Amber stood to attention with the rest of his class, glaring at the wall behind the commander.
One wrong look at him, and he'll get all up in your face and make you sit in the freezing ocean water for half an hour. Don't want to go down there, reminds me. Don't do that.
Amber frowned and looked down, wincing slightly at the memory.
"You there! The one with the sissy earring!" the commander hollered, face turning ruby with fury under the already ruby scales. "What's with that sad face? Let me turn that frown upside down. Beach punishment, now!"
Amber gulped. "Yes sir," he managed out, and without another word, flew outside and down towards the beach, struggling to keep a straight face with all the howling from the other cadets.
"No laughing or you're joining him down there, y'all hear me!?"
Amber smiled a little, but it was quickly replaced when he saw a glint from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he saw the glass that was formed in the sand from Jason's talk. He snapped his head away and shut his eyes, diving into the frigid waters of the ocean just as the sounds of thunder replayed in his head.
Surfacing for air, the frigid water finally registered. Clenching his teeth and ignoring the cold, he swam closer to the beach, and when the water shallowed to about shoulder height, he stopped. He would stand there for half an hour. Alone with his thoughts, alone by himself. Of course, unless his wonderful commander gives one of his comrades the honor of joining him down here. He smirked, but it faded quickly.
No matter how hard Amber tried, he kept wandering back the Jason. The beach, the waves, it was still the same. His mind kept associating the two.
Why did he have to betray me?
He told you it would hurt, and you didn't listen, you klutz.
I'm not a klutz. You are.
Wait, you're me, and I'm you.
Argh. This is unproductive. Look at the waves or something. Stop feeling so bad.
...
...
...
This was where it happened. Why did he have to betray me?
It hurts too. We can only move forward.
He was my only friend here. The bunk feels so empty without him.
Why did he graduate early?
Because he lived a previous life, as a scavenger no less.
Jason is a lie. No. He is my friend.
He lied to me! No use.
You cried in his face, and he tried to reassure you. You're just weak!
No, I'm not. I'm a soldier, who will do his duty and not turn back.
What am I doing? Don't turn back.
Wait, I think I saw a fish.
...
...
...
It was an endless cycle of regret and worry, as well as anger, then the ripping of his attention and thoughts back to the monotonous sound of the waves and the wind.
He was angry, that Jason hid everything from him. He was angry that he didn't take it well. He was angry that he fled, leaving Jason on the beach to pick up the pieces. He looked back before Jason disappeared from view and saw Jason's bowed head. What kind of friend was he?
He was sad that Jason isn't here. He was sad that Jason isn't what he thought Jason was.
He was regretful that he forced Jason to tell him everything, despite the warnings.
I'm to blame.
Jason wouldn't want this. Move on! Mo-
"Hello, Sir Sadsalot. Or should I call you Mister Misery? No, wait. Cadet Crybaby works best," Crag told him, waving his talons in Amber's face.
"Get out of my face, buttcrack," Amber retorted.
"Haha, funny moment, totally laughed. Boy, you've been sat down here for an hour. Don't you want to join us for dinner? Assface commander is up there waiting for you."
Amber blinked, then joined Crag and flew back to the barracks.