𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖋𝖎𝖋𝖙𝖞-𝖊𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙

     I awoke in an empty bed for the third night in a row. A sense of relief washed over me, since I knew that meant Saphira had slept through the night.

     I checked the clock on the wall, letting out a soft sigh as I realized that it was time for me to get out of my bed.

     I groaned, stretching and yawning as I sat up, rolling my neck to get the kinks out. It was the first morning in a while that I had woken without any pain in my wings. I supposed that ointment truly did work wonders.

     After I pulled my training leathers on and tied my hair up, I decided to check on Saphira, just to make sure she didn't sleep in for lessons.

     Her room was beside me, and when I let myself in, she was sound asleep in her bed. She laid on her stomach, her wings draped over her arms to keep them warm.

     I neared the side of her bed, very carefully tapping her arm so I didn't startle her. A grunt left her little lips, which made me smile.

"Good morning," I hummed, nudging her awake.

"It's too early," she groaned, her words muffled against the pillow.

"You have lessons in an hour," I reminded the girl. "If you want time for breakfast, you need to get up now."

     She yawned, rolling onto her side, her eyes squinted against the sunlight coming through the window.

"No nightmares last night?" I asked her. Her blue eyes met mine, and she nodded.

"None," she replied, sitting up.

"Three nights in a row," I grinned, wrapping my arm around her. "That's a new record, little love." A sheepish smile spread across her tired features.

"Did you have any?" she asked me, turning her head to meet my eyes.

"Yes, but it was the first time in a week," I admitted, pursing my lips. She rested her head against my shoulder, and I rubbed her arm soothingly. "I need to go, Saph. Promise you'll make it to your lessons in time?"

"I promise," she grunted, rolling her eyes as she got to her feet.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

     When Gwyn and I arrived to the training ring, Nesta was nowhere to be seen. Cassian was warming up, as he always was.

     I glanced around, trying to find the female, but instead, my eyes caught on another. An Illyrian female at the water station.

     I knit a brow, stepping closer until I realized that it was Emerie. A smile spread across my face as I neared her.

"Em, are you joining us?" I asked curiously.

"Nesta invited me," she explained.

     She wore leathers, a lot like mine, but looser. It was hard to find training leathers made for females in Windhaven, so I was surprised she had any at all.

"I had no idea you two knew each other," I hummed, contemplating the words.

"They met when I took Nesta to Windhaven," Cassian explained to me, approaching us. Sweat already gleamed on his skin, and it made me wonder how early he'd gotten out here.

"Well, thank you again for the ointment," I said to her. "It's helped me so much."

"Of course," she shrugged. "Us girls need to stick together, don't we?"

     I nodded, fidgeting with my hands as I did so. It would be nice having someone around who understood the agony of having your wings clipped. My brothers never would, and even Evelina had hers saved by her father. He had been a prick, but he'd let her keep the gift of flight.