The girl watched the sky with a certain longing. She took off her shirt and feathery wings of different colours, red, blue, green, yellow etc. burst from her bare patches of skin above her singlet. She glanced around the field, to make sure no one was watching, though it was a little late for that.
"I wonder why mum always tells me to hide my wings."
The girl had blonde hair with some red mixed in it. She had wavy hair that tumbled down her shoulders. Her eyes were green and blue. Freckles adorned her cheeks. She spread her wings and launched off the ground. She did a lazy circle and flew around.
As she landed on the soft grass of the field she picked up her shirt. She heard a shout of astonishment from behind her. She whirled around, dropping her t-shirt. There stood five of her classmates, gaping at her colourful wings.
"Oh my god. She's a freak!" One of the boys gasped. One of them lent down and picked up a stone, with a look of disgust on his face, he threw the stone at her as hard as he could.
It hit her in the head and she pitched backwards, seeing spots. She felt a boot in her ribs and felt hands yanking her feathers out. A punch hit her mouth and split her lip open. The one thought she had before she blacked out was, so that's why…
She woke, the night was completely black. "Am I dead?" The world swirled and she blacked out again. The next time she woke, the hot sun was beating down on her. Her throat felt as though it had been sanded thoroughly.
She sat up and pain lanced through her body. She saw a boy staring at her. He had brown hair and big glasses; they seemed to take up half his face. He squeaked and brown spikes jutted out of his back. He squeezed his eyes shut and cringed.
"I-" her voice broke. He looked up, his spikes slowly receding. She tried to speak, but only coughed up a little bit of blood. He walked forward and tugged her to her feet. He walked along, pulling her gently. She staggered after him.
Now that she was standing, he appeared to be a little smaller then her. She let him lead her. He led her through the forest near the field. When they emerged into a clearing he let go. She saw it had a natural spring nearby, it also had a makeshift tent rigged up and she saw clothes dangled over a line.
He tapped her arm and offered her a cup filled with water. "Drink. You look rough." He pushed his glasses up as she took the cup with shaking hands. He led her over to a log and she sat down. She drank slowly.
"What happened? You look as though you were dragged through hell."
"S-some," her voice broke and she drank some more water. She felt as though she had been dragged through hell. "Some classmates of mine saw me when I had my wings a-and they beat me up." Her voice trembled. "Why? Why would they do that?" Tears welled up and she fought them down.
The boy smiled sympathetically. "I don't know. Humans feel a strong desire to hate us, our kind."
He took her drink and got more from the natural spring. He handed it to her. She drank it. "By the way, what are we?" He stared at her incredulously.
"You can't be serious…" He trailed off, before realising she was dead serious. "We're known as +Anima. We all have particular attributes from a certain animal. I, for instance am a porcupine. I'm useless." He muttered, bitterly.
"I'm sure you'd be useful in some-"
"Yeah, like when?"
The girl was silent as she thought about it. "Told you so." He muttered. "Anyway, you can stay here for a little while. I'll be moving on soon, though."
She stood up and walked over to his tent. He pointed out a mattress made of some sort of flower or plant, "I have a spare one, so I'll use that," he turned to exit the tent. "Oh, yeah. What's your name?"
"Oh, I'm Naya-"
"Nice name. I'm Faust."
Naya went to reply, but Faust was already gone.
The next morning she woke up and she walked out of the tent, she washed her face in the water and realised her t-shirt was on the line. "Faust found it for me?" She shrugged her t-shirt on and was reassured by the familiar fabric settling around her body.
"Good morning."
She screamed as she whirled around and saw Faust. "You nearly scared me to death!" She exclaimed, gasping. He smiled wryly. "I can tell," he told her, "I see you found your t-shirt." He observed.
"I'm going to go see my parents. They're probably wondering where I am."
"That's not a good idea…" Faust responded, before trailing off. They'll only hurt you…
"Why not?" Naya demanded. Faust looked at her sympathetically.
"Wait for me. I'll come."
Naya stared at him, then shrugged. "Whatever you say." She waited for Faust to pack everything up, then they left. He only had a few things in a tattered backpack. "What happened to the mattresses?"
"Hm? Oh, I made them. It's easier to leave things behind then to lug them around."
Naya was about to reply, when she saw the familiar figure of her house looming up. She swallowed down a sudden swell of fear and walked up bravely. She rang the doorbell and the door opened a crack. She saw her mother's familiar eyes peering out.
"Who's there, Naya?"
"Mum! I-"
"Why are you here? They'll think badly of me if they see me with you." Her mum made as if to close the door in her face.
"Mum! Wait!"
"There's nothing to say. I told you to never show your wings. Now you have to face the consequences." She slammed the door. Naya stood there, stunned. Anger bubbled up, but then the sadness welled up and she found herself fighting tears.
She felt hands on her shoulders, steering her away. "You see? Humans don't like us, they don't trust us."
"But, my own parents-" Her voice broke as she swallowed sobs.
"I know it's hard, but we have to get on with our lives."
"How do you know what it's like?!" Faust smiled a funny smile at her.
"Because I've experienced it myself." He whispered.
"Oh, I'm-" Something hit Faust in the back.
"You associating with that freak?!" A group of boys stood behind them. Naya grabbed Faust's arm and sprinted away.
She led him through a befuddling array of back streets, until they burst out of an alley and onto a pavement which was crowded with people. People turned to stare as they burst out. Naya tugged Faust away from the crowd and disappeared into a nearby café. She spotted a seat in the dark corner and led him towards it.
"Here, let's sit here." Naya gasped. The two of them sat and stared at the menu.
"What can I get for you?" A pretty waitress asked.
"Oh, nothing thanks." Faust told her.
She shot them a disgusted look almost as though she was asking why they came in the first place.
"Not ordering anything? That's rude. Oi! I'll have three burgers and what soft drinks would you like?"
"Uh, coke." Naya murmured.
"I'll have lemonade." Faust told him.
"Two lemonades and a coke. Thanks sweetie." The boy dropped a wink and gave her a tip.
The waitress blushed and scurried off. "But, we don't have anything to pay with."
"It's on me. Name's Scorpio by the way." The boy had shoulder length red hair and green eyes. Freckles adorned his cheeks. "So, what're two young kids like your selves doing here?"
"Oh, uh, we're-"
Naya cut Faust off, "we're sightseeing." Naya said, firmly.
Scorpio raised his eyebrows. "Hmm. What are your animals?"
"Excuse me?" Naya asked, confused.
Scorpio clicked his tongue, "don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. You're both +Anima, what are your animals?" The duo was spared responding when the waitress came back with their dishes. For a second they stared, then they hungrily dug in, the burgers were gigantic.
After the burgers had been eaten they sipped their drinks peacefully. "You still haven't told me."
Naya glanced up, "bird."
"Porcne." Faust mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"I said, Porcupine." Faust muttered.
Scorpio was silent for a moment, then he began cracking up. "A porcupine?! Right. What are you really?" Scorpio asked, wiping tears from his eyes.
"I was being serious."
Scorpio froze. He frowned and his brain ticked over as he tried to think of a situation Faust could be of use in.
"Maybe you could-" Scorpio began, but they never got to find out what he 'maybe could be', because at that moment the doors were flung open and the restaurant was flooded with light, in the doorway stood three shadowy figures.