Nara and Natalia crouched beside Annella, grinning at each other even as the goggled-girl tried to stop them with half-hearted excuses. She wanted to race, to feel the air whipping her skin as she soared in the sky but she wasn’t sure if she was truly ready yet.

[color=bc8dbf]“Guys, come on now, at least fo-“[/color]

[color=a0410d]“Go!”[/color]

With a squeal, Natalia shot her hook into the closest tree and forced herself in the air, Nara following beside her. The hiss of their gas tank startled Annella, making her take a few steps back so she wouldn’t get hurt. She watched, eyes wide, as their frames grew smaller the further they soared into the forest, until she could barely make out Nara’s bright hair in the darkness of the trees. [color=bc8dbf]“Fuck!”[/color] Annella groaned, her body already tensing as she shoots her hook into the tree – the same one Nara had hooked to – and launched herself into the air behind them.

Annella felt like time slowed down. It was clichéd, but the sensation of being in the air was [i]beautiful[/i]. Her heart thumped hard against her rib, her nerves on fire as she felt the air kiss her skin. She hooked onto the second branch, her speed gradually increasing as she found herself laughing. 

[i]I-it’s like a whole different world up in the air… is this what birds see everyday?[/i] Her mind buzzed as she skilfully dodged a branch. [i]Things seem so insignificant. Our problems look so small from up here. I feel… light![/i]

She could barely see Nara’s blonde hair ahead of her. She tightened her grip on her gear, her smile turning to a smirk as she launched herself even faster to catch up with the two morons ahead of her.

[color=f9ad81]“-s fucking fantastic!”[/color] She could hear Natalia scream in excitement.

[color=a0410d]“Why so slow, Nat?”[/color] Nara taunted her, and Annella barely held in her giggle as Nara shot himself higher into the air, going faster than the excited girl beside her.

[color=f9ad81]“I’ll beat you, you loser!”[/color] 

[color=bc8dbf]“Gosh,” [/color]Annella couldn’t stop herself once she caught up, beside Natalia. [color=bc8dbf]“I gave you guys a head start yet I still caught up.”[/color] Annella shook her head, wisps of her hair hitting her goggles. [color=bc8dbf]“Seems like I’m going to win~”[/color] She taunted before speeding up again, flying past Nara as he tried to blink away the dryness in his eyes.