
The cart came to an abrupt stop, jostling Theo slightly as the goat halted in its tracks. He frowned, looking down at the animal, which had lowered its head to sniff at something along the edge of the path.
"Seriously?" Theo muttered, hopping down from the cart.
The goat ignored him, its massive horns gleaming faintly as it pawed at the dirt with one hoof.
Theo stepped closer, his boots crunching softly against the dirt. "We don't have time for this," he said, placing a hand on the goat's flank. "Come on, there's plenty to eat when we stop for the night."
The goat turned its head, fixing Theo with a steady, almost regal gaze.
The boar grunted, stepping up beside Theo and nudging the goat with its tusks. The goat huffed loudly, shaking its head in a way that almost seemed theatrical before finally resuming its stride.
"Right, because you have to be dramatic about everything," Theo muttered, climbing back onto the cart. He glanced back at the bird, which had returned to perch near the rear, its sharp eyes glinting faintly in the moonlight.
"You see this nonsense?" Theo asked, gesturing toward the goat. The bird let out a faint screech, shifting its wings slightly before settling again.
Theo sighed, leaning back against the sacks of grain. "I'm surrounded by royalty. I guess that makes me the servant."
As the journey continued, the forest grew darker, the moonlight struggling to penetrate the thick canopy above. The sounds of the night surrounded them—the distant hum of insects, the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze, the soft crunch of hooves and footsteps against the dirt.
Theo's gaze drifted toward the treetops, following the faint flickers of movement as the bird soared above. It circled back occasionally, dipping low to glide just above the cart before rising again.
The boar's ears twitched as it walked, its head turning briefly toward a patch of underbrush where the leaves rustled faintly. Theo noticed the movement, too, but said nothing, brushing it off as one of the countless small creatures that called the forest home.
"Just the forest being the forest," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
The goat continued forward without hesitation, its stride steady and unbothered. The bird, however, slowed its circling, its gaze lingering on the same patch of shadows before finally turning away.
Theo shifted slightly, the unease lingering in his chest for a moment before fading. He leaned back again, his eyes drifting shut briefly.
The rest of the journey passed without incident.
The sun had risen and set again, the forest slowly giving way to familiar fields and quiet roads as Theo pushed onward. His companions kept pace with him—each in their own way. The goat marched steadily at the front, its head held high as if it had been born to lead. The boar stuck close to Theo's side, its heavy frame a reassuring presence in the stillness of the journey. And the bird soared above, its sharp eyes scanning their path from high above, circling back to them now and then.
It wasn't until late into the second night that Theo saw it: the faint glow of distant lights in the valley below.
He paused at the crest of a low hill, his breath catching slightly as he stared down at the view.
The region of the House of Hestia stretched out before him, bathed in the soft, golden glow of scattered hearthfires. The homes below weren't grand or imposing like those in the House of Pan—they were simple, sturdy structures, their rooftops curling with thin tendrils of smoke that disappeared into the night sky. A winding river caught the moonlight as it snaked lazily through the valley, its surface gleaming like liquid silver.
The air here felt... different. Warmer, somehow, even in the coolness of the night.
Theo took a deep breath, the faint smell of smoke and earth filling his lungs.
"This is it," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
The goat stopped beside him, stamping one of its hooves against the dirt as if impatient to continue. The boar grunted softly, nudging Theo's side with its tusks, while the bird circled low above them, its shadow briefly crossing the moonlit path ahead.
Theo smiled faintly, placing a hand on the boar's broad side as he stepped forward. "Alright," he said, his voice firmer now. "Let's go."
They descended the hill slowly, the cart creaking softly as the goat pulled it forward. Theo's heart felt heavy, a strange mixture of nerves and resolve settling in his chest. This wasn't just a place he was passing through. This was his new home.
As they approached the outskirts of the valley, Theo cast one last glance at the forest behind them. The shadows of the trees seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance, but they didn't feel as daunting now.
Turning back to the path ahead, Theo straightened his shoulders. Whatever challenges awaited him in this new chapter of his life, he'd face them head-on.