Author Note: It's good to be back! Hello everyone!

Again, I know, it takes me so long to finish this but finally, it's done! Thank you as always for every support you all gave me. If a year ago someone had told me that I would write 3k+ story, I would have laughed for sure. It's hard to imagine myself writing in English, but yeah, here I am. And that's mainly because all of you, to be honest.

For Ash Wave, I would like to love that but the thing is this story is about to end soon and I just can't find the way to put that in my plot. Enoch and Millard are ones of my favorite characters as well and I die to write that if I have a chance. I might write that for you in another story, Long Time No See, if you like, or perhaps, a one-shot. Sorry that I can't just add it here but yeah, this story is heading towards the end.

For Miss P, aweee, you're always here with me. Sorry that you have to wait for so long. Love you and thank you for always being here.

For Miss Gannett, I'm sorry to tell you that Miss P and Olive moments haven't come yet. I'll try to find the way to add it in the next chapters. Anyway, it might not be that long, I warn you, since the story is heading towards the end and I want to focus on Claire since she seems to have a very big problem as you can see. And if you love the cliffhangers, oh dear, enjoy another one here, lol! Love you and thank you so much.

Now, a very super special thank for my sweetest writer sister, Yuna McHill, for beta-reading the chapter as always. Her works are marvelous, everyone. Check them out, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Okay, and let's just say…

Enjoy!

Chapter XIV

It's colder than usual and the wind cuts her wings mercilessly while she flies across the deep blue water where the bottom can't be seen. Alma's determination does not waver, not even a bit. Somewhere in front of her, on the mainland, her little girl is wandering alone amidst dangers that can pop up everywhere in every form. She is tired, exhausted to be precise, but she won't stop, not until she finds her girl. Anyway, since sinking here won't help, she always makes sure there are some places she can land on and take a rest down there like shipwrecks or rocks. She has already promised Enoch that she wouldn't push herself too hard and polite persons should keep their word no matter what.

It's not a long flight at all so when she reaches the mainland, the sky is still quite dim. Alma decides to fly around the dock first since her Little Claire might still be there, in some cafés or some houses. The Bird glides from window to window, looking inside for any signs of her girl. She completely forgets how weary she is. All she knows is that she is getting closer to her Claire and she has to find her as fast as she can. Where are you, my dear? Where are you?

Her Little Claire isn't in any café and that worries Alma. She doesn't know if Claire has enough money for a room and Alma prays to every bird that her girl didn't sleep on the very cold pavement all night She hopes Claire has found some warm and safe place, a place where there is light, but since Claire is nowhere to be seen in such a place, Alma starts to panic.

She flies very low, searching streets, alleys and pavement instead. Claire must be around here. She cannot go that far, can she? She is just a girl, a little girl after all. Alma knows her children are the bravest ones but she is certain that her Claire won't go so far. It was just a night and Claire wouldn't wander alone in the middle of the night for sure. She must be here. But where? Where is she?

The Bird is too occupied to notice that a pair of eyes are following every movement of hers. Usually she never flies so low, for a peregrine falcon can easily draw people's attention, especially a hunter or a farmer. Of course, there might be no farmers or hunters around here since this is the town, not the suburb or the the forest. But since it is the dock, there are sailors, especially a sailor who knows birds. And before Alma realizes that she has become a target, a stone hits her very hard and she falls down rapidly from the sky, screeching for help which is probably quite hard to find since she is alone here.

Somehow, Alma manages to use her wings to decrease her falling speed. It hurts since she is wounded, but it's the only way she won't injure herself further. She hits the ground, not that hard but she thinks her shoulder is dislocated either because of the hit or the pebble. She tries to flap her wings but the pain is so unbearable that she has to stop it at once. She can't fly.

'Quick! It's here!'

A man runs towards her and before she can move, he scoops her up.

'Argh!' He cries when a very sharp talon makes a deep cut on his hand. Alma jumps down and tries to flee from him as fast as she can, but her broken wing and that bloody cut slow her down. She can't even make it out of this dark alley when another man appears.

He is quite tall, taller than her, she thinks. Just a look and Alma can tell he is one of those who work on the ship, a sailor. He doesn't look like a scary pirate with yellow teeth and one eye. He is just a man, an ordinary man. Still, he is creepy and seems capable of dangerous things. She is now in bird form, yes, but without wings, it's no use. Her beak and her talons can't help that much when she is on the ground.

'Ah oh, pretty bird, where are you going?'

Alma steps back, doesn't know what to do. She tries to calm herself. She needs her brain to fight them. But how? How can she -

The Bird screeches when she is kicked against the wall. The man whom she has just hurt gets his revenge. He strides towards her and grabs her by her wings. His grip is so tight that it will surely hurt her badly if she makes a single move.

'Be careful. If it can still fly, we will be paid more.' The tall man warns his friend.

Paid? These men are going to sell me?

'What bird is it, John? Never seen one here.'

'It's a peregrine falcon, Sid. A beautiful one, I must say.'

'Never heard of that. Bet it will bring us a fortune then.'

'Yes, Sid.' The tall man whose name is John bends down to get a better look at the Bird. 'It will.'

Not far from the alley, Little Claire stands still, doesn't make a sound. She knows there are thousands of peregrine falcons on earth, but this one is definitely her Miss P. The bird can't be anyone else. No matter what form Miss Peregrine takes, her eyes remain the same.

Should I help her? Of course, I should. But will I cause her more troubles? Will she be hurt because of me again? Claire just doesn't know what she should do.

A man in the alley steps towards the Bird. Claire dies to go out, but she doesn't want to hurt Miss Peregrine again. Without her, Miss Peregrine will be safer. She will fly away or do something.

'Argh!'

See? Miss Peregrine can handle this. And she will fly away from this bad man, back to their home on Cairnholm.

Only... she doesn't. She limps to the entrance, trying to flee from that man, but she doesn't fly. When she comes closer, Claire realizes that one of Miss Peregrine's wings seems to be in a very wrong angle. She can't fly!

'Ah oh, pretty bird, where are you going?'

Claire almost screams when another man appears. He is so tall and he looks scary. The girl holds her breath when he steps towards... Miss Peregrine!

Another screech and Claire doesn't see what happens. All she knows is that Miss Peregrine is hurt and has hit the wall quite hard. The shorter man grabs Miss P's wings and although it's hard to read a bird's face, Claire can tell her ymbryne is in great pain.

'Be careful. If it can still fly, we will be paid more.'

Paid? Wait. Are they going to sell her?

'What bird is it, John? Never seen one here.'

'It's a peregrine falcon, Sid. A beautiful one, I must say.'

'Never heard of that. Bet it will bring us a fortune then.'

'Yes, Sid. It will.'

Little Claire knows she has to do something. But will Miss P be safer without me?

No, she won't! Don't you see?! She needs help.

Yes, she will be. All you can do is causing more troubles.

It is possibly the most difficult decision in Claire's life. She steps forward and steps back, can't make up her mind.

'Put it in a sack, Sid.'

'Alright.'

They are going to put her in a sack! It must be very dark in there! Claire doesn't care anymore that her presence will worsen the situation, for the situation is already bad enough. What could be worse than losing Miss P forever? The little girl stops listening to the voices in her head and without a second thought, she runs towards the man who has Miss Peregrine in his grip. The girl quickly turns her back and bites his arm with her back mouth, sharp teeth sinking deep into his flesh.

'Arghhhh!' The man wails and drops Miss P at once. Little Claire scoops Miss P up and holds her close before running away, screaming for help.

'Argh!' The girl has been dragged back. 'Let go of me!'

It's another man, the tall one. He grabs Claire by her hair and pulls the girl back into the dark alley.

'You naughty little thing! Help me get her, Sid!'

'Bloody hell, she has a back mouth!' Sid has just got up. He still looks confused by what he has just seen.

'Yes, mate, and that will make us rich!'

'Miss P, fly away!' Claire lets go of her Miss Peregrine, but of course, the Bird is the last person on earth who will abandon her children. She flaps her wings, trying to attack their faces, but no matter how hard she tries, the tall one doesn't let go of her girl.

'This damn bird! Sid, do something!'

The man whose name is Sid tries to catch Miss P, but a furious falcon is never easy to catch. The Bird picks at his fingers and all he can do is scream like a girl every time he bleeds.

'Ouch, John, I can't!'

'For God's sake, DO SOMETHING! Ow!'

Claire bites the man who holds her and runs towards the Bird, but she isn't fast enough. Miss P has been slammed against the wall again and this time, she lies there on the ground, unmoving.

'Miss P!' The girl holds the Bird close to her heart when she reaches her. She won't let go of Miss Peregrine again, no matter what. She turns her back at the men, using herself as a shield to protect the woman she loves most, the woman who is everything for her. She closes her eyes, for she cannot do anything else. They are here, behind her and she thinks one of them is about to hit her with something.

BASH!

And Miss Peregrine's cry echoes in the air.

Okay, I know. I know. Just don't kill me. My dear Yuna tell me to write for my life and I know many of you might want to join her. Please, say something. Your review will brighten my days for sure. Thank you.