They came as soon as I woke up. The dull light in my head was sudden, pushing me back into the mattress so I couldn't get up.
I let out a groan, the soft knocking making me whine even louder. I was tempted to just ignore everyone, to ignore the voices just outside the door. I was going to when the door was suddenly pushed in.
"GET UP!"
My body was pushed into the blanket by a rough angel jumping on top of me. Rory pushed their hands into my back, telling me to get up while voices trailed behind them.
"Get off her, Rory!" Bridget came over, pushing the redhead off so I could move and greet them. Seth was soon coming in with Orwell and Bunny trailing right behind. Bridget sat down on the end of the mattress while Rory tried to smuggle me to death.
"Sorry, Vienna, we came to check on you."
"We heard you were hurt during your training?" Bunny sat down next to Bridget, and Orwell stood by the door with Seth.
"Yeah. But I'm okay now."
Rory inspected my body, flipping my arms around to try to catch something. Much to my annoyance, I brushed them off with a hiss.
"I'm just checking on you, girl!" They laughed awkwardly. "I don't see any bruises or anything. How did you heal so quickly?"
"The Gate Goddess. She came to help me." I silently looked over to Casper, who was happily getting pets from Bunny while they all took in a breath at the news.
Bridget moved closer, trying to shove Rory away, who was still smuggling me. "How did she do it? Well.. help you?"
I looked back to Casper; his ears flattened back when he looked back at me. "Do you guys know about Heaven Wolves?" They all nodded. "Do you know how a Warrior Angel needs one to finish their training?"
"I didn't know that…"
"Neither did I." Bunny looked at Seth.
"We aren't Warriors, Vienna; of course, we don't." Rory tried to joke, and I gave them a warning glare before speaking.
"Well, the goddess granted Casper power so he could take that place as a Heaven Wolf for me."
"What-"
"How can that happen? Wait, she did that?"
They talked among themselves, questioning how and why it had happened since it had never been done before. None of them seemed to understand the underlying message until Bunny stopped to catch my eye.
She smiled, "you passed your training?"
I shyly smiled back. "Yeah. I'm no longer an adolescent anymore. I am with the older warriors now."
"That's awesome, Vienna!" Rory jumped on the bed, their wings spreading wide to hit the girls on the bed. Thanks to their excitement, Casper began to jump up with them, his wings flying around.
Bunny stood from the bed, walking over to Orwell so they could avoid their wings. Seth came forward, giving me a hug along with Bridget, who congratulated me with comforting words.
"I'm proud of you, Vienna."
"I still feel like you just started," Bridget giggled, moving back so Rory could hug me with strong arms. "It's been a long time. Woah."
"I always knew you had it in you!" Rory pulled away to nudge me and give me a wink. Smiling widely at the news.
"I'm happy to have someone like you protecting us," Bunny expressed from the other side of the room, her face burning slightly. I blushed, thanking her when my wings curled around me in embarrassment.
My friends kept congratulating me, and I started to share the story of Casper and the encounter I had with the wolf I "fought." I also explained what Casper and I planned to do moving forward. Although I didn't have all the details figured out, I had a general idea of our next steps.
I felt relieved by my friends, who didn't pry too much into my pain. They allowed me to explain it and then left it at that, enabling me to finish and discuss what Janus had told me.
They soon talked with one another about what they wanted to do next. Rory wanted to go and eat, while the others would rather sit in the sun with the Heaven Pups.
Seth looked over at me. "What do you think we should do?"
I gulped, unable to stop myself. "I don't really feel like doing anything right now. I'd rather just rest until my next session, if that's okay."
Seth appeared momentarily surprised but quickly composed himself and stood tall. He turned to the group, his wings gesturing towards the door. "Alright, let's head to Pup's Cove and give Vienna some space; she needs to be well-rested for the next session."
"Oh, okay," Bridget stood along with Rory, walking over to the door as they waved at me.
"Why can't we go eat?" Rory whined at Seth, who rolled his eyes.
"We always eat."
"No, we don't-"
"Bye, Vienna! Rest well, sweets," Bunny blew me a kiss, earning a giggle from each of us before she closed the door behind them.
I was left alone in my room, with only Casper allowed to stay. I let out a sigh and flopped back down, wincing slightly from the weight of my bulky wings. I wasn't really tired, so I wasn't sure why I had said that. I would have liked to hang out with them before heading off to train; it's just that... I wanted to be alone.
I haven't felt like this in a while. It made me feel strange…
Casper came over to lick my face, settling down near me as another comforting blanket. I pulled him closer, allowing the pitbull to curl up by my side.
Feathers were scattered across the bed and floor from the angels who had visited. I tried to ignore the mess and closed my eyes. Although I wasn't tired, I wanted to fall asleep. The truth was, I was eager to learn more about my dreams.
The latest one felt so real—the realest any of them thought—that it made me curious and slightly fearful. But I didn't want to back down from this; I wanted to see if I could control it. It was my body, so I must have some sort of control over this. I was going to find out, and if not, then hopefully, I will find out what happened next.
So I let it sink in, pulling as the darkness stretched through my vision. My body sunk in the feeling of floating, the free will that the abyss pushed and pulled me into. The fight wasn't long; I let it happen.
It was dark at first, which is typical. But it was washed away when I opened my eyes again, and an unfamiliar place welcomed me. It was surrounded by people that I couldn't recognize. They all had something in common with the area we were in.
People were propped up on small beds that I sat on; they wore bandages, and some were lying down, writhing in pain. Medics moved around the green tent, tending to the most injured individuals. Outside, it was pouring rain, and cars and people were walking around, talking amidst the wild commotion. I was also wearing a bandage, with my leg tightly wrapped to cover my scratches and bruises. I wasn't as badly injured as everyone else, but I could still feel myself trembling, even while sitting still.
I was pressed against the wall behind me. My army uniform lay half-stripped on the ground, covered in dirt. I felt too drained to put it back on, even though it was cold. I wore my tank top the whole time. I kept the cap that Dawson gave me cupped in my lap, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
My heart fluttered when I heard a familiar voice from up front.
Dawson was discussing his team with a nurse. They nodded along until he asked for me. The nurse turned and pointed to my bench.
I felt my shoulders relax as my body sank when he gave me a gentle smile. "How are you doing, Vi?"
"Better…" I shifted slightly, allowing the lieutenant to sit beside me.
He was tense, clearing his throat repeatedly as I sat beside him. He didn't say anything, and the only sound was the murmur of voices around us. I wasn't sure if he would speak, but the lump in my throat made it difficult for me to find my voice.
I let out a sigh, brushing away my fears to turn and speak to my higher-up. "I'm sorry… I let you down, lieutenant."
"What are you talking about?" He turned to me.
"I got scared. I hid. I didn't help them, sir. I got scared and froze up… I'm sorry.."
"Vienna," the officer forced my eyes back up to him. I froze, feeling goosebumps run up my arm at the tense stare he gave me. "Whether you want to believe it or not, that is normal. You're a human. Humans get scared and freeze up like that."
"I shouldn't have.. I should have helped..! That is what I have been training for."
"That was only your first mission, Vienna."
I stopped, catching the strong look he gave me. "What?"
The audible whisper made the man sigh; he turned his head, hair falling between his face. "This isn't over. You will be back out there."
"How? How can I assist you? You saw how I froze up out there! I'll get everyone killed!"
"No, you won't!" He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. I held back my tears, the fear bubbling up in my throat at the thought of letting my people down.
Of freezing up, just as I had done before.
"You are stronger than you realize, Vienna. You have passed all your tests and excelled beyond everyone on this team. You cannot give up after one setback like that. I refuse to let it happen."
I shook my head, closing my eyes to ignore the stinging. "I don't want to let everyone down."
"You won't. You will not freeze up next time."
I gulped back the lump in my throat, burrowing my eyebrows together to give the man a look. "How do you know that, Dawson?"
His expression wavered for a moment when I called his name, but then it hardened again. "You won't be afraid. You learn, and you thrive; you learn, and you grow. You're young, and you will become better; you will continue to improve." He took his hands off my shoulders, trying to ease the tension with his usual cocky smirk. "Turn that fear into anger. Turn that anger into motivation. Then you won't be scared anymore, Vi."
I will no longer be scared.
I desired that recognition. I fought hard to prove my strength and to show what I was capable of. That was why I became a "drafty": to fight and demonstrate my abilities. When Dawson offered me such encouraging words, my heart raced, and I felt my cheeks flush. I was overwhelmed with the urge to hug him, even to kiss him.
I shook that thought off, forcing a choked chuckle out while moving away.
"I believe you, lieutenant." I looked back at him, eyes clashing with my own. "I learned from the best. I will not give up, sir."
He gave me a genuine smile so bright it almost blinded me. "I know Vi, you never will."
The brightness couldn't mask the sudden shroud of darkness consuming it. I reached back, trying to grab it before it could disappear.
"Ack-"
My hand landed on something warm and big, and Janus's face came into view. I had reached out, grabbing hold of her as she stood in front of me, a pure, soft smile on her lips. She pulled me close, the space between us disappearing within my bed.
"You're okay, dear. You're safe." She held me close, the pumping in my heart slowing down as she held me. I held her back, gaining all her warmth in an instant.
Casper yipped beside me, his wings fluffed up as he squeezed between us, trying to get attention. Janus gently scolded him, which earned a cute whine from the pup. He then laid his head in my lap. I patted him lightly, letting out a soft sigh as the goddess held me close.
She let the silence envelop us, my racing heart pressing against her chest, loud enough for her to hear. We lay together, seconds and minutes passing until she shifted slightly. I looked up at her and saw a kind smile as her wings spread out beside my legs. The blanket had been pushed off, and the goddess's body rested half on the mattress while her legs rested on the carpet.
"My angel. Are you okay now?"
"Yeah, I'm just a bit startled, is all." I shifted slightly, folding my wings on my side before the goddess let me go. "I... I feel like I'm missing something."
"Your session with the warriors, perhaps?"
I stopped for a second, feeling blood rush to my head at the sudden realization.
Janus giggled, stood up, and pulled me up with her before I could panic further. "Do not worry. I will take you there and explain to Arden that you were resting."
"You'll take me there?" My face burned at the thought.
She nodded, grabbing hold of my hand before we exited the door. Casper followed behind, angels nodding to the goddess who walked past them with me and a pup by her side. "Yes. I will take you there."
"Do you have other things to do?" I looked down, feeling a slight sense of insecurity. "More important things..?"
"You are important." She squeezed my hand, her gentle grin looking down at me with kindness. Then, she jumped up, lifting her wings to curl and flap majestically in the air. I followed her, though my flight was less graceful than hers; my wings adjusted to align with hers as we soared higher into the sky. Our hands remained tightly clasped together. She smiled at me, then turned to hear a sound beside us.
Casper was flying with us, his mouth open wide with his tongue hanging out. He gave no mind to the goddess's eyes, no mind at the thought he wasn't supposed to be doing that.
Janus turned a sly smirk to me, giving me a knowing look that I sheepishly laughed at. Before she would scold me, I curled my wings around myself and dipped down under her and Casper. Their eyes followed me, the pup barking happily. Janus giggled, curling her large wings to fall alongside me.
I gave her a challenging smile, tilting to the side before flipping my wings back open.
They bristled at the thought of going faster than the goddess. I pushed myself forward, my arms moving swiftly in front of me, as I leaned into the wind to propel myself onward. With the goddess behind me, Casper yipped and flapped his wings furiously to keep up.
I turned around, expecting to see Janus behind me, but I was stopped at the sight of only Casper there. I turned back in front, colliding with a force that pulled me down. I heard her giggle, bigger hands grabbing my own as we spun around, lower and lower in the sky.
With both our wings curled to our sides, we let the wind lower us in the air. I could feel it spiking up at my bare feet. But my eyes never left Janus's.
Her bright smile captured my whole attention. She was all I saw. Her hands held my own, and her body moved closer to take me in her arms.
I held her as she held me, her wings opening as we soared into the sky. My feathers scattered, dancing with the wind. Janus laughed, affectionately patting my head. "You are fast, my angel."
"I have to be as a warrior." I looked up at her, my eyes beaming in the sun.
She gave me a kiss on the head, the motion slowing down so we could drift safely back down. "Enough playing. Let us go."
I felt my heart slow as she guided me to the forest below; I was grateful she held onto me, even though I knew she would have to leave when I reached the bottom.