Half Moon

  I kept tossing and turning.

  I couldn't sleep.

  I got up, not disturbing Nightshade.

  I heard him snort and move around, and I was almost tempted to go back to bed.

  I decide against it, going to the Stone Hall.

I find my armor on display on one of the armor stands next to a torch, newly polished.

  I didn't even get the chance to carve runes into it yet.

  The armor was plain and simple, more for practical use instead of decorative use.

  Clearly made for female use.

  But one part was still missing. 

  The wing armor.

  The only thing decorative on the armor was a small blue diamond in between the eyes.

  I press blue gem on the helmet with my thumb.

  The armor compacts and shifts, molding into a simple silver chain hanging on the armor stand.

  I take the chain and slip it over my head.

  It feels light, unsuspecting.

  Perfect.

  I rip the chain off my neck, snapping it in two.

  The armor folds out on my body, covering my skin in less than a second.

  Reaction time is still good.

It still fits perfectly.

  I feel the bareness of no protection of my shoulderblades, but I would fix that in the span of a month or so.

  I tap the gem in between my eyes, and it compacts back into the silver chain.

  I start walking back to my room, but I almost forget something.

  I make a double of my armor, putting it on the stand.

  I then walk back to my room, satisfied with the double.

  Nightshade is still passed out.

  I climb back in bed, trailing my hair behind me.

  My eyes couldn't stand to be awake any longer.

  I fall asleep, cuddling with Nightshade.

Morning

  I wake up, stretching.

  Nightshade is still passed out, snoring.

  The coldness of my chain is still on my neck, and my hair is a complete mess.

  I get up, swinging my legs off the bed.

  I brush my hair, getting frustrated with a few very painful snarls.

  I wake Nightshade up, take him out, and walk around town.

  I decide to eat something.

  Moon angels never need to eat, but we can if we want to.

  I just felt like eating something.

  I walk into one of the more popular places to eat, the Cloud Café.

  There are wooden tables and chairs, blue checkered table clothes fallping slightly in the breeze.

  I walk in the blue jade building, the floors black and white checkerboard.

  The walls were polished wood with a red flower in a vase on every table.

  It smelled of cinnamon and warm tea.

  The angel who owns the store is a sweet older woman, with grey hair, soft eyes, and always wearing a blue dress with an apron over it.

  No one is really here, probably because it is so early.

"Mornin', hun.  What can I get you?" She asks, notepad out.

She calls everyone hun.  She's like everyone's grandma.

  "I honestly don't know.  Any suggestions?" I ask, twiddling with my chain.

  She nods.  "Be right back, hun."

  I always forgot her name.

  After a few minutes, she comes out with a sweet cinnamon bun on a napkin and a cup full of hot apple cider.

  "Thank you! This smells so good." I say, taking the food from her hands.

  You may be asking why isn't she paying?

  Well, there is no form of money or credit here.  Or anywhere in the Moon Realm.

  It solves a lot of crimes, let me tell you that right now.

  Everyone works for just the joy of helping others.

  I take my food and sit at one of the outdoor tables where Nightshade was waiting patiently.

  I sat down, and the woman comes out with her own cup full of steaming cider behind me.

  "Mind if I sit here?"

  "You own the place. Go right ahead." I say, taking a chunk of my cinnamon bun and giving it to Nightshade.

  She chuckles.  "True."  She sits down, sipping from her mug.

  "What is your name?"  I ask, feeling rude for not thanking her properly.

  "Cloud Jumper." She smiles, creases forming at the edges of her eyes.

  "Well, Cloud Jumper, I really appreciate you making me this breakfast."

  She nods. "Anytime, hun."

  I sip my cider, and it goes down warm and sweet, warming my insides.

  I give Nightshade some more of my cinnamon bun after he finishes the first chunk.

  I take a bite after, and the glaze is slightly sweet, while the bun is full of apple chunks and cinnamon.

  It was so good.

  I smile, appreciating every nibble.

  "Like it? Its a new recipie I dug up from my father's book." She asks, looking up from her mug.

  I nod slowly.  I almost forgot about Anti, Galaxy, and Cosmic.

  "Can I get three cinnamon buns and ciders to go? I have to make a hospital run." I say after she was done sipping her cider.

  She nods, going back into the kitchen for five minutes, coming back with three paper bags.

  I take the brown paper, feeling it crinkle with the weight inside.

  I hug her before I leave.

  "Bye, hun!" She waves, going back inside as customers started to fill in.

  "Bye, Cloud!" I wave as I head down to the hospital.

  I go to Galaxy's room first.

  She is still out.

  But the doctors allow me to leave the food there, promising me they'll give it to her when she gets up.

  I go to Anti's room.

  Cosmic is asleep on one of the chairs, leaned up against the bed while Anti was playing with the sheets, bored.

  When he saw me come in, he grinned.

  "How are you doing?" I ask, hugging him and opening the bag for him.

  "Good." He mumbles, ripping off a piece of cinnamon bun and putting it on his tounge.

  I take out the hot cup and pop open the top, blowing the steam off it.

  I place the third bag near Cosmic's feet, not wanting to wake him up.

  I walk down the hallway to the exit.

  I hear shuffling.

  Galaxy.

  I turn and bolt down the hall, almost missing her door.

She was awake, trying to speak.

  Doctors around her were trying to tell her what happened, but she was too frantic, trying to tear the wires from her arms.

  I burst through the doctors, and she pauses for a moment.

"Galaxy, calm down, please." I beg, grabbing her hand.

  She slows.

  "The infection...  it got too bad...  they had to take your voicebox out."

  Her eyes got wide.

  She started crying, but no sound came out.

  She squeezed my hand, and I squeezed her back.

I let her claw into me. I let her cry.

  After she settled down, I gave her the food and she ate sadly.

  Cosmic came in, his eyes watery.

  I left the room before anything else could be done.

  I go back outside, and a few kids were crowding Nightshade, which he loved the attention.

  After I told them we had to go, we went to base.

  I wasnt ready to see what I saw.