30 Luke

I had opened the hatch to get a feel for the breeze. We were heading west, the sun behind us. I saw the hawks flying above us, not a care in the world. I imagine there were on their way to General Iroh to tell him we were coming.

I was done crying for Aden. I had had enough time for that. I was sitting in my seat, facing behind us. Citadel, tens of miles behind us, looked strangely beautiful. Out of place, but still beautiful. The sun rose above its walls, making the city look pitch black against us.

In a way, I was sad to be leaving. That's where I had spent my life. I grew up in that city since before I knew how to talk. I had memories there, good and bad, but in the end, after everything, I was glad to leave the pain and suffering behind. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I pictured nothing worse than what I had already gone through. So despite everything I had been through in the last few hours, I smiled, and I let the wind blow past me. I was blowing west, and so were we.

Was I scared? Yes. I was going to war, but I had trained for war. Not what I was taught in the Citadel school no. I had learned about war, and more importantly, survival for my entire life. Whatever came next, I felt ready.