Anyx Trine has been good for him. To simply exist among his kind, among his cousinsā¦he has been alone for so long, he had forgotten what it felt like to be surrounded by the song. Even if it wasnāt his broodās ā Osenya was here, and she did sing that song. He perhaps regretted, somewhat, how easy it was to put aside his mortal guise and all but forget it for a timeā¦but it had been sorely needed.
Heās on the ground level of the tower, all but covered in dragonets, when he spies a mortal approaching. Itās one he recognizes, actually, and heās pleased to see that he was coming here ā he was dragon in part, now, and he couldnāt pretend otherwise. To ignore the song in your heart and remain aloneā¦well, he knew how bad that was.
He nudges some of the dragonets off him and rises, the feathery white dragon approaching to bow its avian head to the dragoon in greeting. āHello, Estinien,ā he rumbles in Dravanian. āāTis good to see thee once again.ā
Even before the strangely feathered dragon speaks to him, Estinien recognizes him. How, he isnāt sure - itās tied to the pull that heās never been able to quite put into words; the song of dragonkind, but nonetheless he does, and he isnāt certain whether to be pleased to see the ancient dragon who had, despite his own reluctance, been only of help to him during their brief encounter, or aggravated that their paths keep crossing.
...Eventually, however, he settles for amusement, because he noticed the number of hatchlings resting with the avian-esque dragon (the more stubborn among them clinging to him even now), and itās hard notĀ to smile just a little at the sight of all those broodlings night-covering a much larger creature. It makes something twinge within him - something very sad and very old, and he knows it to be from what remnants of Nidhogg he keeps.Ā
It is a relief, he supposes, to know he will not lose himself. But if 'tis so simple as to be lured to this place by instinct, then there are things he will need to learn if ever he is to be able to return home. So he returns the old dragonās greeting with a bow, and decides to be on his best behavior - an irronic contrast from how he acted when last he arrived in this place. But heāll not threaten Vidofnir or any of her brood. Not now. Not ever again.
āI admit I am surprised to find myself here,ā he admits softly, a wry sort of smile on his face.Ā āBut I am nonetheless pleased to see you again, as well.ā