12 years later
"Mom!"
Chloe heard a distressed call from her daughter and immediately took off running up the stairs.
"Anna! Anna sweetie, what is it!" she called, bursting into the bathroom. Anna stood there, a towel wrapped around her torso while patches of pink skin showed around her body. Her mane was missing some patches and she turned to her mom, tears brimming her eyes. yellow fluffy baby feathers lay here and there on the floor.
"Mom! I'm going bald! I can't go to graduation like this!" the preteen exclaimed, touching the rest of her dirty blond mane gently, feeling it fall out in her hands.
"Oh sweetie..." Chloe calmed down seeing no real danger, "it's fine, it's just-"
"Am I dying?" Anna asked, jumping to conclusions. "Do I have cancer?" she asked, staring at her mom.
"Honey, it's natural." Chloe insisted.
"Natural?" Anna asked. Chloe nodded. "Then why haven't I ever seen it happen to you?" Anna demanded suddenly.
"I'm not a pubescent teenager." Chloe informed, "at about your age, this starts happening. Remember Nosedive just started molting as well." she reminded.
"Well yeah, but I thought that only happened to guys." Anna muttered, turning back and touching a bald spot on her shoulder gently.
"Yo sis, you ready?" she heard her brother walking their way. "we're gonna be..." she heard him trail off as he entered the bathroom. "late." he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Canard. I regret to inform you I will not be attending your graduation. Not like this..." she said, picking up a pile of baby feathers exaggeratingly.
"Mom, can you give us a moment?" he asked. Chloe nodded and closed the door as she left.
"Hey kiddo." he started, picking up the brush and going behind her.
"No, don't! You're going to yank out my feathers!" she exclaimed, grabbing her remaining mane protectively.
"That's the idea, sis." he said, firmly moving her arm and pulling the brush through. The feathers came out with it.
"No, no! Not my mane!" she shrieked.
"Anna!" he stopped, turning her around to look at him, "it has to happen." he insisted.
"But my feathers-"
"Will grow back." he interrupted. "Remember 6 years ago, the same thing happened to me?" he asked.
"Kind of." she admitted.
"Do I have feathers?" he asked her. She only nodded.
"It's natural, baby girl. Your feathers will be back before you know it. More shiny and gorgeous than before."
"You promise?" she asked.
"Cross my heart!" he promised, making the motion. "Now let me get your loose feathers out of the way so I know what I'm working with here."
The day was the perfect feel of chilly. It was the end of May, and the Principal and superintendent had just started giving out the diplomas to the graduates. Anna honestly thought she might fall asleep. She loved her brother, but the ceremony was taking forever. She found herself glancing around. She sat between her mother and Nora. On Nora's other side sat Torrent and on the other side of him sat Nosedive. Nosedive's brother, Wildwing was also graduating. They had all been family friends since before Anna could remember. Nora and Torrent were like a second set of parents to her and Canard and the same could said about her mom with Wildwing and Nosedive.
Anna sighed out, tears suddenly stinging her eyes. She felt a pang of jealously towards Dive. He was sitting next to his dad. He got to hold his dad's hand, not that he was. About a year ago, her dad was murdered. The murderer had never been caught and the only thing recovered at the scene of the crime was a golden feather. almost kind of like a goldish brown colored feather. After she heard the crime had been committed with a blade, she had registered herself into a martial arts/military sabre class. It basically taught you self defense with or without a blade. She loved the class. It gave her something to do and she felt she'd be ready if ever she did happen upon the bird who killed her father.
"Canard Haymish Thunderbeak." her attention was drawn back to the graduation ceremony. Her mom started snapping pictures beside her and their line of ducks started clapping and whooping, the same they had done for Wildwing about half an hour ago. That was the problem with big high schools. Too many people graduating all at once.
After the ceremony, they all found themselves outside. Chloe took a picture of Canard and Anna together, much to Anna's protests. Then, finally, Wildwing and Nosedive made their way over from Wildwing's spot in line with their mom and dad trailing behind them. Wildwing and Canard hugged each other in congratulations before posing for the camera together.
"Ooh, lets get one with all the kids!" Nora suggested. Chloe nodded in agreement, forcing Anna into another picture.
"But mom, you know I'm molting!" she protested.
"So am I!" Nosedive said excitedly. He plucked some baby feathers from his head, "embrace the molt, Annie! Embrace it!" he exclaimed, pulling her in under his arm and posing for the picture.
4 years later
It didn't take long for Anna's beautiful light brown feathers to grow in after that. Her mane had grown back just as long as ever and was a beautiful dark mahogany brown. Her eyes remained the pure unnatural blue they had been since before she'd gotten feathers. Everyone she met always commented on how beautifully unnatural her eyes were, but it was because no other duck on the planet had eyes like that.
After High School, Canard had gone right into the military. Two years later, after accelerating through the ranks, he left to get an education. Wildwing, on the other hand, had gone right to college on a full ride scholarship for hockey. Canard had received the same scholarship, much to the school's surprise, and as soon as he joined Wildwing at college, that scholarship came into affect and before he knew it, he and Wing were playing together again on the same team. Wildwing was starting goalie, while Canard had been starting left wing. His positon in High School had been Center, but Senior Harley Farris had been Center since Sophomore year and Canard respected his position, up until Harley graduated. After he graduated, Canard tried out for Center and shortly after he was awarded the spot, was also made team Captain.
Now, Wildwing was a Senior and Canard was a Sophomore. Both roommates and both still best friends.
Nosedive was practically running through the halls, holding something in his hands that wasn't quite visible.
"Annie! Annie!" he called, making his way to the commons area.
Anna was sitting there at a table, having some breakfast with Jake and Jessica before classes started. Jessica was a senior, and was Jake's older sister. Jake and Dive were juniors while Anna was a sophomore.
"Dive, what?" she asked when he ran up to the table. He held out the card pridefully.
"I... I got... my license." he said between breaths.
"Let me see that!" she demanded, snatching it from him.
"They gave YOU a license?" she asked disbelievingly.
"And why not?" he asked, snatching it back, "I'm responsible!"
She just snorted, "right, that's good one Dive. And I'm a raptrin." She mocked playfully.
"Oh hardy har! Fine! Be that way, Annie! See if I ever give you a ride home!" he snapped back.
"In what car?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. His face fell.
"I'm, you know, saving up for one." he defended.
"And how much have you saved thus far?" she asked. Barely audible, Nosedive responded, saying quickly, "twenty bucks."
She laughed slightly as his head hung. Seeing his face, she put a hand on his shoulder.
"Divey, you know I'm only messing with you. I'm sure you just started saving." she tried.
"Actually, I've ben trying to save for a couple years but now that I've got this baby, I've got myself some motivation!" Dive exclaimed proudly.
"Just remember, when temptation calls, you can't drive a comic book to school." Anna warned, knowing the source of what ate most of his attempted savings.
"I've got about 40,000 saved up but all that's going towards college." Jess put in.
"How the fuck did you swing that?" Nosedive exclaimed.
"Language, Mr. Flashblade!" nobody had seen the teacher that had happened to walk by at that moment.
"Oh, my bad, Mr. B!" Nosedive called apologetically. The teacher just shot a warning look before walking away.
"Anyways, Jess?" Anna asked, also intrigued.
"She works and has no fun." Jake intervened.
"yeah, but 40,000? How long have you been saving?" Anna asked. The bell rang just then and the students grabbed their bags.
"It's like Jake said, I work, keep out just enough money for gas and toss the rest into savings." Jess said, standing up and gathering her books up in her arms.
At about that point, they reached her homeroom and she bid them farewell before walking in. A little down the hall, Nosedive and Jake disappeared into Mr. B's room. Across from their room was Anna's homeroom, and she entered it quickly, taking her seat.
The dorm room was quiet while both drakes were hard at work studying.
"You excited for winter break?" Canard finally broke the silence, closing his book. He had obviously retained enough information to hopefully pass whatever test was coming up.
"Hell yeah." Wildwing said, shutting his book as well, "I mean, granted a big part of the excitement is mocking how long Nosedive's break is but still." Wildwing chuckled slightly.
He knew his little brother was sick of school, and he took every opportunity to playfully torture him. When Wildwing and Canard were to get home, Nosedive would still be in school. Then, of course, the teenager would go on winter break but by the time Wildwing and Canard even needed to think about being on a train back to school, Nosedive would already have to be going back to his own school.
"You really get a kick out of torturing your brother, don't you?" Canard mused.
"What, you don't enjoy torturing Anna?" Wildwing shot back.
"If only it were so easy." Canard muttered, "The kid loves school."
"Well, she is your sister." Wildwing commented.
"Yeah, but that doesn't seem to mean anything in your case. You love school." Canard argued.
"Touché." Wildwing said, looking thoughtful for a moment.
"So, will Emily be joining us on the ride home?" Canard asked, changing the subject slightly.
"I don't know yet." Wing admitted, "I asked her. I'm just waiting on an answer."
"She didn't answer right away?" Canard asked, raising a skeptic eyebrow.
"She said she'd call her mom and see what she had planned for the holidays."
"Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense." Canard agreed.
Anna walked in the house just as the phone started ringing. Her mom wasn't there and she knew Nurse Chloe must be working late again.
She went to the phone, picking it up.
"Thunderbeak residence." she answered the phone.
"Hey kiddo."
"Hey Can!" she was surprised to hear her brother's voice.
"So, did you help mom get set up for the annual Thunderbeak Christmas party?" he asked.
"Don't I always?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I just wanted to make sure, kiddo. You know how she gets this time of year..." he trailed off, making his point.
"Yeah, I know." she murmured.
"How are you holding up?" he asked suddenly, realizing he couldn't just single their mother out.
"It's another year without dad, Canard. I mean, what do you want me to say?" she partly snapped into the phone. Canard was silent for a moment.
"Sorry." she muttered, "It's just, it's been like five years. The pain never fully goes away and I understand that, and I don't know why we need to bring it up. I mean, I've moved forward with my life, and so have you. Why can't she!"
"It's hard, Anna." he tried.
"I know it's hard, Canard!" she snapped, "he was my father for Christ's sake! My point being is I'm no longer sulking about it!"
"Anna, give her a break. They were together for years before we came along. She had way more many years with him to grieve over." he snapped back at her. She sighed.
"I'm sorry. I guess I didn't think of it that way." she was annoyed but knew Canard had made a point somewhere in there.
"And you're not over it either. I've seen the way you watch golden feathered ducks." Canard drew out.
"It's not my fault." she tried.
"Anna-"
"No Can. They never caught the guy! So yes, I'm going to remain shifty around golden feathered ducks until I pinpoint the mother fucker who killed our father," tears brimmed her eyes, "and then, I'm going to kill him!" she promised.
"Anna, you know that won't make the pain go away." he tried.
"It's what he deserves." she growled, a sob breaking. Canard wished he never would have brought the subject up.
"Look, kiddo, I know how you feel. I miss dad, too. But you can't fix it... no matter how many martial arts classes you attend, as much self defense you practice... if you ever did find the sonofabitch and if you did kill him... it wouldn't bring dad back, and you know it!" he said the last part sternly, reminding her what she should already know.
Tears fell freely now.
"I know, Can. Listen," she sniffed, "I have a bunch of a school work and-"
"I pissed you off. I know, kiddo, I'm sorry I brought it up. I hate it when my baby sister cries." he said. "Wing and I will be home this weekend."
"Okay." she said.
"Love you, sissy." he playfully added. She smiled, letting a small laugh/sob break through.
"Love you too, fat head." she shot back at him. He slightly laughed, but the conversation was over and they both hung up their phones.
Anna held the phone in her hand for a second as she sat on the couch, staring at nothing. The phone startled her, ringing in her hand barely a minute later.
"Whatcha forget?" she asked, figuring it was Canard remembering something.
"Hello?" came the confused voice.
"Trent?" she asked, recognizing the voice.
"Oh, uh. yeah. Anna?" he asked.
"Sorry, I thought you were my brother calling back." she explained.
"Oh, well nope. Not your brother. Just a guy wondering if this cool chick I know wanted to go see a cool movie with a cool guy." he said.
"Which cool guy?" she asked.
"Me silly!" he said, laughing.
"Wait, you're cool?" she asked playfully.
"Anna!" he scolded playfully.
"Just kidding, of course you're cool. And yes, I would be happy to attend a movie with a cool guy. What time and what day?" she asked.
"How about Saturday?" he asked.
"Saturday sounds great."
"7:30 sound good?" he asked.
"Yup, sounds good to me." she replied.
"Alright, sounds good. I'll pick you up at 7:30 on Saturday!" he said excitedly.
"Alright, bye!"
"Bye!"
She hung up the phone and went off to her room. She hadn't lied about the homework and had a test to study for.