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something, anything that would sustain me.
Then, I saw it. There was a white speck circling in the air. I could
tell that it was looking for something to eat, too. I pushed my wings
down to get higher. It might give me a better vantage point. I didn’t
think it had seen me yet. It was looking down, and I was above it.
The bird was big, but scrawny. It's white plumage disguised the fact
that it was starving. I dove for it, reaching out my talons for
capture. It threw me off when they closed around nothing. The bird
had heard me after all, and he twisted out of my reach. I searched
for him now, but he was already several yards ahead of me, and
getting farther still.
    I
chased him for a long time, but I could never actually catch him.
    All
of a sudden, my vision went blurry, and it felt like I was plummeting
downward. I crashed down into a chair. I was no longer a phoenix and
my surroundings had changed back to normal. I was back in the tent.
In front of me sat a plate, completely empty. My stomach growled.
    My
trainer sat in front of me, his plate full of food. I stared at him,
disbelieving. “Isn’t being a trainer all about teaching
someone how to do something? You left me out there to starve!”
    He
gave me a collected look. “It is not my fault that you couldn’t
catch the bird. You’re not used to flying yet.”
    “ Then
teach me how to fly better!” I exclaimed.
    He
stared me down. “Do not yell at me.”
    I was
silent. I still scowled at him.
    “ Hunger
is the best teacher,” he recited, as if he had heard it many
times before.
    “ Hunger
also weakens,” I retorted.
    “ Then
you’d better learn quickly.”
    We
sat in silence as we studied the plate of food. Just looking at it
made my mouth water. It was hard to look away, but I had to. I was
very tempted to snatch the piece of bread that was set closest to me,
but I wasn't in the mood for punishment. After a while, I noticed
that the trainer hadn’t bothered to consume anything either.
    “ Why
aren’t you eating?” I asked.
    He
looked back up. “I made up a rule for us because I thought it
might motivate you a little more…. If you don’t eat, I
don’t eat. Now, I won't be taking the survival tests with you
all the time, but the headmaster keeps a record of the students'
progress in his office. I'll be watching yours there.”
    I
ducked my head, and stared at my feet. I wouldn't admit it verbally,
but I felt the extra burden on my shoulders. I would rather him eat
in front of me.
    Being
at this school was torture already, and I hadn’t even gone
through a day of training yet.
    A
bell rang in the distance, reminding me of my old home. It was
obviously signaling the end of dinner. I stood up and stretched.
Maybe in the morning I’d have better luck. I found that I
couldn’t wait to get to bed. Morning meant the possibility of
food, and sleeping made morning come faster.
    Outside,
voices were shouting and I heard many shuffling footsteps. I walked
to the tent entrance, stopping only when I thought of something
mildly important.
    I
turned back to the trainer. “I never got your name,” I
prompted.
    He
stood and dumped the plate of food in a trash bin that had been put
in the corner. While his back was turned, he answered, “Kurt.”
    He
kept his eyes on the plate as he placed it back on the table. The
light from a lantern lit up the side of his face where the scars
were. I hoped that those scars hadn’t been from training. If
that happened to him, what would happen to me?
    To
ward off the thoughts, I finally went out to join the others. I
suddenly remembered that I had no idea where my dorm room was.
Natalia had neglected to show me. I followed the current as I
pondered over what I should do. Luckily, I didn’t have to think
for long. “Ivy!” someone shouted.
    I
turned to see Roselle racing toward me. “I saw you come out of
tent number one,” she said breathlessly. “I almost can’t
believe it.” She took me in more carefully. “What