Flock of Birds

Posted on Tue Oct 27th, 2026 @ 9:29pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen

714 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Character Development
Location: Bajor - Cabin
Timeline: Backpost - during shore leave.

Bajor had turned on a moody day, overcast and drab, the sun hidden by a thick layer of cloud as if those below were not worthy of it's heat. The waves crashed angrily on the shoreline beneath the cottage, matching the sky - not quite aggressive but with a tone that meant there was no-one in the water, and wouldn't be until it settled.

It was a fitting mood, given the particular day. It was Patin's birthday - and though the stubborn Bajoran had never chosen to celebrate them, it was a milestone that threatened to slip past un-noticed. Rhenora left her shoes at the cottage, taking the sombre stroll along the white sand of the beach, reaching the memorial they had erected before she had even grappled with the concept of another year without her friend.

Another year. Another birthday. Another anniversary of her sacrifice so that Rhenora could live.

The thought hit home hard and she knelt before the small memorial placed on the junction of sand and soil, out of reach of the angriest of waves. It bore a name and two dates. Simple and practical - much like the woman it had been laid for.

The sound of gulls overhead drew Rhenora's eyes from the memorial, sending them skyward. High, almost touching the clouds a flock of them could be seen - white against the grey, soaring on the unstable air currents. Dogged, determined - much like Patin herself.

Rhenora sank to the sand, burying her toes in the grains to ground herself as the emotions bubbled to the surface. She recalled the moment they reconnected after all these years - surprise almost that Patin hadn't managed to blow herself up with all the explosives she so loved. Somehow - they'd convinced her to leave the isolated existence and come to the Sunfire - journeying amongst the stars for what seemed like such a short time in the overall scheme of things. Their friendship had rebloomed, falling into the easy banter of years gone past - now gone again. A void unable to be filled.

The gulls screeched as a gust of wind threatened to send them tumbling, outraged that the weather could consider doing such.
Nature was a force, both giving and taking as it so chose. Much like the Prophets, Rhenora thought aloud - giving and taking as they saw fit. They had taken Patin instead of her, and Marie, someone Rhenora felt she was only just getting to know - the fellow Captain only spending a few short weeks on board before passing.

She mused what they might be up to. Were they hamstrung by the Prophets and their non-interference? Were they teaching, guiding or explaining? Knowing Patin she would be pushing the boundaries, testing limits and threatening to blow everything up if she didn't get her way. Rhenora's lip curled upward in a smirk at the thought of the Prophet's getting a good earful of Patin's anger if she felt thing's weren't fair.

She looked skyward again, expecting to see the gulls only to find the angry clouds threatening a downpour. Would they ever have the moment to reconnect - Patin and herself? To share a conversation with a hip flask and a stick of boom?

With a heavy heart Rhenora rose and headed back to the Cabin before the rain. The flock of birds had gone.




"O" - Coldplay
https://youtu.be/-gA3H3clEqk?si=yizZnolexDCWIDU5

A flock of birds, hovering above
Just a flock of birds, that's how you think of love
And I always look up to the sky
Pray before the dawn
'Cause they fly away
Sometimes they arrive
Sometimes they are gone
They fly on

A flock of birds, hovering above
Into smoke I'm turned, and rise, following 'em up
Still, I always look up to the sky
Pray before the dawn
'Cause they fly away
One minute, they arrive
Next, you know they're gone
They fly on

Fly on, oh
So fly on, ride through
Maybe one day, I'll fly next to you
Fly on, ride through
Maybe one day, I can fly with you

Fly on
Fly on
Fly on
Ooh, don't ever let go
Ooh, don't ever let go
Don't ever let go
Don't ever let go

 

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