Eating breakfast while being studied was an unnerving thing.
Eyes watched my sharp teeth and the way I cut into the runny eggs and soft bacon. With every breath, the old couple forced smiles, waiting for me to be done.
Understandably they didn't get a proper look at me when I arrived the night before; being half asleep and pitch black. But, when a light knock woke me in the morning, I saw they were understandably shocked by the extent of the creature sleeping in their guest bed.
I devoured the hot food as quickly as I could so I could gather my things, hand across the bobbing pen and another feather, and embrace the cold air with Leaf.
It waited on the fence for me, finishing up its own meal of a wild bush rat still half hanging out of its beak. Hopping beside me as I pushed through the gate and followed the fence to the right, it took to the skies to caw loudly.
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The road kept curving to take me past more homes. Opposite this street was a large bowling club that was void of people this time in the morning. The sign welcomed all; a knee-bent man having the shadow of a hybrid as it rolled a stripped ball.
The street ended just past a parking lot abruptly. There was no cul-de-sac or traffic lights to allow a u-turn bay, just a stumpy slab of road with curved wooden posts on either side of a weathered path crushed through the grass leading into bushland.
Leaf disappeared over the treetops. I ducked under the low hanging branch to keep following.
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Swatting my way through the undergrowth, I became aware of the noises that accompanied me.
Things scuttled noisily through the leaves I kicked up. Birds gave flight overhead. The leaves clashed in the breeze that didn't even reach me. Leaf's wings made a swishing noise as they beat for momentum.
I remembered having such freedom when I first left home.
Past the tree was sweeping lands of grass and divided homes further out. Past that, where I first landed for a break, was a swan pond at the edge of the town there. It was where I saw my first hybrid; someone like me, paddling with the wild swans. I still remember the odd green tag clipped around the shoulder of the hybrid.
I was chased out of the skies when I continued on my journey by something with a snapping beak and sharp claws that twisted me through the air. I had feathers ripped out in my desperate flee to somewhere safer. In my terror, I didn't even get to see what had attacked me, and why.
When I wasn't being pursued, I dropped back down to inspect a strange red mailbox. At the time, I was just fascinated the front of it could pop open and shut when I slammed it. It had soft tabs down one side and a black square on the other. It took until I actually reached Paragon and saw their microwave out the back that the mailbox had just been a repurposed one that had been spray painted.
That was my first man-made landmark. The next came several kilometres afterwards from the house with a square patch of rust on the roof. It sat up a curving dirt path cut through more long grass. At the time, it was so contrasting against the same shades of greens and browns of the land. Now, I wouldn't see that rusted roof from that perspective again.
There was a long road I followed through the other towns and winding driveways. It disappeared under forests like this one, flitting through the canopies and bulging outwards when the trees were stripped for power lines.
That road took me through to the highway, and eventually, the lifeless buildings of Burrside. Several days of flying, resting on roofs and within clumps of bushes, and walking aimlessly through the city bought me to the place I should have turned from. Lured by the bright sign and towering building that was so different from the others, I entered.
I should have persisted in seeing my family again instead of being content with what I was given. If I had just left when Bruce was sleeping, or listened to my gut all the times after that first night, i would be soaring above these trees right now and be able to find those same landmarks again. Down here, it was going to be much harder. I could only listen to my instincts as they told me to turn left through the trees trying to block the way.
At least I couldn't smell any rancid swamps through here. Something was wet and rotting, but it wasn't a bog of disgusting water waiting to try and drown me again.
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Taking out my phone, I decided to turn the video on the trees I squeezed around. After talking with Adrian until I had fallen asleep, he wanted me to let him be more present in my journey. Even as I told him I didn't want him to come to me, and wouldn't give him my location despite his pleading, we decided that I could at least send photos or videos of my adventure back home to make sure I was safe.
There had been no outcome from going to the police station either. With no hard evidence of who tried to assault him, other than teeth marks on the arse cheek, they didn't have anyone to convict without pulling down the pants of everyone we came across.
We knew it was someone at Paragon, but not much else. A name would be ideal, but it had all happened so quickly.
I knew it was a male. He was pale, or at least his arse was, and... what colour hair did he have? What did he smell like?
I couldn't see his face clearly when I gouged him through with my claws. I was only focused on hurting him like he had hurt Adrian. He smelled like blood; sweet, delicious, hot iron and copper.
I felt prickling along my arms. The feathers there lengthened at the thought of him almost being raped in front of me.
I'd catch the bastard if I could for him. He wouldn't have a mouth to give his excuse for why he did what he did.
The stitches tightened, causing me to hiss in breath. I had to stop thinking about Adrian that way before I ripped them open.
Distract yourself.
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"You wanted an update" I pressed the red button on my screen and held the phone as I reached out with the other hand to push aside leaves and march forth "so this is it. I'm fine. I'm actually doing better now than I was before. I can still operate a phone, and I'm very glad for that."
I have a little chuckle at the fact, curving to the right around a particularly tight set of trunks.
"I slept in a proper bed last night" I smiled "it wasn't as good as mine back at Paragon, but I guess not everyone keeps their favourite things between their sheets. These people had theirs in cabinets. Why show everyone else what you have? What if they try to take it? Seems weird to me" I shook my head, trying to keep the phone steady "anyway, I'm in the middle of nowhere right now, trying to find my way out of these trees and towards something I know."
Leaf still flew somewhere ahead. I heard them call out, making me smile.
"I made a new friend" I breathed "it's nowhere as fun, or talkative, as you, but it's company. I called it Leaf because you can see all the leaves falling when it jumps through the trees. It's like me, only weirder; not sure how that's possible."
Another awkward laugh escaped. Talking to a phone wasn't the same as seeing Adrian face to face. Even over phonecall wasn't the same as actually feeling him here with me.
My heart ached now that I was thinking about the way I had left him.
"I miss you" I spoke up, turning the camera to face me now "and I look like a monster, but I didn't want to hurt you. I'm going to make it back home, and see my family again; and if I completely turn into an animal doing it, at least I'll be safe out where he can't find me again."
I tried to smile but couldn't. Facing the trees instead, I wasn't on show when I wiped my tears away.
The trees had stopped ahead. Leaf was crouched over a puddle of water on the side of the road, tipping dirty water down it's beak.
"This is Leaf" I walked around them "I traded my necklace to its parent to get across the river and now it hasn't stopped following me since. At least I'm not devolved to drinking mud water yet."
Leaf eyed me sideways, ruffling up. Even though I was giggling at its antics, I could really go for a drink too. My throat was horribly dry and I couldn't see any other source nearby.
"I'll send you more when we get somewhere else" I squatted down beside the puddle to dip a hand in, taking a sip and instantly trying to scrape the slimy filth from my tongue that speckled my teeth and throat with mud, gagging "nope, that's horrible."
I had to end the video so I could hobble off and draw up saliva to try and spit out the foul taste. It was as if something had died in the puddle and fermented into the slime ringing it.
Did anything actually die in there? It was too similar to the swamp actually.
"Come on" I sent the video before pocketing my phone and shoving Leaf to try and shake him from the puddle "let's keep going."
Water dribbled from the beak when it's head tracked me walking past. It waited until I was several metres away before flying over to catch up to me.
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"We just have to follow this road" I pointed to the green sign ahead "the next place can't be far."
It bobbed closer as I walked. Leaf strutted beside me, foraging beneath the metal poles when I stood in the shadow of the sign.
A place called Moss River Rest Stop was listed as twelve kilometres. The next town, somewhere called Clayside Valley, was thirty seven kilometres. After that, it climbed to fifty eight, one hundred and ten, one hundred and seventy, then two hundred and five.
Shit. Even twelve kilometres to a rest stop was a bit excessive. And there really was nothing before that?
My instincts were telling me to follow the road. Like the one I flew above years ago, it seemed to stretch forever through the landscape.
Perhaps it was the same one? It was hard to tell from down here.
Either way, it was the right way to go. Watching cars speed onwards through defeat, I kept following the broken tar edges past the shade of the sign.
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My bare feet throbbed like their own thundering heartbeat. Touching the ground snapped acid through the restricting soles. The grass, once soft, was now made from the tips of hundreds of broken needles. My skin bled from the peeling layers of skin that had been rubbed raw, chunks sticking to the insides of my shoes I now cradled.
I couldn't move any further. Already I had hobbled over to one of the steel tables in this little grassy patch off the main road. Sitting on top to let my feet pound and buzz through their turmoil, Leaf scavenged the overflowing bin by the turnoff.
Angled parking spots were laid out before me, just a few metres away. People pulled off the exit to weave their way down here for a gratifying break to their cramped legs, or to bolt for the toilet blocks to my left.
Further down was a separate road for trucks to park up. Across this patch of grass laid three steel shelters and only two large black bins stuffed with all sorts of garbage. Leaf had flipped the lid on one and currently had its arse poking from the depths of a plastic bag it tore into for any morsel of food.
At least it was eating. There were no food stalls or trucks set up down here. The only water source was a bubbler outside the stinking toilet block; too far to walk right now.
Behind me lay the road to the truckers road, and beyond that was a wall of scraggly bushland. The smell of sunburnt eucalyptus and rustic gum leaves was strong from behind me. It was comforting, but not safe enough to contemplate staying.
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The afternoon sun was well established as I sat there, testing the ground every few minutes. Cars came and went after a few minutes each. Dogs were let out to run, the owners making sure they didn't stray near me or Leaf.
It was nice not to be harassed. Even though it was clear avoidance, it was peaceful.
I still had another twenty or so K's to walk. Seeing how mangled my feet were after struggling for twelve, I knew it was going to be well into the night, maybe early morning, when I crawled up to the next town.
I could ask someone for a lift to somewhere near the town. Even if it was halfway, it would shave so much time and pain from my tender feet.
People were always incentivised by money. Digging through my bag, I crumpled a fifty dollar note into my fist and winced as my stabbing feet touched the ground again.
Ok, slow and steady. There were a few people in the toilet blocks now. Others hung around their cars to stretch and take in the air. A couple was walking their dog own the trucking lane.
I'll try the closest ones by the road. A mother leant against her car while a teenager scurried to the toilets. A younger kid was glued to a gaming console, neck pillow still firmly around their head.
"Excuse me!" I called as I slowly limped towards the woman.
Her eyes instantly set on me. They were calculating what they were seeing struggling toward them. Briefly, they moved to the child before she ordered them back inside the car.
"Um, sorry" I smiled, trying to appear friendly "but I'm trying to get to Clayside Valley, and I was wondering i...."
"No. I'm not going that way" she cut me off abruptly, looking around me towards the blocks "Marcus! Let's go!"
"I'd really appreciate it" I tried to follow her as she marched around to the other passenger side to open the door for the teen who arched around me when I glanced towards them "I can pay you."
"I've got a full car" the woman shrugged, forcing a smile "have a good day."
That didn't sound sincere, more snappy than anything. Despite the empty seat between both sons in the back, and the front stacked with belongings, she didn't want to upset her luggage.
There was room, just not for me.
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I watched her veer her car from the lot and quickly take off in the direction I wanted to go. Eying the next closest person, they too quickly decided that their break was done and got into their car.
Looking back at the toilet block, a few people were leaving to walk down the one concrete path leading up to it. Tenderly shuffling over the sharp stones that felt like they were still lodged in my soles, I planted myself at the end of the pathway instead.
"Excuse me!" I found the courage to speak again as a man approached "can I get a lift?"
He scoffed, laughing as he passed. He barely even looked at me.
A woman and small child were coming down. She met my eyes, steered the kid from the path, and avoided contact with me.
Was no-one going to hear me out? Maybe money couldn't buy everything?
Another man was leaving the toilets. Wiping his hands on his jeans, our eyes met and he smirked at me, amused as to why I was standing there.
"I'll pay you to drive me to Claymore Valley!" I blurted as he briskly walked in my direction, holding out the note.
"No can do" he sighed "sorry champ."
"Please, sir" I tried to follow him to the car parked a few spaces away, but fell behind quickly "I'm trying to get home!"
The man shrugged, still walking. I heard him mutter something to his friend in the front seat before entering the car, laughing at my misfortune.
Was I really not going to get help?
"PLEASE!" I shouted to the car spending away, feeling frustrated tears start to swell.
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"Hey, I might be able to help" I heard a gruff voice behind me.
"Really?" I shuffled awkwardly back around to see a man with folded arms and long orange beard standing there. He had on a faded print t-shirt, revealing thick arms of equally orange hair.
He was a little intimidating, but he was also the only one accepting my offer. I wasn't going to pass that up.
"You mentioned payment?" his grey eyes slid to the note I squeezed.
"Oh, yes!" I breathed and handed it to him for it to quickly go into the old leather wallet he pulled from his jeans pocket "thank you! I wouldn't be able to walk the rest of the way."
"What about it?" he tilted his head to Leaf "I'm assuming it's with you?"
Looking over, Leaf was happily tearing up a morsel of soggy burger and dirty toppings with its beak as it crushed the mess to the footpath with a foot.
"I'll pay extra" I pulled across my bag again "it can fly."
"Fifty is more than enough for just down the road" the man declined the extra money "I'm not going into that town, but I can drop you off at the exit. It won't be far from there."
My spirits soared, and I thanked the man again.
"Come on, kid" he jerked his head to the right and started to walk "so, why a....?"
He topped talking when he saw me inching along after him. I shuffled mostly on my bloodied stinging heels to try and reduce the pain still pulsing through the rest of my feet.
"Are you alright?" he grew concerned.
"I've been walking for a bit" I admitted, trying to shrug it off "can't exactly fly."
"I saw that" his eyes checked my stumps "listen, I'm going to clear you off a spot. Stay here and I'll bring the car down, ok?"
"Oh, ok..."
He wasn't just going to take my money and leave? I couldn't exactly run after him if he did decide to do that.
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He walked off ahead and I stood there on the sidewalk, watching him approach a black car with a bonnet riddled with white cuts all across it. The roof had the onset of rust around the sides, with more white marks across the surface. Even the sides were scratched up. The only thing that was saved from the marks were the doors themselves. They just had a few shallow dents.
I saw a woman sitting in the front passenger side. Curled brown hair swept down one side of her head while the other was shaved down to a short grey patch.
She was also dressed casual in a colourful shirt that was printed with something I couldn't see. Pulling up her dark sunglasses as the man approached, they began a conversation about the situation while I meekly smiled back when both their heads turned to me, the man's thumb pointing me out from over his shoulder.
"Leaf" I muttered to the crow scraping aside the deflated bun for the smushed, soggy meat patty inside "come on. They aren't going to take you if you smell like shit."
It seemed proud of the fact, cawing loudly and drawing more attention to itself, much to my embarrassment.
"Come on, Leaf! They're going to think I eat trash too!"
My moan made a passing girl snigger. I burned, waving my arms to try and scare Leaf from the garbage it had spread.
It jumped, but didn't move. Crooning, it promptly hopped back to the bin to dip its head back inside, lifting up to caw triumphantly again.
Why did I let it follow me again?
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"Kid!" the man called, making me turn towards the car pulling in across three spots as he leant out the window "you ready?"
Leaf was too engrossed in the garbage to listen to me. Growling at it, I limped my way to the back seat.
"We're going!" I called out "come on!"
I don't know if it heard me. When I settled down gratefully and curved my legs to only rest the sides of my soles, Leaf was still foraging.
So be it then. I didn't want to part like this, but I guess a wild animal couldn't be commanded, no matter how mediocre the thing.
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"I'm Braiden" the man spoke up from the driver side as he peeled back onto the side road leading back to the main one "this is Jasmine."
"Hello" the woman smiled over her shoulder at me.
"I'm Avery" I returned the kindness "and that was Leaf. I can't thank you enough for this. I don't know how far I would have gotten today."
"By the state of you, not much further" Braiden chortled, tossing back a packet "have something to eat. It's not proper food, but it'll keep your energy up."
Turning the small bag over, I saw it was brightly coloured jellied lollies called Chicken's Feet.
They actually did resemble birds feet, despite the insane saturation of red, blue, and green tipping the severed miniature yellow foot.
"They're my favourite" Jasmine grinned at me before frowning "ooh, maybe it's a bit on the nose?"
I laughed, tearing open the side to chew on the thick, almost plastic, consistency. The toes of the feet were easiest to rip off from the main wad.
"It's fine, honestly."
She smiled, turning back around. I took the opportunity to look back at the pitstop to see Leaf had finally noticed I was gone and was flying towards us.
My heart lifted seeing that. I was relieved weren't parting just yet in such a horrible way.
"How old are you anyway, Avery?" Braiden asked through the rear view mirror "you sound a little young to be out by yourself in the middle of nowhere."
"Oh" I grinned back through more feet "I'm not that young. I'm twenty three."
There were scoffs from them both.
"A little older than when we met" Jasmine gushed to Braiden who beamed back at her "we've been together twenty years now. Met at a bar. Tell him."
"I was the 'rough biker'" he rolled his eyes, shrugging it off "and it turns out she lived up the road from me the whole time. She caught the same bus as me when my bike was in the shop."
"If it wasn't for that person reversing over it, we would have never met" Jasmine fluttered.
Braiden grinned, seeming a little flustered over the attention.
"It worked out well for you then" I commented.
"Oh, absolutely."
Braiden took Jasmine's hand briefly, lifting it up to kiss it before he pulled into the main road and planted both hands back on the wheel.
Maybe one day I'd have love like that? I should have kissed Adrian's hand and looked at him that way.
"How come you are going to Clay Vay anyway?" Braiden asked, confused "hybrids usually avoid the place like the plague."
"The Valley?" Jasmine piped up, sucking in breath through gritted teeth "ooh, yeah. But, he could be one of Skrea's."
"Skrea?"
Braiden shook his head with a little breath.
"It's the sound of makes. Vicious son of a bitch. Doesn't let hybrids in the town. I think there's a total of five who live there amongst the humans."
Could that have been the same one that attacked me when I was leaving home? The one that ran me out of that airspace? How was it still there?
The lump suddenly in my throat was as painful as my feet. I tried swallowing it back down with more lollies.
"Skrea..." I tested the name "kind of weird sounding."
"I suggest you avoid the town completely" Braiden passed an exit to continue onwards "place is overrun with Skrea and his demon spawn."
So there were more of them? Maybe avoiding the town was a solid suggestion?
But, I had only paid Braiden to go that far. I could take the opportunity to rest the night in the town, away from the local hybrid hunter, and get out early the next morning. That sounded like a decent plan.
"With no wings, you'd be in his sights."
I had been lucky the first time. Now that i was older and less mobile, I really had to watch my back.
"I should be ok" I reassured him, choking down that lump "he can't be that bad..."
Both made doubtful noises. My anxiety was mounting again.
"Look...." Braiden flicked his indicator for the upcoming exit "I'll drive you in there, but you need to get inside as soon as you can. Just trust us on it, ok? There a reason Clay Vay has a poor rating on Looker."
"And make sure to get some cream for your feet" Jasmine added "you don't want to get infected. There's a little AGI down near the post office."
"Good idea, Beautiful" Braiden praised her, looking at me "don't go down the road outside the office; that's where it lives. You'll want to take Monary Street around the back way."
Monary? I could do that. Avoid the office, take the indirect route to AGI, stay indoors as much as possible.
They had been there before. They both weren't hybrids, but had obviously seen this Skrea in action or encountered it themselves for whatever reason. I could trust their word.
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We entered the town that was settled only a kilometre from the exit. Braiden cautiously pulled out the front of an open pub and scanned the skies for me.
Leaf, oblivious to it all, fluttered down to land on the roof, cawing. The loud noise was soon cut off when it worked out a shocked screech, nails scrabbling on the tin as it had to race off as something attacked it.
"Go!" Braiden urged "head straight in there!"
I gathered my bag and the lollies, pulling out the first thing that hit my hands when I fossicked for a gift; a piece of my old eggshell.
"Thank you for the ride" I leant forward to hand it across.
"Quick!" Jasmine shooed me away in concern.
I tore open the door and slammed it shut, bolting for the pub before my feet could register the pain they were supposed to be in. The couple honked as they left to do a u-turn for their actual destination.
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Walking past the high lacquered wooden bench lined with bar stools around the side, I saw booths by the leftmost wall, just past the doubled tables.
Settling into a booth, I dumped my bag beside me and checked on the open doors creating such a huge void for the hunter to take advantage of.
If I stayed by the wall, I should be fine. The booth here had menus already set out, along with a code I could scan for food.
The sound of ice being thrown against glass rang out. The snapping of the multitude of buttons of the drink dispenser nozzles when they were activated soon came after.
Conversations tangled with laughter further down in the pub. There was the ringing and whooping of gambling machines in some side room ahead of me. Clanking shot through it all when a group of people leaning on chalked wooden cues broke the first setup of pool balls.
I could smell something sour and bitter in the air. Other than the rich gravies in need stews and tangy chicken salted chips, there was the fake raspberry smell from bright red bubbling drinks I saw children enjoying. It was the same rich, fake scent through some of the lollies I had stuffed into my bag.
"Here you go, mister" a small voice spoke up.
I looked around, realising my line of sight was too high when I saw a small girl barely as tall as the table I sat at.
They held a large jug of water with both hands, leaving them unable to carry a cup as well. I took the hefty jug, seeing the little girl smile at a job well done.
"You look funny" the girl commented when I moved the jug aside.
Taken aback, I was about to gently redirect her before her face had me quickly closing my mouth.
She had the same black liner I did around the eyes, although larger. Her little hands, clamped together as she swung side to side in her light blue dress, had nails that were almost black. But, the things that piqued my curiosity were the two little dark brown wings pressed against her back. The undersides were marbled in a light brown and white, with the shoulders having a slightly darker hue.
Her short brown hair had little brown feathers sprouting within the strands. And her eyes were so dark they almost looked black.
That was the appearance of a young Black Shoulder Kite. I had the same colours not long before I left home and grew in my adult white and blacks. The eye markings were a dead giveaway she wasn't just some other eaglet or hawk.
"What's your name?" I breathed with a smile.
"Marigold" she beamed back, pulling on her clothing "do you like my dress?"
"It's very pretty" I cooed back to her cute smile.
She giggled and waved before rushing back to the bar where a woman waited for her, scowling at me.
She didn't look like the mother. For one, her hair was long, orange, and curled. Where Marigold was light, this woman was darker. From here, she also looked human, and didn't have the eye markings. She still protected that child as if she were a parental figure, handing her another jug and coming around to crouch down and point out the table who needed water.
I watched little Marigold toddle off with the task happily. The woman sternly met my eyes again, choosing to approach the table herself with a glass in her hand.
"I haven't seen you around here before" she stated as she set it down firmly "you'd better keep your eyes off that little girl."
I gave a short laugh of disbelief, not knowing what to say to something like that.
"I mean it" she glared "you aren't his, so you have to go."
"I'm staying to drink my water" I straightened up, blocking her hand with my claws when she went to remove it "I'm not going to cause trouble if you don't."
The eyes looked me over, trying to figure me out. With a little huff the woman turned, calling for the child to return to her.
"Head home now" the woman gently guided the girl to the open doors where she was greeted by the people coming inside.
The little girl looked back, her eyes tracking back to me leaning out to fix on her. With a smile and a nod, she was off.
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I had to find out where she was going. There was no coincidence that she was the same species I was. If I found her who parents were, I'd find a proper way home. They could map it out for me.
Gulping back a glass of water, I left the rest so I could shoulder my bag and quickly rush past the woman who called out angrily at me. Scanning the pathways, I saw Marigold skipping her way up the left, jumping over the cracks gleefully.
Don't get too close, that would be creepy. This already was, but I couldn't just get the child to take me to her home. I was a complete stranger.
"HEY!" I heard the woman roar from the pub doors that I wandered from "LEAVE HER ALONE!"
"I'm not even doing anything!" I grumbled back, seeing how many heads instantly turned in my direction.
Honestly, she was making it sound like I was about to kidnap the poor kid.
Marigold's head turned at the commotion and she saw me. Instead of pausing like she had earlier, she started running as fast as her little legs took her.
Fuck, now it really did look bad.
"I'm not here to hurt her!" I defended when I felt a hard hand snatch onto my arm to turn me around "we're the same! Look!"
I pointed to my eyes. The woman barely glanced them over, focusing on my teeth.
"Listen here, you arsehole" she breathed, shaking my arm "you leave Marigold alone. It's people like you who give this town a bad name; stalking little girls! You should be ashamed!"
"That's not what I'm doing!" I cried out to the hard glares passing by "I'm just trying to find my family! She could be one of them!"
I swung my other arm out to gesture. My other was still locked in her grip.
"Let me go!" I begged.
"You aren't getting away!" she snarled.
Taking a deep breath, I knew I wasn't going to get out of this easily. Snarling and shoving the woman back with my free hand, I sprinted up the street in agony when her fear released me.
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Crying out as I ran, I searched for somewhere to hide off the main path. Ahead, at the curve of the main road, I could see the post office. Marked clearly with a flying logo, the building itself was a repurposed one from years long gone.
The bottom half was a functioning store, whereas the upper portion pulling up like a tower of brick was just for show. There was a platform up near the top of the peak, and an opening for a round window that was swung wide.
Some sort of ex- pigeon carrier service?
Did I get my species confused? Was the girl a young brown pigeon and not a Kite? Maybe my hopes has been a little too high when I saw those black markings?
I swear she was the same...
Turning my head to make sure I wasn't being pursued by the woman, I heard the sound of wind whipping through feathers just behind me.
I couldn't react in time before a force hit me so hard it threw me back onto the concrete and knocked the air from my lungs. Struggling to gasp in another, I had to shield my face from the sharp claws striking there furiously as enraged screeching tore through the bearing wings and grappling body.
My cast protected me from most of the claws trying to slice their way down me. The other arm was torn open as well to burn blood down the claws slashing through it.
I bought my legs up to try and protect my stomach the monster aimed for. Feathers were shredded and torn from me as it stabbed its claws into my soft body to rip and twist at my flesh.
"Wait!" I choked out, gasping as I lashed out to try and throw the creature from me, striking its side with my feet "no! Get off me!"
Wings slapped the side of my head to try and daze me and keep it on top. The jagged beak scraped along mine clashing to stop it from pulling any more skin from me.
My claws squeezed the wrists pushing to spill more of my blood. It's own splattered along my chest; boiling with fury. I let my panting breath turn into a growl that bit into the soft throat of the creature, snapping to get a proper hold.
The feathers around us were a mixture of the same white. Raking my shoulders and pushing itself free with clawed toes, black fell into the flurry.
The creature hunched there, panting. I saw myself, wilder than i was now and void of human clothing. A feathered head with curved and jagged beak locked onto me as it tried to catch breath. The neck, now dribbling, was a little longer than my own. Feathered arms with scythes for claws bent either side of it, ready for another attack. The wings, now mangled, had the same black shoulders mine did. Thick legs carried a set of powerful bird feet, equiped with blood-soaked black talons. A long tail spread to make it look bigger than it was.
Then, right there around the fierce dark eyes, were the black markings.
"Skrea?" I panted.
It snarled, lunging for me again. I scrabbled back on the ground, using my own feet to plant into its ribs and try to push it back. I felt it's claws nick my chest before it planted its feet on my legs to launch itself back and give room to snatch onto my body with the talons again.
The hands slammed mine to the concrete. The wings spread outwards to make sure it's newest prey was shielded from thieving by the stunned onlookers.
"I'm Avery!" I turned my head when it pushed its beak closer, breathing through the bloodied saliva dribbling over me "ah, shit! I have a name! I've got one, fuck you!"
I squeaked out the noise my mother had used for me in an attempt to get the other Kite to recognize it. It paused, snapping it's beak in my face sharply.
"In the tree out at the field" I whimpered keeping my head turned and eyes closed "I'm the only one from that season."
The Kite huffed, loosening up on my hands. The feet removed themselves too before the beak followed.
Carefully opening my eyes, I saw the Kite was fluffing out its feathers and shaking loose the broken ones. With the bloodied beak, it yanked out a few from the bent wings.
It glared as it did. I hadn't incapacitated it at all, but the aerodynamics might be a bit shakey until new feathers pushed through.
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Turning without a word, it began to walk away. I remained on the concrete, watching it scoop up the girl with one arm and press her head into the crook of its shoulder. Her eyes studied me again.
I had to find out more about the older Kite. He had already attacked me, so he wouldn't again, surely?
"Hang on!" I called, scraping my knees around to push myself upwards to hobble after it "wait!"
People parted and went about their tasks. Others kept watching me pursue the very thing that attacked me, like I had a death wish.
"Skrea!" I called out, getting the side of its head when it acknowledged the name "hold on!"
So, I had the name right. It was obviously the father to that girl. It could very well be one of my older brothers I had never met. There was no other explanation for why it hadn't killed me just now. It definitely wanted to.
It kept going, looking towards the top of the post office. Past that was another tower on the opposite side that had a bell dangling between concrete pillars.
It began to ring, tinkling a tune before striking four times. As it did, Skrea darted across the road to pause on the other side.
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White feathers fluttered in from down the path before a tall teenager landed before him. Two others grappled through brown feathers, pushing and pulling through bouts of flight to be the second to his side.
A tall woman twisted her way down from over the roof, clutching black feathers she passed over to Skrea.
I looked for Leaf to find him nowhere in sight. Perhaps he was laying low after being ambushed?
Hurriedly, another little girl panted her way down from the path ahead, calling out cheerfully for her father.
Another older girl and boy shepherded a small boy between them they swung from their hands. Casually, they strolled up from the other side to the group.
From the skies again, two more sped for the group, looking almost identical to their father; one missing the arms and only baring wings there instead.
Skrea peered over them all, seemingly counting. When satisfied, he made a scraping sound and pressed the girl firmly against himself so he could be the first to leap into the air.
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Massive wings beat their way upwards. The fighting children tumbled after him, nipping and grappling to outdo each other. The casual two were next, promptly leaving the child who was thrown upwards by the tall woman to get momentum.
The tall teen took flight with the other little girl. With the woman pushing around the nipping hybrids, they were last to follow the ascending ladder of wings up towards the top of the post office.
Skrea knew i couldn't follow it up there. From the platform, it watched me as the line of ten children passed to jump inside. When the last two were ushered in, he gripped the round window to promptly close it, not moving from the perch.
What did I do now? Was it going to attack me again?
Keeping my eyes up as I crossed the road, I saw his head tracking my every move past the post office. Even when I walked from its line of sight, I had no doubt it had ways of still seeing where I was.
It felt like it was right behind me again. I turned after hearing the same strike of feathers, only to have it be the leaves in the treetops instead.
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Ducking inside the AGI, I followed the path around the registers and for the signs overhead that read 'medical'.
After the fight, I needed a little more than just cream for my feet. The tightness in my shoulders was gone, making me suspect the bastard might have ripped my stitches while I was struggling to keep him away.
I cupped my arm with my casted one to try and stop blood from trailing across the floor. Pressing it to my chest, little beads still trailed behind me from my torn legs.
Scanning past the plastic strips I pulled a colourful packet from and ignoring the ointments, I found a small bottle of cleaning alcohol I quickly added to my bent arm. I snatched up the largest bandages, adding in a hefty bottle of antiseptic liquid.
There were patches to relieve back pain. I wasn't sure how much it would be of use to me, but picked up one anyway and pressed it into the gap I had.
The foot cream went on top, completing my run through the medicals. Wandering down and being met with dairy, I veered left to the bakery section to pick up one of the stacked baskets there and offload my haul.
I needed food while I was here, and water. I doubt the pub would want to feed me after blatantly thinking I was here to maim a sweet little girl.
Dropping in a tall bottle, I backed past the bread again to find the packets of pastries. Quickly I added in some delicious-looking rosemary and maple syrup bars that were topped with pecans. Thick, spongy black squares with white coconut slathered across all the surfaces went in beside it. The packet told me they were lamingtons, but I honestly hadn't tried one to properly know if it was sweet or savoury.
Walking past the butcher, I paused at the mountains of meat stacked behind the glass. Feeling my mouth instantly start watering and my stomach clench at the smell of the delicious cuts, I was quick to add in a kilo of the cheapest shaved ham that came wrapped in thin white paper and stickered. with the price to hold it together.
I paused, getting another kilo, before moving for the self-serve checkouts.
I wasn't getting into the post office to confront Skrea face to face. I'd have to find somewhere else to sleep for the night that wouldn't leave me cold or wet.
And where was Leaf? The other one wouldn't have just left him to die, would it?
Scanning the items across, I ignored the loud beeping presented with each one.
Maybe it did? Should I check around the pub again to see where they were, or scan the trees instead? Where would Leaf go if they were injured?
More beeping. Someone tapped my shoulder to point out that I was bleeding. Yeah, I knew. I just smiled and thanked them like I hadn't just tracked a little path through the store already.
The clock tower summoned them all to the post office when it rang. Was it every hour, or just at four o'clock each day? Maybe at different times too?
Another tap. I was offered a rolled up layer of paper towel that I pressed to my arm with another small smile.
I bagged the items after seeing the bigger things wouldn't fit into my bag. I had to pay extra for a paper bag that looked far too flimsy to be worth fifty cents.
Now I see why that couple told me to avoid the area. Skrea really was a vicious son of a bitch. And he ha to be the one who attacked me the first time too. He looked old enough for it to match, and certainly was just as cruel, even to somebody he could be related to.
Did he honestly take this whole town as his territory, or just the area around the post office? The first time, I was clipped past the swan pond, so it must have extended further.
Grabbing my things and quickly making my escape from the eyes following me, I tilted my head upwards to check I wasn't about to be ambushed again.
It looked clear. Even poking head round the corner of the store to peer up at the platform, I couldn't properly see if he was still up there.
I did see a little alcove in the side of the building though. It was on the opposite side, well out of eyesight, and deep enough to comfortably shield me from some of the sun so I could start to patch myself up.
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Darting across the road to the island of trees in the middle, I heard the familiar sound of wings. Quickly pressing myself against a stump, I saw Skrea launch into the air and soar over the street. He suddenly dove down, rising more screeching into the air before Leaf raced for shelter.
"LEAF!" I shouted to him, waving an arm "down here!"
He swerved suddenly, diving towards the road before throwing itself into the trees to avoid Skrea giving chase. With a sharp turn at the treetops, Skrea silently flew back over the stores on his original path.
Fucking arsehole.
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Limping to the trees I saw Leaf huddled in one of the higher branches, panting heavily. It's head dipped down to me when it saw me, and their wings were hung low on each side.
"You look exhausted" I soothed "come on, I've got food and water."
Clacking and crooning, Leaf scuttled across the branch so they could lower themselves with their beak. I waited as they slowly zigzagged down, thumping to the ground beside me.
We crossed and huddled in the little alcove together. I tore open the ham, throwing Leaf a wad to watch it snap it down happily.
I guess anything was better than literal trash.
The ham was oddly slimy but was sweet and pungently tangy. Apparently it was honey glazed. Whatever it was, it tasted bloody delicious.
Tossing Leaf another chunk, I hung some out of my mouth and snapped a shot of us together. Promptly sending it to Adrian, I saw how bloodied I was.
I should have checked it over before sending it, but it was already too late.
Instantly, he began to ring me.
"I'm fine" i sighed as I rummaged for more meat to keep Leaf from eating it all "I just ran into an arsehole."
"Did you fuck them up too?" he bit back.
"Eh, turns out we might be related. He's off somewhere else at the moment."
Adrian went silent. I could still sense he was frustrated
"Yeah, well..."
"I'll be careful" I chuckled "I've got a bunch of medicine here to patch myself up, so I'll be good. If I can get Leaf to stay still long enough, I'll help them too."
"I wouldn't count on that" Adrian's voice lifted "we already know certain animals have minds of their own."
I giggled, sighing.
"It's good to hear your voice again."
"You heard it last night, silly" he snorted.
I smiled, pushing Leaf from the bag it was trying to separate from the meat.
"And I could listen to it all the time" I grinned, tossing another wad aside so I could also eat.
"Where did you end up?" Adrian asked now "are you close to home yet?"
"I think I am" I looked up at the side of the building happily "I remember the pond being not too far from the road I followed. Might be a bit further on foot, but it can't be more than a couple of days. I've got to fix myself before I start walking."
"Did you change again?"
"Only a little" I reassured him "but I think the Kite here might have torn my stitches. It feels too loose back there. He really tore up my cast too. It's got these deep scratches through it."
"Lucky you had it" Adrian breathed.
"Exactly what I thought" I beamed back "I'm just glad you weren't here for it. He would have really hurt you."
Adrian made a noise, laughing a little.
"I'm tough; you know me."
He really was. I just wished I could help him through it all.
"Any luck on finding the guy?" I asked, distracting Leaf again.
"Well, it's a little hard when there is so many new people round the place" his voice trailed off "but I'll figure it out."
"Hang on, are you back there?" I felt my breath catch.
"I've got to find him somehow" I heard the shrug "and if I have to come back to this shithole and pretend to love my job to do it, then so be it. It also makes it look like I didn't have too much to do with you, well, leaving."
He whispered the last part. People were nearby.
"Just be safe" I fretted now "please."
"I've got Alowyn" he cheerfully replied "whenever he turns up...."
"He's probably doing bird things" I shared a giggle with Adrian "you know how it is."
Leaf stole the rest of the bag, flitting away out of arms rech so it could tear through the plastic for the rest of the meat inside.
"Bruce wasn't too happy about it all, but I am Alowyn's singer, so he can't exactly get rid of me just yet. Plus, people have actually been really nice to me since that night."
So others knew about what happened? Or was it simply because I had turned so savage and they felt sorry for Adrian due to that?
"Just stay away from Elgress and Vinnie" I warned "I don't trust them."
Not after the way she targeted us that night. When everyone else left, she stayed. She didn't have fear like they did. Maybe being partnered to a venomous snake desensitized her to it all?
She was pregnant too. To Tawn? It made sense with them both being the same.
"She's been keeping to herself today, oddly enough" he replied "and Vinnie is busy teaching Viva about shot layers and percentages. Tried offering me a few already, but I don't drink them."
At least he was being safe. He couldn't avoid them, but he was limiting his exposure to the horrid pair.
"Please stay safe" I begged.
"Don't worry about me" Adrian dismissed me "you worry about yourself. Get yourself fixed up so we can have a proper talk over video, ok? You've got to send me more videos of your trip when you are better."
He made it sound like a leisurely holiday. Whatever made him lessen the pain of it all being permanent, I guess.
"I can do that."
"I've got to go" he mumbled "Alowyn has come in with what looks like the whole cavalry of birds."
That's right. He was searching for his brother and sister. He still hadn't found them?
"Tell him 'good luck' from me" I insisted, seeing Skrea powering back to the front of the building with talons filled.
"Will do" Adrian breathed "bye."
"Bye."
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Skrea was only gone momentarily. Peering around the edge of the alcove, I saw him arch through the air to clip over the trees and thump down before me, startling Leaf into throwing its wings out and clicking. The crow snatched up the meat and quickly flew off to eat it safely.
Great. I was alone again with him.
Skrea walked over, still tinged with blood. Eying me as I drew my legs up and gathered my belongings close, he dipped down to snatch the paper bag away, tearing a handle.
Inspecting what was inside, his claws crushed the lamingtons within the packaging.
"These will kill you" he spoke gruffly, smelling the plastic packaging.
"Oh, so you do talk" I bit back when he tossed them aside "hey, those are my things!"
He scoffed, dumping the plastic strips, back patches, and antiseptic, keeping the rest of the contents. I rose, ready to try and rip them from him once more.
"Follow" he ordered as he found my rosemary and maple slices to smell the packaging before eating one.
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I scurried around to pick up the discarded items and stuff them into my own bag I shouldered.
Yep, that was definitely bleeding. I could feel the fabric sticking to my blades uncomfortably.
"You know, you are a real arsehole" I snapped to the back of the white wings I followed "I can't believe we are related."
"Well, you do get soft ones in the less favourable seasons" his eye turned towards me "some aren't made for survival."
Huffing back, it wasn't exactly a brag I was the only one of my clutch. He could have been as well, or probably killed the others himself.
"Skrea is a stupid name" I shot.
He laughed coldly, still refusing to fully acknowledge me.
"Says the flightless thing named after a bird cage" he retorted "you are a pet."
"I'm my own person" I puffed up.
"Mm hmm" he contested with a smirk "humans come up with some pathetic names for their pets. You gave up mother's name for some...." he swirled a bent finger ".... familiar nonsense. No wonder you are so small and weak."
Smirking again, Skrea took another slice for himself. My blood boiled when I saw the smug way he ate my food, as if I couldn't defend it for myself.
I couldn't against him; not right now anyway, but soon.
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Skrea's nails clicked across the tiles leading to the post office doors. He shouldered them to open one and make his way inside.
The office was small and vacant. One wall held rows of different sizes boxes and parcels for mailing, while the other had benches to prepare the personal items for the boxes.
Both sides led to a bench at the back that was shielded with a clear screen. There was a small gap to the left where the bench curved and left space for an open doorway.
Skrea greeted the two women at the desk, winding around the doorway to thump upwards. I shuffled behind, peering up the rickety stairs ascending to a platform further up. It could barely fit him and his broad shoulders.
"I'll patch you up with your human things" Skrea huffed when I creaked up behind him "and then you can leave my town."
"Your town?" I scoffed "I didn't realize someone could own a whole suburb."
"These are my grounds" he growled back "and you are trespassing with your other one. You aren't welcome here around my children."
Did he see me as a threat? Or was this simply territorial again?
"I'm just trying to go home."
"Home is that way" he pointed diagonally to the wall on his right "not here. Our parents won't take back fledged children. You have to settle your own home and raise your own family. You aren't settling here."
Like I fucking would.
"Why look after me then?" I asked when he waited for me on the platform before starting up the next set of stairs now ascending the opposite direction "why not just leave me out there?"
"I'll keep you where I can see you" he replied simply "and if you don't take to the treatment and die, my babies will have fresh meat ready for them."
"Gross" I wrinkled my nose up.
He laughed, taking great satisfaction in my discomfort.
"You are barely one of us. It'll be like picking clean human bones."
Ah, so my incomplete change worked in his favour. Purely survival. There was no love here.
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He waited for me on the next landing, following the last set of stairs now returning to the previous direction.
These weren't as long and had Skrea pressed against the wooden door at the top that had a tiny grated hole for ventilation.
He turned to face me, glaring.
"You'll keep your head down" he warned me "you'll walk through and be treated. You will not talk to my children or mate. If you so much as make eye contact towards her, I will throw you from the platform. Do we have that clear?"
He was so demanding. Glaring back, I made a noise to say I understood, but wasn't quite agreeing with the harsh terms being slapped on me all at once.
The door was opened and I climbed the last of the stairs to stand in the doorway.
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My eyes instantly found the mate Skrea had mentioned. Huddled in a nest of broken cabinetry, her head lifted to the noise, dark eyes settling on both of us. The black markings only accentuated the natural beauty here.
She was built like Leaf's gargantuan parents, minus the size. Also void of the arms Skrea had, the black shoulders of her wings were used as supports to maneuver on all fours.
White feathers, immaculately preened, shone with health in the sunlight. Even the scales of her legs curved at her sides were void of any scratches or flaking.
The breastbone was hidden beneath layers of fluffed feathers brooding eggs. It jutted, giving the mate something to rest her head on.
I couldn't dip my eyes quick enough. Skrea saw me blatantly breaking his rules and snarled as he snapped his claws into my neck, dragging my digging heels that scraped off more skin on the floorboards.
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Blood twisted behind me when I pulled back on his powerful arms. Terror and panic whimpered through me when I saw him marching for the window at the other side of the room he shoved open, letting in the cold breeze that ruffled over both of us.
I opened my mouth to beg, but no noise came out.
I could hear the cars passing below and sounds of people obliviously continuing their lives. In the distance, the clock tower began to chime again.
Skrea swung me around to stop my claws from latching onto him, joyfully listening to the bell carve right through my hammering heart and panting breath before he snarled and shoved me out of the window.
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