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daMoment

by João Bracourt-Algarve

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Fly away

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February Daily Writing Challenge 2025 Day 4 - Salty

The days off were few and far between ever since Aerden’s Elite Forces training had picked back up earlier this year. Even if the military were to be called away to Khaz Algar again, the trainees wouldn’t be joining this time. They were stuck here until they graduated the course or until they were kicked out or dropped out. Aerden was here for the long haul, so dropping out was out of the question for him, and hopefully there would be no need for the other option.

As rigorous and exhausting as the training had been, Aerden found himself enjoying the challenge. They were all pushed to their breaking point, and then some, but the camaraderie made it easier to digest. So instead of everyone finding their own spaces to rest on their day off, they decided to go as a team to the beach. More and more during those down times, the trainees found themselves wanting to stay together, but that was probably intended. Fully trusting your brethren was important in this role, and at this point it felt like they had all become family.

It was Aerden’s suggestion that brought them to one of his favorite haunts in Booty Bay. It was the beach that he and his mother would visit on his birthday, and he hadn’t been able to make the annual trek lately so it felt comforting to be here now with his new family. They spent the day grilling, surfing the waves, jumping off the nearby cliffs, and just enjoying each other’s casual company. It was the perfect escape.

Aerden laid atop his surfboard far enough away from the shore to avoid the cresting waves, instead just being rocked by the gentle sea as he stared up at the darkening sky. The salty air filled his senses as he got lost in the nostalgia of the moment. He had grown so much and come so far since he was last here with his mother, and he knew that she would be proud of the man he was becoming. Or the man he had become. Sometimes it still felt strange to think of himself as a full grown adult when there were times that he still felt so lost. Maybe this is just what adulthood is.

“Copper for your thoughts, Hale.” 

The feminine voice broke him from his thoughts as he smiled over at Aelarah. “Ohh, you know, possibly having an existential crisis now that we have time to actually think of other things.”

She chuckled and laid out on her own surfboard, “Ain’t that the truth. You wanna talk about it?”

“Just thinking about my dad, some things he said to me before I started training.” She raised her eyebrow, silently urging him to continue. “Said to savor every single moment you have with your team, cause you never know when it’s gonna be your last with them.”

A slight frown touched her lips, but she nodded in understanding. “Yeah. I get it. It’s hard work now, but we’re not in danger just yet.”

“Pollux has lost a lot of the people he trained with. Well…a lot of it was due to the scourge so I guess that’s different, but still. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for something like that to happen again. I can’t imagine losing any of you.”

“Alright Hale, don’t get all mushy on me just yet. Let’s at least go get drunk first with the rest of them yeah? So we can all have our existential crises at the same time. Race you to the shore?” Before he could agree and even start paddling, she gave the bottom edge of his surfboard a hard kick upwards and flipped him into the water before paddling away, “YOU OWE ME A BEER, SUCKER!”

Aerden couldn’t help but laugh after emerging, wiping the water from his eyes before climbing back atop his board. He was going to savor every moment of tonight.

@daily-writing-challenge @polluxhale

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Chris Pine