This is our story. The original Starfox team. As I sit here in the darkness in this cold cell I will recall the times that we all shared and remember our adventures before my imminent death. Everything. I only wish that I could've been there for you my son. To see you grow... It was a cold winter night that me and my best friend first met. Back who knows how many years ago. I was what? 15 maybe and him about the same age. Three months younger. I always gave him a hard time about that. I was walking home and the snow just kept falling. The wind was blowing rather hard and it was hard to see. The temp. was dropping fast as the sun went down. I was rushing to get home but I feared that if I ran I'd run into something. I looked out at the lake. My house was right across from it. It had to be frozen through by now right? I started walking across it. The snow whipping my face and getting caught in my fur. I was a little more that half way across when the ice cracked. I fell into the lake. The cold seeping into my bones. My body went numb almost instantly. I clawed at the ice trying to get a good grip so that I could pull myself out but there was nothing to grab onto. The thought I'm going to die flowing through my mind. I was about ready to give up when I felt a hand grip my wrist. They pulled me out. I gasped for breath. They took no time in wrapping one of my arms around their neck and pulling me up and started walking me the rest of the way across the lake.
"Where do you live?"
I looked over to my rescuer. It was hard to see with all of the snow but he was a bird. His feathers a bright blue color. His eyes were an electric blue color.
"Via 1426."
He nodded and continued to walk me.
"Who are you?" I asked.

"No one important..."

"What's your name?" I pressed.

"Why do you care?"

"Just fucking tell me."

"...Jay."

I thought over the name. Not a usual name but not an exciting name either.

"I'm James."

"Kay."
He said nothing more as we continued to my house. He opened the door.

"Where have you-!" Mom started but stopped when she rounded the corner and saw me. "Oh my god. What happened?"

Dad walked in hearing the panic in moms voice.

"I fell in the lake." I stated plainly as I continued to shiver.

Jay walked me to the living room. He dropped me on the couch and started out.

"Wait." Dad said sternly. Jay stopped and looked back. "You're that runaway."

"Runaway?" I asked confused.

Jay pulled up the collar of his coat like it would hide him. Dad approached Jay who seemed about ready to run.

"You do realize that I'm going to have to call the police?" He more stated than asked.

Jay tried to bolt out but dad caught him by the collar of his red jacket and yanked him back. Dad half walked half dragged him to the couch.

"You're a runaway?" I asked confused.

"What of it?" He asked seeming rather pissed that dad caught him.

"I just didn't expect that."

"Amber. Go call the police and tell them we found their runaway. James go change." Dad ordered taking charge like usual.

I obeyed and when I came back down Jay and my dad were staring each other down.

"Can't you a least tell us why you ran away?" Dad asked sounding frustrated.

"That's my business not yours."

"The police are on their way." Mom said walking back into the living room.

Jay shifted position uncomfortably turning his gaze somewhere else.

"God kid what could have been so bad that you would run away in the middle of winter?"

Jay stayed silent a look of rage showing on his face as he recalled some memory.

Dad stood and followed mom into the kitchen. A foot in the door so he could watch the front door to make sure Jay didn't bolt. I sat next to Jay.

"Why did you run away."

"Just drop the subject."

"You can tell me. I won't tell anyone."

"...M-... My parents are a couple of alcoholics."

"What?"

"Whenever they get drunk they get pissed and then for some reason all everything bad that happens is my fault. Yelling at me and calling me a mistake and a failure and anything else they can say to hurt me. It goes from them complaining to yelling then... After that let's just say emotional pain isn't the only pain that I go through. I can't deal with it anymore... I just can't."

"I'm sorry Jay."

I could hear the hurt in his voice. He shrugged and leaned back staring at the ceiling.

"I was so close..." He whispered. "I was almost free."

I put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at me.

"What?" He asked.

"Have you told anyone besides me."

"Why does it matter?"

"Maybe you can get some help."

"No one gives a damn. All I got was 'Oh your overreacting. I'm sure it's not that bad.' Besides even if I someone did help I'd end up in some orphanage and no one wants
a 15 year old. They want the kids. I don't want to be stuck in an orphanage."

The doorbell rang and Jays muscles tensed. Dad opened the door and after a few comments and Jay refusing to speak he walked out the door with the cops. I felt bad for

him as he walked down the driveway with them and back to that hell he couldn't escape for another three years. That seemed to be what was going through Jay's mind

because without any warning Jay dashed down the street. With a few swearwords the cops took off after him.

"What is wrong with that kid?" Dad asked walking back into the house.

That was the last I saw of Jay until on a weird twist of fate and luck the general added Jay to my team because we needed a mechanic. It was about six months of the Starfox team being in action.