sleach

That's lightning fast!

Don't get too excited. I think, based on what they said, the convoy's run into a little issue over there? They say they can't get a precise pin on our position. Something must be funny with the signal...

That's fine, I'll head up to the plate in a sec to look. Might find some boosters.

Thank you so much. Another thing, we need to stand a flag in the middle of the camp to serve as a marker. That plus the locator will make it convenient for the convoy to accurately orientate once they're approaching.

A flag? It's not a tricky problem, is it? We can just tear some bright cloth and hoist it up.

We need a design, at least.

If you want a design, you may as well grab one of the old county banners from up on the plate.

What? You're not going to treat yourself as one of County Hillock, are you?

Hmph, could use your barracks boys' ensign as well. Might find one of those on the plate too.

Enough... I never want to see that bloody thing for the rest of my life.

Fine... you come up with something, then.

Janie, do you have any ideas?

I'm not sure myself. We'd have to see what everyone thinks.

Hmph. Here's what everyone thinks: whatever you think, that's best.

Yeah... I'm in agreement.

Sorry, Acton, for making you do sewing work with me at such a late hour.

That's fine. As long as you don't find me too clumsy.

*sigh*...

Not still worrying over the flag there, are you? You look vexed.

I went all around the camp today asking about the flag, but people all seemed to have the same response ready when I did. They want me to decide.

It's true. Everyone's always had faith in your decisions.

It just makes it harder. I need to come up with a proposal that'll satisfy everyone, or else I'll let you all down for trusting in me.

Janie, you know, even if you turned out a blank white flag, none of us would object.

All this time, you've been busy like mad for us, leading us onto the plate and into the forest to find food while the sun's not even up.

You barely rest even when you make it back to camp, what with a million sorts of things needing your handling.

I think, fundamentally, everyone's left this flag to you so that you can catch your breath, take your time sewing and properly unwind.

Really...?

Really. If you kept wracking yourself over this flag, well, that would never do.

...Thank you.

I'll leave the rest of it to you, then, Janie. And I think you've earned an early sleep.

The candlelight's... a little dim. I'll open the window wider, let the moons come in easier.

Oh! Acton, do you hear that singing?

Eh?

It might not be too clear with how the wind's picked up. Listen, carefully.

Oh, I hear it. Where's it coming from?

I don't know...

A lone, tender song floats through the breeze, trembling and shaking, but having caught it, they begin, unconsciously, to sing along with it.

And the singing gradually rises, and the wind fades. Until, in every corner of the camp, hovers the song.

♪ Far in a blink are we from the roses, lilies and stardust all eaten away ♪

♪ And so's though we were a pair of white fowls, sitting atop of the breaks of the waves ♪

It's Máire... I heard her murmuring while I was tending to her.

It's beautiful.

*yawn*... I need my sleep, what's going on out here? Noise and all...

Deaglán! Come over here, quick!

What happened?!

It's Janie! It's Janie!

Eh...?

Squeezing through the crowd, the man looks to the clearing in the camp.

There, meeting the morning dew and biting winds as she faces a flagpole, stands the figure of a girl tall and straight in respect.

Her dress is in order, not a hair out of place, and she holds in her hands a rolled-up flag.

♪ If only we were a pair of white feathers, roaming free on the breaks of the waves ♪

♪ Time would farewell us to be forgotten, and never would either we sorrow again ♪

♪ Far in a blink are we from the roses, lilies and stardust all eaten away ♪

♪ And so's though we were a pair of white fowls, sitting atop of the breaks of the waves ♪

Following in the girl's song and her hoisting of the halyard, the flag ascends slowly to the sky, where the wind unfurls it.

A pair of white fowlbeasts soar upon it.