Ebony Wings

15

~Ali~

Morning brakes into the cave in cold, piercing beams of sunlight, the low angle of the white sun throwing light at us like arrows. A cool current of air wafts in from outside, brushing a dusting of snow into the cave with it. The breath of air slaps at my cheeks causing me to fall further into Ethan's chest for comforting body heat, staving off reality for as long as I can. Whimpering as another blast of subzero air pinches my face, ashes from the dead fire scatter like black snow. The cold embers tickle at my nose and I rub the sensation away, waking instantly at the intrusive rousing.

Ethan stirs into a half lucid state as I sit upright, throwing his head to the side and grumbling something incoherent, the icy breath of the mountainside undetectable by him.

From my heightened position and Ethan unmoving in sleep, I allow myself a stolen moment to trickle my gaze over his face without the guilt of being caught. Excitement fizzes through my blood and I almost become blinded by enamour. I calm myself down, slowing my heart rate as effectively as I can before I begin.

I start with his jaw - an angular outline perfectly framing his face, darkened with a peppering of stubble, the cropped hairs glittering dimly in the slanted sunlight. The heart shaped arch of his lips are gently parted in sleep, the squared fronts of his teeth just visible beyond. His winged cheekbones are peachy with sleep, a small crease pressed into his temple from the hard floor. I imagine his eyes opening, eyelashes curling back and fluttering as he wakes, his gaze settling like feathers over me.

As if reading my thoughts, Ethan stirs and I quickly avert my gaze, raising my arms in a faux stretch. He smiles when he sees me; a sleepy, toothy grin which morphs into a wide yawn. The falling light pierces his eyes, his irises like prisms scattering a rainbow until I can't pick out a singular colour. His hand rests on my knee, gently squeezing and I look down to his touch to distract myself from his eyes. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear nervously, a small smile lifting my lips.

Jack's shoes scuff intrusively over the cold floor and I rear back suddenly at the sound. "Get ready," he grunts coolly and I shuffle away in response to his sudden bitterness. Jack stalks away and Jaz grumbles, following him outside.

I reluctantly disentangle myself from Ethan's warm embrace and search for my jumper and outer coats. My boots were a little further away than expected but I tiptoe over to them and slide my feet in, pulling the laces tight like a corset. I push my beanie over my head, eager to hide my unkempt hair and slip my fingers into my gloves, stuffing them deep into my pockets, ready to go. Ethan drops a granola bar and a banana into my hands and jogs to the front of the cave to give Jack and Jaz the same.

I peel back the wrapping on my bar and take a chunk out the top as Jaz wanders back over to me. The two angels disappear out of the cave, their forms lost the the glare. As Jaz approaches I nod in the direction they left towards quizzically.

"They're just taking care of business, if you know what I mean." I quirk an eyebrow and say no more. "Come on, we'll meet them outside."

As we near the cave entrance I shield my eyes from the brightness of the outside. The glare stings my eyes and it takes me a couple of moments to blink away the opaque haze in my vision. When it does clear, the downward curve of the mountain and endless sky falling away either side of us startles me and I take a moment to adjust to the view.  We are not yet quite past the tree line but the sparse, scraggly trees that persist stand like x-rays of their spring selves. The morning is illuminated with that cold, pale light that only a winter's sun can provide making the fresh snowfall glitter like a carpet of crushed diamonds.

Ethan and Jack reappear from the side of the cave, their boots flattening the fresh powder.

"Let's get going," Ethan says to everyone but we are already moving away from the cave, heading higher up the mountain with every step.