AN: *tries to hide under notebook* he he.sorry about the wait. I can't
give enough excuses. So no more babble. Here it is. Also, if Xfreakett
is reading this, could she please re-send me Kaboom's bio? I'm real sorry!
It got erased for some odd reason. Thanks again.
Bets, Birds, and Brooding
Up above the endless canyons that seemed to stretch to each far corner of existence, in the room that appeared to have no walls, two birds framed the lightning split sky. One with oak brown wings and russet tail, the other in dark bands of brown and cream.
*Hey pretty right flying for a sheppo!* Matt laughed to Jennifer.
*Gee thanks. You know, your lucky I don't know what a sheppo is.* Jennifer remarked indignantly. Not even glancing behind to look at Matt.
*Hey now, a sheppo is just an American. Blimey, just calm down. * Matt said, trying to calm Jennifer's ruffled feathers. She finally slowed down a little and Matt caught her eye. She apologized without words. So side-by-side they flew, Matt flinching unconsciously at every distant thunder and lightening strike.
Jennifer forced her amber eyes to his golden ones as she reprimanded him in his head. *Matt, do you think you could please STOP jumping at every freaking lighting bolt! I mean, I know it's startling, but its not even real!*
Ave curved his wings slightly for more lift as he answered. *Sorry Sent. Bird instincts, y'know? Part of the whole mutant package thingo*
He was curtly answered by and acknowledging bob of his flying partner's head as they continued gazing down on the scenery. Canyons and plateaus stretched as far as the eye could see and a purplish sky completed the fantastical stage.
Far more used to the bird of prey's unbeatable eyesight, Matt was first to spot the domed silver building resting atop the cliff to their far right.
*Ace! There! That's the one!* Matt thought loudly to his companion. *That's gotta be were the profs hiding em! Looks likes it just about 10 clicks away.*
Jennifer actually sounded pleased with Aves discovery as she thought/spoke back "Your right!! That's the place. Now to get back to the others and get this over with.*
*Over with? I thought you were having fun? I bloody well am.* Matt responded cheerfully.
Sentinel pondered his response in silence as the two turned in a tight semicircle to head back towards the more earthbound team members. His voice had read neither seriousness nor sarcasm, she thought to herself. And for the first time Jennifer began considering.
Slightly above her Matt looked down at her back and interrupted her inward silence with an amused voice. *Race ya back Jenn. I win I get to take you for a real good time, and a sanger or two of course. You win, well, I don't.* His ferocious bird's gaze made the question seem quit out of place, but bird's eyes always seemed to look ferocious. Matt's eyes, his never did.
Jennifer twisted her feathered head upward. *Sure thing. But do I want a sanger?
*Sandwich Jenn. Sandwich.*
*Okay.Ready? Set. Go!* Jennifer put on a halfhearted burst of speed, flapping for altitude then diving and gliding for distance.
Matt continued up, up, up as Jenn beat him, barely trying. She knew she shouldn't stand a chance against one who spent most of his spare time in feathers. And she couldn't figure why he continued upwards in the slow lazy manner. She felt hurt; he wasn't going to lose on purpose. Was he?
Behind her the air was shattered with a shriek of avian ecstasy as the hawk lost mass and changed form. In its place a dainty peregrine falcon hovered peering downward.
*Well. I don't stand a chance do I?* Jennifer teased.
*Not a Buckley's.* Ave said calmly. And with that he dove in a mad spiral towards the earth leaving a startled Sentinel in his dust at nearly a hundred or so miles an hour
The red tailed hawk struggled to at least remain in sight of the speeding feathered bullet as she thought laughingly to herself 'little cheat!' But somehow she didn't quite mind. If her stony hawk's beak could have cracked a smile, it would be all teeth. Well.if she had any.
*I think I'm begging to like that crazy bird boy.*
....................................
McKenna stopped her sky searching for a few minutes to sit back down on the large boulder she shared with Kitty and Rogue. Jesse stood a little further away. Continuing where she had left off, the jockish girl considered the sturdy 17 year old before her. He was cute, but so shy, and he avoided her like she had 5 diseases. All contagious ones.
*Is there something wrong with me that makes him stay away? Maybe he hates me!* She mused. Of course, she never had many friends besides those on her volleyball team back at her old school. Her father never allowed time for anything besides schoolwork and sports. And in his small world, sports came first. So she never had much experience in the sociality department and even now Kenna had trouble approaching others in a welcoming way.
*It's not like I mean to be hostile.* McKenna deliberated, trying to assure herself.
"Mah God! This is so damn borin'. Rogue complained in bitterness at the current situation. She also sat on the boulder hip to hip with McKenna.
Kitty brought her head up from her knees to meet Rogues heavily make-upd face. "Yeah well at least we get a rest, so like, don't ruin it." She snapped haughtily from the flat surface of the boulder across from the other two mutants.
Rogue leaned back as if hit in the face by something, feigning hurt on an amused face.
"I'm.sorry Rogue. I just guess I'm a little impatient too, you know?" Kitty blushed soft rose in shame of her unexpected outburst as she apologized.
"Ah sugah, no need."
"Hey, look!" An unexpected outburst from the previously silent Stone brought all three girl's eyes upward. Their orbs followed Jesse's finger to where it pointed in the mauve sky. Rogue let out a great sigh of relief as she hoisted herself off the boulder to the dusty ground. Her jade eyes following along with the others as they watched the swiftly descending bird.
Kitty bit her lip in worry. "I hope he doesn't like, kill himself." She whispered to McKenna as they watched what could only be Matt in an incredibly steep dive, breaking his freefall with freckled wings to land skillfully on an outcropping of rocks to Stones immediate right. "It would be like such a shame. He's sooo cute!" Kitty added in a bubbly giggle.
Hotspot smiled playfully back at Kitty in unvoiced agreement. The flirty Aussie wasn't exactly her type. But she had to admit he was pretty hot.
"That's dangerous Matt!" Kitty raised her voice in admonish.
The falcon's eyes turned to face Kitty. "Don't worry Kat, I've got plenty a practice." Kitty returned his retort with a mocking frown.
It was Rouge's turn to face Ave now. "Where's Jennifer?" she questioned in a restrained tone. She planted her gloved hands firmly on her hips and waited for an answer.
"Matt cocked his head skyward. "Ah, she's coming." And as if on cue there came Jennifer gliding into sight. Using a much safer dive to land precariously before Stone. She hadn't quite gotten the whole landing thing down to an art yet. She promptly shifted into her natural form but Ave remained as he was. Staying in a form for a long while was hard for her, while numerous switches between different forms weren't. It was the exact opposite for Ave. He could stay in bird form for days on end, but changing from bird to bird was tiring when done excessively.
"So.Hotspot trailed off questioningly towards the newcomers. "Did you guys find anything or what?" She asked a little harsher then she intended. Silently she reprimanded herself and started over. "Um, see anything.?" This time her voice was less demanding.
But the eager Sentinel didn't seem to notice Kenna's slipup. "Yeah! Over far to the right, on this big plateau thing. It's like a big white building." She rushed out in swift precision. Surprised Matt hadn't said anything yet.
*Looks like the Citadel actually.*
Or not.
Jesse brought a hand to his chin and thought out loud "So, I take it we'll have to fly up there, right?"
Jennifer nodded. "Well, me and Matt can fly up there, so we won't have any trouble, neither will Myth. But you guys." She trailed off at what she had never thought to consider before. "How.?"
Ave swiveled his head towards Jesse and McKenna. *Where is Myth?* ...................................
Bethany pushed her velvet muzzle against the rock cliff wall looking for something, anything. Any indication of where the boys could be. Her sensitive smell was of no use here, and the scouts had probably returned already. *Might as well head back.*
Her silver cloven hooves made a raindrop tinkling as she turned around to face the maze of cliff walls before her. Which had she come from though? Her mind raced to remember.
*Great lost in the Grand freaking Canyon.* She thought with a snort of anger. The long mule-like ears swiveled every which way, listening for a clue.
*Ah, well. If I get lost I can just fly out anyway.* Bethany's tail swished back and forth in anticipation as she lifted one foot. The fetlock was unusually covered in long hair. Her form was similar to that of a horse, yet more fragile. More.magical.
With a wicker of glee at the prospect of galloping the canyons, Myth took of at a lope, steadily increasing to a swinging canter as she ran through the closest pathway. The wind blew the mutant's mane and forelock in a gold and black streamer.
If only she could run like this forever! ...................................
Rogue answered for her missing friend. "She went ta scout ahead."
Kitty nodded. "We should probably like, call her on back now!"
"Yeah. I'll go fly over and look." Matt said haphazardly, stretching his wings. He was cut of by an unexpected outburst from Hotspot.
"NO!"
The group started at their usually more casual, acquiescing friend in surprise. Matt brought his ruffled feathers back down and his wings folded to his sides.
"Uhum." Kenna cleared her throat, cheeks a bit pink. She hadn't meant that to sound quite so forceful. "I have a better idea." With no warning the pretty blonde's eyes flashed dead white so quickly, no one was sure it even happened.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, pebbles and stones bouncing along the rocky floor surrounding Hotspot. Kitty's glossy lips parted in a grin as the ground erupted in a geyser of white, hot, steam. Spewing into the air like the water from a whale's fluke. It remained in the sky for a little longer before it fell back down to earth and all was quiet again.
Rogue smiled in appreciation. "Like ah signa'hl flare." ....................................
A sudden white lace of steam to her right caught Myth's almond eyes. She skidded to a halt swiveling to face the eruption. She would have laughed if she had her own mouth.
*Follow the steam. Got it Kenna.* and with that she was off.
Wow. That took way longer then I thought. I was halfway done in mid august. I just had school and crap so I couldn't update. Really sorry about this.
Bets, Birds, and Brooding
Up above the endless canyons that seemed to stretch to each far corner of existence, in the room that appeared to have no walls, two birds framed the lightning split sky. One with oak brown wings and russet tail, the other in dark bands of brown and cream.
*Hey pretty right flying for a sheppo!* Matt laughed to Jennifer.
*Gee thanks. You know, your lucky I don't know what a sheppo is.* Jennifer remarked indignantly. Not even glancing behind to look at Matt.
*Hey now, a sheppo is just an American. Blimey, just calm down. * Matt said, trying to calm Jennifer's ruffled feathers. She finally slowed down a little and Matt caught her eye. She apologized without words. So side-by-side they flew, Matt flinching unconsciously at every distant thunder and lightening strike.
Jennifer forced her amber eyes to his golden ones as she reprimanded him in his head. *Matt, do you think you could please STOP jumping at every freaking lighting bolt! I mean, I know it's startling, but its not even real!*
Ave curved his wings slightly for more lift as he answered. *Sorry Sent. Bird instincts, y'know? Part of the whole mutant package thingo*
He was curtly answered by and acknowledging bob of his flying partner's head as they continued gazing down on the scenery. Canyons and plateaus stretched as far as the eye could see and a purplish sky completed the fantastical stage.
Far more used to the bird of prey's unbeatable eyesight, Matt was first to spot the domed silver building resting atop the cliff to their far right.
*Ace! There! That's the one!* Matt thought loudly to his companion. *That's gotta be were the profs hiding em! Looks likes it just about 10 clicks away.*
Jennifer actually sounded pleased with Aves discovery as she thought/spoke back "Your right!! That's the place. Now to get back to the others and get this over with.*
*Over with? I thought you were having fun? I bloody well am.* Matt responded cheerfully.
Sentinel pondered his response in silence as the two turned in a tight semicircle to head back towards the more earthbound team members. His voice had read neither seriousness nor sarcasm, she thought to herself. And for the first time Jennifer began considering.
Slightly above her Matt looked down at her back and interrupted her inward silence with an amused voice. *Race ya back Jenn. I win I get to take you for a real good time, and a sanger or two of course. You win, well, I don't.* His ferocious bird's gaze made the question seem quit out of place, but bird's eyes always seemed to look ferocious. Matt's eyes, his never did.
Jennifer twisted her feathered head upward. *Sure thing. But do I want a sanger?
*Sandwich Jenn. Sandwich.*
*Okay.Ready? Set. Go!* Jennifer put on a halfhearted burst of speed, flapping for altitude then diving and gliding for distance.
Matt continued up, up, up as Jenn beat him, barely trying. She knew she shouldn't stand a chance against one who spent most of his spare time in feathers. And she couldn't figure why he continued upwards in the slow lazy manner. She felt hurt; he wasn't going to lose on purpose. Was he?
Behind her the air was shattered with a shriek of avian ecstasy as the hawk lost mass and changed form. In its place a dainty peregrine falcon hovered peering downward.
*Well. I don't stand a chance do I?* Jennifer teased.
*Not a Buckley's.* Ave said calmly. And with that he dove in a mad spiral towards the earth leaving a startled Sentinel in his dust at nearly a hundred or so miles an hour
The red tailed hawk struggled to at least remain in sight of the speeding feathered bullet as she thought laughingly to herself 'little cheat!' But somehow she didn't quite mind. If her stony hawk's beak could have cracked a smile, it would be all teeth. Well.if she had any.
*I think I'm begging to like that crazy bird boy.*
....................................
McKenna stopped her sky searching for a few minutes to sit back down on the large boulder she shared with Kitty and Rogue. Jesse stood a little further away. Continuing where she had left off, the jockish girl considered the sturdy 17 year old before her. He was cute, but so shy, and he avoided her like she had 5 diseases. All contagious ones.
*Is there something wrong with me that makes him stay away? Maybe he hates me!* She mused. Of course, she never had many friends besides those on her volleyball team back at her old school. Her father never allowed time for anything besides schoolwork and sports. And in his small world, sports came first. So she never had much experience in the sociality department and even now Kenna had trouble approaching others in a welcoming way.
*It's not like I mean to be hostile.* McKenna deliberated, trying to assure herself.
"Mah God! This is so damn borin'. Rogue complained in bitterness at the current situation. She also sat on the boulder hip to hip with McKenna.
Kitty brought her head up from her knees to meet Rogues heavily make-upd face. "Yeah well at least we get a rest, so like, don't ruin it." She snapped haughtily from the flat surface of the boulder across from the other two mutants.
Rogue leaned back as if hit in the face by something, feigning hurt on an amused face.
"I'm.sorry Rogue. I just guess I'm a little impatient too, you know?" Kitty blushed soft rose in shame of her unexpected outburst as she apologized.
"Ah sugah, no need."
"Hey, look!" An unexpected outburst from the previously silent Stone brought all three girl's eyes upward. Their orbs followed Jesse's finger to where it pointed in the mauve sky. Rogue let out a great sigh of relief as she hoisted herself off the boulder to the dusty ground. Her jade eyes following along with the others as they watched the swiftly descending bird.
Kitty bit her lip in worry. "I hope he doesn't like, kill himself." She whispered to McKenna as they watched what could only be Matt in an incredibly steep dive, breaking his freefall with freckled wings to land skillfully on an outcropping of rocks to Stones immediate right. "It would be like such a shame. He's sooo cute!" Kitty added in a bubbly giggle.
Hotspot smiled playfully back at Kitty in unvoiced agreement. The flirty Aussie wasn't exactly her type. But she had to admit he was pretty hot.
"That's dangerous Matt!" Kitty raised her voice in admonish.
The falcon's eyes turned to face Kitty. "Don't worry Kat, I've got plenty a practice." Kitty returned his retort with a mocking frown.
It was Rouge's turn to face Ave now. "Where's Jennifer?" she questioned in a restrained tone. She planted her gloved hands firmly on her hips and waited for an answer.
"Matt cocked his head skyward. "Ah, she's coming." And as if on cue there came Jennifer gliding into sight. Using a much safer dive to land precariously before Stone. She hadn't quite gotten the whole landing thing down to an art yet. She promptly shifted into her natural form but Ave remained as he was. Staying in a form for a long while was hard for her, while numerous switches between different forms weren't. It was the exact opposite for Ave. He could stay in bird form for days on end, but changing from bird to bird was tiring when done excessively.
"So.Hotspot trailed off questioningly towards the newcomers. "Did you guys find anything or what?" She asked a little harsher then she intended. Silently she reprimanded herself and started over. "Um, see anything.?" This time her voice was less demanding.
But the eager Sentinel didn't seem to notice Kenna's slipup. "Yeah! Over far to the right, on this big plateau thing. It's like a big white building." She rushed out in swift precision. Surprised Matt hadn't said anything yet.
*Looks like the Citadel actually.*
Or not.
Jesse brought a hand to his chin and thought out loud "So, I take it we'll have to fly up there, right?"
Jennifer nodded. "Well, me and Matt can fly up there, so we won't have any trouble, neither will Myth. But you guys." She trailed off at what she had never thought to consider before. "How.?"
Ave swiveled his head towards Jesse and McKenna. *Where is Myth?* ...................................
Bethany pushed her velvet muzzle against the rock cliff wall looking for something, anything. Any indication of where the boys could be. Her sensitive smell was of no use here, and the scouts had probably returned already. *Might as well head back.*
Her silver cloven hooves made a raindrop tinkling as she turned around to face the maze of cliff walls before her. Which had she come from though? Her mind raced to remember.
*Great lost in the Grand freaking Canyon.* She thought with a snort of anger. The long mule-like ears swiveled every which way, listening for a clue.
*Ah, well. If I get lost I can just fly out anyway.* Bethany's tail swished back and forth in anticipation as she lifted one foot. The fetlock was unusually covered in long hair. Her form was similar to that of a horse, yet more fragile. More.magical.
With a wicker of glee at the prospect of galloping the canyons, Myth took of at a lope, steadily increasing to a swinging canter as she ran through the closest pathway. The wind blew the mutant's mane and forelock in a gold and black streamer.
If only she could run like this forever! ...................................
Rogue answered for her missing friend. "She went ta scout ahead."
Kitty nodded. "We should probably like, call her on back now!"
"Yeah. I'll go fly over and look." Matt said haphazardly, stretching his wings. He was cut of by an unexpected outburst from Hotspot.
"NO!"
The group started at their usually more casual, acquiescing friend in surprise. Matt brought his ruffled feathers back down and his wings folded to his sides.
"Uhum." Kenna cleared her throat, cheeks a bit pink. She hadn't meant that to sound quite so forceful. "I have a better idea." With no warning the pretty blonde's eyes flashed dead white so quickly, no one was sure it even happened.
Suddenly the ground began to shake, pebbles and stones bouncing along the rocky floor surrounding Hotspot. Kitty's glossy lips parted in a grin as the ground erupted in a geyser of white, hot, steam. Spewing into the air like the water from a whale's fluke. It remained in the sky for a little longer before it fell back down to earth and all was quiet again.
Rogue smiled in appreciation. "Like ah signa'hl flare." ....................................
A sudden white lace of steam to her right caught Myth's almond eyes. She skidded to a halt swiveling to face the eruption. She would have laughed if she had her own mouth.
*Follow the steam. Got it Kenna.* and with that she was off.
Wow. That took way longer then I thought. I was halfway done in mid august. I just had school and crap so I couldn't update. Really sorry about this.