/~Contrario~/
The sun cracked the horizon with a yawn of burnt orange and soft gray, stretching its limbs over the silent hills beyond Irish Valley's southern perimeter. The night chill still clung to the grass, and dew laced my boots as I stood alone on the far ridge, just beyond the patrol towers.
I hadn't slept, I couldn't even bring myself to shut my eyes.
Not after what Kyra said.
"Your best friend's eyes are too clean. That's dangerous."
Those words looped in my mind like a cursed melody I couldn't silence. I'd watched Renn fight, bleed, and nearly die for our squad, hell he almost died for me. He was my brother in all but blood.
But Kyra wasn't all stupid.
Crazy? Sure.
But stupid?
Even if a dagger was put to my neck, I would Never say such a thing.
She said that for a reason.
"Stray," I said, crossing my arms as I stood at the crest of the ridge. "You up?"
"Stray online. Systems warm. I've been active the whole time. You just didn't say anything."
