I'm feeling happy! Back from the beach! Bit of writers block... but still going.

Disclaimer: I do not own Storm Hawks...

Roseate: Chapter 5

The boys arrived a bit later, Stork even more frantic.

"What was that?" He looked around.

"That would be a sparrow..." Yuro answered, sending a disbelieving glance to the Merb. The ten year old shook his head.

"Here's the place!" Jay-Jay called out, rousing the group. Finn was last out of the forest, shoulders slumped.

"Thank goodness..." The blonde uttered before dropping to the dirt.

The golden haired nine year old boy ran with bell on his toes to the home.

"A-huh." Aerrow had to admit, the house was... interesting.

White with brown trim, the two story house had an abstract theme, with a flat roof in the front section. A garage was linked to the side, and through the windows on the door the Sky Knight could see glimmers and shines of gems and various metal things.

Junko turned back to Aerrow, who was stone still.

"Come on, Aerrow!" The Wallop shouted. The call broke the teen out of his trance. He caught up with them as they headed through the door, Yuro already closing the garage door behind him as the Storm Hawks entered the kitchen.

"Aerrow?" A soft voice soothed his ears. Aerrow's green eyes swiveled across the room. Past Stork by the door, past Finn and Junko who were talking with Jay-Jay, past Roseate with some white cloth; and they rested on her. Piper. The girl who's chocolate skin seemed to glow by the sunlight entering the room. The girl who's orange-brown eyes studied him with frightening consistency.

"Hey. How are you doing?" The teen was holding back, feeling suddenly uncomfortable in this place. Rose wanted otherwise.

"Make yourself at home!" The blue eyed teen's voice echoed a bit in the open room. Finn was poking through things.

"Finn... maybe we shouldn't look through her things..." Junko whispered.

"Nonsense. I-I just wanted to see if there was anything that could prove that... she's...uh...Cyclonian! That's it!" Finn convinced his buddy.

"Ok... I guess that makes sense." The young Wallop concurred.

Aerrow sat at the table with to two girls, Radarr leaping off to see Piper. She ruffled the blue creature's fur with her good arm. Roseate was wrapping Piper's now sprained arm in a white cloth, tying the cast with a tight double knot.

"There. That should last until it heals." Roseate rose from the seat, only to plop back down due to something big and black that flew to her. "Heron!!" She giggled as the Bernice Mountain Dog slobbered al over her face. "Ok, ok, OKAY!" With all her might, Rose pushed her dog off her lap. His brown eyes were now searching the room, the ever alert dog trotting to Aerrow and Piper. Radarr frowned at the animal, scooting high on Aerrow's shoulders.

"It's ok, Radarr. Heron doesn't bite." Rose gave Aerrow's co-pilot a pat on the head before heading to the door that connected to garage to the home. "Oh, and Finn..."

The blonde jerked from the shelf he was searching.

"Stop poking around my things. Some are very fragile." giving a warm smile, she disappeared behind the brown door.

"Are you sure we can trust her and the little monsters?" Stork's voice was ominous, breaking the soft, warm feeling the open room. Piper was petting Heron, whose big black tail banged against the wooden floor.

"I don't know." Aerrow glanced to his team, lifting his hand from Heron's furry coat. "But she did heal Piper, and we have to be grateful for that."

Finn was unsure. "But Lark saved Piper too, and she was-"

"We know who she was, but would Cyclonia have two little boys working for them?" Piper broke into the conversation. "Besides, Rose was honest. Her parents are Sky knights."

"What?" Finn, Aerrow, and Junko said at the same time.

"She told me a lot while we waited for you guys. Her parents belong to the Falling Stars, who went on a-"

"Secret mission about a year ago." Aerrow finished for her. Piper nodded. Heron whined.

"I know we can trust her." Piper declared.

"Then it's settled. We have to trust Roseate for the time being. The Condor is not able to fly right now, so until then... We'll have to stay here." Aerrow ended the conversation. At a good time too.

"Well... I got it." Rose entered the kitchen, a vile full of a blue liquid in her left hand. "What?" She was startled to see the entire team of Storm Hawks staring at her.

"Nothing." Aerrow turned to pat Heron's head.

"Ok..." Roseate went to the sink. Before she went any further, her body froze. She let out a strangled cry and Heron barked. The dog ripped from Piper and Aerrow's grasp. The girl with brown hair jerked, a blue light glowing from her neck. Finn was closest, and tried to reach her.

"Rose. Roseate!" He called out.

Her light blue eyes turned to him, wide and frightened.

"Is she ok?" Junko nearly shouted.

Then, as soon as the freak attack happened, it ended. The vile slipped from her hand and smashed on the tile floor. Her figure crumpled and fell, Finn diving to catch her. Heron growled at Finn, the dog's head in her pale hand. Aerrow and Piper went to her, Stork hovering in the corner.

"H-Heron?" Rose's eyes shifted, Aerrow remembering when he tried to wake Piper after the crash.

"Finn. Not Heron." Finn helped her up, Rose shaking her head to steady her eye sight.

"What happened?" The girl asked the Storm Hawks.

"You don't remember any of it?" Junko questioned. She shook her head. Then Roseate gasped.

"The vile! Oh, no!" Rose kneeled at the broken glass, picking up some pieces.

"Forget the vile... what just happened to you?" Aerrow took command. Piper helped with the glass, a blue liquid spilt on the floor.

"I told you, I-I don't know." She racked her memory. "A blue light, someone calling my name...nothing."

"Aerrow, don't bombard her just yet. Ask her later." Piper dumped some glass into the trash bin, her orange eyes full concern.

Aerrow was about to disagree, but his mind was exhausted.

Heron licked up the blue substance, his big tongue lapping it all into his mouth. Junko tried to stop him.

"No Heron! Don't drink-"

"It's ok; it was only a healing substitute. It takes a while to make, and this was the last one." Rose held the cork that had kept the drink in its glass holder. "It comes from the Lelay fruit, native to this Terra. It was for Piper...but-"

"It's ok. You can make another one, right?" Piper asked.

"Of course."

"Then don't worry about it, Roseate." She smiled. "By the way, where are Jay-Jay and Yuro?"

"They went to look at your ship. They're good with machines. Remember those sky boards? They invented them." Rose grinned proudly.

"No way..." Finn whispered.

"Yes way." She counteracted with. "Well, do you want to see your rooms?" Rose asked.

"You have enough room for all of us?" Aerrow was intrigued.

"Yeah, my father built this home. I guess he was expecting more children or something... But come on!"