"What do you mean, 'what does later tonight mean'?" Gavner asked, a little too loudly. Arra and Kurda, who were sitting with him, shushed him.

"I mean what does it mean? What do you do? Is it like... a date?" Arra asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. She was biting her thumbnail nervously.

"Just relax," Kurda recommended, "he probably just wants to talk with you."

"You know that isn't true, Smahlt," Gavner paused to slosh back more ale, "did you even see what they were doing in that closet?"

"Not so loud, Gavner, that sounds so wrong when you put it that way," Arra hissed, "It was just a little kiss, in the heat of the moment, I don't even know what I was doing-"

"Wait, so do you like him, or not?" Kurda said.

"I... I guess I do. I mean, I've liked him as a friend for a long time..." Arra was struggling to find the right words.

"The fact he loves you changes things, doesn't it?" Kurda asked. She nodded.

"But... in a good way. I think I can love him. I think I will love him. But for the gods sakes, just tell me what 'later tonight' means!"

"You've never done this before, have you, Sails?" Gavner laughed.

"What tipped you off?" she rolled her eyes.

"It could mean a lot of things actually," Kurda mused, staring off into space, "I guess you'll know when you get there."

"Get where? And when exactly is 'later'? I need more details!" Arra groaned.

"Just don't stress," Gavner advised, "he'll probably come find you." He winked and gestured behind them, where Larten was entering the hall, searching the crowd for his friends. "OVER HERE!" Gavner bellowed, waving his arms like an insane person.

"Oh gods," Arra croaked.

"Just play it cool," Kurda said.

"I'm not that worried about what to do now, I just thought about how Mika will react if he catches wind of this!"

Larten sat down next to her. She felt his arm around her and her face turned a little red. Warmth was spreading in her chest, and she fidgeted, looking down. "Something wrong?" Larten asked. She looked up at him. He'd always known when anything was wrong with any of his friends, but this was somehow different.

"Nothing," Arra said quickly, shaking her head, "Nothing's wrong."

Kurda and Gavner decided to make themselves scarce and found a good place to spy on their friends. They watched as the two started talking, glancing around, never quite meeting the other's gaze. They were both smiling somewhat bashfully, and blushing, Arra more so to both of their surprise. Kurda squealed as Larten leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. Her blush deapened, and she nodded shyly. Gavner let out a low whistle. The couple disappeared into the crowd.

"That was so adorable!" Kurda said, "Arra was blushing! What did he say to her you think?"

"What did who say to my assistant?"

Gavner swallowed and the two friends turned around to see Mika, not looking amused at all.

Meanwhile, just outside the mountain, the new couple finally breaked for air. Arra rested her forehead against Larten's, eyes closed. He traced circles on her back with one hand. A reassuring silence had fallen over the two. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. He didn't think he'd ever felt happier in his life. "I've wanted to do this for so long," he murmured.

"How long?" Arra asked, voice just as soft.

"Months that seemed like years." He smiled at her, his eyes filled with joy and love.

Nobody had ever looked at her like that. Arra didn't know what to respond with. She was choked up with emotion.

Taptaptap. Three sharp raps startled the two, making them spring apart. Mika was standing in the entrance to the mountain, leaning against the rocks. "You have training in about an hour, Arra, don't be late." He turned his gaze to Larten. "Don't overstep any bounderies. Careful not to get carried away." Arra nodded over and over again, too embarrassed for words. Mika left without another word.

"Well," Larten eventually said, their fingers intertwining, "what do you say we make the most of the next hour, my dear?"

"Dear?"

"Do you not like that?"

"No, I love it. No one's ever called me that before." Arra pulled her hand out of his and laced her fingers behind his neck. "And yes, we should." She pulled him down into another kiss. Just one day and she'd already become a little braver. Larten hoped that she would soon become comfortable enough with him to be as daring as she pleased. He would hate for her to feel uncomfortable around him. When she backed him up against a nearby tree, he laughed at himself in his head. He needn't be worried about her. In fact, she would most likely be the dominant one in the relationship.

This fledgling was already taking to the sky.

Horrible ending I know, but was the rest of it good? I think it was decent. I really wanted to do a follow-up.