Those With Wings

Chapter Two

Stars and Whales

Turning her arms to the left, her feet made a demi-ponte, leaping a few feet away from where she was. Making her exit, she left the dance floor, and went to stand near the walls. This meant she was "offstage". Caroline Amelia Howards deeply enjoyed ballet. It gave her a chance to relax and vent out any worries on her mind. Her dancing instruction took place at the New York City Ballet Theater Company, a grand institution. The dance attire consist of leotards, tights, and ballet slippers in a matching pink. Hair was tied up in a bun, as this was accustomed for all dancers. They were rehearsing their production of Alice In Wonderland. Everyone that was rehearsing in the studio room were extras, such as mice, trees, and the sort.

She had to thank her nanny, Kelly MacRae, for suggesting to her father to register Caroline for dancing lessons all those years ago. It helped her to pull through the family trouble that was going on at home. It also helped her with her social part of life and without it, she would have doubt that she would be what she was today. Changing the train of thought, she pondered on her last conversation with Kelly. Her father might come home from his business trip for the summer. Was he really telling the truth? Is he really keeping to his word this time? One time, he would never come, or he was late and the visit was cut short. Caroline thought that the broken promises were getting tiresome, but she knew that her father was a busy man. He was an employer of the world's most successful company. She tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes it was a hard view to understand. Her father made it up to her by giving her gifts, coming to her dance productions, and trips to countries; but what she wanted was her father, and nothing else.

"Cara!" whispered a voice behind her.

"Hm?" piped the woman, turning her head and responding to her nickname.

It was Jasmine, one of her close friends.

"It's your turn! Go on!"

"Oh, right! Sorry!"

Moving on towards the middle of the dance floor, she started to move, and played the role of the black ace, minion of the Queen of Hearts.

The afternoon sun beat down upon the sidewalk, warming up the area where people drank their coffee on the open tables. On the walkway, four girls tread upon the trail, leaving the dance studio where the rehearsal took place.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" asked Jasmine, concerned for her friend. "You look warned out back in ballet, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good..." replied Caroline, rubbing her eyes. "I haven't been sleeping well lately, it's probably the vent at home. It's so loud..."

"Aw, poor girl...!" cooed Heather, another one of their friends.

Heather hugged Caroline's shoulders and pulled into a squeeze.

"What shall we do to cheer this lady up?"

"Guess what happened today?" sighed Amanda, another one of their friends.

"What, what?" clamored Jasmine and Heather.

"Don't tell me that you're broken up and disturbed like poor Cara!" exclaimed Heather. "What a curse! There is a rat going around in our circle."

"The only rat around here is Brendan Nelson," grumbled Amanda, gritting her teeth in anger.

Loud shrills of cries filled her ears, pulsing her eardrums with extreme pain.

"What happened?" You and Brendan were getting along so well," Jasmine began, disappointment in her voice."You were so happy!"

Something warm was dropping on her skin. When she moved her hand to see what it was, she soon learned that it was blood.

"It wasn't as it always seemed..." muttered Amanda. "I don't get to see him very often, which kills me... He always says that he's busy at hockey, or something..."

"Right, right," nodded Heather with intent. "Go on..."

Feathers began to float down towards her, dangling in the air like small kites. They were detailed with green and golden pigments, making the appearance grand and exquisite.

"And then he breaks our outings out of the blue when I really want the night to ourselves and just want to be with him," she continued, inhaling and exhaling air at a fast rate. "Was it something I did? I just don't get it...!"

When she looked down on the floor, she saw a baby bird with the same feathers... drenched in a pool of blood.

"I mean, does he really want to be in this- AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Caroline looked towards where Amanda was pointing, and saw that it was a bird. It looked like the bird in her dreams.

Glittering specks of stars hung in the air, shinning brightly in the dark ebony. For what seemed like forever, the light look like it would dance, the rays shifting positions here and there. Suddenly, the light dimmed. The stars shattered and fell to the ground. Cries of birds echoed throughout the vast nothingness. The calls sounded like the creatures were suffering and they needed to be free.

Caroline suddenly felt water splashing around her. The water level continued to rise, and it soon felt like she was swimming underwater. Unusual squeals started to sound out and she suddenly began to feel heavy. Nonetheless, she moved forward and continued to swim. Something rocky then collided into her. It soared her from the behind, but why did it feel like her body was so... long?

She came to a shocking realization.

Was she a whale?

"Help us!"

"Ms. Howards?"

"Ah...!"

Caroline woke up started, jolting from the voice while trying to hold back the jet lag. With millions of eyes were staring at her, she realized that she was at the center of attention. Looking up at the shadow that was looming over her, she saw that it was her science teacher, Mr. Jakes.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Jakes...! It's these ballet show rehearsals..." she stammered, looking down at her desk. "I get home late, so I have to stay up and do homework."

"I would appreciate it if you didn't make up your lack of sleep in my science classes," stated Mr. Jakes. "Do we understand each other?"

Caroline nodded timidly, trying to ignore the stares she was receiving from her classmates.

Once the teacher was finished talking with Caroline, he carried on his teachings of the stars. Glancing into her textbook, she saw a picture of constellations. Constellations were being studied in science class, and she was constantly looking at photos of them. Looking at the picture before her thoroughly, the stars seemed to be arranged into a shape of a whale.

Zeta Ceti. A star in the constellation Cetus, otherwise known as "the sea monster". Another name for Zeta Ceti is "Baten Kaitos", an Arabic name. When translated, it literally means "belly of the sea monster".

Author's Note

Yes, that bird up there WAS a Holoholo bird chick, for your information. Dammit SOB!! (Son of a beotch.) HOW DO YOU BEAT THE DAMMIT BAST---!!!

THIS IS UNEDITED. Don't kill me... T_T

Anyways, peace! R&R