(Celine's POV)
"Damn it!" one cop raged. "They got away, again!"
I smiled to my companion. This was to be expected.
"Don't worry, Sarge," said the other. "We'll get them next time."
"Doubt it," was the reply. I nodded to my partner and the two of us began disappearing into the night.
A weird noise hit my ears just then, almost like a faint 'pop'. I exchanged a glance with him and the two of us darted towards the sound. We stopped short as we saw a light at the end of an alleyway. I frowned, then forced myself forward, against my better judgement. My partner, as hesitant as I, followed behind.
"It's... not one of us," he stated quietly, his eyes drinking in the sight in front of us as the light faded. The body was of some foreign species, a duck with no bill nor feathers. It was unmistakably female, but what, exactly, was it? Her hair was very short, cut as short as a boy's, and pitch black, just like this night. Her skin was tan in color, her build one that obviously my partner found very attractive, though she was of another species. Still, one couldn't ignore the well toned muscles her limbs supported.
I looked around. It appeared as though she'd fallen asleep here, but her clothes suggested otherwise. No one with any sense would be wearing shorts and a t-shirt outside on Puckworld. Without a word, my companion removed his cape and wrapped her in it, picking her up. I looked at him.
"What do you think you're doing, Chip?" I demanded quietly. "She can't be trusted!"
"We don't know that and I'm not about to sentence someone to death when it wasn't ordered," he snapped, then turned and darted into the shadows, heading home. I sighed and followed, knowing well that there was no arguing with him. Soon enough, the secret hideout of the Brotherhood of the Blade lay before us. I opened the door, my eyes resting on the shaking form of the sleeping teen girl. I still didn't like this. I knew neither would Duke. Chip lead the way down, down deep into the warmer under-shell of Puckworld. Here, we entered a corridor that went two ways. One way led to the commons room and other such public areas, the other to our separate rooms and the hospital wing. Chip didn't hesitate and headed towards the hospital. With a shake of my head, I followed him, knowing well how Saige would react to this.
"My god!" came Saige's voice. "What on Puckworld is that?"
I rolled my eyes as I walked in to see that Chip had placed the female on one of the medical beds.
"I'm not sure," Chip answered. "But I was hoping you'd check her out, see about her health as best you can."
Saige's eyes went to mine.
"Was she alone, Celine?" he asked. I nodded.
"Glowing like a lamp, too," I stated, then let my eyes take in the injuries I hadn't noticed before. Lining all of her limbs were cuts and bruises. Around her neck, the bruising suggested that someone had tried to strangle her! Without reason, I felt the usual rage for the mistreatment of women rising in me. Heaven forbid I ever find exactly who did this!
"Calm yourself, Celine," Saige said, then looked between Chip and I. "I will do what I can for the female. You two get the honor of explaining all of this to Duke."
We both winced, then left, knowing well that Saige, though male, still required privacy for all of his patients.
(Artemis's POV)
I woke to someone pressing something cold to my arm. With a jolt, I jerked awake and away from whatever it was, jerking into a sitting up position, only to nearly fall again as a wave of dizziness hit.
"Easy!" came an authoritative yet gentle male voice. I let him catch me as I fell back, trusting this strange voice to take care of me. "Keep moving like that and you'll antagonize your wounds, little one."
"I'm not little," I muttered, knowing well that I sounded pathetic. It hurt to talk. It hurt to breathe. I heard him chuckle.
"What is your name?" he asked. I shivered again as the cold object touched my skin. Slowly, my brain realized that it was one of the really, really annoying doctor tools that allows you to hear someone's heartbeat and lungs.
"Artemis Meriaz," I answered. "You?"
I winced again as my throat hurt. I reached up a hand to rub it, only to cringe as I felt the pain increase.
"I'm Saige, the doctor here," he said. "It would appear that you were strangled, Miss Meriaz. You're lucky that Chip and Celine found you. You could have died from hypothermia out there in those clothes."
"Where is here?" I choked out.
"Puckworld," he said. I let shock register in my mind, before calming again and slowly opening my eyes. Standing over me, was a dark-colored humanoid duck. I closed my eyes again and took another look. Sure enough, there was the very same duck. He continued to take care of my wounds and I slowly took time to look him over. His clothing was all simple, as if made for a regular person. He wore a pair of black pants and a simple black wife-beater. His face had a few scars, as did his arms. He wore no lab coat nor anything else to suggest that he wasn't a normal person, but a doctor. His eyes were a calming, deep cerulean. I let myself relax and let him do his work.
That's when the door opened and another two ducks came in, both male. One wore a burgandy body-suite. He had a patch over his right eye where a red, mechanical eye looked out. There was a white streak in his elvis-impression hair and he had a chip in his beak. The other one was white-colored and taller than the other one. He had a scar over his left eye, another on his neck where the feathers refused to grow again. He was muscular while the other was thin.
"Miss Mariaz," Saige said, getting my attention. "This is Chip, the one who saved you."
The white one nodded, coming to sit on the edge of the bed next to me.
"This is Duke, our leader," he finished, the other not moving. I let my eyes go back to Saige.
"What happens now?" I asked, then winced again as speaking hurt my throat.
"First you need to eat," Chip said. "You're a lot skinnier than can possibly be healthy."
I let a small smile cross my face.
"This is, unfortunately, as big as I get," I told him. "I can eat you out of house and home and still not gain a pound."
He gave a smile back, one that eased my nerves right now.
"You still need to eat," he said. I nodded, only to wince and gently rub my throat again. "Do you know sign language?"
I nodded.
"So do I," he said. "Use it to speak until your throat heals. It's gonna hurt enough as it is."
I nodded, then looked at Duke.
*What else? I know well that this must be an inconvenience. I'm not from here.* I signed to Chip. He shrugged.
"How old are you?" he asked.
*19* I signed. He nodded.
"We'll put you in high school here," he said, then cut off the beginning of my protests. "This is just so that you can get aquainted with a few of those who live here. We don't want you to be an outcast in a place that is as good as your new home."
I hesitated, then signed a seemingly innocent question.
*I'm in the Brotherhood of the Blade, aren't I?*
The effect was immediate. Shock ripped through Chip's face.
"How do you..."
*Please don't ask me questions I can't answer. I'm sorry, but I really, really don't know any of you enough to trust you with those kinds of answers. Please, just let it lie.*
Slowly, the shock left his face and he nodded, accepting my request, and honoring it.
"Very well," he said. "Yes, that is exactly where you are. Celine and I have prepared a room for you and from here, you only have to walk six blocks to the left of our doorway to get to the high school. No one has ever seen my face so I can go with you the first time. The school year doesn't start for about a week. That gives us time to get your required things and some climate appropriate clothes."
I slowly nodded, then chanced another glance at Duke.
*What about him? What does he want?*
Chip looked at Duke.
"What is your name?" Duke asked. Somehow, I just knew that he knew nothing about sign language.
"Artemis Meriaz," I answered, wincing and rubbing my throat again, then swallowed the painful expression, forcing myself to look up at him.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"Earth," I answered. His eyes betrayed no emotions whatsoever, but I knew well that this was his way of feeling me out. My eyes went and locked with his. "I know well what this is, Duke L'Orange. Yes, I know who you are. Don't ask questions I cannot answer. Know well, nonetheless, the secrets of this place are safe with me. Betrayal isn't something I'm capable of, trust me. I've tried."
His expression went from surprised and suspicious, to understanding and accepting. I looked back at Chip.
"How exactly are we going to pay for everything I need?" I asked. Chip smiled.
"I have enough built up over the years to cover it," he said. I nodded. "Guilty concience about stealing?"
I nodded.
"I was taught never to leech," I replied. "Know well that I intend to make my own way here, not live off all of you forever."
He nodded, then Duke handed me something. With a curious glance at him, I opened my hand to find a small communicator of sorts. I looked back up at him.
"Just in case," he said, answering the unspoken question. Then, with a nod at Saige and Chip, he left. I looked at the two men. Chip took my hand and helped me to my feet.
"Follow me for the food," he said. I nodded and fell in step behind him. Soon, we entered a large room. From one end to the other, this room was packed with theives, mostly men. I sent a hesitant glance at Chip, but his smile was encouraging. I swallowed my unease and followed him to a far table. Here, sat two females and two familiar males, one of them Duke, the other, Falcone. My unease resurfaced, but, seeing Duke's expression, I swallowed it once more. I took the offered seat right next to Chip.
"How you feelin', hun?" one female asked. Her feathers were dark, almost black. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green. She was built along dangerous beauty lines. No visible scars were seen on her.
"Been worse," I answered, wincing and rubbing my throat again. She nodded and passed some of the main dishes to me so I could fill my plate. "Thanks."
She smiled.
"I'm Celine," she said. "This is Robyn and Falcone."
"Artemis," I replied to the unspoken question. Slowly, I brought the drink to my lips. With a small sip, I made a face and put it back down. All of them noticed it.
"Not a fan of liquor?" Robyn asked, her voice somewhat mocking. Her features were more about eye-candy. Her feathers were light colored, her features made to drive men wild. Curved in all the right places and gifted with baby-blue eyes, she was a sight for any man. Against my will, I felt jealousy worm it's way into my mind. If only I had the beauty she had. Maybe then I'd have a prayer for finding someone that might actually enjoy my company. Pushing those feelings away, I looked back at the glass before giving it to Chip.
"I don't like what it does to me," I answered. Chip nodded and got up. I don't know where he went, but he came back with another glass. Without a doubt, I tasted this one, then sent him a grateful look as I swallowed the cool water. He smiled and the two of us began to eat. I didn't listen much to other's conversations, then looked at Chip once I was done. He smiled and got up, offering his hand. I smiled and got up as well, following him out of the room and to another, smaller room. I noted that it was a bedroom. I looked at him.
"This is your room," he said. I looked around and let my eyes roam over it. The furniture was made from ebony wood, the bedspread a dark green. I smiled and looked back at him. "We'll leave after breakfast to go shopping. I'll wake you for that. Celine will let you borrow some of her street clothes until we buy some."
I nodded.
"Thank you," I said, my gratitude apparent. "This is very kind of all of you."
Chip shrugged with a smile.
"We may be theives, but we're not heartless," he stated, then left, locking the door from the inside before closing it. I smiled and looked to my left. There was another room, but I could see from here that it was a bathroom. I smiled and began to settle in for the night. This may be Puckworld and I may be in the den of theives, but, right now, I was more at home than I'd ever felt in my life.
I woke to someone knocking gently on my door. Without hesitation, I got up and opened it quickly, admitting Chip to my room.
"How're you feeling?" he asked, his eyes on the much more visible bruising on my neck. I shrugged, then winced.
*I've been better.*
He nodded and smiled, pulling out a set of jeans and a t-shirt for me. I looked at him questioningly.
"These are from Celine," he said. "She thought you might want something a little warmer for out there."
I smiled.
*Remind me to thank her for this.*
He smiled and nodded.
"You have plenty of time to shower and change," he said. "She wants you to then meet her in the dining hall for a heavier jacket for you to wear. She thinks you may require something a lot heavier than we wear, due to the fact that you have no feathers for insulation."
I smiled, pleased and grateful. Then I picked up the clothes and disappeared into the bathroom to shower and get ready.
(Duke's POV)
I didn't like this idea, not even a little. Chip was risking everyone's safety for a strange female, one that was far too fragile to survive among us. Still, she had said that she didn't intend to stay long.
Then I heard laughter coming from the hall. Here came Chip and Artemis. The bruises were much more apparent now, more visible than before, especially the ones on her neck. The clothes were almost a perfect fit, but she would still require going out in the open to get more. That was another thing I didn't like. Chip would be exposing himself to the outside world, taking a really huge risk for a theif. Still, it would appear that he'd do anything for this girl. He'd been so smitten with her from the very get-go. I shook my head as she signed something to him, making him laugh harder as a blush crossed her face. She shook her head and signed something else, then chuckled herself. The two came to our table. I was positive that no one had told her the significance of this table. Only those of highest rank were allowed to sit here, among myself and the others. Many questions had arisen about her, but most of our number shrugged it off, saying it was just to make her more comfortable during her short stay.
"Good morning," Chip greeted cheerfully. Artemis shook her head and giggled at his morning attitude. Celine then handed her a really, really heavy jacket. It was made for theives that were travelling through ice and snow, digging through it, really. A grateful look passed her features, then she signed something to Chip.
"She says thanks for your help and for lending her all of this," he translated. "She apologizes that she can't say this herself, but it would appear that her throat has swelled and she's having trouble breathing, let alone talking."
Celine's features instantly went to concerned, right along with Saige's.
"That's not normal," he said. Artemis rapidly signed something else.
"She agrees, but she thinks the cold has some effect," Chip translated again. "It doesn't get anywhere near as cold as this where she comes from. It's actually what we'd consider an oven there."
Saige nodded, then disappeared. He returned with a syringe full of a clear liquid. She didn't hesitate nor fight him when he shot it directly into the side of her throat. It was a few minutes but the results began to show. You could definately tell that she was breathing easier.
"Thank you," she said finally, still wincing a little. Saige just nodded with a smile. We all began to eat. Falcone, Celine, Chip, and Robyn were talking about one of the latest updates in the police force, but Artemis, Saige, and myself said nothing. She was watching me... and I, her. Finally, Chip got up, her following suite and the two headed out.
"Still think she can't be trusted?" asked Saige.
"It's too soon to be sure of anything," I replied.
(Artemis's POV)
Shopping with Chip had been both fun and embarrassing. He had way too much fun in the store, trying on hats and clothes. Everywhere we went, I got all kinds of mixed looks from the natives. From some, it was unwelcome and disdain. From others it was mild curiosity. A few of the kids had all ready come up to me in person to investigate. I, of course, had knelt so that they could reach all of my features, especially my face. That was a favorite. They had remarked that my skin was soft. Some had expressed concern at my injuries. I signed a few words, making a few of the others smile. Some of the adults knew sign language and were soon holding full conversations with me.
Now, though, we were headed to the school, having all ready returned most of my bags to my room. It was time to enroll. Fortunately, only the hockey team and some members of their families would be there before school began. I let Chip lead me into the building.
"The office is on the other side of the ice," he told me. I nodded, knowing well that that meant we'd have to come face-to-face with the team. I prayed that there weren't too many people there. I really didn't want to have to deal with teenager mentality right now. Immaturity was something I wasn't very good at handling.
Chip read my silence well and kept me to the background, making sure that we got past the practicing hockey players with little to no attention turned our way. There was a blonde-haired male duck on the bleachers that had noticed us, but with a look from Chip, he nodded and turned back to the game, understanding the need for discretion. I knew this one on sight. This was Nosedive Flashblade. He always had been the one to pick up on subtle hints.
"Chip?" came a female voice, just before we left the room. Instantly, all eyes went to us... then just to me. I winced and hid behind Chip, feeling very, very uncomfortable under their gazes. I turned to see a professional-looking female duck. She offered her hand to him. "I'm Mrs. Angellus, principal of this school."
"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice," he said. She turned her gaze to me.
"You must be Artemis," she said welcomingly. There was no prejudice in her face, nor her tone. I nodded, then glanced at Chip.
*Can you please tell the hockey team to take a picture? They tend to last longer.*
Chip laughed and turned to the ice.
"She says you might wanna take a picture," he told them. "It might last longer."
With a few chuckles, they got the message and went back to practice. I could still feel their questioning gazes, but I shrugged them off.
"So it is true," Mrs. Angellus said. "You do use sign language to communicate most of the time."
I nodded.
"That boy on the bleachers, Nosedive Flashblade, and his brother, the goalie, they both know it too," she revealed. "There was a point that they had a mute family member come live with them. They learned it to communicate."
I nodded, understanding, sending both mentioned parties a glance. Nosedive caught it and waved. With a small smile, I waved back.
*Are you always this friendly?* I signed to him. He laughed and nodded. I smiled again and then let Chip pull me out of the room, following the principal. I filled out a few papers, let her lecture me on the rules of the school, yada, yada, yada... Then Chip and I turned to leave. We were met on the way out by the Flashblade brothers and another male duck. I looked at Chip, my nervousness showing.
"Chill," Nosedive said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "We ain't gonna hurt ya."
I smirked.
*If I 'chill' any more, I'll be a five-foot seven-inch frozen stiff statue named Artemis.*
He and the buff white one laughed. The other one just rolled his eyes. I frowned.
*Do you understand me?* I signed to him. He nodded.
"I learned it just as the two did," he said. "I'm at their house a lot."
I nodded, then recognized him. This was Canard Thunderbeak. The other had to be Wildwing.
"Allow me to guess your names," I spoke up, wincing as it hurt my throat, but pushed it away, allowing me the pleasure of their shock. "Wildwing and Nosedive Flashblade, sons of Sarabi and Rick Flashblade, and Canard Thunderbeak, son of Marissa and Avery Thunderbeak."
Again, shock covered their features. Chip shot me a warning look, one that I took into account. I knew well, from that look alone, that I'd crossed a line that I can never take back.
"How do you..." Wildwing began. I put my hands up in a defensive manner.
"Please don't ask questions I can't really answer," I said, regret for saying anything in my voice. All three caught it and they nodded.
"What's it like in your world?" asked Wildwing, walking with us towards the hideout. We decided to take the long way back, just to keep it hidden.
"It's warmer, much warmer than here," I replied, then noted that my throat was getting used to the mild twinge of talking. "We never get temperatures this cold, not unless we go to the uninhabitable regions of the world."
"Do you guys play hockey there too?" asked Nosedive. I smiled.
"Rarely," I answered. "There's maybe one hockey team for every four states and there's only fifty states where I live. It's too hot to maintain the ice required for the sport."
"Then what sports do you have?" Nosedive asked in complete disbelief. I smiled.
"Football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, wrestling, golf, track, rugby, and several types of baseball," I answered. His face was completely disbelieving.
"Did you play sports back home?" asked Canard. I nodded.
"Football, volleyball, soccer, golf, and baseball," I answered. "Never really could decide which one I liked best. I gave up wrestling less than three days after I began. No one would wrestle a girl, you see. Said it was 'beneath' them."
Canard rolled his eyes. I laughed.
"That's what I thought," I said. "Most of the sports I chose to play were considered 'men's' sports. Women generally weren't allowed to play because of how violent and dangerous they were. I told the coaches, 'screw you, I can do anything a man can,' then proved it."
I shrugged.
"Never really did take well to people saying I can't do something," I mused. Chip was shaking his head. Then I heard a ringing. I pulled out the communicator, then, as if I knew what I was doing, I hit a button (luckily the right one). The top came up and Celine appeared on the screen.
"What on Puckworld is taking you two so long?" she asked, a teasing tone to her voice. "You realize you were supposed to be back well over an hour ago."
"We were busy," I replied, my tone mock-defensive. She laughed and nodded.
"Please hurry back," she said. "Saige wants to take another look at your injuries, make sure they're healing right, and Duke wants a word with you... several in fact."
I frowned.
"Am I in trouble?" I asked. She laughed and shook her head.
"No, no, no!" she said. "He just doesn't know whether to trust you or not yet."
I sighed and nodded.
"Figures," I said, somewhat hurt. It was noted by everyone around me, but I shrugged off their concern. "See you soon."
She nodded and the screen went blank. I shut it and, with a sigh, looked at Chip, then the others.
"Sorry to leave so soon, but..."
"Gotta do what you gotta do," Nosedive said. I nodded, grateful for his understanding. Then Chip and I took off running. I knew well that this wasn't going to be a pleasant talk.
"Come on," Saige said, upon seeing me. I nodded and followed him to the hospital wing. He checked me over, and I mean all over, and then put another syringe in my neck. Then, I saw Duke in the doorway. I frowned, but followed him to a strange set of quarters. I tensed, noting that it was a bedroom. Fortunately, there was a couch to sit on. After he chose to sit on the edge of the bed, I parked it on the couch. He raised a brow at that, but let it slide.
"How're your injuries?" he asked.
"Saige won't say, but they can't be too bad," I replied. "I'm walking and talking so that says a lot."
"What took you so long to get back?"
"I was talking to three of the students from my new school. We decided to take the long route home."
"What are you planning for this year? You know well that any and all friends you make can never know about this place."
"I don't expect them to ask. The three I spoke with all ready know not to ask questions that I can't answer. That roughly translates to, don't expect any answers to any questions you have... I've lived in the background my entire life. Other than a few curious or disdainful or prejudiced people, I'll stick to being the outcast I've always been. That should eliminate any and all need for my home whereabouts to be known."
He was silent for a moment, absorbing that information. His eyes revealed nothing, no reactions to what I'd said nor anything else.
"Are you just trying to make this stay as uncomfortable as possible or do you pride yourself on being a distant, disdainful, untrusting, typical member of the male species?" I asked, knowing well that my tone and my words could very well be the end of my having a home. He seemed taken back.
"I didn't know I was giving off that impression," he said finally. I rolled my eyes. "I just do what I must to protect those who follow me."
"Just as all leaders would, I suppose, but don't you ever think that just maybe some people know how to keep a secret?"
"What would you know about secrets?"
I looked him in the eyes, catching and holding his gaze.
"Let's just say I've more to hide than most," I answered. "Until I learn to trust people one hundred percent, they learn nothing from me but merely surface, passing thoughts. The rest is strictly on a need-to-know basis, and no one really needs to know."
"You don't trust me," he stated, his eyes flashing with some emotion. It was gone long before I could place it.
"No more than you trust me," I answered. "Probably less, even. I didn't survive this long trusting anyone."
He was silent, his eyes scanning mine for falsehood.
"If you're finished trying to bore a hole into my brain through my eyes, I do have bags of things to put away and I'm expecting a few phone calls," I said. His gaze was now curious.
"What kinds of calls?" he asked. I shrugged.
"Call backs on my job apps," I replied. "Chip helped me drop a few while we were out today. With luck, I'll be working full time within the week."
"What about school?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"This wouldn't be the first time I've juggled a job and school, among other things," I replied. "I don't intend to stay here longer than I have to. I'm no more welcome here than I was at home. The only difference is that I don't have someone trying to murder me every hour of every day. Small consolation, I assure you. Now, if you don't mind, I've got to get moving. Chip and I need to go back out to talk to a few apartments."
With that, I got up and walked out the door. I didn't care if he was done. This conversation had brought a few of my worse memories to the front of my mind. I shook my head, clearing them as best as I could, then walked to my room. Sure enough, Chip was there, all ready helping me put stuff away. I smiled and helped him finish.
"Ready?" he asked. I nodded and the two of us went searching for apartments.
(Dive's POV)
"Nice shot, Canard!" I cheered. He rolled his eyes and looked at Wing. He hadn't gotten a single shot past him. It was a little unnerving, considering that Canard was the best shot in the league. We got ready to go home, then stopped short, seeing Artemis and Chip.
"Hi guys!" I said, walking over. Artemis smiled and waved. Chip just shook his head. "Where you going?"
*Looking for apartments. I can't stay where I am long. I'll just be in the way.*
"Try the Southwing Apartments," I suggested. She looked confused. "It's not far from where I live. Follow me."
She nodded and let me lead. I realized that I'd left my brother and Canard behind, but I was sure that they'd do just fine without me. Artemis was happily walking beside me, a contented smile on her face.
"Are you ready for school?" I asked.
"As ready as I can be," she replied. I smiled. "Not looking forward to math, though. Never understood it."
"Didn't your teachers teach you how to do it?" I asked, confused. She smiled sheepishly.
"I only passed because of pity-points," she replied. "My teachers gave up trying to get me to understand math."
I shook my head.
"I'll help you," I said. "Can you help me in grammar, history, and science?"
She smiled warmly.
"Deal!" she said. I smiled, then pulled to a stop.
"These are the apartments," I told her. "The office is right there."
She smiled and the three of us went there to talk to the manager. After gathering a little information, we left to find another one.