Ying-mei had not noticed how dark it was outside until it was time for the air-drop. She'd spent most of the flight shivering and trying to calm her nerves, as the cabin was rather cold. She supposed that those with actual combat experience were used to this by now, so Ying-mei gritted her teeth and bore it in silence. Ying-mei [i]hated[/i] the cold. She wasn't very fond of heat and humidity, either. Summers in Shanghai had been the worst, what with the mosquitoes everywhere and air so damp that it felt like walking through velvet every time one stepped out on the street.

One of the co-pilots informed them that it was time for the air-drop. He opened the door, and Ying-mei resisted the urge to cover her ears. Outside was nothing but pure darkness, though the sound of the wind rushing past them was deafening. She was not entirely sure where they were, but she desperately hoped that they were indeed jumping out of the plane in the right location. 

First, Maria went. Ying-mei watched her step out of the plane without a single second of hesitation. Next came the siblings-cheerful, talkative Izkry and quiet, sullen Belasy. Even when he was jumping out of a plane, Izkry remained extraordinarily enthusiastic. Ying-mei wished that she was as excited as he was, and as certain as he was that they would see each other on the ground. If they survived the air-drop, that is. Jean was fourth, easily and fluidly stepping out from the door of the cabin and into the empty air, quickly disappearing from sight.

[i]I suppose that the sooner I get this over with, the better,[/i] thought Ying-mei. She decided that she really, really, [i]really[/i] didn't want to go last, so she stood up after Jean had disappeared from view and walked quickly over to the jump doors before she could change her mind. After that, all she had to do was step outside. Which she did so, not allowing herself to hesitate and potentially end up landing far, far away from the rest of the group.

[i]Perhaps this won't be so bad after all,[/i] Ying-mei thought as she jumped.

As soon as she was out of the plane, Ying-mei realized that it was indeed as bad as she'd thought it would be. All she could do now was hope and pray that she could carry out the instructions on how to deploy the parachute and land safely on the ground with the others who went before her.