Author's Note: Yay, I'm back again! And it's only been a day since my last update! Man, am I on a roll. I think it has something to do with being on vacation. Yeah, that might be it. Anyhow, here's chapter eight.

Disclaimer: "Smite me, Oh Mighty Smiter!"

Chapter Eight – Tobias

aka Attack of the Snake and Damn Ospreys!

I imagine you already know who this is, seeing as I'm the only left. Well, that and my name's up there on the top. After seeing the wolf last night, I was sort of suspicious, so I had decided to spend the rest of the night in that big pine tree in her yard. It was actually a pretty nice spot. It wasn't my usual perch, but it seemed comforting somehow. I didn't notice anything else strange, except for an unusual amount of rodents and other small animals about the house.

About one in the morning I awoke to someone screaming. I took a chance and flew closer, landing on one of the windowsills. A light turned on in the window next to mine and I scooted away a bit, but remained within hearing range.

"Sam!" A female voice screamed. "Your damn snake is IN my ROOM!!"

There was the sound of footsteps, then another female voice, Sam, I guessed, replied, "Calm down, she's not gonna hurt you. I must have left the lid off."

"Not gonna hurt me?!" The other girl shouted. "It's looking at me like I'm lunch!"

I could practically hear eyes being rolled as Sam said, "Her head is about the size of your pinkie. How can she eat you?"

"Just get it out of here!"

Sounds of shuffling, then footsteps leaving the room. A few moments later, the light clicked off. I chuckled to myself as I launched from the windowsill back onto a pine branch. I thought for a moment about how weird it was that a girl had a wolf and a snake, but I was tired, so I fell asleep again before I could go into it much.

I didn't wake up with the dawn the next morning, which was surprising. In fact, I slept right up until a door slam jolted me awake. I caught the tail end of a black pickup driving off. I waited a moment, then peeked into the windows of the house. It was empty, and a clock told me it was nearly 7:30. School time already? That meant I didn't have any time to go tell Jake about what I saw, but that didn't much matter. I hadn't seen anything of interest.

I wandered around for a bit, doing my usual routine, then ended up at the school later in the day. Just in time to spot a lone fly aimlessly zooming in and out of doors. I suppressed a laugh and helped Marco, for that's who it turned out to be, find his way into the room he was looking for. Then I soared around until I spotted Jake.

Hey, Jake. I greeted, even though I knew he couldn't reply. Helped Marco get into the right room. He's good to go.

Jake wrote 'cool' on his paper in small letters, but with my hawk eyes I could see them. Then, he wrote 'take over after school?'

Sure thing. I replied.

He erased that and jotted down 'tell M to meet as usual.'

Okay. I'll tell Marco to meet you guys at the barn. Want me to follow her home, then join you? I suggested.

He added 'read my mind' to the paper, waited for a moment, then erased the whole thing.

See you then. I called as I took off to soar around for a bit until the end of school. I dropped by Cassie and Rachel, telling them the plan as well.

When the bell rang, I caught up with Marco. He had just started after Samantha, who was walking with another girl. I flew over them and went to land in a tree a bit away while I told Marco what Jake had said. From the corner of my eye, I saw him switch directions. I watched the two girls approaching and, by a strange stroke of luck, they stopped right under my tree.

"I've got detention again, Sam." The brunette girl Samantha was with said. Her voice sounded really familiar, but I couldn't place it.

Samantha rolled her eyes. "What else is new? I'd sit it with you, but I gotta get home and take care of Arabus. Trent said he's not allowed out by himself after he got shot with that weird laser thing."

"Yeah, I remember. You know, we never found out what that was." The brunette commented.

Samantha shrugged. "Yeah, but I don't really think it matters. Ara only got a slight burn. Still, it kinda makes me mad. I don't think you're supposed to shoot wolves in this forest."

"You're not supposed to do a lot of things, Sam, but people still do them. I gotta go, or I'll be late." The brunette hugged her shorter friend. "See you later, chica."

"See ya at home, Reese." Sam said as she started off.

As I took off after her, I realized where I had heard the brunette's voice before. She had been the girl who was yelling about the snake. Guess they lived together, although they looked nothing alike. Samantha was small, bordering on petite, with pale skin, pure black hair, and green eyes that looked more cat than human. The brunette was taller, with a bronze tan, chestnut brown hair, and ice blue eyes. I would have shrugged if I hadn't been flying. Oh, well. Maybe they were stepsisters.

I followed Samantha easily as she walked along the streets towards her house. About halfway there, though, she switched directions and started for the forest. Curious, I turned tail and followed her. She ducked into an empty alleyway and leaned against the wall, looking around as if searching for someone. I waited a few moments, still in the air, but when she made no signs of moving, I folded my wings slightly and swooped down to land on a balcony railing a bit above her.

Soon after that, the black wolf Ax and I had seen at her house the night before trotted into view. He sat down at her side and she smiled at him.

"Heya, Arabus." She greeted. "You ready?"

The wolf nodded. I kid you not, it actually nodded.

Samantha stroked its head absently. "I wish I could run with you today. I've got some pent up energy I need to get out." Samantha said, as if the wolf could actually understand her. Even worse, after a moment's pause, she acted like it said something, replying, "Yeah, you're right. It's probably wouldn't be very wise, even if I could. But that's what you're here for, right?" Another pause, followed by, "You have all the fun. Honestly." Samantha sighed, then nodded. "Okay, then, let's get going…Oh, wait. Rashid's here. Let me say hi first."

The wolf sat down, looking impatient. If wolves were even capable of looking impatient, that is. Samantha tilted her head up to the sky and waved. For one terrifying moment I thought she was looking at me, but then I saw her gaze was focused far to the left of me. I wanted to see what she was looking at, but I guess I was worried if I lifted my eyes away from her she'd be gone. Hey, she was the one talking to a wolf. Who knows what else she was capable of?

I was getting uncomfortable sitting in one place, especially out in the open, so I swooped down off of my balcony and took off, figuring I'd just circle around over head. Unfortunately, it seems someone else had that same idea. As I swooped upward, the shadow of another bird of prey swooped downward. Too late, I saw the osprey flying in my direction. He saw me then as well, and we both desperately tried to stop our flights. I missed colliding head on with him, but I did get nicked pretty good. Enough to shake my flight and cause me to go zooming in another direction. Which turned out to be straight into one of the brick walls of the alley. I remember being pissed that I was out of commission for awhile, and wondering what the heck an osprey was doing circling around alleyways. Then, nothing….