Healed

Chapter 33

Simply put, Umber had not slept well.

Just as he had been going to bed, a steaming cup of chamomile tea on his nightstand, Flame had appeared at his door bearing good news: Sunny had returned their letter and accepted their request for a visit.

"We're leaving tomorrow after my session with Starf," Flame had informed him. "Meet me outside of the Cafeteria. We're gonna leave from there."

"Great!" Umber had said with a smile as false as his excitement. When Flame had left, Umber had crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling until the dooming glow of dawn percolated through the cracks of the blinds. He must have fallen asleep around then because the next thing he remembered was Sora waking him up.

She had been shocked when he told her he was going to Jade Academy that day. Everything had been happening so fast he had forgotten to mention that he was even thinking of going to the school. But, despite the worrisome crease in her brow, Sora was as kind and supportive as ever, even offering to wait with him at the meeting place and see him off. After a short breakfast and some small talk the two sibs now sat in tense silence for what was to come.

Despite his agitation it felt nice to be out in the sun, his dark brown scales soaking up every drop of warmth that poured from the blinding orb in the sky. It was no mud bath but it was still pretty nice.

He took a deep breath, the sweet smells of baked goods from the dining area mixing with the earthy fragrance wafting from the garden. The end result smelled something like a grass stuffed pancake covered in dirt and coffee which...didn't actually sound all that half bad. Umber was willing to try anything once.

"So...do you think you'll see Clay?" Sora interjected. Umber was pulled from his food-based daydream and forced to think about the source of his anxiety: Jade Academy.

Umber shrugged. "It's hard to say...he's probably going to be really busy, being the awesome teacher he is and all."

"Well what about your other friend? Turtle was his name, right? Will you talk to him?"

Umber perked. He had been so busy these past few weeks he had hardly thought about Turtle. Was he even still at the Academy? "Uh...I don't know...it would be nice to see him if he's around..."

His sentence trailed off. Would Turtle even want to see him? Sora and Umber had fled the school pretty quickly without any explanation...would Turtle think he had had something to do with the explosions and deaths? No, of course not. Moon and Qibli probably told him what had happened. But what if everyone else thought that? Umber shuddered to think of the rumours that must be circulating about them.

"Umber, are you OK? You seem kinda distracted." Sora cocked her head to the side, observing him with inquisitive brown eyes.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing. I'm fine. See?" He gave a cheery grin to emphasize just how fine he was.

Sora humoured him with a small laugh before giving him a probing nudge with her wing. "Come on. You're my sib, I know when something's bothering you." She paused, lowering her voice before continuing. "Is it because of the Academy? Are you nervous going back?"

On instinct Umber forced his features to relax, softening his exaggerated smile into a more genuine shape and crinkling the corners of his eyes ever so slightly. It was fake of course but he hoped it would be enough to convince Sora. He didn't need her worrying about him; she had been through enough as it was. "Don't worry about me, OK? I'm fine, I promise." He held her gaze confidently through the façade.

His gut twisted awkwardly when Sora didn't smile back. Her left ear twitched as it often did when she was frustrated. She peered down at her talons and when she spoke her voice was tight. "Umber...when are you going to start treating me like I'm normal?"