4. Scarlett.

All in all, I wasn't sure how I became leader. Maybe it was because Nana and Freddi were always joking around. Maybe it was because John didn't know how to lead. Maybe it was because Jasmine was too shy to threaten us with fire. Maybe because I knew the others' emotions.

Whatever the reason, even as second youngest, I became the leader of our troop of Dark Angels.

I sat on a tree branch, observing the bustle on the other side of the forest. Nothing threatened us, and it was time for our nightly meetings. I nimbly jumped to my feet and leapt to the sky, unfurling my long, golden wings. Their black tips reflected the fading sun in blues and greens.

*****

"We have nothing to eat," I proclaimed, to no one in particular.

"No more lettuce heads? Or steak?" John looked over my shoulder into the stores we'd buried in the ground near the stream.

"We have the half-frozen and barely moldy pizza," Freddi said, splashing water at Nana.

"Well , yes. How appetizing. So we're good for one more meal."

Nana nodded, her eyes squinted into the sun, and I could practically see the gears in her head turning. She was excited to know that a raid was imminent, yet, as always, a little afraid that her plan wouldn't work. Out of all of us, Nicole Ann's gift was the one that we relied on the most. Nana could plan any successful raid; she could get us all out of a prison cell with her hands and wings tied behind her back. Not that we'd tried.

"I think," she began, relaxing her black wings behind her, the red tips of them shining in the sun. "I think we'd be best off at the grocery store on 7th Avenue."

"Do you have a plan yet?" John moved toward the stream, curiously holding out his hand. Nana shrugged, and put her hand in his. I could tell she was hopeful that he would approve, and a little proud to show off her plans.

To anyone else, this action may seem normal. However, we knew that by touching someone, John could learn a lot about that person, and although he couldn't read a person's mind, his power had a lot of hidden potential.

"That could work. Are there any security cameras in the northeast wing, though?" John muttered to himself.

"Yes, two. Unless you're counting the other near the 2nd aisle in," Jasmine said, dreamily. She swept her black hair out of her eyes, but it just swung forward again.

Jasmine always seemed to be in her own little world. She thinks, daydreams, and rarely talks, except to Freddi. The think that really bugs me, or "gets my goat" as John would put it, was that her emotions were quite hidden. I had to reach and grope with my mind in order to know what was happening in Jasmine-land.

I shook my head, and looked at Nana, who was absently twirling her sheathed knife around. It was a long, thin dagger that was easily concealed. Around us, Nana kept her knife tucked in her hair, like a pen, or a needle.

"Nana, take John and Jasmine with you on your raid. Freddi and I will work on building, or laundry."

Freddi groaned, and flipped her auburn hair. Within a few seconds, she began to disappear. I felt her annoyance and boredom. "Can't I go on the raid?"

I sighed, and kicked the lid of our food storage. "Freddi, you hate stealing." Freddi felt more annoyance at my being right.

"But how will we cook our un-moldy pizza? I don't like fire." Which was an excellent point.

But I knew better than to let Freddi go. Freddi didn't mind the building, but simple housework was a burden. I looked to Jasmine.

"Light a fire before you go, would you?" Jasmine nodded, once again hiding her emotions. "That's that."

Freddi forced a half-smile, and trotted off, to start more work on the tree house, I assumed.

When John and I arrived, the tree was simply supporting a board between two branches. Now we were working on a full out tree house, or at least a bunch of connected platforms.

Well, someone had to be responsible around here. I sat at the fire Jasmine was tending, and started to assemble a platform out of sticks for the pizza.

I couldn't say I hated being the leader. I loved it.