seemed to be a light wind from Leen herself.Then something shimmered and suddenly two red wings shone on her back.
"You once told me ...", Leen whispered, "... that you thought they were beautiful. Those red wings ... Was that just being said, or were you serious?"
Leen was silent for a moment before continuing.
"You say ... if I followed this abyss, would I come to you?"
A single tear ran down Leen's face.
"Colonel Mullen ... did you really die?"
'I'll be back as soon as I can, you have my word.'
Leen opened her eyes and looked down at the slope. Nobody had actually seen Mullen die. Just how he fell down. Nobody had been at the bottom of this ravine and seen it lying there. It was a memorial plaque; no tombstone. Was it certain that Mullen was no longer alive? Hadn't the spirits protected them too? What if he was still alive, somewhere, and just couldn't return? A glimmer of hope grew in Leen."I'll wait. For my life if necessary. I'm waiting for you to echo your word and come back as soon as you can."
A hesitant smile crossed Leen's face, the first in a long time.
"The others will be worried about me. I'm going back now. Goodbye, Mullen."