Flight School: Hunter

Silent Talk

A/N: This chapter was meant to be short because it's just interaction between characters  (Dmitri and Vaughn) and a furthering of the mystery if you're still reading this

but it came out long

and i hate myself ugh

u can ignore this book completely if u want

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The very first thing that caught the vulture's eye as he entered the lobby of the building was the expression on Jeremiah's face. It changed as he neared the stairs, closing the distance between him and the others where they stood watching; waiting for something to happen.

The very first thing Io had observed on the other hand, was a suspicious statue standing by the corner, hiding in the shadows underneath the stairs. A second glance after said vulture blocking his line of sight finally moved out of the way revealed the statue's identity to be none other than his eagle friend—to which delighted the moon phoenix immensely.

Luka! He mouthed with a wave, tip-toeing as though completely unaware that the eagle's eyes were on him already and so waving in an exaggerated manner was the only thing he could do to catch the latter's attention when in fact he need only exist to do so.

Unfortunately, the length of a sentence, no matter how short or long like the one above, is unable to fully encompass the importance of said subjects within the sentence and does not act as a reliable gauge of one's significance.

Victoria raised her right wing in response to Io's wave while Luka indulged in his all-time, private little hobby of moon gazing.

Neither seemed to notice that Vaughn had already progressed far ahead and had come to a reluctant stop between Faustes and Dmitri.

The vulture fixed a weary gaze (complimented by marvellous eyebags and magnificent dark circles under his eyes) on Faustes upon arriving at the awkward middle-ground, fingers tingling.

"Yes...?"

"Take Ford to his room," said the professor without so much a bat of an eyelash. "Make sure he stays in there. And watch his windows so that he doesn't get any ideas."

Full-time professional joke Dmitri Ford promptly dropped his jaw and squinted his eyes, looking around him for a similar reaction. There wasn't one. He made an attempt to employ the help of professional joke-diffuser Lucienne Deveraux but the latter refused to return his pleading gaze.

Meanwhile, Vaughn was sure that he'd heard everything wrong and that he simply must have an immense distaste for time-wasting additional errands that he was beginning to hallucinate. "I don't understand."

Faustes turned to him with the greatest sigh that rivalled his own. He raised an index finger and jabbed it in the general direction of his falcon student. "Watch. Over. Bird."

As though Dmitri Ford was a pet! Vaughn face was nothing short of 'ridiculous!' as he alternated his gaze between the obviously-outraged falcon and the hawkish (actually a hawk) professor who did not provide any further instructions, let alone an explanation of what he had instructed.

"You two," Faustes proceeded to address the pair in trouble. "My office."

He indicated for them to follow with a jerk of his head, turning on his heel and starting in the opposite direction without a second to waste. Io shuffled out of the way, watching as Jeremiah and Lucienne followed suit, albeit with heavier feet and paces so mismatched that it would bring discomfort to the core of any witness.