"So when you said that our 'parents' went on a work trip, they finally ditched us?" Jay asks as we sit under the tree.
I nod. I feel a slight tingle as Jay slips into my mind to see what I am doing, since, as I mentioned earlier, he's blind, and can go into people's heads, if thats not creepy.
"Hmph," grumbles Jay. "Good riddance."
After a little while, a person comes over to us. They are dressed neatly and have a hat, so they're probably what we call a twoleg.
"Hi, ladies," the man says.
Jay bristles. Thats the first time he has ever been called a girl. I don't blame him for his reaction.
"Sooo, you're Clan, right?" he asks, looking us up and down. Most people with Clanblood are small, with large eyes and sharp senses. They are also shunned, so it's weird for a twoleg to show up at this place, the place that clanpeople aren't supposed to leave.
"Yeah, why?" I ask.
"I'm supposed to do a survey of the Clan area," he replies, pulling out a pencil and some paper. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
Jay looks like he wants to strangle the guy, but I think to him to shush and let me handle this. He gets the message and nods.
"There's four quadrants, right?"
"Mm-hm."
"How do you feel about the quadrant you live in?"
"It's fine."
The man pencils down some stuff, then continues asking questions. "So, what's your name and your friends name?"
"Not telling. And my friend is a boy."
I sense Jay relax.
"Okay, thank you very much," he says, and leaves.
Jay turns on his music (I think it's Dark Stars, from the sounds I can hear from the headphones), and I lean back against the tree. That twoleg seemed downright nosy.
I head feet coming toward us, and see Lyon walking toward the trees. He's wearing a red shirt and black pants (no shoes, like everyone who's Clan), and he's carrying Jay's stick. It's actually a cane Jay's supposed to use, but a) he hates it, and b) he thinks cane makes it sound like he's old.
"Hey, Lyon. Got the message?" I ask as said person approaches.
He nods. "And Jay, if you don't use the stick, someone will find out your ability."
"And yours?" says Jay in reply. Lyon can't be defeated in a fight.
He shrugs. "Still." Jay grumpily gets up from his seat by the tree and takes the stick from Lyon.
My dress tears on the bark as I get up. At this rate, I'm gonna have to start borrowing Jay's clothes.
"Come on," says Lyon. "Lets go home."
-!-!-
Jay sits on the floor of the house, holding the stick in his lap. He has turned off his music and now the headphones that aren't connected to anything are resting on his neck.
"I'm going out," says Lyon. He's the oldest. Said person then leaves.
I get off the windowsill and sit next to Jay. I sense that he's sad.
"What's wrong, Jay?" I ask my younger brother.
"It's nothing, Holly," he says quickly. Hmmm, something definitely is wrong..
-!-!-
A while later, when the sun goes down, I hear Jay sneak out of the house. I silently follow.
He takes his stick with him. Jay goes behind the house to the small pool of water that we use for cleaning things.
Jay lifts up the skirt of the dress he's wearing (who the heck thought Jay should wear a dress?), and puts his feet in the pond. Before he gets his feet in the pond, I notice something around his ankles.
Chains. Broken so his walk is normal, but they're still there.