The sun crested the horizon behind the training yard, casting Jin's shadow long across the grass. He didn't notice, focus locked forward, the staff moving through the last set of forms he'd been running since before the sky had fully lightened.
A breeze swept through eventually, cooling the sweat at his temple, and he let it pull him out of the rhythm, lowering the staff and glancing up at the paling sky. His arms ached from the practice, a familiar kind of ache, one he could actually hold onto without flinching from it.
He crossed the yard and passed under the arch of the main hallway, cool shade meeting him like a second wind. Most of the base was still asleep, recovering from everything the last few days had cost them. But as he moved toward the common room, faint voices caught his attention, not alarmed, just talking.
