A/N – Just a little scene between two members of the squadron. Not really important to the plot but it does go into their personalities a bit.

Katina Squadrons

Chapter 7 – A Day Well Spent

Aika signed the hover bike form and handed it back to the red parrot. The parrot handed her the start code. Before landing a few days earlier, Aika had looked for any kind of forest or hills in the area. A chain of mountains and trees were to the west, distanced perhaps two or three klicks. On a good hover bike, it would only take about forty minutes to ride.

The calico tightened the straps on her backpack and started the bike. It was quiet and quick as she sped away from Tagger Air Base. The clear force field, similar to those on open cargo bays in space, blocked the wind riding over the bike and into the rider's eyes. The bike cruised through the waist-height brown grasses towards the distant mountains.

As a girl, Aika and her sisters used to ride their father's hover bike to school. After classes, they would race other kids in the streets for candy. She sighed. She missed those carefree days with her younger siblings.

She arrived at the tree line and slowed down. Her map showed a winding river that began as a waterfall off a cliff face just ahead. Over the quiet bike, she could hear the roar of the fall. She parked the bike near a large pine tree and approached the water's edge. Before her was the most beautiful view she had seen in a while. Crystalline water spilled over a mossy rock ledge, cascading down like a skirt. Around the deep pool at the bottom were large rocks, those close to the water were covered with green algae.

"This is perfect," she breathed.

She found a flat rock and pulled a small camp seat out of her pack. The calico moved the seat around until it didn't rock, then pulled out a drawing book and colored pencils.

Another thing she had done as a child was draw. Whenever she was overwhelmed with emotions or upset, she somehow could draw it on paper. She hadn't drawn a landscape in a while, though, and she knew that she probably wouldn't have much time once the squadron became operational. So as every one else was flying in simulators or unpacking in their quarters, she was busy relaxing.

Now that was something Aika hadn't done in a while either.

She sat the book in her lap and began outlining.

Greg dipped his bottle in the river and filled it. He had tested the water earlier and it was clean. The red furred retriever was pleasantly surprised, since all the rivers on Corneria were polluted with ancient chemicals that had no way of breaking down. This river probably started in the mountains as runoff streams that gathered mass and momentum as they ran down the hills.

Really, Greg didn't care. He was just happy there was more water for him to drink.

Up ahead, he could hear waterfalls. He rested on a fallen tree and referenced his digital map. He had started his hike at the fall just downstream, trekking up into the hills, around a great hollow, and down the other side. Upon reaching the river, he simply followed it to the point where he had begun.

"Oh yeah, that pool is at least ten feet deep, I am definitely jumping," he grinned.

He reached the edge soon after and peered out from the left side. He remembered there was a large rock underwater on the left side. He found it and judged the jump in his head. Then he removed his clothes to his swim trunks and put them in a water tight bag in the pack and strapped it on.

Greg stepped out into the swift water and ran towards the edge, "Bonsai!!!"

Aika watched in astonished disbelief as a half-naked red-furred canine leapt spread eagle from the twenty foot water fall screaming "Bonsai." He curled into a ball at the last second and made a huge splash.

She could only stutter incoherent mumblings as the canine surfaced and swam towards her. He began to climb out when he suddenly noticed her.

"Uh... Ah!" He slipped on the algae and splashed back into the water.

The second try was successful and he shook off excess water.

"Hey I know you," he dropped his pack and removed his water-logged shoes. He squeezed them and sat them in the sun to dry.

The cat in her finally released her tongue and she nodded, "I know you too."

"What's that?" He nodded.

"Uh, it's a drawing. Not finished yet."

"Hey I can draw," a goofy grin spread across his muzzle, "Stuff like stick figures."

Aika nodded slowly, "That's nice. So what are you doing out here? I'm pretty sure you aren't here just to scare the daylights out of me."

He laughed, "No, I was hiking. My bike's parked near here... somewhere. You just came out to draw, huh?"

"Yeah. I was hoping to be alone for a while. But stay as long as you like. I don't own this land."

"Me neither. If I owned this land, I'd build a cabin out here and hike every day. This place is so much better than that stinky old space station Dad owned," he sat next to her and looked at the half-colored portrait.

"Say that's pretty good. Like those paintings in the art galleries."

"Thank you," she smiled sincerely, "So you like art?"

"Uh," he scratched his head, "Yeah. I like to look at ones that are colorful."

"Do you like Monnet or Maney?"

He smirked, "I like mayonnaise."

He laughed at her look of bewilderment.

"I have just been waiting to use that," he finally said. draw water. Oceans, rivers, waterfalls, just looking at them makes me feel like I'm swimming."

Greg nodded, "Wanna swim?"

She sighed, "I didn't bring a suit."

"Huh," she sighed.

"Art is art. Some furs like to draw and paint, I like to run around in the dirt and swim. Do you like swimming?"

"Surprisingly yes. My sisters hated it. That's why I love to

"Well I'll go commando if you do," he leaned in closer.

Aika blushed under her fur and pushed him away in playful shock, "No way!"

"Suit yourself," he snickered at his pun and jumped back in.

She sighed in amusement and picked up a blue pencil. Aika had thought she would relax better alone, but that zany golden retriever seemed like just the company to help her let loose.