HE MOTIONED ME TO THE SKY,
Around her, the noise of the tavern has faded to a dull roar, all of her (admittedly, slightly tipsy) focus being spent on the group of young, rowdy cadets clustered around a dart board and cheering each other on. She’s wing-to-wing with a boy whose name she didn’t catch, her grin sharp as the dart she sends sailing through the smoky air, and a chorus of cheers (and a couple howls from those who misplaced their bets) erupt when it buries itself south of true center in the board, but just barely within the bullseye.
“Looks like you’re paying for this round!” The words end in a cheerful laugh and a playful push to the cadet’s shoulder, already half-turned towards the scarred oak bar they’ve consumed a few drinks at already. She’s the epitome of relaxed, her tail held low and just barely curled at the tip to keep the hair from dragging across the room, all bright smiles and completely oblivious to some of the stares she’s receiving from the male cadets when they think she isn’t looking.
She sees Marisol’s wings first, that blend of dalmation spotted and deep bay she’s learned to dodge a lot during their training, and she’s just tipsy enough to go sauntering up to the commander with a shit-eating grin, heedless of the other cadets at her heels. “Next round is on -- what’s your name again?”
“Er -- Jake,”
“Next round is on Jake, if you wanna join in, Commander.”
I HEARD HEAVEN & THE THUNDER CRY.
