The group quickly retreated back up to Kyra's room after the ceremony. Quickly, Danica and Zane got wrapped up in a conversation about what it was like for a hawk in flight. Kyra, on the other hand found herself out on the balcony overlooking the grounds that led up to the Keep. The snippets of conversation she actually heard brought back vivid images of that near-fatal moment when Danica had been clipped by a serpiente bolt.
Flashes of those beautiful golden brown feathers flapping frantically to find some sort of purchase on the air she was falling through tore through Kyra's mind. If she hadn't snuck out to make sure her sister was safe and followed the group onto the battlefield, Kyra didn't want to think about what might have happened. During those terrifying seconds, the eagle swooped forwards and caught the little hawk on her back. Because of her greater size, Kyra could maintain her altitude even with the weight of her sister pushing them down long enough that Danica was able to regain control and resume flying. The guard had quickly escorted the favored Shardae to safety to attend to her wounds.
Kyra was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice Zane approaching her until his cool hand brushed against the bare skin of her side where her shirt had ridden up. She jumped violently and her training caused her to automatically send a punch towards his face. Thankfully, the cobra's reflexes were much better than an avian's, so he easily dodged to the side. His eyes were the characteristic slits of his animal half when she met them a moment later.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, not knowing how he would react to her doing that without thinking.
"I'm fine, Kyra," he assured her. "You didn't even graze me. Are you alright? You seem distracted. You didn't comment when that girl came to alert us that your mother is coming to speak to us."
"I didn't hear her, to be honest. I was thinking about something that happened once."
A cool pair of lips brushed a kiss against her neck. "Anything I can do to help?"
Kyra shook her head. "No. It's long in the past."
Danica looked on in intrigue. The pair seemed to fit together like they were made for one another as they stood facing the black abyss of the night out on the balcony. Murmurs just low enough that she couldn't make out the words drifted back inside to where she was sitting. Looking at the pair, Danica was actually thankful that her mother had arranged such a union between them. If there was ever to be peace between their people, it would obviously start with those two.
Unfortunately, this peaceful line of thinking couldn't last long. Far too soon there was a quick knock on the door before it opened to reveal Nacola.
Kyra could feel Zane tense against her back as she did much the same. Neither turned quite yet, not particularly wanting to converse with the woman that'd caused Kyra so much heartache.
"May I speak to the three of you?" Nacola asked impatiently, obviously not pleased with being momentarily ignored by the couple.
Author's Note: Hey guys! As usual, sorry this took so long. I plan to write another chapter or two over my thanksgiving break, so I'll have them posted as soon as I do. That's also to make up for the fact that this one's so short. Anyway, hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!