Eseth glared at Junin. His wing had been healed for several weeks now, and they had spent that much time irritating each other immensely. She did not like Junin, but didn't hate him like Kaza did. She'd grown to despise him in their weeks alone together. His huge, white wings got in the way of everything like Redwing's never had. He was taller and broader than Redwing as well, and apparently needed to eat more. Eseth found herself dreading the sight of his blond head and green eyes every morning.

Junin felt much the same about Eseth. A common trait of Pyromancers, her temper was quick to flare, and she had an exceedingly loud voice and punches that hurt. She was quite unlike the noble girls and ladies he had seen in the various upper-class parties and houses of Wing. Tall, broad-shouldered, with bright red hair, dark skin, and a rough mannerism, Eseth was like no one he had ever seen before. It wasn't that he hadn't seen an elf before. His duty as one of the Guard for the swan angels during the angel rebellion had taken him all over the world to see many strange creatures, but Eseth, well, she was Eseth. One-of-kind, loud, irritating Eseth.

They couldn't stand sharing space with one another for very long. Over the rainy spring, Eseth found herself going even more stir-crazy than she had been in winter. Fortunately, she could visit Kaza and Redwing more frequently now, although she didn't do it often, as Ocean's Flame seemed to like rain a lot. Subsequently, Eseth was stuck inside with Junin.

"So," said Eseth, as they sat at the table for dinner. "Anything different happen today?"

Junin rolled his eyes and didn't bother answering. They both knew that nothing interesting or different had happened that day. This island was terribly boring and nothing ever seemed to happen.

Eseth scowled. "You could at least try to be civil." she snapped. "Otherwise we'll like you even less than we already do." Junin narrowed his eyes. "I don't particularly care if you don't like me," he retorted. "I'm going to try and leave soon, and where I go won't matter to you."

She glared at him. "It might matter to Redwing." she said without thinking. "He might want to go home."

Junin cried "Of the three of you, I like him the least! Don't you understand, you idiot elf, Rustfeathers are born scum! They're thieving, moronic troublemakers who care nothing for themselves, and I will be glad if I never have to see him again!"

Eseth recoiled. "'Rustfeathers?'" she hissed. "Maybe I should call Swans Danderwings! I don't care what you call them when I can't hear, but while I'm in earshot, I shouldn't be hearing anything like that! Gods above, you'd think that such an advanced society would at least lay off the racial slurs!" she turned away from him and scrambled up the ladder that lead to the roof door.

--

"Humph," grunted Sazel Fhekul, leader of the Sun Wings division. Again, he consulted his map. "Island, island, island," he muttered. "Next time we fly, I want a map that doesn't show islands that aren't there." Major Fhekul had been sent on a search-and-rescue mission, the Sun Wings division acting with the Fifth Degree Red Angel Locators, or the RAL five, for short. The RAL five had lost one of their group in a storm, and now the Sun Wings had to help find him. Unfortunately, all they had to go on was a map with an island on it that was either too small to see or didn't exist, and a vague direction in which to go to find the lost man.

Major Fhekul rubbed his temples. The Sun Wings were a search-and-rescue group, more or less, but this was ridiculous. It wasn't even the RAL five's fault, as they got their orders from the Council of Generals. Sargent Afikanir Juyall, the leader of RAL five, floated up next to the Major.

"Look," said she. "I don't like to lose someone and then not find them, but I think this is pointless. We have no idea where he is or where we're going. The man's been missing for nearly five moons. I think we should pack up and go home, at the risk of despair from my people. What do you think?"

The major rubbed his temples again. "You're right," he said grudgingly. "But aren't you their commanding officer? You can't just leave one of your men behind, even if he has been missing for three moons. He might be--"

Juyall ran a hand through her dark red hair. "I know, Major, I know," she said, gritting her teeth. "But we won't be able to find him if he's fallen into the sea, will we? I told you, we lost him in a storm, and--"

"Major, Sargent!" both the major and Sargent Juyall looked around. "What?" they bellowed in unison.

"Land ahead, sir, ma'am." it was Private Ahknirr, who had been Private Levordah's best friend before they lost him. The major looked back around; this was Sargent Juyall's affair, not his. "Where?" asked she. "Are we heading in the right direction, or--?"

The private nodded. "We only need to change the formation a bit, Sargent."

"Major?" said Sargent Juyall. "Does the island match the location of one on the map or not?"

The major examined the map. "Well...actually...yes!" he exclaimed, sounding surprised. "I'm amazed we could find it at all, considering all the stories about the island say the place moves when you try to find it."

Sargent Juyall raised an eyebrow at him, then waved to the rest of the formation to make a slight turn.

The rest of the crew was positively bubbling with excitement. After many months of fruitless searching they had finally found that mystical island. Private Ahknirr chatted eagerly to Private Yuyav, who grinned at him and nodded.

Sargent Juyall and the Major flew slightly ahead of the main formation, guiding the rest of the group towards the island, which currently was a large, green blot on the landscape. Biting his lip, the Major said "We sent someone back to redirect the airship, correct?"

Sargent Juyall nodded. "It's a Sunwings airship, so I sent that one girl...um...Private Loyza to tell the crew where to go. Gave her the exact coordinates and everything."

The formation had left the airship behind at a specific point to fall back on or rally to in case they got split up. It was a typical tactic of the Swan Angel military. The Major bobbed his head approvingly. "Good, good. I think it's about a half hour till we reach the island, so the airship should have plenty of time to get near."

Smirking, Sargent Juyall said "Oh, but what if the island vanishes while the ship comes?"

The Major glared at her. Attempting to keep a straight face, she said "Sorry, sir."

--

The four of them lounged on the shale beach, Kaza and Redwing leaning against each other's shoulders, Eseth laying on her back, soaking in the sunlight. Junin sat a little ways apart from them, wings folded tightly against his back. "You do realize it's still practically winter?" asked Redwing.

"Not really," said Eseth. "It's spring."

Kaza shrugged, and Junin didn't do anything, but stared up into the slightly cloudy sky. Narrowing his eyes, he gazed out over the sea. Looking the same way he was, Eseth said "What's that?"

"What's what?" asked Redwing, following her gaze. "Looks like a bunch of birds," added Kaza. Narrowing his eyes, Redwing exclaimed "Doesn't look like birds! I think they might actually be Angels!"

"Ooh, that's all we need." muttered Kaza. "Can you tell what kind?"

"No, though judging from the look on this idiot's face, I can guess." said Eseth through gritted teeth, pointing to Junin, who was smirking.

Redwing ruffled his wings nervously. "Don't you think we should go to the forest or something? Just so they won't bother us?"

"That sounds like a brilliant idea." agreed Kaza. "The tree, or the secret passage in your tower."

"Why?" asked Junin, who was grinning. "I'd love to go home. With you lot coming along, too. Especially that Red Angel."

Redwing scowled at him, and Eseth rolled her eyes. Kaza snarled "That settles it. We're going into the forest."

They packed up the remains of the lunch that Redwing and Kaza had brought and darted off the beach, Eseth dragging Junin rather forcefully behind her. "Honestly, I don't know why we're bringing him." said Kaza. "So he doesn't help the other Angels find us if they land." said Eseth in reply. "Anyway, where are we headed?"

Pondering the question, Redwing said "I'd like to go back to my tower, but I don't know if that'll work for four people. It's pretty big, and the passage it actually pretty small."

Kaza bit her lip. Smirking at her, Junin exclaimed "Did you know you have an overbite?"

"Shut up," Kaza snapped. "I think we should go back to the treehouse. I can seal the windows and doors and things, and if we have to get out for some reason, I think I can shape an escape."

Eseth nodded. Redwing said "That sounds good to me." Junin scowled fiercely, and attempted to shake off Eseth. However, Eseth was much stronger and bigger than he was, so he didn't succeed.

When they got to the treehouse, Eseth, evidently preparing for a long siege, checked their food supplies and other necessities while Kaza set to work sealing the windows and door, Redwing watching dismally. Junin sat and the table, looking more frustrated by the minute. By the time Kaza was finished, it was so dark that Eseth had to light her homemade lamps so they could see. Redwing shuddered. "What's wrong?" asked Eseth.

"Nothing." he muttered, glaring at Junin. Kaza, reading the look on his face, put a hand on his shoulder. He smiled at her, and Eseth rolled her eyes.

"Tell me again why I have to be here with you idiots instead of outside," muttered Junin. "Honestly, I don't know what the problem is."

The others ignored him, though Eseth glared fiercely.

---

Sargent Juyall was not very happy. They'd gotten on the island, and were in fact on the shore. The ship was right behind them. All was going well. This made her nervous. She was convinced that at any moment something would go horrifically wrong, as things inevitably did.

That Junin, he didn't seem worth the trouble. He disappeared months ago. She was just as grieved as anyone. He was in her division, after all, under her command. But this had gone on for too long. She had shoved Junin to the back of her mind after the first two weeks, until the Major had showed up. She really had no idea why he was suddenly so interested in what happened to the boy.

She considered sinister reasons, such as revenge for something Junin had done in the past or using Junin as a reason to waste resources finding the island, but those seemed improbable. The Major seemed honorable enough, for all his annoyances.