HAWK
Hawk’s eyes spring open.
It’s today.
Which makes it the first day of the rest of his life. Or perhaps the last day of his former life.
Actually, it’s both.
He slips out of bed, wondering where he’ll sleep the next time he closes his eyes at night. At least he knows it will be next to Sam. And Mercy. He needs to remember to keep her close, too. She’s going to feel lost without Luca to bat her eyelashes at. But in time, she’ll find her feet. It’s what she does best.
Hawk tiptoes to the door of his family’s hut and leaves quietly.
Which is what he does best.
It’s dark outside. Not even the birds are awake yet. But soon they’ll be flitting around Askala as people emerge from their huts, ready to greet the sun.
He makes his way down the track that leads to the beach, wanting some time by himself before he has to say his goodbyes to his family. Because once he climbs aboard the boat with the five other Seekers, it’s quite possible he’ll never be alone again.
Feeling like he’s choking, Hawk tugs on the leather strap he’s wearing around his neck. His father gave him a large silver pendant after the Announcement, making him promise to wear it always. Wren wears one just like it. It’s how people used to communicate when their words were separated by too many miles. Ravens would carry messages, seeing the sun glint of the pendant as a signal to land.
Maybe he can see if Sam or Mercy want to wear it.
Breaking through the trees, he feels the soft sand underneath his feet. Wearing shoes has been difficult since he stood in that bucket of acid water in the second test of the Proving. A test that was only a week ago yet feels like forever. Time has a habit of stretching out like a bow when the days are filled with fear.
Because there’s no doubt that’s exactly what the Proving had been about for everyone involved. Fear of failing. Fear of not failing. Fear of who may or may not pass or fail with you. For Hawk it was fear of not knowing what path he wanted to take, only that whatever it was, he wanted to walk it with Sam.
He got everything he wanted in the end. A chance to take Askala’s message beyond their shores. And with not just Sam, but Mercy as well.
And Gust, Nikita and Siena…but he hasn’t given them too much thought. Especially Gust.
The sound of the ocean draws Hawk forward as if it’s calling his name. But he stumbles on a fallen tree branch. Waving his hands, he tries to steady himself, ending up crashing to the sand and landing heavily.
He shakes his head, wishing Sam were here to see that. It might make her feel better about all the times she’s unintentionally ended up sitting on the ground when all she’d been trying to do was walk.
“That’s got to be you, Hawk.”
Hawk groans as he realizes it hadn’t been a tree branch that tripped him up.
“And that’s got to be you, Luca.”
“What are you doing walking out here in the dark?” Luca sits up and Hawk can just make out his form in the shadows.
“Same thing you’re doing.” Hawk brushes some sand off his hands and stands. He and Luca were never best friends. He doesn’t see any reason why they should start now.
“You must be happy with yourself,” says Luca, pulling himself to his feet.
Hawk walks toward the water without answering. He hadn’t come down here for a fight.
But it seems Luca has more to say as he follows him to the shoreline.
“You do realize that every token you gave Sam was a nail in her coffin,” says Luca.
Hawk rolls his eyes. They don’t even use coffins in Askala. Or nails.
“Why do you underestimate her so much?” Hawk asks. “She’s stronger than you think.”
“It’s you who’s doing the underestimating.” Luca picks up a rock and tosses it into the ocean. “But it’s the Outlanders you’re underestimating. If you’d seen what I’ve seen—”
“Give it a rest!” snaps Hawk. “Yes, we all know you’re the high and mighty explorer who’s roamed the Outlands, fending off danger at every turn. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you’re not the only one who feels the need to do more with their life than…this?”
As if on cue, the sun pokes out over the horizon, its golden light shining like a halo. A flock of birds soar across the sky in a vee formation, taking turns to be the leader in just the way Askala’s leaders do. The strongest at the front, forging the way, until they grow weary and someone else takes their place while they gather their strength to lead again.
“You know I’m searching for someone,” says Luca.
“Even though you have a perfectly good mother right here.” Hawk shakes his head. “Nova’s given you everything, yet you behave as if it’s not enough.”
“She has. But you’re right. It’s not enough.” Luca’s voice is heavy with emotion and Hawk decides to drop it. He’s got no idea what it would be like to grow up with a family that’s not your own.
“Well maybe it’s not enough for me, either,” Hawk says. “I need to do more with my life than I can here.”
“I get that.” The shadows shift from Luca’s face and Hawk sees his dark eyes are locked on him. “But do you have to take Sam with you?”
“That’s Sam’s decision.” Hawk sighs. It doesn’t matter how many times he says this, Luca’s just not prepared to listen. “It’s true that I voted for her, but she decided to become a Seeker all on her own.”
“If you pull out, then she will, too.” Luca touches Hawk lightly on the arm. “I know she will. So will Mercy. They only feel safe because you’ll be there.”
“And I’ll keep them safe.” Hawk shakes off Luca’s hand. “You might not like me, but you know I’ll do that.”
Luca sighs. “You don’t know what the Outlanders are capable of.”
“My father was an Outlander!” Hawk throws out his hands. “And Wren! And Jagger! We have plenty of Outlanders living amongst us here. One more, now that Charity’s joined us. And they’ve all been capable of assimilating to our peaceful life. They all saw the way forward. Every single one of them. But the time has passed where we can just sit here waiting for more of them to wash up on our shores. We have to go to them. Reclaim one piece of land at a time. Convert each heart, one by one, until the Outlands no longer exists.”
Luca doesn’t say anything for a few beats and Hawk crosses his arms, glaring at the sun as it lifts above the horizon. So much for a few quiet moments alone!
“You know, Hawk,” says Luca. “That was the most words I’ve ever heard you say at once.”
“And did you listen to any of them?” Hawk glares at Luca, who shrugs before walking off.
Hawk lets out a long breath, trying to force the annoyance from his chest. Luca is without question the most frustrating person Hawk’s ever met. And that includes Gust. It’s just as well that after today, he’s never going to have to deal with Luca again.
He sits down on the cool sand and looks toward the Newlands, the never-ending plume of thick gray smoke pouring into the morning sky. Soon, that will be his home. Soon, that smoke will stop. Soon, the island will be allowed to regenerate and thrive as the people realize they depend on it for their survival.