King Of The Skies

Chapter 4

Jasper, Orphan Squad Dorms, Base Nidus, 11:45 am

Jasper hung back with Nathan, keeping his slow pace while the others chatted and walked ahead. Kage ordered them to their dorms to get cleaned up and went to get lunch sent to their dorms. The girls had their arms around each other and were chirping about Lyn's battle with Thomas. Jackson walked behind them, adding small details.

Jasper's fatigue caught up with him and he felt the soreness of his arms and wings. The owls he and his twin went up against were powerful, but weren't as fast. Jasper and Jackson dogged their bullets until they ran out then slashed at them with their knives. Jasper got a nasty kick to his stomach and Jackson got smacked in the head with the butt of a rifle. Jasper knew Nathan went up high to snipe at lower opponents, he knew Nathan wasn't one for close combat.

"Hey," Jasper nudged Nathan's shoulder gently. "Thanks for shooting the rifle out of the owls' hands."

Nathan smiled but kept his eyes on the floor. "I prefer you without bullet holes."

"And I prefer you with healed wings. What the hell did that kite do to you?" Jasper flinched more than the medic when he saw the state of Nathan's wings. He was willing to go punch the kite himself.

Nathan sighed deeply. "I wasn't focusing on the other cadets. She swooped me, kicked the rifle out of my hands and went to town with her whip on me. Lyn came, swooped in and picked her off."

Jasper was glad Lyn got there in time. Jasper was even more proud of how Lyn beat the living daylights out of that snobby eagle. Jasper was also thankful Lyn didn't take her anger out on Nathan again, or himself, again. The girls turned into the female section of the dorms, Angelica stopped and looked back at the boys.

"You three better be on time for whatever Kage signed us up for," she stared at Jasper specifically but Jasper didn't take the offence. "And do try to look presentable, please?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jasper faked a salute and smiled lopsidedly.

"Just be there Feddel," Lyn sniped, Eva checked to see if Nathan was all right then was dragged away by Angelica, Lyn stood there in the hallway silently. She looked back up to the twins, stared at each of them before nodding and walking away.

Jasper turned to his twin. "What was that about?"

Jackson shrugged and kept walking. Jasper still kept his pace with Nathan, taking note of his limp and the tired sag of his shoulders. All three of them walked in silence. The bland walls made Jaspers head spin, if gravity was altered he wouldn't know which direction the sky was.

Jackson turned just a few paces from Nathan's dorm and looked at Jasper, almost ignoring Nathan. "Are you going stay here or coming to our dorm with me?"

Jasper ponded the options. "I'll make sure Nathan's okay first, then I'll come and get ready. Can you take my bag?"

Jackson nodded bluntly, shouldering Jasper's satchel and left, leaving Jasper and Nathan outside Nathans dorm door.

"I swear he hates me," Nathan flicked his wristband at the front of the door scanner.

"What? That's just Jackson being . . . well, Jackson really." Jasper followed Nathan into the dorm. His orphan dorm buddy, a sharp-shinned hawk, was at classes so the dorm was empty.

Nathan dumped his satchel and himself on the bed, barley keeping his own weight up with his arms, he looked sideways at Jasper and narrowed his sharp eyes. "You sure? Or are you just saying that because he's your brother? Your identical twin brother, no less."