please read author's note and end of chapter thanksssss!
Hello my dear!" Miss. Avocet wrapped her arms tightly around Miss Peregrine's tiny frame. The hug was warm and welcoming as always, but felt tighter than usual. Miss Avocet's dark brown eyes nervously scanned around the parlor, meeting with several of her former chrages disgusted glares aimed at Alma.
Miss Avocet felt terrible for Alma, as she knew some comments were going to come about her brother's attack. She still had yet to even break the News to Alma about it, fearing for the worst for her little girl. She had to have her in attendance though, as that was council rule, and she feared greatly that if she were to tell Alma beforehand, that she would not have shown up. Without a good reason for missing an urgent important meeting was not a particularly fun punishment.
"Why is everyone all here? I thought this was just a simple impromptu loop placement meeting?" Alma whsipered into Esmerelda's ear after noticing the dark stares from several of her sisters. it made her horribly uncomfortable, the eyes that followed her every movement like a predator watching her prey. She also made a mental Note of how several of her sisters wore Black which was highly unusual.
"How about I have Claire take you to your room?" Miss Avocet skillfully avoided the question, grabbing Miss Nightjar's arm up from her spot on the loveseat next to Miss Thrush, who's head was buried in her hands.
"my darling, will you please take Alma up to her room?" Miss Avocet stared Into Miss Nightjar's eyes, pleading to her to not shun her sister or make any comments.
"Of course! Good evening Alma!" Miss Nightjar Curtsied, then hugged Alma quickly then grabbed her by her arm and gently pulled her out of the room.
"Claire whats going on? Why are you still awake? Why is everyone acting so weird? is Millie Okay? she looks ill." Alma expressed concern over both her sisters wellbeing.
"She is not feeling well. I stayed up to Make sure she was okay." Miss Nightjar told a White lie. It was True, Miss Thrush did have a bad cold, but the real reason she was sitting like that was something she couldn't bring herself to even speak about without crying, and She refused to do that in front of Alma.
"Oh, what does Millie have, is she okay-" Alma started, but froze as she was cut off by Miss Nightjar.
"Oh look were here!" Miss Nightjar softly called out as she ushered Alma into the shared room. It was an unspoken rule that the younger Ymbrynes shared rooms, leaving the Elders to have some privacy.
"I have to go check on Millie. if you need anything, dont heistate to come get me!" Miss Nightjar hugged Miss peregrine again, then excused herself quickly as Millie came down the hallway sniffling. she all but threw the door shut, alerting Miss Cuckoo that someone else was in the room.
"Alma!!!" Miss cuckoo all but crushed the Peregrine in a hug. Miss cuckoo couldnt help but frown at the smile on Miss peregrine's lips, and her overall cheery demeanor. "Does she know?" She thought as she pulled away, but kept a smile plastered onto her face.
"Hi Isabelle!" gave a bright smile, then smoothed her now ruffled dress down
"Definetly does not." the cuckoo thought
"Ah here, let me help you get settled!!!" Miss Cuckoo grabbed the suit case and lifted it up onto the bed.
"Thank you, but why were the rooms re-arranged?" she looked at the other beds. Miss Peregrine typically shared a room with Miss Treecrepeer, Miss Petrel, and Miss Swift, but only a single trunk sat on the other bed, Which she new belonged to Miss Gannet.
"Just a change in scenery dear." Cuckoo gave a slight smile. she was surprised Miss Peregrine hadn't sensed her unease. in all the years of knowing Alma, the falcon could always sense when something was wrong. hopefully though, Cuckoo could keep herself held together long enough.
"Dinnertime." Miss Bunting popped her head in. Alma was going to turn and hug her former mentor, but she was already gone to the next room.
"How about we take dinner in here tonight?" the silver haired woman suggested. Miss peregrine turned around, confused at the statement.
"I'm actually not too hungry, but what is going on? Everyone is acting very odd today. Is there something someone neglected to tell me?" she narrowed her eyes at the other woman, taking note of The slight sweat that was forming on the other womans brow, and the shaky hand gestures as she tried to weed her way out of the conversation.
"Well uh...ask Miss Avocet." Miss Cuckoo watched her friends eyes widen.
"Belle, please. Just say it" Miss Peregrine pleaded. she just wanted a simple answer to why everyone was acting so odd. Was that so much to ask? She certainly didn't think so.
Isabelle frowned at the use of her nickname from a long time ago. She felt tears welling in her eyes. She desperately wanted to tell her,belibed friend, But Miss Avocet had instructed her not too talk about it under any circumstances as she planned to break the news of her brothers killings to Alma later in the night, when they were alone.
"Lets just go to dinner." ahe stood up, taking miss peregrine's arm. Miss,Peregrine sighed frustratedly, but decided it would better to just ask Miss Avocet what the fuss was all about.
Miss Peregrine felt more unwelcome in the dining hall than any other time in her life. Dinner had yet to even start, but the room fell to hushed whispers and side glances as the two walked in together. Miss cuckoo took her seat next to Miss Gannet and Miss Treecreeper, but Alma walked to the front of the room Where Miss Avocet sat, talking with a tiny Finch that sat on her finger.
"Miss Avocet, may I please ask something?" Alma glanced up. She felt nervous, as if she was a little kid again asking a question she should already know the answer too.
"Yes?" Miss Avocet was very quick to answer, The elder Finch on her finger left quickly flew back over to her niece's shoulder.
"What is going on?"
Miss avocet sighed, knowing she would have to tell her now. "Well-" Miss Avocet gently Grasped Alma's soft hands, thinking about leading her into the hallway before she was cut off.
"Your brothers slaughtered our sister, and my partner because of YOU!!." An angry voice called from the other end of the candle lit room.
"What?" Alma hands left Miss Avocet's as she turned.The room fell completely silent, everyone become much more invested in the slight standoff going on before there eyes.
"Your the reason Miss Dottrel isn't here right now!" Miss Brambling stood up, her stomped her foot, her eyes filing with tears. The older Ymbrynes felt rage rising in her heart for the Peregrine falcon. She knew she wouldn't have said any of these things in a normal situation as she was quite close with Alma, but seeing her best friend lying on the floor, grisly wounds lacing her body, The childrens screams, it was to much for her.
"YOU, YOU ARE THE REASON!" she screeched. "I HATE YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS! I HOPE YOU ALL DIE!" Alma stood silently, taking the beating, but it became all the worse as The Peregrine noticed not many, but a few of her sisters nodding in agreeance. Even Miss Pigeon, someone Alma was very close with had moved her chair down away from Alma's.
Miss Nightjar, wanting to ease the tension escorted Miss Brambling, who had deteriorated down into a sobbing mess on the floor out and back to her room.
"Why should we continue to Keep her as an Ymbryne Esmeralda? Her brothers have caused nothing but trouble, and it follows her where ever she goes.This will happen again." This time Miss Vulture stood up, eyeing Alma angrily.
"Because it isnt her fault!" Miss cuckoo immediately jumped to Miss Peregrines defense.
"Stop defending her." Miss Vulture towered over Miss Cuckoo, her Dark brown eyes glaring at the Silver haired woman who stood firm. Most Ymbrynes knew never to even try to pick a fight with one of the birds of prey, especially the older ones, but here Isabelle Cuckoo stood, ready to cause a scene if need be.
"Why don't we all just calm down!" Miss Wren stood up, but was pulled right back down by Miss Glassbill, who knew that trying to Intervene in this would surely Cause more distress and chaos. it was best to Pray one backed down, but the way this was going, it didn't seem likley.
"No. She is OUR sister, and you have no right to challenge Alma's ability to be an excellent Ymbryne!"
Alma stood frozen in place, watching the two blindly. She was not able to decide if moving was the best option. She was postive if she moved, she would collapse from Anxiety and Stress. The women she called her sisters, the women she trusted with her heart and soul were turning on her, and with each nod and Voice it felt like a hot knife being twisted in her chest.
Miss Peregrine was suddenly brought back to reality when a sudden loud slap echoed across the room. A few gasps were heard, but no one dared uttered a word as Miss Vulture grabbed her cheek, eyes narrowing down onto Miss cuckoo's shaking, but still stinging hand as she stood.
Alma didn't even remember when she startes to run, or decide that her tears were allowed to flow down her cheeks but as soon as she was in the hallway, she felt like she needed to be free. She needed to fly away for at least a little bit. Even with her limp, she made it quickly to the window, jumping out and transforming before anyone could even get close to stopping her.
"Oh gosh..." Alma sat in a tree, her body trembling in the pale October moonlight that lit the land well. The Trees were all bare, a few leaves still clinging to life as it was nearing close to Halloween.
Alma sighed, glancing off into the bare lands. She always felt safer being at a distance from the chaos as it calmed her down being in the silence, but now she felt so powerless. She still didn't have a full grasp on the situation, but her mind was racing a thousand miles a minute.
"Why?" she felt even more tears falls. If only I was stronger, I could have stopped everything..." Alma tried to pull her leg up onto the branch, but suddenly, she felt the Force of the wind much stronger than before. it felt wonderful for a brief 4 seconds until she collided with the hard ground below. Alma had no idea how long she laid there, staring up at the sky. the pain though, rather Unbearable, esspecially on her Injured leg, but it felt oddly satisfying, knowing she was in pain just as Miss Dottrel was.
"squeak?" Alma turned her head slightly as Miss Cuckoo transformed out after jumping into a long cloak she carried with her.
"Alma, are you okay?" Isabelle wasted no time helping Alma sit up, who fortunately wasnt injured. "Are you-" she froze as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her neck.
"No."
"shh, ahh its okay..." Isabelle said softly, trying to think of what to say next. she was not the best at comforting people, as she rarley even had the opprtuinty too due to the nature of her work for the council.
"I'm sorry that your brothers are insane, but dont worry I think your awesome!" she ran her hand up and down Alma's back, leaning against the tree. she could feel Alma's warm tears hitting her bronze skin.
"Alma?" Isabelle sked, pulling her off her shoulder for a brief moment, taking in just how Damaged she looked.
"y-yes?" Alma trembled, tears still rolling down her pale cheeks, which she wished she could hide. She never liked crying in front of people, especially her sisters. it made her feel weak, vulnerable, and she always tried to desperatly control it, But she felt as if she couldn't control these tears. In her eyes the world was crashing down around her, and Isabelle was the only safe haven.
"Calm down Al. Your going to give yourself a Heart attack." Isabelle reached out, placing her hand up to her cheek, wipping away the tears gently. The Peregrine felt a gentle hand push her head back down to Isabelle's shoulder, which she did not mind too much.
"She had no right to say that. You are a wonderful Ymbryne, Alma. Everything will be okay. We will be okay." Isabelle Whispered, the moon illuminating the bare land around them.
"I hope you are right.." Alma felt her eyes close gently, her breathing returning to a normal pace as Isabelle ran her warm hands up and down her back.
"it will be okay. We will be okay."
A/N: ao what did you guys think? I hope you all enjoyed:) do you want to see more of these two? or I have 2 more story ideas for these 2, or:
A Nightjar and Thrush fic.
Ymeene and Englebert fic
or
please give me a prompt. I would love to write your Chracters in, or write a chapter dedicated to your home:) thank you for reading! Paljon onnea Kippis, my readers!
