Bluetooth came back, wings sluggish and his tiny head hanging low. The usual spark in his eyes had dulled, replaced by a brooding silence.
Seeing that disappointed expression, Apollo didn't even need to ask. He already knew.
"Did you see her?" Apollo asked as the Water-Attributed Falcon landed lightly on his shoulder, his tiny talons digging in just enough for balance.
"Yes," Bluetooth muttered, barely able to meet his eyes.
"Hmm… Seems like something happened."
Bluetooth hesitated, then sighed. "That girl she's with… she's strong."
Just thinking about her made his feathers bristle. A chill still lingered in his bones—the kind only true pressure could imprint. "Can you defeat her?" he asked suddenly, turning to his master with a spark of hope in his eyes.
Apollo raised an eyebrow. "Do I have to?"
Bluetooth blinked.
