LAJMA - Life at Jade Mountain Academy 04: Hope
LAJMA 04: Hope
Featuring: Bigtail, Tamarin
Every now and again, after the sun had set and everyone had gone to sleep, Bigtail would sneak outside. Something about finally being able to sit under the stars and breathe always left him feeling renewed, energized and hopeful.
Sometimes he would climb the tall trees of his new home and bask under the stars like a RainWing in the sun. And sometimes, when the deepest shadows were swept away by a full moon, Bigtail swore he detected something in the nighttime air. He didn't know how to describe it, but to him it smelled of moonlight. Last night was one of those nights.
It always made sense in his head, yet the words had barely left his mouth when he realized how ridiculous it sounded out loud.
"I don't think it sounds stupid," Tamarin assured. He was glad she couldn't see the embarrassment on his face, but something in his breathing or his attempt to change the subject must have betrayed the thought. The observant little RainWing wasted no time countering.
The two of them were sitting alone in their first class of the day, Bigtail having gone to the history cave at the first hint of sun. He rarely felt tired after a night outside. He knew classes wouldn't begin for some time, so was surprised when the blind RainWing came padding into the room of her own accord shortly afterward. Apparently Onyx was a loud sleeper. For the better part of an hour, instead of studying like they'd each intended or even finishing the doodle on his scroll, they'd talked. He wasn't even sure how they ended up on the topic.
"I really don't," Tamarin continued. "The sun is kind of like that for us. It's always easier to find where I'm going after suntime or a good rainfall," she added with a small shrug and a light tap on her nose.
"Maybe the moons help your senses," she offered reasonably, "and everything smells stronger? Or, I overheard Clay saying mud helps his tribe heal, back in the RainWing healer's pavilion. Maybe the moons do the same, for your nose?"
"I... I guess," he replied. It made some sense, but he was still too busy fighting off embarrassment—and now confusion—to form a proper response. Why was she insisting on offering theories? He wanted to change the subject.
A pause. "I could pick some flowers to test against, the next time a moon is full," she suggested, a plan forming in her head. "We could ask the other NightWing students too if you want, or maybe even some of the RainWings." She looked towards the front of the classroom, where Webs normally stood. "That's an experiment I wouldn't mind helping out with," she finished quietly.
Bigtail was about to respond with a quick no-thank-you, but paused. There was something significant about that last statement. Coming from a RainWing, it should have been a reproachful jeer or taunt, but there was no bite to her words. She was absentmindedly running a talon over a small cube on the table in front of her, serene yet seemingly lost in thought. He'd seen ones like it before, littered all over the librarian's desk. They were covered in patterned bumps, matching divots on the scroll in front of her.
Then it hit him: a RainWing and a NightWing, willingly working towards a common goal, for science. So soon after... well, after everything. Bigtail wasn't sure if Tamarin was one of the prisoners, but a number of scars along her neck told him it wasn't something he should ask either way.
Just like that, his embarrassment melted away. Six months ago Bigtail would have assumed a lazy RainWing was looking for any excuse to nap in the sun. Now, he recognized that Tamarin was offering not only help, but her trust. Forgiveness. A path forward for their tribes. Now, Bigtail was wise enough to accept it. It must be why Queen Glory had chosen him to attend. He could do this.
Perhaps moving on after the war really could be that easy. It just took time, understanding, and the initiative to make it work. After class, the two of them could go to the library. Starflight might have some ideas to help their study.
"That sounds like fun, actually," he said. Yes, Bigtail had hope. Hope for the future. With help, the healing was possible. He just needed to get through history class.
LAJMA 04: Hope
Featuring: Bigtail, Tamarin
Every now and again, after the sun had set and everyone had gone to sleep, Bigtail would sneak outside. Something about finally being able to sit under the stars and breathe always left him feeling renewed, energized and hopeful.
Sometimes he would climb the tall trees of his new home and bask under the stars like a RainWing in the sun. And sometimes, when the deepest shadows were swept away by a full moon, Bigtail swore he detected something in the nighttime air. He didn't know how to describe it, but to him it smelled of moonlight. Last night was one of those nights.
It always made sense in his head, yet the words had barely left his mouth when he realized how ridiculous it sounded out loud.
"I don't think it sounds stupid," Tamarin assured. He was glad she couldn't see the embarrassment on his face, but something in his breathing or his attempt to change the subject must have betrayed the thought. The observant little RainWing wasted no time countering.
The two of them were sitting alone in their first class of the day, Bigtail having gone to the history cave at the first hint of sun. He rarely felt tired after a night outside. He knew classes wouldn't begin for some time, so was surprised when the blind RainWing came padding into the room of her own accord shortly afterward. Apparently Onyx was a loud sleeper. For the better part of an hour, instead of studying like they'd each intended or even finishing the doodle on his scroll, they'd talked. He wasn't even sure how they ended up on the topic.
"I really don't," Tamarin continued. "The sun is kind of like that for us. It's always easier to find where I'm going after suntime or a good rainfall," she added with a small shrug and a light tap on her nose.
"Maybe the moons help your senses," she offered reasonably, "and everything smells stronger? Or, I overheard Clay saying mud helps his tribe heal, back in the RainWing healer's pavilion. Maybe the moons do the same, for your nose?"
"I... I guess," he replied. It made some sense, but he was still too busy fighting off embarrassment—and now confusion—to form a proper response. Why was she insisting on offering theories? He wanted to change the subject.
A pause. "I could pick some flowers to test against, the next time a moon is full," she suggested, a plan forming in her head. "We could ask the other NightWing students too if you want, or maybe even some of the RainWings." She looked towards the front of the classroom, where Webs normally stood. "That's an experiment I wouldn't mind helping out with," she finished quietly.
Bigtail was about to respond with a quick no-thank-you, but paused. There was something significant about that last statement. Coming from a RainWing, it should have been a reproachful jeer or taunt, but there was no bite to her words. She was absentmindedly running a talon over a small cube on the table in front of her, serene yet seemingly lost in thought. He'd seen ones like it before, littered all over the librarian's desk. They were covered in patterned bumps, matching divots on the scroll in front of her.
Then it hit him: a RainWing and a NightWing, willingly working towards a common goal, for science. So soon after... well, after everything. Bigtail wasn't sure if Tamarin was one of the prisoners, but a number of scars along her neck told him it wasn't something he should ask either way.
Just like that, his embarrassment melted away. Six months ago Bigtail would have assumed a lazy RainWing was looking for any excuse to nap in the sun. Now, he recognized that Tamarin was offering not only help, but her trust. Forgiveness. A path forward for their tribes. Now, Bigtail was wise enough to accept it. It must be why Queen Glory had chosen him to attend. He could do this.
Perhaps moving on after the war really could be that easy. It just took time, understanding, and the initiative to make it work. After class, the two of them could go to the library. Starflight might have some ideas to help their study.
"That sounds like fun, actually," he said. Yes, Bigtail had hope. Hope for the future. With help, the healing was possible. He just needed to get through history class.