When I got back to the clearing where I'd left my flock, they were all awake. Ash had gotten a fire going and the younger ones were sitting around it. Ash had always been good with fire. I could remember times when he'd somehow manage to set one off in his dog crate. He'd end up with minor burns, but the way the scientists would freak out was totally worth it. They'd run around screaming and wondering how he'd managed to create a flame out of nothing. It was how he'd gotten his nickname, Ash. Between him and Flint, who Ash was slowly teaching to create as much havoc as he did, we'd never have to go without fire.
"Where have you been, Lillian?" Cedar asked as I dropped to the ground, trying hard to keep my balance. When I knew I wouldn't fall over, I stood straight and smiled. I dropped down the paper bags from the fast food restaurant and my bag filled with clothes.
"Whoa!" Ash exclaimed, unzipping the bag and pulling shirts and pants from it.
"This rocks!" Flint smiled, tearing into a bag of food.
"You went into town?" Willow asked, staring at me with wide eyes. The thought was unbelievable to all of us.
"Well, we needed food and new clothes, didn't we?" I asked.
"But…you're wings," she persisted.
"Covered," I said, turning so that they could see my perfectly-normal-looking back.
"You look nice, Lillian," Apple said quietly from where she sat against her tree. I went over and scooped her up, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, kid," I said. "Now, how about some food?"
We all gathered around the food and I began passing out burgers and fries. Who knew you could get an entire burger for only one dollar? I'd gotten about fifteen. Before long, we'd all eaten about two. Ash and Cedar were going in for their third while Flint and Apple went at the fries.
"So where did you get these?" Willow asked, searching through the pack I'd brought back. I took it from her and began searching for the clothing I knew would fit her small frame.
"People were just leaving them around. Like, throwing them out. I don't know why, but who cares, right? Now we can get rid of these things," I threw my hospital gown that I'd stuffed into the bag over Willow's head and into the fire. It started burning immediately, leaving a very satisfied feeling in it's wake. Willow smiled slightly, a rare thing for her, and waited as I pulled her clothes from the bag.
"Oh, Lillian, I love it," she smiled when I handed her the flowing black shirt and dark jeans.
"Is this mine?" Cedar asked, pulling the small pair of green overalls from the bag.
"Yep," I told him. "And these." I handed him the short sleeve, grey and white hooded t-shirt and light green sweater that went with the outfit. Smiling giddily, he ran off to change. I helped Apple into her own light pink top with white, puffed sleeves and light blue jeans before throwing Flint his dark red t-shit and jean pants. "Yours are in the bag," I told Ash as I turned Apple around to braid her long, dirty blonde hair.
Walking over, Ash reached in and pulled out a pair of jeans and a dark blue t-shirt with a red and white zip-up to go over it.
"Wow, Lil. I never knew you had such a fashion sense," he teased. I scowled at him, which only made him laugh.
"Well, we want to look normal, don't we?" I asked. Ash's smile fell slightly as he considered this.
"Do we?" he asked. "I mean…are we really going to go into town?" I glanced down at Apple, not sure I wanted to have this conversation in her presence.
"Here, sweetie," I said handing her the bag. "I got everyone new shoes, too. Why don't you bring them over to where the others are?" Apple nodded slightly before taking the bag and heading out to where the others were, examining their new clothing. Once she was far enough away, I turned to Ash. "What else could we do?" I asked. "We need food. And we need to make sure we're hidden from the scientists. If we get caught…" I looked up at him, not having to say what would happen. It would be hell. Ash considered this.
"But where would we go?" he asked. "I mean, it's not like we can buy a house and have a normal life or whatever. We're just kids." I sighed and looked down at my hands. He was right. We were just kids.
"Well you're oldest. What do you want to do?" I asked. Ash gave me a slight smile and I couldn't help smile back. We both knew I'd be the one making the decisions. Even if Ash was a year older, I was always the one in charge. It was just the way things were.
"Well, maybe we can just—"
"Well, well, well." My head snapped up at the sound of a growling voice behind me. No way. There was no way.