Prompt: excitement & landingxxxxxxxxxxxTheme: soft & birdsxxxxxxxxxxxDay: 30xxxxxxxxxxxWords: 529
xxxxxHe soared above the land, life hanging in the balance — literally. By jinkers, he had
wings! If something broke... He couldn’t finish the thought. He was the first of his kind to fly. ‘Expendable’ some would call him; but now, whether he lived or died, he was immortal.
xxxxxSwallowing hard, he hooked his thumbs through the loops in the harness and unlatched his wings’... ‘supports’. He didn’t know what they were called, only that they locked his wings open.
xxxxxHe’d thought, only seconds ago, that leaping from the highest cliff in the world was the most terrifying thing he would ever do, but now? Now he had full control of his — his
wings. He could kill himself.
xxxxxAn unexpected rogue wind snatched at his heels, twisting him around like a leaf in a storm, and he stumbled in midair — fell several feet with an involuntary shriek before hitting an updraft — and rose again. There was no time to react; it was over as quickly as it began. He clutched desperately at the harness, knuckles white, wishing he were safely on the ground again.
xxxxx“12, 240 ZZM. Your test-flight is over. Return.” The voice reverberated unceremoniously through his head, accompanied by an all-too-familiar ache, and he nodded nervously, wetting his lips.
xxxxxHe really hadn’t been looking forward to this.
xxxxxTucking his wings, he let himself drop — quicker and further than expected — and with a strangled gasp, clumsily snapped them back open. He hung suspended in the air for a minute or two, breath trembling in his throat and hands shaking uncontrollably. He-could-die he-could-die he-could-die. But he had to keep going.
xxxxxAlthough his heart bounced up to choke his throat, he was a little more prepared for the next drop, and managed an uncertain smile for the camera hovering nearby. It was live; he wondered if someone with his blood were watching, or even cared.
xxxxxEach subsequent drop was easier to stomach as the rush of adrenaline grew on him. His veins bubbled with excitement, butterflies fluttering in his chest. He had
wings, however temporarily. And he had been
immortalised. He was pretty sure immortal meant forever.
xxxxxNearing the ground, he hovered for one last, wonderful second... toes mere centimetres above the planet... and dropped, cutting off power to what he called his flight-assistant — again, no one had graced him with an explanation.
xxxxxHe’d forgotten how heavy his gear was and immediately crumpled to his knees, catching himself just before his face made impact; gravel and asphalt carved jagged lines in his skin, threatening to crush him beneath his own equipment. Sweat raining from his hair, he strained against the earth, holding the planet at bay with no strength spare to breathe, fear squeezing his lungs and heart — and then, oh relief! Helping hands held him back, unstrapping padding and tearing it away, shoving him upright on trembling legs and patting him down for injuries.
xxxxx“Well done, 12, 240 ZZM.” He raised his head, panting, every muscle in his body aching, to meet the gaze of his expressionless overseer. “You’re to debrief with Commander O’maho-ni.”
xxxxxAnd just like that, his adventure was over.
I'm looking forward to doing more with him!!