Chapter 1: Birds about to Fly

Adrenaline ran through my veins as I ran across the rooftops of my district, Karanes. I glanced behind to make sure I was out of my pursuer line of sight. I stopped to crouch behind a chimney, seeing my pursuer come into sight. He seems very confused as where I have gone. After he turns his back on me and I run to the edge of the roof before lowering myself down. Once I land gracefully on my feet, while getting a few questioning glances, I pull my hood over my head and walk with the crowd.

Turning a corner to escape from the crowd, I see that my previous pursuer is coming right towards me. I test my luck by not changing my pace at all but taking long confident steps towards him and…. Walk past him with no problem. My confusing did not last long as I felt myself get grabbed from behind and pinned against the wall.

"You should have known better." A deep voice whispered into my ear.

"How don't you know that this isn't part of my plan?" I replied

He laughed, to my disappointment, "I know you better Ari. But you are getting better."

Suddenly the hold on me was released and I wasted no time to spin around and kick him in the stomach throwing him onto his ass.

"Never give your target an opening, Felix." I said as I place a hand on my hip.

He coughed, brushing dirt off of his clothing, "Right… of course."

Home

Felix and I were overwhelmed by the smell of my mother's cooking. We practically drooled as we floated to the table taking our respective seats. We had been so quite that mother hadn't even realized we had walked in. It was my little brother, Ace who had alerted her of us waiting for food.

"Big Sister! Today I found a big rock! Bigger than you! I climbed to the top of it and all my friends were soooo jealous!" Ace explained with a goofy look on his face.

"Oh really?" I replied. "Maybe one day you'll be able to climb the wall!"

"Do you really think so big sister?" His eyes went wide.

"Yep. Don't you think the same Felix?"

He had already stuffed his face with a chicken leg and could only nod in response as the rest of us laughed.

"If I can climb the walls does that mean that I can be part of the stationary guard like Dad?" Ace asked reaching across the table for bread.

"You can be whatever you want to be if you put your heart for it." Mom had piped in glancing at me.

Mother had always been very supportive of becoming part of the stationary guard more then any other unit. Between her and daddy's families every male had joined the Garrison. For the most part girls were expected to stay home, make babies, and continue the family line. But I had something different in mind, and mother knew it. She supported me even if it broke her heart that I would be leaving her, and soon after my baby brother.

Felix wasn't part of our family, but he might has well be. He's been my best friend since we were kids. We were going to be trainees together. So mother was sad about him leaving as much as me. But, it made her happy that he would be able to watch over me, like always. Not that I needed to be watched over… But that's what friends do. And that's what we would always do. Till the end.

I glanced around the table, appreciating all I had. I knew that I limited time left here, and I wasn't about to waist it.