With the exception of two battered eggs, all of the rookery children were safe. The eighteen demon spawns that remained stuck close together, just as rookery siblings should. Syd looked over at her two friends, Nick and Scott. Nick and Scott, just as Des and Syd were, were twins. If Des and Syd both passed their maturing tests, they were to mate with Nick (Des would) and Scott (Syd). As such, they were required to spend quite a lot of time with each other. Not that they minded each other's company, of course.
The American demon population, due to the massacre, was nearly cut in half. There were now at least five adult females, and three male demons, not counting the children. Jessie, as the most trusted demon (thanks to Madeline, who had been killed in the attacks) had to take over as ruler of the demons, which carried a lot of responsibility to it. She was, due to the ages of her nieces, needed for both protecting New York as well as delegating with other demons.
"All right, everyone! Since our rookery children are now the equivalent of four years old, it is their turn to learn to hunt." Demon laws decree that, even though they adapt to the times well enough in the protectorates, all ancient demon traditions be followed such as hunting and gathering. "Each child must bring back one thing. It cannot be small, at least not small enough to make it an unfair advantage."
The children were sent to a small American island, chock-full of griffins. Syd saw a group of cubs, slightly larger than herself, in what the demon assumed to be crèche. "You've got a clear shot." Jessie whispered, looking at her niece.
"I don't want to do this, Aunt Jessie. They're kids, like me."
"I know, sweetie…but…we can't go against tradition…the first hunt has to be when…when you're the age you're at now."
"Do I have to eat them?"
"Yes…sorry, Syd."
Des just stayed quiet, and Syd knew she didn't want to have to have this happen either. Slowly, the blue demon stepped forward into the clearing. Almost immediately, a glass 'bubble' appeared and sucked Des up just as if it were a regular water bubble. Des screamed terribly, looking toward her aunt and sister for help.
(A/N: Sorry for the short chap, everyone, I'm on my laptop and it's really uncomfortable sitting here.)