It was a hot, cloudless day when Babis took off in the direction of the Kotas household, his feet kicking up small clouds of dirt with every hurried step. Even though the wind was roaring in his ears, he could also hear Vang bounding along behind him. Bab didn’t need to turn his head to already know that the dog was sporting just as wide of a grin as he was. As his sandals ate more and more of the rocky path that winded up the hillside, leading from Babis’s home to the Palati just a few estates away, he could sense that Vang was quickly closing the distance between the two of them. However, this didn’t worry the boy as he knew that he would be the victor of this impromptu race. After all, the two of them had done this countless times as Vang was the only other creature that could keep up with the seemingly endless energy that Babis had within him. This was just another one of the favored games that the two of them played together.
He waited until the dog was almost level with the Eliades before he called upon one last burst of energy to speed ahead of the dog again and make it to the large tree that would signify the end of their race. A small cheer left him as he leaned against the tree, doubling over to catch his breath. Vang the hound, ever the nanny dog to the boys, soon ambled over and collapsed into the dirt next to the boy, eager to enjoy the relaxing shade that the tree’s branches offered.
Having perfected the art of tugging on the boy’s heartstrings, the canine soon looked over to Babis with a sad expression before glancing at the small pouch hanging at the boy’s waist, tied neatly over his brown tunic. “Alright, alright.” Babis said as he reached into the bag and pulled out a knotted rope, a favorite chew toy for the beast. Vang immediately climbed to his feet, his happiness showing clearly through his frantically wagging tail as Babis waved the toy in front of the dog.
“You want it?” Babis said, cheerfully teasing the dog for a moment before tossing it away from the tree, “Go get it!”
Vang the hound didn’t need to be told twice. He took off after the toy, giving Babis a moment to close the pouch and push himself off the tree. By the time Vang was happily trotting back with his prize clenched with his teeth, Babis was already on the road, ready to shower the canine with praise.
However, he didn’t take the toy back and for good reason.
The dark-ochre colored dog wasn’t just a companion for the boys, raised to provide the boys a playmate. No, Vang served a far more important purpose for the Eliades family. He was trained specifically to protect the twins during their romps through the city. After all, these boys were known for getting into trouble and it gave their family just a little peace of mind to know that wherever they went, a powerful beast who only cared for the twins was with them to keep them safe. It was a perfect safeguard, but sometimes Vang was known to do his job just a little too well.
The guards outside of the Kotas manor always poised a problem. Vang would see the weapons they held, leading him to go into protective mode. Babis used the toy as a way of distracting Vang whenever he approached in order to keep him from growling at them. It had yet to fail and this time was no exception as they approached the guards and they quickly waved the boy and his dog through. They knew Babis and his intentions at the manor by now. He was only here to see his friend Dion, who Babis immediately spotted in the open yard space once the guards let him into the estate.
“Dion!” Babis called out to his friend as he bounded over to him, excited to see his friend and distant cousin once again. Vang the Hound followed closely behind, happily prancing with his head held high. It was almost like he was displaying the toy as a prize, which he promptly dropped at the young prince’s feet as he expected a game from the dark-haired lad. He then sat down and cocked his head ever so slightly his tail wagged wildly back and forth, kicking up dirt as it moved back and forth.
Babis laughed lightly at the sight before saying with a small shrug, “Babis.” It was just a simple way for him to confirm which twin he was which Babis was happy to provide. He was used to being confused for his brother and if he just simply said who he was it could lead to less confusion down the road.
Now that the introductions were out of the way, he explained why he was there unexpectedly, “Aras had another lesson with Grandpa today and I was bored. Are you doing anything interesting?” Babis paused for a moment, thinking about his mother would not approve of how blunt her boy was being, but Dion was his friend. Did he really have to be overly polite with a friend? “ I brought Vang along in case you weren’t.” He finally added with a small shrug as he waited for Dion to explain what he had been up to before one half of the Eliades twin dropped by.
Today was one of those days, the kind of day that the household of Kotas dreaded. Today was one of those high energy bouncy days for Dion. At first signs, the young Prince was sent out of doors in the hopes that he would run himself out of this excess energy. Outside he ran around like the hounds of Hades were on his heels. He was taking a breather, leaning against a tree, when he heard a very familiar voice calling his name. He grinned and with a kick of his foot against the tree, pushed off and ran towards the guards grinning like a fool.
"Babis?" he called back in a mimic of his friend's voice, his grin showing that there was no harm in his copycatting. His name came out as a question solely because, like many around them, could not always tell the twins apart. He grinned wider at the sight of Vang of the four legs, prancing around like a horse on parade. He did not have a pet of his own so any chance that he had to interact with the hound that belonged to his two closest friends, he was going to take it. Just like he would be taking it now. He reached over and patted the hound on the head after the toy was dropped at his feet.
Dion reached down to pick it up and wave it in front of the hound. "I got it! Want it?" he repeated want it two more times, waving the toy in front of the dogs face before he launched it through the air into the empty grassy area. It landed with a thump and the dog took off, a flurry of paws, tail, and ears flying.
"How did you know I was outside? Glad to see you by the way. Any news?" the young prince asked. "Ah! I've been bouncing off the walls and driving the household insane!" he flashed his long time friend a wicked grin. "Been learning archery with Papa. Maybe some day I will be as good as, or better than, Unca Mimi." he told him in answer to his question. "I've been told to play outside if I don't want a lesson today." he said as he rolled his eyes and impishly stuck his tongue out in the direction of the house in a very unprincely like thing to do.
"Let's go play with Vang of the four paws! C'mon!" he called as he took off in the direction of the hound at breakneck speed.
Babis grinned when he saw his friend come bounding over to him. Even though Dion was only a year younger than the twins, he certainly had more than enough energy to outpace both of the twins. That was probably why the opportunities for all three of them to run around together were quickly becoming few and farther in between. After all, what parents would want to have three wild boys running circles around them for hours? Certainly not their parents, that’s for sure! So, needless to say, it was far easier for the adults if the boys paired off instead of teaming up. But also, just lurking beneath a surface that Babis did not want to confront, there was another underlying reason why it was rare to see the Eliades twins and the Kotas prince were no longer spending quite so many days together… they were all slowly growing up.
It was a truth that Babis wanted to avoid at any cost, but it was obvious enough with Aras missing from their ranks. He wasn’t here because he didn’t want to come, but instead, like always, he was in the library back home being tutored by the scholars. As the twins got older, it was plainly obvious that Aras would be spending less time running around outside, especially as he was destined to run the whole family one day. There were responsibilities he would be expected to take on and Aras needed to learn how to be ready for them. Out of the three of them, Babis’ brother would have to be the first to mature and start preparing for his future. As Babis glanced over at Dion playing with Vang, he subconsciously knew that Dion would be next as even though he was younger, he was a prince and a Kotas prince at that. There were traditions for boys with bloodlines like Dion’s that would not be ignored like how the Eliades family had turned a blind eye to the boy’s twelveth birthday and the standards that were supposed to come along with it.
It was terrifying to think that Babis would only in a few short months be left all alone in his childish fear of growing up.
However, all of this was pushed aside when Dion sent the knotted rope flying into the high grasses, sending Vang off in an orangeish-brown whirlwind of excitement and fur. Babis laughed at the site of his dog practically tripping over his own paws to get the toy. It was then, while Vang the Fang was distracted did Dion turn back to his friend and launched into a myriad of questions that pulled another laugh from Dion as he jokingly said to him, “Woah, slow down a bit. I can barely catch up!” The joke was a little tongue in cheek as they all knew of Babis’s skills as a runner had been thus far unrivaled by anyone their age.
There was no need for Babis to ever “catch up” so to speak. He was usually the one setting the pace everyone else was speeding at.
With the boyish laughter momentarily subsiding, Babis turned back to the many questions that Dion had asked, “I figured you might be around. If not I was gonna head back down to the cove again,” Babis said with a small shrug, “I like exploring the caves down there.” It was true. Babis was a boy and boys liked to explore. The caves lining the cove behind the Naos caverns was the perfect place for the Eliades boy to do just that. Some of them were dangerous, of course, as nearly all the caves were nearly connected to the mineshafts that littered the city, but Babis was fairly surefooted. He’d never accidentally find his way into any sort of harm. “Maybe at some point we can head down there? Will your mom let you go?” Babis asked, knowing full well that Evras was a rather doting and somewhat overprotective mother. She would never let Dion find himself in a situation that may have put him in harm’s way.
A sudden bark from the grass pulled Babis’s attention away momentarily as his eyes glanced over at the dog who was now running around on the grass, wildly swinging the toy back and forth in his mouth. “Good Vang!” Babis called out to the dog, praising him for getting the toy so quickly. However, he didn’t call the dog over just yet, instead choosing to focus on his friend.
“Are you close to getting a bullseye yet?” Babis asked in response to the discussion about Archery. In truth, this sport was not something that Babis was over talented in. It just required a certain level of patience that the boy did not have with his endless need to be bouncing off of the walls at any given hour. However, in the few lessons his own family forced him through, he knew that hitting the bullseye was an important goal. He had never seen Dion’s father or uncle in action when it came to the sport, but it was safe to assume they were capable of hitting the bullseye.
Babis didn’t need to be told twice when Dion suggested that they play with the dog. “Yeah, sure - Hey!” Babis called out in protest when Dion took off in the direction of the canine, taking advantage of a false start. Instantly, Babis was hot on his trail with his strong legs pumping through the air to catch up to the Prince. Although Babis was the stronger of the pair when it came to footraces, it was only a short distance between them and Vang. So, that meant that this Dion had won this time.
Babis fell back against the ground near Vang with a small huff. “That was hardly fair. You didn’t even say go!” Babis complained, being the sore loser he always was. Running was his thing. He didn’t like it when he was bested.
However, the boy didn’t dwell on it for too long as he called Vang over and told him to drop the toy. Being well trained, Vang did as he was told and in an instant, Babis snatched up the toy before leaping to his feet. “Hey Dion!” Babis called out, making sure he had his friends attention before he winded his arm back, “Catch!” The toy went sailing through the air with the hound chasing after it already.
Babis laughed as a new game idea for the time being came to mind. “Keep it away from Vang!” He called out to his friend, keeping a careful eye out for when the knot would be sailing back to him. Dion of Kotas
Dion tossed his head and laughed as he obliged and slowed down. Dion knew that he didn't need to do so. If he really wanted to Babis could outrun him. Everyone that knew the young trio knew that. He didn't ask about Aras, who wasn't with them. To ask about him would mean to have to acknowledge the thing that none of them wanted to face or cope with it, growing up. It was inevitable but for now none of them wanted to face it or deal with it. They wanted to meet this thing called growing up on their own terms.
His mind had been going over ideas for how to make sure that they came out of this growing u with their friendship in tact. It had come up with an idea, but he wanted them both there before he brought it up.
Dion grinned wider, "Then why don't we do that today? Together? I have my way of convincing her and honestly they constantly tell me how I should be like Father and Grandfather, but I can't be if they are going to loose it when I want to be a boy and explore." he said with a wave back to the building behind him. Yes, the caves could be full of danger. That was what had made the place so appealing to him, and likely to the twins. "We can ask Momma, to get her to agree we may have to convince her. But I think we can do it if we really want it."
Hearing Vang's antics, his head snapped back to look at the dog that he adored and then he laughed some more as he found the toys. He bounced on his feet and clapped. "Good Job Vang!" Dion looked at Babis and shook his head. Close, but not yet. I need to get it if I want to be as good as Unca Mimi!" he said.
Dion skidded to a halt and looked at his best friend. "I thought I did. I am sorry. he apologized and the added "You can pick the game this time." he said moving over to offer his hand to his best friend. It did not take him long to choose and Dion went running off to put distance between them. At the sound of his name being called, Dion turned, locked eyes on the toy and watched it sail towards him in the air.
He caught it and then nodded as his longtime friend named the game of Keep Away. He teased Vang of the Four Paws with the knot before he let it sail back through the air to Babis. "Incoming!"He called out.
For Babis, the concept of growing up was terrifying not because of the responsibilities it would bring or just the mere fact it was a looming, inescapable change. Instead, the whole reason why he didn’t want to grow up was fairly simple. He was scared of losing his brother. No matter how many times his family tried to reassure him that there truly was no difference between him and Aras, Babis knew that this wasn’t the case. After all, there could only be one head of the Eliades household when the boys are older and as the firstborn, this was Aras’s birthright. He was the one who the family’s future relied upon. Babis was the spare, the one left waiting in the wings just in case something happened to his brother. It was a legal distinction that the family would gloss over while the twins were still children, but Babis knew that as they grew older it would be harder for them to not prepare the” birthed heir” for his role and when that day came, Babis knew that the twins’ would never be the same entity again. They would be separate and defined without the other.
Babis had never lived in a world where this was the case and that’s what scared him.
All his life, it had always been Babis and Aras. Very rarely was one seen without the other and they had always been at each other’s side. Turning to and relying on his brother was just as simple as breathing to the twin. The mere acknowledgment that this wasn’t how it was going to be quite frankly scared Babis senseless. He didn’t know how he could cope without having his brother right there at all times. The twelve-year-old just wasn’t ready to forge his own identity. Not while he still clung to the one that the gods have given him with all of his might.
Glancing at his friend, he wondered how Dion felt about the whole complicated mess of growing up. Certainly, he didn’t have the same apprehensions that Babis would have as Dion didn’t have a living mirror image to consider as the Eliades boys did. However, Babis knew that there was far more pressure on the lad, given his status as a prince. There were different expectations upon him and the Kotas family would not be as willing as the other dynestias to overlook their heir’s twelveth birthday. Soon enough, Babis knew that Dion would be old enough to go to the mines for a few months and then immediately head to the front; all part of the royal family’s way of growing up. There were no such traditions in Babis' family nor was there an expectation that the boys would serve in the military as one of the many ideas that Ria and Harith led their family with was allowing their children to follow their own destiny… within reason. Dion didn’t have that luxury so there was a whole other set of issues for him to consider that Babis couldn’t even begin to fathom.
Either way, it was all very daunting and Babis was eager to shake these thoughts out of his head as he focused instead on what was actually happening, instead of what was yet to come.
When the possibility of them heading down to the cove came up, Babis simply shook his head in a negative response. It was too late in the day for them to trek across the city, even if they could convince Evras to let Dion go. The older boy knew that they would probably have to turn around the moment they arrived in order to make it back in time for whatever curfew would be set. “Even if your mother said yes, we probably wouldn’t have enough time.” He explained simply with a small shrug, “Maybe we can go exploring in say… three days? I can drag Aras along if I ask Grandpa beforehand.” Both knew that Babis' counterpart would come along willingly, of course, and forcing his brother to attend was just a figure of speech on the twin’s part.
It was better to plan it for another day anyway. After all, no matter what Dion said, Babis doubted that the overprotective Evras would let her son travel across the city on a mere whim and even if she did, she would insist on an entourage of guards that Babis simply didn’t want to deal with as they had a tendency to ruin all their fun. Plus, if Evras knew that Babis was the ringleader behind this, she would probably insist the boys also ask his mother, Marisa. The twin knew that she would never agree to it either. So, there was no possible way for the boys to head down their today, but with a bit of careful planning and the construction of ideal abili, it was certainly feasible for another excursion.
Babis’s face turned in disgust at the mention of Dion being as good as Mihail of Thanasi. The young lord didn’t know the prince’s uncle personally, but he did overhear the rest of his family talking about the family in a less than favorable way and they really didn’t have many kind words for the youngest member of the manipulative clan. “Why would you want to be as good as him?” Babis blurted without thinking it through first, instinctively reacting with all the rumors that he had overheard of the man’s less than pleasant demeanor and dishonorable deeds. Not knowing him as Dion did, it seemed weird that the prince would want to model himself after such a man that Babis was raised to dislike due to a family rivalry that neither side seemed to be capable of rising above.
However, all thoughts of family legacies and how others may or may not live up to them soon left Babis' mind as the boys lost themselves in a game with the dog. Given the Eliades child’s natural athletic ability, he was easily able to catch the toy and send it flying through the air before the yapping dog even had a chance to give chase on the toy. It was funny though watching the loose folds of Vang’s golden-brown fur flapping in the wind as he moved left and right, eyes never leaving the tightly knotted rope. Surely, the pup would soon be tired out from this game given how much energy the dog was using.
Before that point came, Babis decided to change the game a little given how boring just monotonously throwing the toy back and forth could be and plus, he had a little impish urge that just screamed at him to make things a bit more interesting.
With a mischievous smirk written plainly on his face, Babis called out to his friend, “Hey! Go long!” Before Dion even had a chance to turn around, the boy already reeled his arm back to throw the knot even farther than they had thus far. He also didn’t wait for Dion to be ready before launching it through the air, giggling as it soared towards his friend. Now, Babis' idea was to see Dion and Vang chase each other for the toy with his dog winning as the beast naturally had more energy to draw from, being a dog and all. However, what Babis didn’t consider was just what he was throwing the toy towards and what it would knock into if the prince missed it… as not too far behind the boy was a stockpile of armor and weapons.
If the toy were to hit that, then it would create a racket that would surely land the boys in a world of hurt as the noise would surely alert half the household to their mischief. Surely, the adults would not be pleased with the mess that the boys would make if that were to happen… and it all rested on the prince catching a throw that Babis had intended for the boy not to catch.