|:|CotHS [Story: (Ch 2 part 1) A Long Way To Fall]|:|

Instructions

Chapter 2, part 1: Ever since Winter saved him from Sunset and his gang that day, the two had quickly grown to become fast friends. They practically did everything together. When the sun was rising Void would rush out his home and wait. Waiting was easy for Void, he’d been waiting practically his whole life. Waiting to fly, waiting for Sunset and his gang to give up and leave the spot he was hiding from, waiting for Winter each and every day. Eventually, she always came. They would often go to Winter’s underground lake hideout and play, or they would go around the market. Every minute with her was a minute he wanted to last forever. The best part was that when he was with Winter, Sunset and his friends left him alone. It was like Winter was a personal good luck charm. His personal good luck charm. He often wondered why they never came around until Winter had to go home. They eventually always did come back to torment him, just later than they used to. Speaking of run-ins with his bullies, that gash Sunset had left on his snout had left a scar that Void personally hated. Cobalt was not happy when she saw him come home with the wound, and Skyracer had simply said that he should have defended himself better. Just looking at the scar in his reflection made Void feel a new emotion: Hatred. One day, he would be the one laughing. That day wouldn’t be for a while though. Void was now 6 years old, and his wings haven’t grown an inch. This was definitely confusing to Void, and only added to his building pile of bitterness as he watched Fallines half his age fly circles around him. Why couldn’t he fly? It made no sense. Whenever he talked about it with Winter, she always assured him that, “He still has 4 more years” and then changes the subject. 4 more years till what? He would be 10 in 4 years, but what happened then? So many things were hidden from Void. So, so many things that he couldn’t understand. The sadness in Cobalt’s eyes when she glanced at his wings, the way Skyracer seemed even more distant to him now than she was before. It was like she was making an effort for Void to not exist to her anymore. It made him sad, and added to the growing pool of bitterness that pulled at his paws. Even Sunset seemed to know things that he didn’t. His tauntings became less directed towards how he was adopted and more towards things that just confused Void. What was he talking about? He just couldn’t connect the dots, he had no information. No one would give him that information. It made him angry and sad. ‘This is so stupid. I just wish I was normal like everyone else!’ He was no longer a hatchling, he had no excuse to not be able to fly. He had no excuse for these stupid, small hatchling wings. He was an adolescent now. He was 4 years away from having a rank. So why was he still flightless? His thoughts racked his head as he sat on a cliff near the capital. There were only so few places he could go in the mountains when he was unable to fly. These are the thoughts that he’s been wondering for months. “Why if it isn’t scar face?” Void looked over to see Sunrise landing on the rocks next to him. He groaned. “Please not now Sunrise I have enough trouble without you making everything ten times worse.” Sunrise snickered. “What, stressing over what to do with your sad, small winged life? Like anyone would need a Falline that can’t fly.” Void rolled his eyes. “Thank you for making that obvious as if it weren’t already.” Sunrise growled. “Do I need to give you another scar wimp?” Void shook his head rapidly. “N-No Sunrise..” Sunrise narrowed his eyes and smirked. “Good. Speaking of weeding out useless Airbornes like yourself, there’s a flight test going on in the gathering place in the Capital in a few minutes. Maybe you can go so they can save themselves the trouble in a few years” Void blinked. “A.. What test..?” He couldn’t help himself from echoing Sunset’s words in breathless confusion. Sunset looked momentarily surprised, but then began to cackle his head off. “Oh. My Sunstone you are so stupid” He wheezed, holding his stomach as he laughed uncontrolably. ‘At least he’s not trying to throw me off the side of the cliff..’ Void thought as he sat there uncomfortably. “Do you really think that the Alpha would just let someone choose a rank?!”