ctrail

Up here in the sky, amidst the clouds and the cawing of fowlbeasts, these questions that nearly suffocated her earlier are now as light as air.

As if you need only a single heartbeat to shake them away.

What am I even thinking...?

It's not like I ever believed it was a sure thing, even before the accident.

It's always been this way... Always has been.

I just want to... fly, that's all.

Even if I can't fly to Rim Billiton, I can fly to Laterano, or Victoria...

Even if I can't fly to Siesta, I can go to Kjerag, anywhere outside of Columbia really...

I'll chart the route, bit by bit.

Another burst of fowlcry cuts through the air.

Claudia decides to treat it as a cry of approval.

Mom, I want to talk to you about something.

What is it, dear?

Have you heard of a 'Rhodes Island'?

I've been doing some research, and they offer a treatment plan... I was thinking I could apply for it.

Little cloud...

I also looked into some of their supplementary info. Apparently, Rhodes Island's landship travels across the lands. I might get the chance to research the migratory patterns of fowlbeasts in different regions.

What do you think, Mom?

Alright. But I need to check the visitation rules. I hope you won't mind me tagging along once or twice?

Claudia gives her mom a hug.

The same wool sweater, the same softness, the same detergent smell.

True, a few things have changed a little bit.

But some things never change, thinks Claudia.