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My Quiet World of White Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

The Destiny’s Bounty was finally at peace during the twilight hours of the night, as everyone had retired to their sleeping quarters. My brothers’ deep breathing and soft snores fill our shared room, solidifying their willingness to settle in Morpheus’ embrace.

Moonbeams sift through the window pane, illuminating the room in silver-blue shades. A sigh escapes me as I turn my head towards the window. My mind is just too engrossed with thoughts of my falcon’s whereabouts to obtain deep meditation, as this is the third time I have been roused by anxious musings.

11:59:27… Only thirty-three seconds to go… Please come, my friend…

I stand up from my bed and begin to pace noiselessly in front of it, while glancing up every now and then to look at the window. I stop and turn my attention to Jay when I hear him shift in his sleep on the top bunk. His brow puckers and he pouts, a little grunt emitting from his lips. Slivers of deep blue slowly reveal themselves, the moonbeams playing upon his fair face. But in a few quick steps, I am at his side, and I stroke his mussed locks gently.

My brother’s eyes appear to be too lethargic and unfocused to recognize me. However, he calls my name anyway.

“Zane…?” His voice is hoarse and slurred, sleep-heavy. Jay is certainly endearing to some degree.

I smile at him. “My deepest apologies for disturbing your sleep, brother. I am only…” I think quickly, “…going to relieve myself.”

He blinks slowly. “Ehm…you alright…?”

I continue to smooth out his hair, and he lets me without complaint or comment. “Yes, I am. Please return to your slumber, Jay. I will only be a moment.”

And with another little grunt, the slivers of sapphire disappear behind droopy eyelids. When he smiles and burrows further into his covers, I step away, feeling a little more at ease. I peer at my slumbering younger brother fondly.

Sensitive and attentive whether awake or asleep…

I am removed from my light reverie when a soft tapping sounds from the window. Startled, I move quickly to let my friend in while letting my sights rove over my other brothers. Kai growls and Cole frowns, but neither awakens like Jay had. How foolish of me! I should’ve opened the window beforehand!

My falcon shuffles onto my arm and I close the window. I wouldn’t want the cold draft to make my brothers uncomfortable, after all. Turning, I move hastily from the room and head towards the game room instead, being extra stealthy as I do so. The total darkness of the halls is more than welcome, and I slip inside while closing the door silently behind me.

Having memorized the location of my friend’s control panel since activating his video feed the first time, I work expertly in the dark to resume from the timestamp I left off. As soon as his eyes glow cyan and light the room in dim blue, I place him down on the end table facing the wall and take a seat on the sofa beside him.

Finally…

A raging blizzard plays out before me. My friend’s vision is keen, but not enough so to navigate safely through such harsh winds and blinding white. Visibility is poor, but my friend’s ear slits filters out the sound of violent gales and picks up the sharp cry of a fellow bird of prey. Miyuki is near invisible as I can just get a glimpse of her black and white tail feathers as she flies slightly ahead of my falcon. 

But why…? Why risk flying in such dangerous weather…? Where are they…?

Something feels wrong about the scene. My friend gives a cry of his own when Miyuki starts to flounder in the air, having been careened off-kilter by a particularly powerful rush of wind and snow. My friend catches the screeching female in his talons, and the screen shakes as he tries to right himself from the added weight. Dark and broad silhouettes suddenly appear into view. Trees. My friend steers towards one and barely manages to squeeze into a dark hollow. The female screams and feathers are suddenly everywhere as both birds start to struggle against one another.

I am rightfully confused by this. But suddenly my falcon has the female pinned underneath his talons and screeches loudly in her face. I can only imagine what that could’ve meant. However, Miyuki goes still, blinking her large, black eyes up at him. And then he steps off of her. My falcon croons a soft cry as Miyuki gets back to her talons and puffs up indignantly. A stare-down ensues for a brief moment before Miyuki visibly deflates and emits a long, despondent wail. He must’ve appeased her somehow as she steps closer to him and presses her beak to the side of his.

They stay like this for a time, until my friend steps away. He eyes her from a short distance, perhaps to gauge her well-being? She looks unharmed, if not still a bit ruffled in the dim light. The leather fur-lined band on her leg is still intact—oh. My friend glances down at his naked legs again. But then he opens his wings and leaves the hollow, returning to the thick of the blizzard.

My curiosity is greatly piqued as I continue to watch my friend’s daring adventure unfold. He flies as best he can through the snow storm, his strokes noticeably more fast and powerful than before. The blinding white ebbs as a new copse of naked trees appear. Though the whirling winds are deafening, a sound like a whistling howl suddenly pierces my friend’s ear slits.

The sound excites him and he dips into a dive, navigating expertly through the branches at a frenetic pace. A gasp of alarm escapes me when I suddenly see a crown of shining gold amidst the white.

“Ayane…?”  

She’s crouched low in the snow, her hair buffeting wildly as her squinted eyes frantically search the skies. Wait, where is her jacket? Won’t she freeze? While I have seen her inappropriately clothed for the weather before, to be so in a blizzard is most peculiar and downright dangerous. My concern is felt through my friend’s high-pitched cry, and he careens towards her. Upon hearing my friend’s call, Ayane instantly perks up and lifts her arm. The feel of my falcon’s talons stabbing her flesh had to have been painful, but she barely notices (if at all) before her mouth opens to address him.

“Miyu—oh it’s you! But where is—no I can’t…” She shakes her head roughly and levels my falcon friend with rapt determination. “…Listen, mon ami, you must find another hunter—Hansuke should be around somewhere. Please! Ken lost consciousness and I don’t know how long he’ll last out here!”

It is at that moment when Ayane looks down and my falcon’s gaze follows, that I see a male body unmoving and half-buried in the whirring snow. Ayane’s hunting jacket lay across his middle, acting as a makeshift blanket, while the man’s head rested on top of her lap, his deathly pale face cocooned in a fur-lined hood. His lips are unnaturally blue.

Needing no more incentive than that, my friend takes off with a cry to scour the forest, which I can only assume is Asuta Jingu. I lean forward anxiously from my seat, my hands gripping the armrest of the sofa. Approximately seven minutes of swift flying past before my friend spots a lone, heavily-clothed figure trudging through the forest below, a noticeable rifle strapped to their back.

“Ayane! Ayane, where are you!?”

The whirling gales distort the voice somewhat, but it is indubitably male and my friend makes a beeline towards the hunter, releasing an elongated screech all the while. Like Ayane, the hunter’s arm immediately shoots out and my falcon flutters down to perch on his arm. A thick gray scarf lowers and snuggled in the fur-lined hood is a young man’s face with a long, horizontal scar going across the bridge of his nose. Strands of long, auburn hair blow harshly into the man’s face, but does nothing to obscure his bright and alert hazel green eyes.

“What the—?! How the hell did you get out of the shed?! You’re still in training, Plum Feathers!”

My friend screeches impatiently and lights off the hunter’s arm. With another indignant cry, he grabs the man’s hood with his talons and pulls forward powerfully, causing the man to actually stumble.

“Whoa there! Geez! Not even eagles are that strong! Okay, I gotcha! Lead the way!”

And lead, my friend did. Though it took longer, what with my friend having to stop every now and then for the hunter to keep up, they eventually return to Ayane’s location. And there she is, exactly in the same position as she was before. Only now, her body was hunched over the unconscious man’s. He was the protectorate, and she the protector, utilizing her body to shield him from the elements as best she could.

But by the gods, in her state of dress it should’ve been her that was suffering from hypothermia by now! But no…her body stands steadfast against the incessant blast of frigid frost, her hair shining and her skin sporting an illustrious and warm tan.

I stare unblinkingly at the scene. This is…so bizarre… No human should be able to…

“Ayane!”

Ayane’s head snaps up. “Hansuke!”

So that’s Hansuke…

My falcon hovers overhead as the two start conversing without delay. Their voices would’ve been swallowed up by the blare of the blizzard if not for my friend’s keen sense of hearing.

“By Lady Amaterasu’s fangs, what the hell is Ken doin’ here!?” Hansuke bellows, coming to kneel beside Ayane.

“Oh I don’t know, Hansuke. He was so excited about going on his first hunt tomorrow. Maybe he got overzealous? I don’t know… Anyway, his injury… It doesn’t look good...”

“Dammit! C’mon, let’s get ‘im back to the village and to Dr. Satoru. I swear… If this doesn’t do ‘im in, then Daichi’ll have his hide later!”

Ayane helps Hansuke get the unconscious Ken onto his back and the two of them stand. By Shiva’s veil she is even wearing shorts again! Ayane regards my falcon.

“Mon ami, please find Miyuki! She’s still out there! I can feel her!”

“And Hayate!”  The screen jerks to Hansuke’s face, his bangs wildly blowing about and a wide smile plastered on his cracking lips. “Yeah, you! You’ve earned that name! For appearin’ so suddenly…and when we needed you! So don’t forget it! You and Miyuki better make it back to the shed! You need to graduate properly!”

“Hayate…” Ayane gives my falcon a truly beautiful and heartfelt smile. “…It fits. Thank you, Hayate.” She then turns back to her fellow hunter. “Alright, Hansuke, let’s go.”

And when the group disappears into the icy veil, my falcon—no…Hayate, turns and flies feverishly back to Miyuki. The room goes black as Hayate’s nictitating membranes close, and with them, another memory. In absolute darkness, I take the moment of reprieve to access what I have learned.

Hayate… Being of Japanese origin, the name translates to “sudden, or a gust of wind”… Meaning, that Hansuke’s reasoning is sound… It is a befitting name for him, especially since he simply appeared into my life as well…like a gust of wind…

Also, he was in training. And Hansuke’s mention of giving him a “proper graduation” has to be him receiving his band. Which means that particular mystery has been solved… However, another has just presented itself…

My thoughts shift to Ayane.

Is Ayane human…? Or does she possess some sort of otherworldly power…? No one in her village seemed particularly startled by her state of dress… So then…

I draw a blank. I still do not know enough. “Hayate, please continue.”

When he does immediately, I can’t help but smile. I wonder why I have never given you a name myself, my friend…

The next series of scenes provide me with a steady flow of information. The “shed” Hansuke had mentioned before turned out to be more of a barn in size and structure. Also, the interior looked to be entirely dedicated to housing Shika’s multitude of varied falcons (though primarily gyrfalcons).  And yes, I saw Hansuke tie the band of black leather and white fur onto Hayate’s left leg as per his “graduation”, and receive a kiss to the head from Ayane as a congratulatory gesture. How lucky he was!

And then Hayate (along with Miyuki) had begun to do flight patrols around the village and Asuta Jingu. And with a bird’s eye view of the quaint little hamlet and the surrounding forestry, I was able to memorize the simple and natural layout of the village and neighboring landscape. All the way to the lone tavern located at the easternmost tip near the corn and pumpkin fields, to the isolated cemetery near the back of the village near the north gate.

However, the most interesting characteristic about Shika had to be found directly in the center—at its heart, where a monument of the light goddess, Lady Amaterasu, and a female hunter named Aiyanna were erected. And this fascinating place was where Ayane prayed in good faith at every dawn and at every dusk. It was safe to assume the Shikians were astute and devout followers of the Goddess of Light, and that the female hunter dressed in furs and wielding a bow and quiver had to have done something remarkable in order to have been immortalized next to the goddess.

Ayane was always quiet during her prayers. Even when Hayate had grown curious enough to perch beside her, his talons gripping the outer cropping of fenced steel that surrounded the monument, she didn’t waver, or even address him when she had finished. Her eyes would slowly open, and she would lean forward to gingerly brush the pretty, shining petals of a blooming flower.

And that was another intriguing attribute—the flowers. Though the monument of the two figures were entirely cut from white marble with painstaking detail, below it  and surrounding it lay a bedding of rich soil sprouting blooming flowers of white and gold. How? The village was covered in snow. In the withering autumn, plants make less chlorophyll, which in turn makes them change colors.

And as the temperatures continue to decrease, photosynthesis slows, respiration slows, growth stops. All flora enters a stasis—a hibernation of sorts, until the coming of spring. But those flowers were ever-blooming as if in a state of suspended animation, or better yet, an ever-lasting season of spring. 

Such a small village houses such a big mystery…

And Ayane… Only when she had left the center and was on her way to join the Hunting Pack for the morning and evening hunts would she respond. It was then when I had learned through Hayate of the huntress’ name…and its meaning.

The name “Aiyanna” means “ever-blooming”. According to Ayane, the founders of Shika go as far back as the Ancient Natives, and nearly every resident of Shika can trace their ancestry back to these people of the Early Age. But that was all she had divulged. Which in a way is fine, for I would like to learn the rest in person.

My feelings are irrational, I know. But the more I learn about Ayane and her village, the more hopeful and inspired I become.

All I want to do is talk to her…

That’s all…

I just want to sit with her, gaze into her eyes, and talk to her…

I can only assume that she is a caring and motherly person, from the way the children of her village come to her with their plethora of questions about archery or hunting.

I can only assume that she is content with herself and her flaws, from when she slipped on the staircase outside her home, landed spread-eagle in the snow, and began to happily make a snow angel.

And…I can only assume she has a wild and courageous spirit, from when she frolicked and played with a white she-wolf in Asuta Jingu—with the one she called: Houseki.

I can only assume these things, for I do not know her on a deep, emotional level…and she does not know me.

I stare helplessly at the screen—at Ayane’s radiant smile as she introduced Hayate to the she-wolf, Houseki. I listen to the light timbre of her voice, see the spark in her lovely orbs of sky blue and mint green…

I frown heavily and close my eyes. “Oh no… I am pining for a woman that doesn’t even know I exist. I am like Kai now…”

“Heh, well don’t look too upset, bro. It’s not all bad being like me!”

Alarmed, I turn my head towards the door to see Kai relaxing against it, still adorned in his red pajamas, his body outlined in shadow. He smirks sleepily at me, his spikes drooping a bit and lacking their usual dangerous edge.

I blink at him. “Kai? What are you doing awake at this hour?”

He shrugs and pushes off the door, scratching the back of his head as he makes his way over to me. “Meh, woke up to take a piss, which in turn woke up Jay. And he asked me to check up on you since you never came back to bed when you got up.” He shrugs again and rolls his eyes. “Couldn’t exactly say no with him lookin’ sleepy and cute. Late-night Jay is so much different than Regular Jay.”

I chuckle lightly at that. “Yes, he is,” I concur.

Kai gestures towards the screen with a nod. “That her? The one you were talkin’ about earlier?”

Realizing it to be futile to try hiding the screen now, I distractedly pet Hayate’s head and nod. “Yes. Her name is Ayane.”

Kai whistles low, the scene continuing to play. “Check out them eyes…” He then cocks an eyebrow at me. “No offense, bro, she’s pretty, but I don’t think she’s pretty enough to hide. Why keep it secret?”

I turn away from him, my sights lingering on the screen as Ayane bends down and hugs the white she-wolf around the neck. “I had planned on telling you—everyone about my discovery. I just…wanted to keep it to myself for the time being.”

Kai doesn’t say anything for a time, only hums low at my reasoning. Then, “So when are you gonna make plans to go see her? You know where she is, as I’m sure Hayate could guide you there.”

Just how long has Kai been watching? Was I just so engrossed in my own viewing that I didn’t sense him? Or am I lacking in my training? I refuse to acknowledge the latter. That is extremely dangerous for a ninja not to be fully aware of their surroundings.

I frown pensively, lowering my hand to Hayate’s neck feathers. He chitters gently. “Yes, I am sure he could as well. However…I will not make plans to embark on this endeavor until the situation here has calmed. One’s own desires must always be put on hold in the face of duty. After morning training, it is my, Sasha’s, and Nya’s turn to undertake the surveillance of Twilight’s ‘Star’ facilities.”

“Nah, I’m gonna pull a double,” Kai says, stifling a yawn. “Nya can have another day off.”

“How did you manage to convince her?” I ask, knowing full-well how much Nya enjoyed missions of any kind.

Kai smirks. “I convinced her after dinner. She was grumpy, of course, and said I owed her one. Which I agreed to. I need to do her a solid when she needs it.”

Kai’s use of colloquial speech can be frustrating at times, as I have to pay very close attention to the context of his sentences. But I believe I am getting better at comprehending “slang” as I hear it. Sasha too speaks similarly, though I have to admit that her Portuguese accent is a joy to listen to when occasionally intermingled in.

It takes me a moment, but I eventually understand and nod my head slowly. “I see.”

My brother’s next yawn in more unabashed and he juts his thumb over his shoulder towards the door. “C’mon, let’s hit the hay. I’m not returning to the room without you. I don’t think I have it in me to tolerate Jay’s puppy-dog eyes right now.”

Figuring it was simply best not to contest that fact, I shut down Hayate’s holographic video feed, have him perch on my arm, and stand up from the couch. Despite the pitch blackness of the game room, Kai and I navigate effortlessly towards the door, our steps silent as always.

“What the… The hallway light wasn’t on when I came in…”

Kai and I stop before the door, a long sliver of light filtering in from the bottom. Who else is awake, I wonder… “Oh, don’t tell me Jay…”

Kai scoffs. “Oh that blue-eyed puppy better not be wandering around! I told ‘im I’d be back!”

Without wasting another second, Kai grabs the door handle and flings it open. “Cole?”

Standing only three feet away with one hand on the light switch and the other grasping a mug of something hot was our team leader, looking extremely disheveled and even more lethargic than Kai and Jay combined. His dark, shaggy locks fell mussed over his forehead and obscured his right eye somewhat, leaving low-lidded, crusted emeralds barely peaking through the strings of black. And, he’s frowning.

Quite frankly, Cole does not look as endearing as Jay…

He just looks…sleep-deprived. And irritable.

“Fuck, man, you look like hell,” Kai says, looking our tousled leader up and down with a grimace. “What’re you doin’ up?”

Cole grunts and tries futilely to salvage his appearance with a half-hearted backwards swipe to his hair. But unamused, the dark locks curl and reaffix themselves over his forehead and into his eye. “Nature called, I got up…which woke Jay up.”

Kai and I nod.

“He asked if I could go make him a cup of hot chocolate with milk and marshmallows. Couldn’t say no. I tried…but couldn’t.” Cole then peers dubiously down at the steaming mug in his hands. “I think I put milk and water in it, but I don’t remember. And I didn’t see any marshmallows. Probably out.”

Kai waves his hand dismissively. “Aw, he’ll drink it. C’mon, let’s go. Gotta catch at least another couple of hours…”

Turning off the light, Cole steps with us as we all return to our room. 3:00:46. The long shadows of the night are waning. Kai was correct. A mere two hours are left before we all would have to awaken to officially begin the day. And although I rarely indulge in REM sleep, I do enjoy my dreams—something meditation cannot provide. I think I will try to do so for the remainder of the night.

Kai opens the door to our bedroom, and with our return, I am hoping to appease our younger brother. However, I am surprised to see him standing in the middle of the room, his blue-clad body haloed in evanescent moonlight. It appears he had made a very large and comfy pallet on the floor with the use of me and Kai’s top mattresses. There are also everyone’s designated pillows and comforters lying neatly in rows atop of them: Cole’s, Jay’s, Kai’s, and mine. Jay had held an extra pillow in his arms, but now placed it where Cole would sleep.

Kai is first to express his shock in a terse whisper. “Jay, what are you doing? What’s all this? We didn’t agree to this!”

“Yeah, I know,” Jay says, stretching his arms high over his head. When they fall bonelessly back to his side, he regards us with a lethargic smile, the slivers of sapphire just as innocent and endearing as ever. “But I just wanted to, yanno? For some reason, I feel like this will be one of the last times we get to do this…”

Jay’s words instantly cause me great concern, and a fast, scorching prick jabs at my core from them—like being prodded by a blazed, cast iron poker. However, the feeling is too fleeting—that flicker of pain is gone in an instant, too fast for me to grab hold of and decipher thoroughly.

But it was there…

Hayate looks at me and cocks his head. But not in question, for he had felt it too. With a soft cry, he takes flight from my arm and soars high up into the rafters to the nest he sometimes rests in when he visits.

Cole is now trying to blink the sleep out of his eyes. “What? Jay, what do you mean? Of course we will.”

Jay plops down on his section of the pallet and wraps his blue comforter over his shoulders. “Yeah, I know,” he sighs meekly. “I’m just sleepy… Rambling and all.”

“Well knock it off,” Kay says, trudging forward. “Sleep’s callin’ my name and I’ll be damned if I don’t listen.” He clambers on top of the pallet next to Jay and slips under his crimson comforter in one fluid motion. His droopy spikes are the only pieces of him now visible.

Cole moves forward next and hands Jay his mug of hot chocolate, which the latter beams happily at. “Thanks, Cole.”

The sentiment pulls a small smile from our leader, and he too settles down on the other side of Jay. I close the door and amble towards the pallet. We have done this a total of sixteen times in the past. The very first had been during our early Monastery days. It happened purely by serendipity really. Kai and Nya had just recently joined our ranks, and as part of our “team building” exercises with our new brother, I guess, we had engaged in a number of stimulating conversations that had lasted throughout the night and into the dawn. And most likely without volition, we had pushed our bunks together to solidify our newfound bond of four…instead of just three.

From then, the occurrences just either happened or had been at the behest of Jay. Overall though, no one had ever complained when they did.

I lower myself carefully onto my section of the pallet (which happens to be the edge), not wanting to jostle Kai too much. I glance down at him after I roll my comforter onto my midsection, wondering how he could breathe if his face wasn’t exposed to the open air.

I poke him where I believe his cheek to be, which only causes him to growl, shift, and grumble. Oh. He’s alright…

“Hey, where’re the marshmallows?”

I look up to see Jay peering down at his mug with a dismayed expression.  Cole adjusted the extra pillow Jay had placed for him under his back. Oh that’s right! Cole needed the extra lumbar support.

“We’re out, Jay,” Cole grunts, trying to get comfortable on his back. “We’ll buy some more today. I think I saw some on sale at the corner store near downtown.”

Jay’s face contorts into further displeasure. “Yeah, but…I want the rainbow-colored kind. And they don’t come in cheap, knock-off brands, only name brands. I want real marshmallows, Cole.”

“They are real marshmallows, Jay,” Cole argues. “They have the same ingredients.”  

“No they don’t,” Jay counters with a discomfited pout. “Knock-off brands have high-fructose corn syrup in them.”

“Yeah well, it’s good for you,” Cole sighs and settles into a position, clearly wanting the conversation to be over.

“No, it’s not.” Jay suddenly turns to me, looking desperate and distraught, his eyes big, blue and shimmering. “Zane, can you make sure to buy the real marshmallows?”

I nod quickly and assuredly. “Of course, Jay. I have also noticed that we no longer have the necessary ingredients to make smores.” The deep blues twinkle excitedly at my words. “Would you like for me to restock our chocolate and graham crackers as well?”

But before Jay can answer, Cole shoots up like a rod and glares over at me. “Don’t spoil him, Zane! There’s no need to buy all that, especially not any name brand marshmallows when the cheaper ones are just as good!”

“Says you, Mr. High-Fructose Corn Syrup,” Jay mutters. “I can taste the difference.”

“No you can’t!” Cole snaps.

I lift my hand in placation. “Cole, I understand you have the Bounty on a budget. However, I do not believe it would cause any harm to buy name brands or premium products every now and then. We can afford it.”

“Yes Zane, but only when it matters.”

“Are you saying smores don’t matter?” Jay looks shocked and appalled by the notion.

I am just about to intervene once more, when the red lump beside me begins to rumble and tremble, like an imploding volcano. “Uh oh…”

Mount Hayabusa erupts with a vengeance, throwing aside his comforter and sitting up as straight as a katana. Kai growls menacingly and exhales roughly through his nose. I am very surprised to see the trails of steam billow forth.

This could be unfortunate…  

“Dammit it all…” Kai suddenly whirls on Cole, teeth bared and tongue just as sharp as the blade he personified, “Cole, you know better than anyone else not to argue with Jay in the middle of the night! So why don’t you rub those two I.Q. points together and see if you can start a fire, moron! Go to sleep!”

Cole rolls his eyes, but lies back down without refute. “And Jay!”

Our younger brother had his mug of hot chocolate up to his lips with both of his hands holding it up snuggly, his heavy-lidded eyes just peeking over the rim as he looks at Kai. His long, dark lashes flutter cutely when he blinks.

Perhaps just as spellbound as I am, Kai falters in his tirade, but then growls out, “…Just finish your damn cocoa and go to sleep.”

Jay’s drowsy eyes crinkle into happy crescents. “Okay,” he breathes, his voice laced with wistfulness.

With the lost of steam to his ire, Kai slumps forward with a huff and raises a hand to his temple. He rubs at it tiredly, his expression pulled and spent. I smile at my fiery brother sympathetically and place a comforting hand on his back.

“Zane…”

I give him a soft pat. “Yes, brother?”

“Turn on the A.C.,” he mutters irritably. “It’s too damn hot in here now…”

Yes, the temperature of the room had elevated drastically after Kai had been roused from his sleep. And either consciously or subconsciously he had flared his element, making his body a perpetual living furnace. To counteract the heated surge of embroiled conflagration, I summon my own element and send it outward in wintery gales of white. The room cools instantly and Kai settles down to lay prone once more, cocooned in his crimson comforter with just the tips of his droopy spikes being visible.  

Jay finishes his hot chocolate in silence, alternating between little sips and big gulps. Once done, I beckon for his cup and place it down on the floor next to our pallet.  He sighs contentedly, his stomach now warm from the hot beverage. Then, he too lies back down and turns towards Cole, whispering a soft goodnight to us.

I am the last to lie down. Sleep always came to my brothers quickly, while it had always eluded me. And soon, the steady rhythms of their deep breathing permeate the air. I close my eyes and take a deep breath to relax my system.

I can…hear their hearts beat…

Amidst the deep breathing, my hearing tunnels and expands. My brothers’ life blood pumps in rhythmic tandem from all around me, with each one being distinctly different. Cole’s is the slowest, reminding me that of a hibernating bear. Jay’s, on the other hand, is the quickest—the fast thumping akin to the pounding of a galloping horse’s hooves. And Kai’s is…

Hmm…all of these sounds…are strangely…soothing…

It is as if I am being lulled to slumber by a very unorthodox lullaby. I can feel my system being pulled into REM sleep. But as soon as the first blurry images of a would-be dream emerge, I am roused by sharp tapping against the window. I jolt awake and sit up quickly, my eyes already locked on the plum plumage of Hayate and…

“Miyuki…?”

I get to my feet as quietly as I can and pad over to the window. Hayate turns to look at me, his feathers fluffed and ruffled, making him look bigger than he actually is. He’s obviously impatient, the sight of his mate having enthralled him. And the female gyrfalcon, Miyuki—her chitters muffled thanks to the barrier—taps her beak repeatedly against the window pane.

I quickly unlock the window and lift it up. Miyuki flutters anxiously in as well as the cold morning breeze. The two falcons take the time to nuzzle one another amorously, acting as if they had been separated for years instead of maybe a few days at best. I watch the display with mixed emotions—emotions I cannot fathom.

Miyuki stays close and chitters a few soft notes, running her beak through Hayate’s neck feathers in an affectionate act of preening. Was she really so comfortable in such strange territory? Or was it simply the fact of Hayate’s presence that steeled her nerves and calmed her baser instincts?

Hayate looks from his partner to me, and something in his wide, dark amber eyes flicker. His throat then pulses to release an assortment of sharp clicks. Miyuki immediately stops her grooming of my friend and swivels her head in my direction. I blink in wonderment at the sight of her dark pools scrutinizing me.

Another wintry nor’easter whistles low into the bedroom, ruffling the falcons’ feathers and the collar of my pajama shirt. Once the white and mottled black feathers settle, Miyuki cocks her head to the side and blinks, her beak falling open. She then lifts her leg—the one encircled with the fur-lined black leather band, flexes her gleaming black talons, and sets it down. And Hayate repeats the movement.

My eyes settle on the band—the proof of Miyuki’s connection to Ayane…and now Hayate’s.

A…connection…

My breath leaves me in a stream of white, my element corresponding with the clear emotion sent from my Emotional Framework: Hope. Silently, I hold out my forearm towards Miyuki. And without any hesitation, she steps forward and grips her talons securely onto my arm. I feel the slight bite of their razor-sharpness, but all I can do is smile.

She croons contently as I run the tips of my fingers near the row of pretty white plumage lining her neck, as I have seen Ayane do the same. “This is it, isn’t it…?” I whisper. “This is the beginning…of a connection…”

I halt my gentle petting and glance down at Miyuki’s band—at the solid black of the leather. With purpose, I touch the pad of my index finger on the center of the black, and watch the icy-blue design of a snowflake take shape and freeze onto the leather. I do the same to Hayate’s band.

Hayate clicks approvingly and spreads his wings, calling over his shoulder as he takes off out the window. And Miyuki turns and follows him. I watch as the two falcons distance themselves further and further away from the Destiny’s Bounty and into the rising sun, the gentle glow of strengthening rays shining off the permanent frost on their bands.

And as the pale blues and dusty pinks gradually paint the sky in its dawning colors, I distinctly notice the utter lack of deep breathing. The bedroom is still. My brothers are awake—have been for awhile, I wager. And although their breathes are now practiced and paced, their hearts still thump in their own unique rhythms…  

And perhaps…mine does as well…

For I realize, I do not need to lie down. I do not need to sleep to dream. For in the shining gold of the morning sun, I am already experiencing...a most wonderful dream.

Yeah, I'm shamelessly guilty for making Zane sound like a paragon of poetry from time to time. Oh well, I hope you all enjoyed the symbolism! Again, I know this is just a more fleshed out retelling of "Quiet World of White" for all my veteran readers. But despite the obvious foreshadowing, I hope it was still an enjoyable read. :) :heart:

And to those of you who are just recently getting into my series, thank you for reading and giving it a chance! I truly appreciate any and all support sent my way! :hug:
© 2017 - 2024 VelvetPersona
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Comedic-Soldiers's avatar
I just loved the "turn on the A.C." line for whatever reason. Made me laugh. Sleepy Jay is great too. All of this is so lovely and I don't want to stop reading... its getting late though... Oh wait! This is the latest chapter! Oh my goodness! I am so excited for more! Super excited! This is all so lovely I just might reread it again! Heart Snowflake