It was quite a quiet journey. I didn't mind it coming from them, of course, but it just seemed so abnormal to me. I almost expected to hear Nudge talking about how she wanted to stop at some store, or Total going on and on about random topics, and even Gazzy with his imitations. All this thinking made me almost forget we were right above our current camp. I folded my wings to swoop down into the camp. If the other flock didn't like it, too bad.
It felt almost like free-falling, though I knew I'd have to catch myself. When I was only a few feet above the ground, I shot my wings out and glided slowly the rest of the way downwards. A few seconds later, Tyler, Blondie and the rest of the flock who's names I had not yet been introduced landed with a small thud on their feet and with a crackle of leaves. I swiveled on my heels and faced them with a grim look. "Anywhere within twenty yards seems calm. Feel free to choose any spot." Again, not talking so softly to them, but something still told me that I couldn't trust them just yet.
The smallest one, a short girl it seemed, with long hair cleared some of the leaves below her feet and collapsed there and then from exhaustion. The rest scattered, as if they suddenly felt they were at home. A boy, about Gazzy's height by the looks of his silhouette, disappeared into the shadows and away from the rest of the flock. My suspicion grew, but I let the thought go quickly. No sense worrying over something that isn't your responsibility, right? The rest of them settled down randomly, in a variation of close to and far away from my sleeping flock. I was extremely tired from a complete day of boredom, but I was nowhere near ready to sleep. Tyler was coming towards me and without a word, settled in a spot next to me. He didn't look ready to give into the tired either.
His eyes examined the stars that reflected them. Still focusing on them subconsciously, I could hear him quietly mutter, "Hey." It was a wonder why this boy was so calm around strangers. I didn't reply, my face was turned away. "'You… want to know my flock?" he guessed. Man, for a non-mind reader, he was good at guessing. "It would make me more comfortable." was my only reply.
His golden brown hair swished with the movements of his head, meaning to turn to me. Reluctantly, I turned my head. I wish I hadn't. I was there examining his features for a few moments before he actually started. He didn't mention it at all, but I could just tell something about that pause was part of his plot to trap me into liking him and his 'family'. His finger pointed to the girl that had fallen into sleep the moment we reached the camp. "That's Hope. A handful, but is pretty good at following directions." I opened my mouth, for a comment or criticism, I forget, but he went on to another boy near her. What looked like a baseball cap was rested beside his head. "That's Zach. He's the athletic one, loves sports and flying." I pursed my lips this time, knowing he'd only continue on.
Then Tyler nodded towards Blondie. "That's my sister, Rebecca. She's a real pain, but… hey, she's my sister. What else am I supposed to do?" he ended slightly in a chuckle. I smirked, just to play along. Because of my growing sleepiness, I was only half listening, but enough to understand who was who. Next, he pointed to a huddle that was leaned against a tree. "That's Elmira. She's sort of weird, with her eyes, but pretty cool anyway." I thought of the silver eyes I had seen earlier. Had they belonged to her? No use waiting for an answer. "Does she have silver eyes? I thought I saw her earlier." He only nodded. I waited for the next introduction, but he just seemed to be looking around, as if he had misplaced something. Like his brain maybe? I thought to myself. "Well, the one I can't find is Marc. Then again, he likes sleeping where there isn't any light. He's not really scared of the dark or anything. In fact, his mind is pretty dark itself." He explained. "And I'm Tyler," he said with a grin. "But you know that."
I nodded. "Any of you guys have spontaneous mutations?" I asked. Wow, that came out wrong. He raised his brow, in clear confusion. "Sorry, I'm half asleep, in case you can't tell. I mean do any of you have, like, special gifts?" I can read people really well. But there were so many emotions that filled his face now; I couldn't really tell what he felt. I couldn't even tell what one emotion was upon his face. "Um, yeah. " he blurted out suddenly. "Marc's somewhat telepathic. It can only be something up to half his weight." I was falling closer and closer into sleep as he spoke, my head was slowly lowering. "Rebecca can get information out of things, simply by touching it. Maybe that's why she's so clever and…" I think that was the time when he realized I was at the point where I was barely listening. His grin shone brightly off the moonlight. My head was pressed against the floor of the forest, my eyelids growing heavier and heavier. "Thanks…" I murmured. I couldn't see him anymore, but I could hear his hands tucking my messy hair under my head. "No problem, have a good night." Tyler rose to his feet and walked away. But from there, I could hear and see no more. Sleep had finally got the better of me. And what I was so stupid to miss; I actually said nothing bad about or to Tyler.
***
With time closing in on midnight, Tyler landed after a long flight. His deep brown eyes cold. The shadows were hiding him more by the minute as he walked towards the sleeping Max. Lowering to one knee, he reached out to her hair and let it seep through his fingers. Sort of a silky feeling. He thought to himself. Something he needed to remember for the worst of times. And he knew the worst of times wasn't far away. Tyler inhaled the misty air slowly as he fell away from Max and towards the figure of Elmira. When he was only a few feet away from her, he said her name in a normal, not hushed tone. Her silver eyes immediately flashed open. She shook her head and looked up at her leader. "Yes, Tyler?" He held the gaze for a few moments. "Have you figured the outcome yet?"
Not one shimmer of fear shone in her eyes. "No. I haven't. You can't expect much done while at rest." With a last disappointed look, he launched into the sky once more for several more hours.