Prologue: Flippy's Farewell

Time was of the essence, he thought as he packed up his things in an old rucksack. As he passed the old grandfather clock to pick up his toothbrush, he looked at the time: 1:00 AM. Cursing himself for his tardiness, he doubled his pace, and was at the door in ten minutes flat, his necessities inside his rucksack for another journey.

When the doorbell rang, he sighed. There was only one person who would risk hypothermia just to try and stop him from going. When he opened the door, he wasn't disappointed.

There stood Flaky, shaking in a thin jumper, rubbing her hands for warmth and coughing.

"Flaky," Flippy said, remorse coating his voice as he lightly shook his head. "I told you, I have to go. Now come on in for some hot cocoa."

Flaky shook her head hard, making her quills fall like missiles. It missed the pavement and landed on the soft snow, however, saving Flippy from any unnecessary flips.

"Y-you d-d-don't have to go!" she whined, her voice awfully high-pitched. Once Flippy got a better look, he realized she had been crying.

"I have to, Flaky," he said, putting both of his hands on her shoulders. "I have an obligation to this country."

"T-then… what about… y-your obligation to your f-friends?" she rasped, sniffing. "W-what about me? A-are you going… to leave us again? Leave me again? J-j-just like that?"

Something snapped inside him, and Flippy found himself hugging Flaky tight, and for once, he was regretting having joined the Army. He could've led a normal life. Could've settled down and actually confess his feelings for her. But the pull of war had had a permanent impact on him. He even found bombing a Vietcong base easier.

"F-Flippy?" Flaky whispered, making Flippy's strong arms get a bit tighter around her form. She silently wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into his chest, sighing. "Please… don't leave…"

Just as he was going to answer, the truck tasked to bear him to war appeared, honking angrily. Flippy was the only war veteran in this part of the country, and so he was the only one going to be escorted to the battle fields. The driver sighed when he arrived at the cozy scene, tapped his watch impatiently, and snorted. Flippy so wanted to run his bowie knife into his gut, but, then again, he wouldn't want Flaky to see such a show so early in the morning.

He reluctantly broke away, and Flaky looked up at him, confused.

"You're still going..." she said, sadness reflecting in her eyes. It wasn't a question, but Flippy nodded.

"I'm sorry... I..." he started, but Flaky cut him off.

"Don't apologize," she said, smiling sadly. "Just... come back, okay?" The first tear fell, and he instantly brushed it away, but more were streaming down her face. "Come back soon."

"Shh," he said, sweeping her hair up. "I will. I promise."

"And if you don't," she continued, putting on a determined face. "I'll go to that island and drag you home, if I have to."

Flippy laughed, but it was short-lived. The idea of Flaky, who was easily scared of heights and imaginary things, going into battle was ludicrous. But when he saw the hard look of someone who was willing to face her fears for him just made him smile again.

"Okay then, my little soldier," he said, ruffling her hair, and she squealed like a child. He then shrugged off his dog tags and put it around Flaky's neck, to her surprise. "If you're lonely, just hold on to these. I'll come home soon if you miss me to the point that you can't take it anymore, okay?"

"Yessir," she said, doing a little salute. Then she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. "See you later, Flippy."

His cheeks burned. "Y-y-yeah," he stuttered, and walked back. He tripped on the snow on his way to the truck, which made Flaky giggle. "Stay safe. And sleep in my house tonight, yours is on the next block. You'll freeze to death."

"Will do," she said, waving.

He let out a nervous laugh as he stumbled into the army truck. He sat just behind the driver, who snorted and rolled away from the driveway. In no time, Flaky's waving figure was gone, and Flippy sighed.

"That's some lass you got there, son," the driver commented. "You oughtta get back to her."

"I will," he said curtly. "I promise."

And although he said those words truthfully, there was no mistaking the heavy feeling in his chest that he may not see home - or Flaky - for a long time.