it greatly helps that his own salamence is of a similar size to lyune. it's why he's able to move so gracefully around him with ease that could only come from familiarity. he's not subtle about it, which is why he's not surprised when she asks him about it.

"we share more in common than you realize." 

to her question, he nods. the bond she shares with her dragons has never been more clear. he watches how effortlessly she mounts her salamence, understanding that their bond most go far back. 

lyune extends forward with his nose and alexander knows what he means. he raises a hand to the side of the dragon's head and gently taps his forehead against his nose, understanding.

alexander expects her to fly so her question catches him off guard. he smiles, nodding as he calls out his own salamence.

salami takes a moment to breathe in his surroundings, head rising up to sniff the air, the walls; ears twitching to the low hum in the air. it takes him ma few moments before he angles his head down to alexander, lowering himself like a mightyena would its alpha. he huffs out a warm breath that makes alexander chuckle.

"it is nice to see you too, salami. you can trust them. they are my friends." 

salami moves slower than lyune, stands stronger, and it's clear that he's older than him. he huffs out another breath and nods at lyune in particular, noticing the familiar contraption attached to his body. it was on him not too long ago.

alexander mounts him and then looks to freya, nodding.

"after you."

freya morningstar

they don't follow right away; there's no reason to. he is content sitting atop salami's back, legs by his side and hands grasping at whatever, watching freya and her dragon rediscover what it feels like to rise. they've fallen, oh they've fallen, and he watches as they continue to for moments, wind resisting them but not nearly powerful enough to stop them. he sees how she steps her heel and how lyune's wings expand.

and now, they rise.

he soon follows; falling, soaring, rising; the feelings are all too familiar with him. he looks at ease soaring through the skies, his hands are barely holding on, body and posture relaxed. he notices her laugh and realizes it's the first time he's seen her in such high spirits. he smiles, thankful. they soon level and are joined by the other pair.

at the mention of salami the salamence perks his head and turns to look at freya, breathing a low grunt before nodding. his head swivels back to look ahead, then drops to peer down at the small city of sootopolis. at her words, alexander only chuckles.

"he belonged to my father! salami was easier to say than salamence as a kid so the name stuck for me. my father called him undros." 

he supposes undros is a better sounding name than salami. but nostalgia is a powerful emotion. his eyes glance down at the contraption and how it buckles against the pressure of the skies. it's holding up well.

"how does it feel?"

freya morningstar

they watch, content with where they are, as freya and lyune twists in a sudden dive down. she is happy and her dragon is allowed to feel strong again; it is the least he could have hoped for. salami makes a noise similar to a grunt as he peers down at them. the dragon shakes his head which garners a laugh from his trainer.

"i know you can still do that. i know." 

they are soon rejoined by the other pair. he chuckles at her words, nodding. "it would be unlike you to do so. i expected as much." it's part of why he trusts her so much: because she stays true to who she is, and right now he has a good grasp over her character.

"he looks happy." 

he pauses, eyes glancing down to lyune then back to her.

"as do you."

freya morningstar