I no own Storm Hawks

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Racing across the gritty and rough sand of the terra, the Storm Hawks looked around passed different colored tents, each with a table set out in front of them. Other Feeders, with scales like Aerrow had, peeking out at them in interest. However, they hissed at them when the sand from behind them landed onto the wares and glared at them as the swept the sand off of their products as best as they could. Riding onto tiles made of sandstone as they entered the town square, they received more stares from other citizens. "Guys! We can come back and look later, let's get my mom to our home. Then, someone can take her and we can come back." Aerrow ordered and they raced faster as they saw the concern in Aerrow's green eyes grow.

Skidding to a stop out of a building elegantly designed like a rock, a large cloud of dust rose and they choked on it until they got inside. Aerrow was still holding his mother and Junko took her into his strong arms, not allowing Aerrow to collapse. Meanwhile, Stork and Finn were supporting Piper, who was stumbling around, her face turning deathly pale and her cheeks sinking in. "Aerrow! You have to get it cool! The sun and the heat are draining me!" she choked, but Aerrow was oblivious to her.

"Hello! Josette! Annaliese! Charlie! Someone!" Aerrow shouted. "Mom's sick! Someone! Help!"

Three woman rushed into the room and like Aerrow, was under their human disguises, although they could tell that they were exactly the same. A blonde haired woman with curious bright green eyes asked, "Aerrow? Is that you? You're definitely not Little Aerrow anymore."

A red headed with serious brown eyes woman cut off, "Charlie! There's no time for that now!"

"Aerrow. It's alright. Josette and I can handle it from here." A brunette woman with warm and loving light blue eyes reassured. "I'm Annaliese. Charlie is the blonde haired woman and Josette has red hair. We're her ladies in waiting."

Junko gently put Selnya's feet on the ground and shakily, helped her stand up. Annaliese and Josette put one of Selnya's arms on their shoulders as they supported and helped her walk as best as they could into another room and Charlie quickly ran somewhere else before coming back seconds later, holding a bowl of clear water and a somewhat clean light red cloth. Running into the room after her, they saw Charlie had placed the rag in the water and was dabbing Selnya's skin with the damp rag. Like Aerrow had done earlier, Josette was slowly pouring some blood into Selnya's mouth. Looking up, Annaliese informed, "She'll be alright. We can take care of her from here. You can find a room for your friends and you to stay while you're here. The guest rooms are upstairs down the hall."

Nodding, Aerrow and the Storm Hawks went up the stairs, Aerrow unusually quiet. Piper made a hacking noise and wrestling out of Finn and Stork's grip, fell onto the ground, on her hands and knees, apparently choking on something. Whipping around, Aerrow saw Piper and apologized, "Piper! I'm sorry! I should've let you stay on the Condor! I'm sorry!"

Looking up at him, she choked, "I…I…need blood…fresh blood…human…fresh blood."

Aerrow repeated, "Fresh blood."

"Fresh…human…blood…I need…I…need it." Piper hacked, a foamy white substance coming up from her stomach.

Hacking again, some blood came up with the foamy white substance before Piper collapsed onto the ground completely. Looking at Finn, Aerrow begged, "Finn. You're the only one here that's a human. She needs to feed on you."

Finn's blue eyes widened and he answered, "What? Nooo! No way! There's no way I'm letting her suck my blood!"

"Finn…please. Piper's dying already. Please Finn. Piper will die if you don't let her feed on you."

"Okay. Fine. Just don't have too much." Finn agreed

Aerrow finished, "Thanks Finn."

Kneeling down beside Piper, Junko helped Piper up as she hacked more of the substance with more blood. Kneeling beside Piper too, Finn held out his wrist to Piper, close to her mouth, and shut his blue eyes tightly. Coughing up the substance, Piper took a raspy breath as she extended her fangs and they could see Finn wince as the sharp fangs pierced his sink. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw Piper drinking the blood from his wrist and he turned away as his face began to turn into a sickly green color. Minutes later, Piper retracted her fangs, wiped her mouth, and stood up. Her cheeks had returned to normal and she was breathing normally, a huge sigh escaped her. "Thanks Finn. I owe you. Thank you." Piper thanked and she gave him a huge hug.

"Ah, don't mention it." Finn blushed. He grew a serious look on his face. "Seriously. Don't mention it."

Aerrow turned to face Piper and continued, "Piper. I'm so sorry. I should've let you stay on the Condor. I nearly killed you."

Taking out a bandage and wrapping it around Finn's wrist, Piper told Aerrow, "Aerrow. I get it. Your mom was dying. You just wanted me to come along, in case I could help."

"Yeah." Aerrow responded.

Continuing to walk down the hall, they opened the door of a nearby room and they covered their eyes as the sun shone. Guiding Piper to a shady part of the room, he reached up to the hole in the roof and began to place a large straw mat and other things to help block out some of the light for all of them. Surveying the room, Finn questioned, "Hey, uh, are there any beds?"

"Uh, sorta." Aerrow started. He picked up a thin brown mat from a nearby pile. "Uh, these are the beds we use. We don't use beds or blankets cause it gets really hot at night still."

Each of them set up a mat for themselves and sat cross legged on them before Stork commented, "Great. This is the perfect place for Sand Fleas. They'll climb into our brains and eat them away."

"Don't worry Stork. There's no insects here. It's too hot for them. They can't take the heat at all." Aerrow reassured. "Well, I could give you a tour of the city…only if you want."

Piper answered, "I want to, but I need something to keep it shady."

Finn added, "Yeah, I don't want to have to give out any more blood."

"Uh, I wouldn't mind something either." Junko announced as he fanned himself with his hand. "But, I'll be okay."

Smiling, Aerrow snapped his fingers and rushed to an old leather chest. Opening it, he began to dig through it and seconds later, was holding a light blue colored scarf-like object. "What's that?" Piper asked with interest, but Aerrow had already began to burrow through the rest of the chest.

Minutes later, Aerrow came out holding a light blue colored dress, made of the same material as the scarf. Handing the dress part to her, Aerrow instructed, "Here Piper. Put this on you." He passed her the scarf. "And this goes onto your head."

Putting on the outfit, Piper gasped and questioned, "Aerrow. It's beautiful! What is it?"

"It's a Lachica. It's an outfit that some Feeders wear when it gets too hot for them. Well, the girls do any way."

"What's it made of? It feels like water."

"It's a rare flower from our terra. Almost impossible to find. Then, we just make it with some other stuff and that's it."

"Aerrow. Thank you. It's beautiful, but doesn't this belong to someone else here?"

"It was my grandma's. Well, one of the first ones she had before she got married to my grandpa. After that, she got a different one." Aerrow explained. "You can keep it. That was her favorite one though. Grandma always told me that she did want someone to have it, like a vampire. After all, that's how my dad started that crusade...to make the rest of Atmos because of my Grandparents. Mainly because my Grandma accepted him for who he was. Eventually, my Grandpa accepted him when he saw how happy my mom was. Grandma thought we were all equal that everyone in Atmos were equals. Then, my dad went to make sure that vampires knew that, because he knew what it was like for them."

"Aerrow. Thank you. It's gorgeous." Piper repeated as she spun around in it. "What about your mom?"

Finn whined as his stomach rumbled, "Hey, where can a guy get some food around here?"

"We can go to the marketplace. It's got a lot of good things there." Aerrow replied and they began to walk down the stairs.

Exiting the elaborate building, shielding their eyes from the brightness change, Piper repeated, "What did your mom mean? That why didn't you kill me?"

Radarr leapt onto Aerrow's shoulders and Aerrow started, "When my mom was married to my dad for a couple of years, when she was about 20-"

"Was your Dad a Feeder?"

"No. She met him when she was visiting different terras around Atmos when they both were about 16. They got married a year later."

"Sorry. Continue on."

"Well, when my mom was about 20 and my dad was on a mission, a vampire came to Terra Serpant. She was walking around the town square when he grabbed her and dragged her into an alley. He tried to bite her and turn her, but she managed to fight her way out. She got hurt really bad though. She has a few scars from it, so she's just really scared that she'll get hurt again if a vampire comes near her. She's not as trustworthy as them anymore. That's why she wanted to know why I didn't kill you."

"Oh, Aerrow. That's terrible. I wish I wasn't so mean to her."

"No, I think she understood you were one of the vampires that wouldn't hurt her. Mainly because you didn't hurt me or anything." Aerrow told her.

Piper's head lowered from what that vampire did and apologized, "I'm sorry about that vampire. What happened to him?"

Aerrow looked thoughtfully at her before answering. "Well, it's just that…my dad hated to see my mom like that. He didn't want to, after all he'd done…but he killed it. It was the only thing he could do."

Radarr nodded from on top of Aerrow's shoulder and Piper reassured, "No. It was alright. We considered it punishable by death if a vampire attacked someone, especially close to your Dad. Either way, it would've been death for the vampire."

Entering the town square, it was full of life. There were young Feeder children, no more than 4 years old, who were running around a fountain made of sandstone, chasing after a small brown lizard and were trying to catch it, but always missing it. The fountain was elegantly designed, sprouting out crystal clear water that fell into the pool below. The lizard jumped into, thinking as a way of protection, only to have the children come in right after it, splashing the water around. A nearby shopkeeper called, "Girl in the Lachica! Come here! Bring your friends!"

Nervously, Piper looked at Aerrow who sighed, "This might be easier if I just go normal."

Moving his head in a jagged way, the green scales returned and they walked up to the shopkeeper. "Would you like pretty necklace?" he offered, showing them to her. He held a gold chain with polished dark emeralds. "This look beautiful."

"Oh, I wish I could buy one. They're beautiful." Piper commented.

Aerrow insisted, "Piper. If you want one, I'll get you one. I do owe you after all."

The shopkeeper's bright yellow eyes widened and he exclaimed, "Little Aerrow! The prince! You have returned! It is me! Kenotoya!"

He removed a scarf like hat off his head showing scraggly gray hair, slowing making him bald and his scales disappeared into deeply tanned skin. Laughing, Aerrow's scales disappeared and returned, "Well, you're still here!"

Kenotoya laughed as well and stepped out from behind the table, showing his short height. "Come here! Let Old Kenotoya see you!" he smiled and gave Aerrow a hug that was capable of strangling him.

"Wait. You know each other?" Finn asked.

"Of course Little Aerrow knows Old Kenotoya. When he was still Little Aerrow, always come to shop. Never wanted to leave. Always liked coming. Help Old Kenotoya in shop. Soon brought Little Radarr with him too. Little Aerrow is now Big Aerrow. Big Kenotoya is now the little one!" laughed Kenotoya, releasing Aerrow from the grip. "Always had a present for Little Aerrow for helping Old Kenotoya."

"Kenotoya. This is my squadron. The Storm Hawks." Aerrow introduced.

Bowing to each of them, Kenotoya offered, "Since Little Aerrow come back to shop. Old Kenotoya give girl with Lachica necklace as present. Old Kenotoya missed Little Aerrow." He handed Piper the necklace. "Wear so Old Kenotoya can see."

Putting the necklace around her neck and seeing the gems sparkling in the sun, Piper thanked, "Wow. It's beautiful. Thank you."

"Girl with Lachica even more pretty now. Friends of Little Aerrow now friends of Old Kenotoya." Kenotoya finished and shook Piper and Aerrow's hands. "Old Kenotoya missed Little Aerrow. Come back to see Old Kenotoya in shop. Little Aerrow now have to tell Old Kenotoya stories."

"Trust me. I missed you too." Aerrow told him and Kenotoya waved good bye to them as they continued down the street. "Don't worry. We will."

Stopping at another tent stall, an old woman's bright blue eyes lit up and she bowed to Aerrow. "Little Aerrow. Mama Bouche haven't see in long time. Mama Bouche sad. Little Aerrow no come. Hurt Mama Bouche much inside. Mama Bouche thought Little Aerrow no like Drink and Cake Mama Bouche make for Little Aerrow." She told him.

Her face was tanned and wrinkled, and she was short and round, but they could tell she was as friendly as a puppy when wanting to play. "I haven't forgotten about you. I never could." Aerrow reassured.

"Little Aerrow is good to see again. With many friends. Little Aerrow had not eaten Mama Bouche's Cake in long time. He is too skinny. And Little Aerrow needs of Mama Bouche's drink." She continued. She saw Radarr smiling at her. "Ah, Little Radarr needs Cake and Drink too."

Pulling out six scratched gray plates, she took the cover off of a light brown cake and began to slice a piece for each of them. "You really don't need to." Aerrow informed.

"Yes. Mama Bouche let Little Aerrow and friends have cake and drink. You came to Mama Bouche. Mama Bouche need no money for drink and cake. Mama Bouche insist Little Aerrow and friends have cake and drink." Mama Bouche repeated as she poured an orange colored juice into six glasses and pushed the cake and glasses to the Storm Hawks. "Mama Bouche hope you like cake and drink."

Taking a bite of his cake, Finn exclaimed, "This is so awesome!" He took a long drink. "And this is awesome too!"

The rest of them nodded in agreement with Stork even happily enjoying his cake and drink. Passing their dishes back to them, Mama Bouche told them, "Mama Bouche glad you like. Come back to see Mama Bouche. Mama Bouche make big cake for you. She give big cake and big drink for you."

Walking away with Mama Bouche waving at them, Junko commented, "Everyone's really nice here."

"Well, nice to Little Aerrow." Piper teased and Aerrow gave her a gentle punch on the shoulder.

"How many people here do you know?" questioned Finn.

"Not many." Aerrow answered.

Soon, they heard a male voice call, "Little Aerrow! Come see Andrez! Andrez have gift for Little Aerrow and friends!"

Aerrow turned to Finn and muttered, "Okay, make it a lot."

Aww, Aerrow's mom got hurt! But as long as Aerrow's dad saved her, I guess the killing of a vampire was okay

Review everyone!