[attr="class,"memoryDarkheader"]

[attr="class,"memoryDarkbody"]It has been weeks since the mission. A good amount of time since the week of rigorous testing, of practically living in the League’s research facility until the debrief meeting and the fated day when she was granted reprieve from her duties. For her short vacation, she had decided on something simple: visiting home with a dear friend.[break][break]

Now she watches the sky rapidly toss itself heavenward; the clouds swirl and become smaller in her sight. It’s breathless to be here, to bathe in the sunlight and be free. She barely resists throwing her arms up and surrendering to the fall.[break][break]

”YAHOOOO!” She yells at the top of her lungs, hair whipping wildly with the resisting air as her dragon dove towards the earth. Her heart thrums lively in her chest, pumping adrenaline that muffles her thoughts like her own voice and the screeching gale. She feels amazing.[break][break]

They land in an unceremonious heap, decimating an innocent cart parked by the path leading to town. Cabbages fly everywhere—slow-motion, as though against a ballet tune. Then the Hydreigon lands on top of its fat belly and all three heads slump on the dirt road. [break][break]

“Whoa, shit,” Vera groans, pulling herself off from the dragon’s back and stumbling onto her feet beside it. She rubs her skull, debating if the crash had cost her any brain cells in exchange for her healthy everywhere else. She perhaps had Hugo’s blubber to thank. ”Fuck, uh, is everyone okay? Maybe taking Hugo’s flight for a test drive wasn’t such a good idea after all.”[break][break]

At the sound of its name, the dragon raises its three heads. Two of them seem to be fighting over munching a cabbage. The third that contains its brain seems to be waiting orders, up until it becomes impatient and starts inching towards the cabbage on the ground nearby it.[break][break]

Vera sighs and looks around. Verdanturf was a mere walk away now. She could see the quaint little town’s humble architecture outlined beyond the tallgrass prairie, nestled comfortably between the mountains. Familiar clean air replenishes her excitement and restlessness. “We should get going!”[break][break]