Hello, and welcome to Miss Avocet's Home for Peculiar Children! I would definitely love reviewers, so let's get on with the story!
July 15, 1867
"Alma! Where are you?" the peregrine, otherwise known as Alma LeFay Bentham, could clearly hear her mentor, Miss Avocet, over the white granite wall. Her annoyed and puzzled voice resounded through the sky. She thrashed her wings wildly and cawed. The white net was weighed down with stones, and she had flown right into it. The garden around her enticed her with the promise of freedom.
Looking left and right to make sure no one was watching, she closed her eyes as her wings morphed into arms and she turned back into a 14 year old with long, curly blue-black hair. In the shadows of the wall, a boy watched her detangle the net from her body and shape-shift back into a bird, flying back into her loop.
She ran into the tall and imposing Victorian edifice, then scurried through the hallways until she bumped into Miss Avocet, knocking her over. Her mentor tumbled to the ground and hit her head, a trickle of blood working its way down her forehead.
As Alma dashed to her side, a cruel voice she knew all too well came from the staircase. "Clumsy old Alma..I wonder if you'll get kicked out for knocking the old hag unconscious. I don't mind the peace and silence, of course."
Her blood froze in her veins as Jack turned into a falcon, his arms and legs seamlessly assimilating into his body as he became a slate grey falcon with a cream streaked underbelly. He dove at her leg. Stiff with fear, she could barely move. A small whimper of fear escaped her mouth as he viciously tore at her leg.
She cried out in pain as a flap of bloody skin and muscle hung from her leg and the falcon cawed in triumph. Miss Avocet didn't stir, and Alma sighed as Jack flew out the window. He was so jealous of her; granted, it was a fact of life by now, but that didn't diffuse the ache in her heart for him.
Sometimes it surprised her how much hate he had at only 18.