Chapter 2: Learning To Fly

It's been two months since I got out of The School, and I've been stealing food from houses near the forest edge when I can't find anything edible in the forest itself. I think the first time I used my wings was like some sort of instinct, because I crashed in a forest just out of town after a few hours. It's taken a while, but I finally figured out how to fly. It was almost by accident, really. I was walking through the forest when a cliff just appeared in front of me. As in one minute flat forest, the next there's a hundred foot cliff right where I put my foot. They say baby birds learn to fly by falling out of the nest, and that's kind of like what happened to me. Except that I couldn't find the cliff once I landed. By watching the birds in the area, I've been able to move my wings in a way like they do and have managed to take off from a running start. One bird in particular, a hawk I think, has been really helpful. Perhaps too helpful. Lately he keeps doing these little hops from tree to tree then stares at me, like he wants me to follow.

"Hey buddy, what's up?" I know birds can't really talk, but he's my only company out here. I'd have gone crazy ages ago. Perhaps I already am. Which is why it wasn't surprising when it talked back.

< I want you to come with me. There's something we need to discuss with you. > I stood up straight, the hairs on the back of my neck prickling. As I turned around to face him, he spoke again.

< Yes, you. Follow me. This could be life or death for both of us. >

"How can you talk?" Maybe I imagined a sigh of frustration, but he ruffled his feathers and shifted his footing on the branch.

< There isn't time. The others can explain it better than I can. > Hesitantly, I followed him. He led me to a barn just outside the forest. It was one of those tall ones with the big double doors and a smaller one above it to a hayloft. As I approached, I heard voices in the barn.

"Oh come on. The mighty Xena doesn't want to get her hands a little dirty? I'd have thought you'd be the first to jump at it!"

"Hey! It's not my fault that Mr. Tidwell gave me another paper to do over the weekend. How was I supposed to know that I'd be spending most of my spare time fighting aliens. Besides, we're here because Tobias said he needed to show us something. Not to decide whether or not I'm helping Cassie clean her barn." By this time, I was standing just outside the door, just out of view. The hawk darted in through the door and landed neatly on the rafter by the hayloft.

< Quit your bickering you two, and keep it down. I could hear you from the forest. Besides, this is kind of important. You might as well come in, you know > I assumed he was talking to me, but the thought of what they might say when I walked in had me worried. What if they thought I was a freak? What if they took me back to the School? Slowly, I edged my way around the door. What I saw could have scared almost anyone to death. A blue centaur, with no mouth and an extra pair of eyes on rotating stalks on top of its head was standing right in front of me. That wasn't what made me stop in my tracks though. The tail, shaped like a scorpion's, but with a deadly blade at the tip, was millimetres away from my neck as soon as I was in sight of him. A single twitch would have my head severed from my body. The hawk turned at the sudden movement.

< Ax-man, chill. This is the mut...ah, I mean, person I was telling you about. She's been living in the forest for weeks. She's not a Yeerk. > Slowly, the bladed tail was withdrawn from my neck. I gulped and placed a hand to my jugular to make sure it was still there. A blonde haired boy about my age stood up from the hay bale he'd been sitting on.

"Hi, I'm Jake."

Authors Note:

As I said in the last chapter, I'm not expecting to finish the story, but any reviews are welcome. I had an hour bus ride to and from school for the last few years, and added bits and pieces here and there. All chapters have been pre-written, just been meaning to add my contribution to the community here for a year or so.

Enjoy,

Mav

P. S: I only own plot, no characters