A rapid-fire of splashes echoes throughout the crisp night air. Illuminated by the glow of the moon, Solomon observes his freshly thrown pebble skip across the lake until it reaches the moon's blurry reflection on the water's horizon. He gives a satisfied sigh, counting at least ten skips. With a somewhat haughty swish of his tail, he turns to Brian who stares at the lake with his beak agape.

"Your turn." The feline smiles.

"Oh, come on, you know I can't beat that."

"How uncharacteristically pessimistic of you."

The pigeon shoots him a pouty look, but bends down to grab a small stone from the shore anyway. Sidling up to the water's edge, he tosses the stone with a grunt, which sinks immediately after a pathetic sploosh.

"Uh… can that count as one?" Brian chuckles sheepishly.

"Only if it's a negative one."

His friend gives him a soft punch on the arm before returning to the shelter of a nearby pine tree, where the males had set up a blanket to sit on where their bags, a battery-powered lantern and a couple of soda cans rest.

The lake that glistened before them is called Lake Wishend, and it's been the staple location of the Noah's Arc Academy senior retreats since the school was founded. Calling it a lake is generous considering the average animal could swim from one shore to the other in around fifteen minutes, but it's certainly big enough for a herd of stressed students to splash around, canoe, and cannonball in it. Every year, the current batch of seniors spend two days in the nearby camping grounds catered by the academy, complete with barbecues, bonfires, cobweb-lined log cabins, and of course, foosball. Most students can hardly wait to visit and destress before the hellish final year of high school crushes their spirit. Solomon and Brian are certainly not exempt from the lake's charm. After a fun day of activities, however, they feel a bit too worn out to rejoin the other lively teenagers just yet.

Brian waves Solomon over, snapping one of the cans open. The latter obliges and goes to sit next to his feathered companion. He reaches for his backpack to fish out a small stack of documents, the results of student polls he conducted earlier in the week, and begins to dance his eyes over them.

"Really?" Brian snorts. "During the retreat?"

Solomon tugs the lantern closer to him. "You're more than welcome to join the others back in the barbecue. You insisted on tagging along."

"Yeah, cuz I thought we were gonna do fun stuff, not paperwork." The bird whines.

"Well, I need to get this sorted by the time we get back. Please don't interrupt."

"Fine."

"..."

"…Can you believe we're seniors?"

Solomon rolls his eyes at the rock dove's question. With a coy smile, he flips to the next page of his stapled document. "I am far too aware of the passage of time."

Now Brian rolls his eyes. "Okay, Mr. Nihilism. Not even a month in and you caught some stage three senior-itis?"

"I've had senior-itis since I was five. Terminal, doctors said. They didn't expect me to make it past elementary, but I persevered."

Brian gasps in mock admiration. "You're so brave. Have you considered publishing your story?"

His friend chuckles. "I'll need someone to read the drafts."

"I can ghostwrite, even."

Solomon flips another page. The pigeon gives an annoyed huff.

"We're not in the student council office, Sol. Turn your brain off for once."

The caracal peeks at his peeved expression before resuming his perusal of the document. "Sometimes, one must work after hours. This prom won't plan itself."

"The prom's months away!" Brian cries, exasperated.

"Months of planning we must do. Surely you remember how Iris ran herself ragged preparing her prom?"

The bird sighs. "Yeah. And don't call me Shirley."

Solomon snorts. "That was so dumb it actually amused me."

"I'll be here all week." Brian bows dramatically. "It's nice to see you're so dedicated to prom planning. Last year, we delegated it mostly to volunteer seniors. I never pegged you as the prom-loving type."

"Am I not allowed a moment of selfishness?"

"By all means. Least I could do for a senior-itis survivor."

His friend doesn't reply beyond a smile before resuming his work. Brian silently observes as the secretary circles percentages and keywords with a bright highlighter and a focused expression.

Solomon is an exceedingly handsome specimen. Even if Brian wasn't homosexual, he could acknowledge this; any animal with eyes could. The caracal has a magnetism to his ways that makes his every movement worthy of an audience. Brian himself only has eyes for Humbert of course, but a warm-blooded male like him couldn't help but occasionally glance at other scenery. Only very occasionally.

Yes, Solomon is exceedingly handsome. He's never shaken, never deterred, never intimidated. But also reserved and aloof. Despite his penchant for ranting, his speeches never seem to be about himself. In fact, his mysteriousness is why he drives so many females wild. It drives Brian crazy with frustration, however. Solomon's cool guy exterior has always been the greatest barrier in their friendship. He had seen past it way back when they were sophomores, and the fact that the cat remains so insistent in maintaining his facade despite everything annoyed the bird more than anything.

Were they not friends? Brian had told everything about his life to Solomon. Well, mostly everything. Even he had secrets to keep. Nonetheless, it's mostly him doing around 90% of the talking in any given conversation, with Solomon mostly reacting. Mind you, his reactions are clever and entertaining, but they are never revealing.

With a heavy heart, Brian realizes he knows almost nothing about a person he considers one of his best friends. He stares at the lake water solemnly. To think, they would be graduating at the end of the year, each going their separate ways. Solomon said he applied for several prestigious universities outside the city. Surely, he's bound to get accepted into at least one, if not all of them. And Brian had no plans on leaving his hometown, only applying to local colleges. After this year, they may never see each other again.

The thought made his stomach cramp. It doesn't sit right with him at all. He refuses to let Solomon leave a stranger. It's then that a distant cheer from the barbecue sparks an idea.

"Hey, Sol," He starts, to his companion's annoyance. "Let's play truth or dare."

This takes Solomon's attention away from the papers. "Truth or dare? How old do you think we are?"

"Aw, come on!" Brian nudges him. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to uncover my deepest, darkest secrets! You're really gonna turn that down?"

The cat raises a brow. "I somehow doubt your deepest darkest secret extends beyond you stealing a cookie out of the pantry once in third grade."

"Or you get to dare me to do anything. You could make me take off my clothes and go skinny dipping."

"Well, now you have my attention."

The rock dove flashes a cheeky smile. "Alright, you go first, then! Truth or dare?"

With a resigned sigh, Solomon rests the stack of documents on his lap, now aware his planning would have wait. "Very well…" He mutters. "Truth, then. Erm… do you prefer the beach or the mountains?"

"What kind of a question is that?!"

"I-I don't know what to ask! I've never done this before!"

"You're hopeless…" His friend snickers. "And you know I like beaches more."

"Indeed. Your turn. Truth or dare?"

"Truth!" The pigeon's response is lightning quick. "Do you like someone?"

Solomon slaps his hand on his forehead. "Heaven's sake… Now I am thoroughly convinced you have the mental age of an elementary schooler."

"I sure do! Answer! The laws of truth or dare compel you!"

"Well since I am under oath," Solomon groans dramatically. "And more importantly, since we are mature adults, I can tell you that I am interested in Hafsa. Frankly, I believe I have made my interest in her abundantly clear through my behavior."

To Solomon's dismay, he can already see Brian's beady little eyes overcome with sparkles and stars at the revelation. His clawed hands squeeze his cheeks together, sandwiching his open beak in the middle which lets out a high pitched squeal. Solomon fears his dogs classmates will be set into a frenzy.

"Oh, come now…" Solomon's ears twitch despite himself. "Do not mistake that as me admitting to some banal playground crush. My feelings towards her are of deep maturity and devotion. We share a real connection."

"Oh my Gooooooooooodddddd!"

"Brian, please."

"Oh my god, I had no idea!" Brian shrieks. "You hid it so well!"

"…Even I know that's not the case."

"Wow, the president and the secretary…" The bird flops onto his back, arms outstretched towards the sky as if painting a mental picture for himself. "What a power couple you'd make! You'd be amazing together!"

Solomon's grimace gives way to a tiny smirk at his words. "I believe so too. That is why I intend to invite her to prom as my date this year."

"YOU'RE GONNA PROMPOSAL HAFSA?"

The caracal grips Brian's shoulder with not as much force as he'd like. "Scream louder, Brian, I don't think everyone at the barbecue has heard you quite yet!"

His friend covers his smiling beak. "Oops. Guess I got too excited."

"That's a fair assessment."

"But, this is awesome! Yes! Ask her out to prom! You have my blessing!" He suddenly gasps. "Is that why you've been working so hard on prom planning?"

"Well, it's a factor, but really—"

"Sooooooool!" Brian wiggles around on the blanket gleefully. "I had no idea you were such a romantic!"

"I just…" The feline's expression turns almost helpless. "I need things to be perfect. This may be my last chance. I must… put everything on the line."

His tone struck Brian as odd for the subject at hand. Solomon never particularly invested himself in relationships before. Seeing this severity over the president… It fired the pigeon up. He grabs the caracal's surprised hand and grips with tightly.

"You've got my full support! I'll do whatever I can to help!"

Solomon's eyes widen, but a soft smile spreads across his face. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Of course! It'll be great to have my two best friends dating! Then we can go on double dates, it'll be so much fun!"

"And who would you be bringing to said double date?" Solomon teases.

"Ah, well…!" The rock dove fumbles around. "I'll find a girlfriend eventually! Heh."

"I have no doubt about that. Now…" Solomon flicks an empty soda can over. "I believe it is your turn. Truth or dare?"

"Um… Dare!"

"I thought you'd pick that. I dare you to fly across the lake and back again."

That catches Brian off guard. "W-wait… what?"

The feline doesn't blink. "Fly across the lake. And then come back here."

"But… I don't have my flying license yet."

"I believe the laws of truth or dare compel you to."

Well, he can't argue against that. Still perplexed, Brian heaves himself off the ground and stretches his arms nervously. He takes one step, then another, faster and faster until he is running full speed ahead towards the water. He shoots his arms straight out and begins to flap them vigorously. He can feel his flight feathers being soaked in the night air.

Before the pigeon realizes it, his feet no longer touch the ground. He looks down to meet his own blurred reflection swimming in the lake, distorted by starlight and waves. He tilts his arm to catch the wind beneath him, which shoots him higher in the air until he can see Lake Wishend in its entirety. The calm waters reflect the unpolluted night sky so marvelously, Brian can no longer tell what is up or what is down. The moon, full and welcoming, shines on his grey feathers kindly. She almost seems to be within arms reach.

Brian forgets why he is up there for a few minutes. By the time he remembers, he's passed the opposite shore of the lake, and hastily makes a 180 to land on the pebbly bank. He squints and spots Solomon illuminated by his lantern back on the original side. Not knowing what else to do, he gives the cat a big wave before taking off once more, this time more careful to not get distracted. Back across the lake, he lands with a stumble before awkwardly returning to Solomon under the pine tree.

"D-dare accomplished…" The pigeon wheezes, his gut now feeling twice as heavy as he plops back down on the blanket.

"Well done. You have very nice form."

"Th-thanks." Brian once again lies on the cloth and shuts his eyes. "So… why did you make me do that?"

"Do you not know the legend attached to this lake?" Solomon asks.

Brian only turns his head towards him, eyes still closed.

"They say Lake Wishend was formed after a comet collided with the Earth. The crater filled up with water, becoming what we see today. But the energy of the comet remained in the soil, not only giving life to the ecosystem here with its unique minerals, but also embedding the water with a kind of magical power."

"Magical power?"

"Specifically, the power to grant wishes. A comet is, after all, another word for a shooting star. They say that if someone manages to cross the lake and return, their wish will come true."

"Wow… I had no idea."

Solomon shrugs. "It's obviously only folklore. Fictitious superstition. But if on the offchance it is true, then… it wouldn't hurt to make a wish. You did cross the lake after all."

Brian opens his eyes and looks up at the caracal. His expression remains as inscrutable as ever, the same cool smile gracing his face as he stares out into the water's shimmering surface.

"I wish…" Brian says quietly. "That we would play truth or dare more often."

"Not a bad wish." His companion hums. "I don't believe in the legend, of course. If it doesn't come true… we can find other games to play."

"…I'd like that."

The two animals share no words for what feels like an eternity; Brian lying with his his eyes closed and Solomon observing the water.

"Remember when we first met?" The caracal asks suddenly.

"Yeah. I remember thinking that you were had contouring makeup on, but it was really just your fur."

"Remember when we went to that park?"

"Yeah. Sorry about that again."

"I'm eating meat again."

"…Huh."

"I had to in order to save Hafsa and the vice president that day. It was the only way my father would help me. But I had no intention of returning to that house after I had gotten what I needed. My father wouldn't have cared enough to object, nor would he have stopped paying for my education. He was always that kind of man. Too indifferent to even disown me."

"So… what happened?"

"I entered withdrawal. It was even worse than before. I thought that maybe after all these years, it wouldn't be as bad… but it was worse. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't move. And Hafsa… she was going through the same thing. She needed me. So I went back to that house. And I've been going back every Sunday. I'm afraid if I don't… If I don't…"

"I'm dating a male penguin."

"…Ah."

"Wanna head back to the others? Grab something to eat?"

"…Yes. Let's do that."

The rest of their senior retreat is lovely.

AN: Thanks for reading! I suppose this is just my upload schedule now... fanfiction is a cruel mistress. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Writing dialogue is my favorite, and I dearly missed the Solomon / Brian dynamic. I'll got to bed with the thought of Brian's majestic form soaring across a starry sky.

Take it easy and stay safe.