A/N: I will be adding a quote from the actual Wings of Fire series. I'm 100% sure you can find it.

Also, I'll start putting multiple point of views in some chapters, like this one.

- Riptide's POV -

My heart thumped in my chest, pounding so hard it might shatter my rib cage. I clutched the edge of the wall with shaking fingers.

No. This can't be happening.

Right now, two people - Tsunami and another guy - were standing in front of me, unaware that they were being watched.

Tsunami's bright green eyes sparkled as she held her partner's hands. "Hey, sparkling teeth," she said to the guy. "I totally love three of your claws but not the others, and I wish your nose was a herring so I could eat it, and also your wings sound like sharks snoring."

The boy's cheeks heated up so he looked like a boiled lobster - a savory boiled lobster. "I ... um ..." he whispered, voice barely audible. "I feel the same way."

"Great," Tsunami whispered, then hummed. "Should we ..."

"Yeah."

They leaned in but before I could witness the disgusting image, I was pulled into a black hole.

All the air was sucked out of me. I kicked and yelled, trying to get out but nothing happened. An invisible force grabbed me and whispered, "Even Turtle has a girlfriend, loser."

Finally I woke up gasping like a fish out of water. "NO!" I screamed, before taking a couple deep breaths. Eventually my lungs found air again.

Then, it hit me like a sixteen-wheeler: Today was a Sunday! Usually I hated them because they reminded me of Monday, but Tsunami said she'd meet me at the ice skating rink today; It felt like an eternity waiting!

No longer tired, I sprung up and shoved a shirt and pants on, tossing my pajamas on my bed.

Turtle was already downstairs eating a microwave pancake. There was this sort of sophisticated air around him, as if he was actually trying not to get anything on his crisp white shirt.

"Are you going on a lunch date again?" I inquired with a teasing grin. "With the kind, charming Kinkajou you love so much?"

"Actually," Turtle said. "She's also sweet, energetic, caring, thoughtful, prolific, and inspirational." 

"Uh-huh."

"What?" he asked, confused, before his face flushed scarlet as it hit him. "Oh, crap! I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"You sure did."

- Qibli's POV -

A couple months ago, Moon recommended me to read the book Carve the Mark, and now I can only say that god, is it messed up.

Not only did people die, but Cyra's brother Ryzek scared the crap out of me. He was ruthless, a tyrant, everything I saw in Winter these days. 

Wait, what was I saying? Winter and I already made up for the fight a day ago, and we're back to video chatting each other, having nerd battles, the usual stuff. Although there's still this tension between us, and it's slowly killing me.

Just then, my phone buzzed under the feet, since I developed a new technique of using it as a massaging device. I opened it up to my text messages.

Moon: Hey

Me: Hi, what's up?

Moon: Qinter! 😍

Moon: Sorry, that was Kinkajou. I was just thinking we could all meet up at the park at Four to hang out.

Me: Sure! I'll be there

Moon: Gr8. Wear something nice.

Me: why?

Moon: Just do it

Me: Okay. See you there!

I looked at the message Kinkajou texted. What could she possibly mean by 'Qinter'? I know it's some sort of pairing with Winter and my names in it, but how did the school's shipper even come up with that? Winter and I never dated or anything.

Whatever. I glanced at the clothes in my wardrobe. I didn't have many options, since I payed for my own stuff now that I was a teen. Also, it's not like I had a PHD in fashion, so I wasn't sure of what to wear, either. Finally, I payed Rattlesnake two bucks for her to put together an outfit.

Two hours later, I was waiting at the park clad in a white tux-like jacket with a silky bronze scarf and boots the color of sand. I felt sort of uncomfortable, since I was more used to wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

I pulled out my phone and played a couple games on it before I heard a voice say, "Qibli?"

Standing in front of me was no one other than the ice lord himself. Winter exhaled a puff of cold air, rubbing his hands together as he let his dog off the leash. It immediately ran to the center of the park and ate a little snow before sprinting back into my lap.

"Why isn't Moon here?" Winter asked, before his phone buzzed. He opened it up and read the text out loud. "Sorry, looks like I got the flu. Have fun, though!"

How weird. She looked fine yesterday.

"Anyway," I said. "You want to skate?"

"Sure. Let's just drop my dog off first."

After we got our skates, my eye caught something. I nudged Winter and he smirked knowingly at me before a mischievous look similar to mine entered his eyes.

Tsunami and Riptide held hands as they pulled each other along the rink, practically flying. Unfortunately, Tsunami went so fast she rammed into a wall. An anxious Riptide helped her up and balanced her on his shoulders as they headed to the medic room.

"Dammit," I grumbled. "I thought they would kiss or something."

"Yeah, me too," Winter sighed. "It's nice, though. You know, getting out of the household to skate and all?"

"I imagine your siblings are driving you crazy again?"

"Precisely correct, short stuff." 

"Hey!" I yelled. "I'm not short; you're just a giant!" 

The albino shrugged. "Do you want to get some hot chocolate?"

"Sure!"

We found a table to sit at near an open window, so it would be impossible not to notice the delicate snowflakes dancing in the air.

"Say, do you remember the day we met?" Winter asked.

"Yup. I could never forget that terrifying experience of walking in the kindergarten classroom, only to see an insane snowman holding an innocent little kid against the wall growling, 'You have ten seconds to give my toy back before I slice your face off.'"

Hey, it's not my fault!" he retorted. "She was being a jerk by taking the toy I called dibs on."

"A Malibu Barbie doll? Ha, sure." I changed the subject. "Anyways, I'm starting to think you're a Gryffindor instead of a Slytherin."

"What? But Slytherins are the ones with the best insults and I'm great at that!"

"I know," I said. "But they say that Gryffindors are obnoxious, rude, brainless-"

"Hey!" Winter complained. "Words like that can hurt."

"I'm not done yet! Gryffindors are also chivalrous and daring. That's sort of like you."

"Not really."

"Oh, yeah?" I grinned and held out my phone, entering an online quiz. "Let's see what your result is."

Sadly, that sneaky little fox decided to hit every answer that was the complete opposite of Gryffindor and ended up with Slytherin. Sigh.

"Honestly," Winter said after finishing the quiz, "I'm not all that into Moon anymore. She's just like a close friend now."

"Me too. I'm just happy for us three to be fellow geeks together," I agreed, but the words that came out of my mouth were forced. Unnatural. There was something else lodged inside me, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

Whatever, I thought with a shrug and sipped my hot chocolate. I'll think about that mushy crap later.

Later, Winter and I walked home together because our houses were on the same street. We said nothing until we reached my house.

"Well," he said. "See you later?"

His eyes met mine, and I couldn't help but notice how vigorously they shimmered in the gentle evening air. It was as if they were diamonds, ice blue diamonds which sparkled with such fierceness they radiated energy. Silent energy.

I nodded. "Yup. See ya."

For dinner, Thorn - she preferred to be called by her first name - made lasagna. The rich, pasty smell of the dish wandered up to my nose, begging me to get eating, but I found myself acting like an amorous Kinkajou: Poking at my food with a dreamy expression and sighing wistfully from time to time.

Sirocco nudged Rattlesnake. "He's definitely in love."

Only was it then that I snapped into reality and began eating like a normal person.

A/N: After all the traumatic crap in the last few chapters, I decided to just write some cute Ripnami-Turtlejou-Qinter fluff this time to take a break from the sad stuff. After all, there will be plenty of time for that later. 😈