Later that day, Reina could be found sitting at her bed desk, scratching away at the paper in the dim glow her lamp provided. Next to her, Leo sprawled on her carpet, conveniently ignoring her warnings not to do just that. Reina let it pass. She owed it to Leo for leaving him alone for so long.

Rabbit was beginning to fall asleep so Reina took him off her head and placed her into the basket on her desk. His nose twitched adorably before he settled back down.

Confident everything was as it should be, Reina turned her attention back to the task at hand: writing a letter to Avery as she promised. She was finding it a bit harder than it should be for one reason.

“Ugh. Why do I have so many quills?!” Reina groaned.

She’d checked and double-checked all the drawers she had. It was evident: the only kind of writing utensils she had were quills. It made sense, she supposed. Reina had been in a quill and ink obsession before she left and she normally did her work on a computer. The only problem is, the WiFi was out and she couldn’t communicate with Avery via email.

Hence, her current dilemma with writing a letter using quills.

“They’re more annoying than I thought,” she said after a rogue droplet of ink fell for the 4th time. Reina rolled the paper up into a ball and tossed it into the trashcan. She didn’t get much done anyway.

What was she supposed to say to Avery? Reina wanted to go on and on about how many new friends she made and how good it was to come back to the Academy after all this time and how Arcturus was acting weirder than usual but she wasn’t stupid! (No matter what some people said.)

If she told Avery that, all of her insecurities would come rushing back up to the surface and who knows what’ll happen then? Reina didn’t want to lose her best and closest friend!

She couldn’t not write anything either. Sending a letter with only the bare minimums on it made it seem like she didn’t care about Avery.

If Reina waited until later this week, she may have more things to tell Avery which would be great, but Avery could begin to worry that Reina didn’t have enough time to contact her and do some foolish things.

Reina raked a hand through her hair and looked mournfully at Leo.

“What should I do?” she asked. Leo opened one huge eye before shutting it close. He lazily waved a paw towards the balcony and Reina’s eyes gravitated towards the window.

The balcony did help her think a lot....but it also had the side effect of leaving her dazed and forgetting what she was currently doing. And Reina did not want that to happen.

Everybody said watching TV would help get your brain juice up and flowing again but she didn’t want to be rude and wake people up.

What to do, what to do? There were so many options!

Licking her lips, Reina smoothed out a new sheet of paper and dipped her quill in ink. Hovering over the very top of the page, Reina only stopped momentarily before diving in.

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Dear Avery,

How are you? I am doing wonderful but I miss you so much! Everything’s normal and I think I may get used to this place again! Don’t worry, the orphanage and all of you will always be at the center of my heart. I hope you like this present I’m sending you, I know you wanted it.

Reina paused and read over what she had so far. It was good, except for one minor detail. She didn’t have the present mentioned yet.

Blame it on Arcturus, if you will. Reina had intended to buy it tomorrow during the shopping spree but after the recent news, it seemed that wouldn’t work out.

Reina moaned pitifully. She couldn’t send a note and not a present! The fact Reina was able to come to the Academy was bad enough. After all, Avery had been there almost as long as her, and she definitely had wanted to get out of the orphanage more than Reina.

Although Avery hadn’t said a word about it, Reina was sure a tiny, maybe minuscule part of her was bitter at the fact. It wasn’t fair, she would say, and it wasn’t. It was only because of bad circumstances this was all happening.

“Leo, can’t you give me a hint?” Reina begged.

Leo looked at her dubiously, as if to remind her Leo had never met Avery and wouldn’t know what she’d want. Reina sighed.

“You’re a great help, Leo,” she murmured before looking at the piece of paper again. This went on for several agonizing minutes before with a final exclamation of annoyance, she got to her feet.

Storming over to the windows, she flung them open and walked onto the balcony. Instantly, she felt much better. The air was a little breezy but it would serve to wake her up. Reina had no doubts her old habits would be coming back as well.

Reina gazed downward, through the thick swarm of branches and leaves to the dorms. She thought about how it would feel to be down there right now.

It was nearing midnight currently, but still, the dorms were glowing in the night sky. Reina cracked a bittersweet smile. The inhabitants were probably having fun and celebrating their acceptance into the Academy.

Reina fancied if she peered hard enough, she would be able to see her friends in their respective rooms. Perhaps Felicie was bouncing up and down her bed? May could be brushing her teeth. For a split second, Reina felt the almost irresistible urge to exit her dorm, float down the tree, and run into the dorms. Maybe Felicie would want to bunk?

Of course, that was an impossibility. Not allowed under any circumstances. Still, a girl could hope. Was she being too selfish? Most would be happy to merely be part of the Academy and live the school life, but was it really living the school life if she couldn’t share a room with her friends?

Shaking out of the sad thoughts (dwelling on them would only do her harm), she decided to look towards Neverstien instead. The Academy was docked at the edge but hadn’t been integrated yet. Most likely waiting until after the city was safe again.

What was going on inside that city? It looked illuminating and firm as usual, but looks could be deceiving. Could there be an attack on Neverstien? Probably. After all, Reina had sensed her.

Reina fought back a yawn valiantly and froze. Valiantly. Didn’t that word bring back a treasure trove of memories? Yet another mistake she’d made the past few years.

Was running away a mistake? Did she think it was a mistake? Part of it was needed, she knew. If there weren’t repercussions for what she did, there would be huge consequences.

But running away - abandoning the people who took care of her - that had all been her. Nobody influenced her, it was her choice to make.

Not for the first time did she wonder if the choice had been wrong.

But if she’d never run away, she’d never have been found on the streets of San Fransisco, cold and starving. She’d never have been picked up by Sis and taken to the orphanage. She’d never have met Avery.

Galvanized, Reina made up her mind.

She wouldn’t regret the choices she made. She couldn’t say for the others, but she, Reina Romane, will never regret the path she took. Doing so would be a grave dishonor to her parent's memories.

And if Reina could be so confident in her path, Avery could be so confident in hers. Reina trusted Avery. She wouldn’t think their friendship was so flimsy. She could wait.

Another yawn came up and this file, Reina allowed it to pass. Suppose it’s a sign for her to stop dilly-dallying and go to sleep.

Casting one last survey over the city, she whispered, “Good luck.” To whom, she didn’t know, but whomever it reached, Reina hoped it would bring them luck.