WC: 965
A strong wind tossed about her hair, turning her vision of the airfield into a kaleidoscope of white and greys between tangled mass of dark briars and golden ribbons. The shadow enveloped her in an instant chill, but the shivers along her shoulders weren't from the temperature drop, or the roaring that vibrated through her bones.
She loved watching the planes take off.
Of course, the holiday traffic meant even more planes coming and going, and the holiday season itself meant there was a pause in the flight lessons she'd thrown herself into for the past month or so. Otherwise, she'd have enjoyed trying to convince one of the teachers to take her up on a quick flight around the city, curious what the world looked like now with the influx of snow and ice and holiday decorations. Kyrie let out a wistful sigh, ignoring the cloud her breath puffed out or how it melded into the steam coming out of the reusable cup she held. Beneath her, she could feel the chill of the van's exterior leeching through the thin leggings and dark skirt, but the cold was a comfort to her in that moment.
It brought her back to thoughts of how parts of the upper lands would also be this cold, the ice and frost clinging to the floating landmass and the ancient cities. Grada'cael had become incredibly advanced with how they'd built filaments into the runways of the aeitherport, never mind the sidewalks and city streets, to heat the pavement enough to keep ice at bay. Help reduce the risk to ships and people alike. Briefly, she recalled the sight of lizard-like creatures basking on the open runway before being shooed away by another incoming flight… then reconvening again on the heated pavement.
She took a sip of her coffee and barely noticed the sweet, creamy liquid warming her down to her belly. She wondered if she could ever bring technology like that to Earth--or if the Velencians had a use for it. Their tech seemed more advanced than she was familiar with, so likely they had their own adjustments to any weather--
…was there even weather like that, on a synthetic world..?
She took another sip and pondered that a moment.
She'd have time to ask, probably. She was in communication with a few of the Vanguard now, a fact she was extremely grateful for. Mauvian tech know-how had helped her tremendously thus far, if it weren't for Realta taking over the project of fixing up the console in the hangar, she'd not have access to ENOCH. Sure, the AI was limited but…
She could speak Solarian to someone.
Even if it was an inanimate AI, it was something.
But the Kyrval?
Oh the mechanics of the ship were worlds beyond her know how. Sure, she could do small maintenance on it, but that had been centuries before, when that knowledge was fresh and she had other people around her she could reference for specialized aid. Plus far more plentiful resources…
But there was progress already.
And she was working towards experiencing the skies again, even if it was there on Earth. Different systems, but similar enough mechanics. Sort… of. Kind of. Enough that she could look at the console of a plane in the reference books and photos online and was pretty accurate at pin-pointing what was what when she checked the actually labeled diagrams. Enough that she felt she could get into the pilot's seat in an Earth private plane and her life on the wing on Solaris would give her some level of familiarity.
Muscle memory, she hoped.
The skies of Earth weren't her skies, but… they were still beautiful. She could still cherish them.
And the sensation of being away from the ground? Of being on the wing once more?
The wind sailed around her, and Kyrie shut her eyes, the scent of the cold momentarily overpowering the smell of fuel and exhaust that clung to the city. In that moment, she could picture the view she'd once had up on one of the floating islands, a similar wind toying with her hair and clothes, luring her to the edge and kicking her senses into overdrive. When she'd jumped into the winds, the gravity of Solaris and the grace of her skies hitting an equilibrium that allowed her to glide, to twist her body, fold her wings and limbs, moving with the current and the winds in an instinct she knew so, so many of her people still held.
Earth's skies were not her skies. Earth's winds were not her winds.
But far, far away, beyond the reach of the Sol System, that barren world could still grant her a taste of the familiar. For she was still the Guardian of Solaris, regardless of her location.
Or state.
Her eyes flew open, jerking upright where she sat as Kyrie swiveled her head this way and that. The sick, slimy sensation prickled along her senses, curling against her in the winds. A youma. She blinked rapidly, brows furrowing as she registered the familiarity, then looked down at herself to confirm that, no, she was not powered up.
But she could feel it.
She could feel it.
Close enough to track it and take it out, as she'd done to many others. Her pulse thrilled and raced, and she felt her pen stuck in her pocket. A grin split her face, unnoticed till her cheeks began to hurt from the strain.
Above her, a plane's engines roared as the craft lifted off the tarmac, winds catching the wings and lifting it higher and higher. A reason to keep moving. To keep flying.
The winds could grant that much.
Quote:
Enhancement unlocked:
Winds of Warning Kyrie carries the ability as a civilian to sense the same energy signatures she would as Solaris. For her, it is less of a 'radar,' and more of an awareness that comes with a brush of wind or air.
She is limited to the same distances and restrictions as as Solaris when she was a Basic senshi, the wind is merely flavor text for my own writing and symbolism.
