Howls, drums, Saliva, click of nails

Dapples of blue and white adored the newborn sky as Grandma Audrey yawned, patting Clary's shoulder. ''Clary...wake up...Time for your archery practice.''

Clary rolled to the other side of the bed, pulling the blanket over her head. ''Ten more minutes, Grandma." She whined in her morning hoarse voice.

Hands on her hips, Grandma Audrey, pursed her lips, watching her granddaughter push herself into the blanket like a cocoon. ''Chatting with friends, watching movies until late in the night...I will let you sleep as much as you want after you bring me Gold in the Olympics." Audrey complained, pulling the blanket off Clary.

Clary groaned at her grandmother like a Cheshire cat rubbing her eyes. Using her hands, she brushed her messy hair, scattered like fielders in a football game, and secured with a band.

"You got up so early to wake me up?" Clary yawned, stretching her body like a peacock, before rolling off the bed.

''Na!" Grandma Audrey fussed, sitting on the bed. "That old man disturbed my sleep and demanded I make him a Maple drink as an energy booster. He got ready by three in the morning and went to the Golf course." The amount of dedication the old man has, he would have gifted her a medal on her birthday if Olympics had no age limit, Grandam Audrey thought.

''To play with Pepsi Jackson?'' Clary threw her hands up in surprise. The last time she had seen her grandfather was two weeks back. He goes to the Golf course before she wakes up and returns home after she sleeps. Her grandfather's dedication to Golf is brighter than her principal's bald head shining brighter under the chandeliers lit up with thousand candles.

Grandma Audrey nodded distraughtly. "Time to get ready." Shoving Clary into the bathroom, she made her way downstairs to sleep happily with no one to disturb her.

''How does this Pepsi dude looks like?'' Clary wondered, grabbing her brush from the holder.

A yawn escaped Clary's mouth. ''I shouldn't have gone for another episode,'' She promised to watch one episode of Naruto, but how could she resist the charismatic Naruto with just one episode? She went on until she dozed off.

The fresh shower with lavender essential oil extirpated the drowsiness and made her active. Getting fresh, Clary picked the quiver and went downstairs. Hearing the commotion from the kitchen, Clary walked there and found her dad and uncle in the kitchen. Her dad was preparing a toast topping with fruits and veggies under her uncle's guidance. To Clary, the toast looked like a crossbreed between a doughnut and a burger.

"I know you love me the most, old dudes. But can you please stop experimenting with your cooking skills?'' The house has enough maids, but this is how her family is, teasing each other and finding happiness in the small things.

''Maybe if you stop experimenting with your beauty products on my face, I will consider it?" Eugene's response earned a peal of laughter from Warren and an angry glare from Clary.

"Can't happen, papa!" Clary pouted and looked at her uncle. "By the way, when is brother coming? It's been a week since he called or texted me. I have something important to talk about with him.''

''Good that he is calling you once a week. It's been a month since he last spoke to me,'' Warren complained. ''I will drag him home if he doesn't call me by today."

''He must have a hard time there, Wazzy. I heard his director is a psycho. Go easy on him." Clary said, recalling her brother talking about the charcoal lattes he drinks. Just then, Clary received a text from her Master asking if she had started. ''I need to go." She looked at her dad and uncle.

''Clary.'' Eugene patted her head gently. ''Remember_''

''Gold is ours.'' Warren filled his brother's thoughts. Through the detailed analysis he and his brother made for two nights, they found a strong competitor named Astraea.

Clary nodded, telling them to prepare a wall of honour, and hurriedly to the academy.

''Clary!'' Master Alder called, motioning her towards him. ''The archery schedule for the Olympics is released. It's not yet official, but I used some connections and pulled the rough draft.''

''Is it?'' Clary put the bow on the ground as Alder handed the mobile to Clary to see for herself.

Moments later, her excitement disappeared, the smile on her face was replaced with fear as her eyes fell on the finals. ''Olympic finals...on September 29th!...'' She whispered, fear rising behind her eyes.

It's August 25th today. In another five days, the full moon day is approaching. This can't be. Clary quickly opened her mobile and checked the calendar. Her fear has come true. September 29th is the full moon day. Sweat dripped from her neck in fear. Why did it have to happen like this?

''What's wrong, Clary?'' Alder spoke up in a concerned voice seeing Clary's emotions shift. Is she scared? ''Are you nervous.''

''A...little.'' She muttered, tightly clenching her fists.

"Don't!" Alder smiled. ''The qualifications start on the 14th, eliminations on the 19th to the 20th, and the 21st will be the finals.Alder said. ''We have exactly 35 days for practice. Are you excited for your first debut?"

Clary gave a smile concealing her real emotions.

''Let's start practising.''

Clary picked the bow monotonously, listening to her Master's commands. Focus is the greatest weapon of an archer, and by all means, Clary lacked that today. The shot sequence became a real struggle for her because her mind was only conjured with howls, drums, saliva, filthy fur, and the click of nails.

''Clary! What are you doing?"

"Grip the bow properly. It's not a handgun!'' Alder shouted, seeing her miss the gold circle.

Clary jerked, hearing her Master's shrill voice. He was fuming at how she delivered the arrow shots on the dashboard. "Master...I_"

''Are you a first-timer? Why did you immediately look at the arrow upon releasing?''

''I..I am sorry.. I will dot_''

Alder grabbed the quiver from Clary's hands. He has been seeing Clary since she was a kid, but he never saw Clary's eyes out of focus. Alder assumed her fears as the Olympic schedule jitters, but it didnot made sense to him knowing the confidence of Clary.

"What's wrong with you_"

''I don't feel good today. I need to go." She didnot let him speak a word or ask his permission. Grabbing the bow from his hands, she left, leaving Master Alder in speechlessness.

All the way home, her heart pounded, her head spun, and her eyes saw nothing but darkness, her eyes filled with cries of someone. "Why?"

Reaching home, Clary spent her entire day in the room, skipping college, thinking about the Olympics, full moon day, and her promise to her dad. Around ten in the night, she got a message on her mobile. [Cherry green house uncle: A new flowery plant is delivered to the nursery today. Come early tomorrow]

"Hope my spirits will lit up tomorrow." Clary half-smiled, closing her eyes, her fluttering eyelids shutting.

.....

It was a bright Sunday morning. Knox napped on the floor with mouth wide open. Xanth slept on the couch. Dustin's head was on the floor with his legs over Xanth's stomach. Since Sunday is a no-practice day, Knox appeared in Leandre's room with dozen bottles, and the four ended up drinking until dawn.

Leandre thought of taking complete rest today to mend his hungover, but one of his friends he met during a football league called him in the morning for a meet-up. Picking the car keys, Leandre was off to meet his friend.

After an hour of driving, the car juggled all of a sudden. He helmed the car to the side, and immediately, the car stopped. Leandre tried to ignite the car, but the engine didnot roar to life. Getting out of the car, he checked the fuel pump, battery, wiring harness.

''Strange! What's wrong with...'' His voice trailed off as a familiar piercing pain shot into his left hand. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the golden half-wing blazing bright orange flickers.