Trigger warning!!
Thank you all for coming back for chapter 2
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"Ms. Avocet?" Claire looked up at the elderly woman who was rocking in her chair from her dolls on the floor. Ms. Avocet wad babysitting so Alma could finish up some Christmas shopping for Claire.
"yes dear?" she glanced up from her knitting, ger brown eyes glimmering in the candlelight.
"How did You meet Ms. Bunting?" Claire asked, studying miss Bunting who was in the Kitchen, reorgainzing the drawers.
"Thats an odd question Ms. Densmore. May I ask what prompted you to ask that?" Ms. Avocet asked, her eyes also glsncing to miss Bunting in the nearby room.
"Miss Peregrine told us it was an Interresting story. She told me to ask you about it when i had time!" Claire smiled.
"Well..."
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"Why can't you just be normal like the other Ymbrynes in training??!" A tall slender woman with light brownish black hair and brown eyes growled at another woman who sank back into her chair deeply, nervous and wracked with anxiety. whenever she was called into the office, she was berated for whatever the Older woman had decided was her fault or flaw on that day.
"Esmeralda" The woman behind the desk snapped her fingers in the teenager's face. "Woman!" the female screeched, and angry look gracing her features.
"I -im sorry mis- Miss G..." Esmeralda anxiously bounced her foot up and down which made her long curls bounce as she frantically looked around to see if she could find anything even remotely appealing to take her eyes away from the dark brown eyes staring her down, until something hard smashed into the side or her face right next to her eye, making her flinch.
"Pay attention!!" the woman snapped, her yardstick still every so delicately tracing the painfull red welt that was forming.
"Do You know why I have chosen to speak with you today ?" The woman asked in an threateningly calm manner as she organied a few papers.
"No-no ma'am." Esmerelda mumbled, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill over. The welt stung horribly, like a papercut, but much bigger.
"You imbecile." The Goose rubbed her temples. "You forgot to do this assignment!" She slammed a piece of off white paper down on the oak desk with quite a bit force.
"I was ill that day. Miss Buzzard told me I could just skip it sense I already knew the material." Esmerelda watched the woman in front of her get even more frustrated. it was true, The Teenager was far beyond the lessons being taught at that moment, having studied to get ahead just in case.
"What, do you think your better than the rest of the girls who are working much harder than you?"
"No! of course not!!!"
"Well then." The goose stood up, and slammed the paper into Esmeralda's chest harshly, almost knocking the wind out of the girl. "If you think your so smart, do this, right here right now!!" she shouted.
"But its Dinnertime, I was told to go washup before you pulled me in" the young teen had to fight the urge to roll her eyes, an sction becominf harder as the woman in front of her exploded with rage.
"So lazy! Any ymbryne worth their wings would have this done!! and besides, you shouldn't be eating dinner!" Miss Goose stomped her foot like a child.
"Why shouldn't I?" Esmeralda stood up angrily, getting defensive.
Do you know fat you are, Esme?"
"what?"
"Your overweight, haven't you noticed?" she tried to grab Esmeralda's side, but was shoved lightly back before she was given the chance. "You shouldn't eat dinner. You know what, you will not be eating anything until tommrrow. I'll oversee you on a diet." the woman declared, smirking at the damage she had inflicted.
The Avocet stood with her mouth agape at what just came out of the elder's mouth. The woman knew the girl struggled with Body image issues and her weight was her weak spot. Even though she wasn't fat, just weighed a little more and was more mature than most of her age in the home. The other girls, were all teeny tiny, as most took after tiny little song birds, and her, a long legged wader.
"Sit down, and Do. Your. Work." the Goose stormed out. Esmeralda let a few tears fall in sadness and anger as she glanced out the window, which shone a light reflection.
"Why am I not good enough for that demon?" She asked to the air. . She could hear dishes and silverware clanking downstairs in the kitchen as she slowly wrote the answers to one or two questions, focusing more on what she hated about herself rather than the work.
"I just wanna swim and see my brother." she wiped her eyes clear from the warm tears, placing her head in her hands, thinking. "You know what?" she stood up and crumpled the paper and thew it away, then grabbed a blank piece off the desk corner
"Sorry. -Avocet"
she could have written a much more intriguing letter, but she left it as is so she had a home to come home too. might not of been the best home, but Ms. Buzzard was not nearly as unruly as her partner, and The avocet only had 3/4 a year left until she graduated. then she Could go on to bigger and better things.
Esmeralda slowly opened the window as so It did not creak as loud as usual (which was extremely loud and audible from the kitchen) She took her place on the windowsill, letting go without a second thought. She slid down the roof, her white shoes hitting the gutter gently and she came to a halt. Esmerelda gently stood up, careful to keep balance on the rickety roof of the large home as she changed into an Pied Avocet, taking fight with ease, leaving the warm loop before she knew it, she was plunhed into the freezing Febuary.
it was a shaky flight for the girl as the wind was high on the Snowy night. she finally made it to the waters where she was raised, making a smooth landing into the water Alerting several other Avocets to her arrival. several heads turned, but none paid much mind when they saw she was avocet.
"Nathe?" she called in the laungage of the Avocet out to her only brother left at their Home pond.
"Esmrid?" a Male Avocet swam up to her, calling her by her actual Avocet name, which very roughly translated to something along the lines of Esmeralda.
"Nathe, there you are!" she skwacked at him. he smiled and nudged his head with hers, preening him slightly.
"You look wonderful sis. Have you been having fun with the tall featherless creatures?" He asked as he guided her away from the group with a gentle dive
"Yes. I'll get to take care of some kids myself, and teach them." She dive underwater to get her head wet.
"You sound excited." He did the same as she did, but dove farther down, surfacing a few seconds later.
"I am. I also had another idea in mind though."
"Like what?"
She thought of a way to explain her intentions of become an offical teacher of Ymbrynes. "It's nothing, you wouldn't understand it much any way." She smiled.
"But I wanna-" Nathe was cut off by a sound of a scream, which send all the other Avocets flapping away to safety.
"What in the world was that?" Esmeralda slowly lifted her neck from behind a smooth grey rock, to see a beautiful dark skinned girl, about the same age as her with a light almost green streak in her shiny black hair, being forced down a path by a group of men, whispering to eachother. Esmeralda dipped het head down again out of sight,
"Lets go." Nathe nudged his little sister to follow and fly away, But she stayed put. surprisingly, Esmeralda felt drawn to the girl. she felt like she needed to help this woman no matter What.
"Ill be back." She nuzzled his head once again, then he flew away as she and transformed back in a teenager behind a tree.
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" DAD PLEASE LET ME GO!" The dark haired woman screeched, tear running races down her well defined cheek bones as she tried to get her arms free from one mans grip, her left leg from another while her right kicked wildly around, desperately trying to strike one of the men with enough force to deter them from Kidnapping her.
" its your fault your in this situation!!" one of the tallest men snapped. "You DESTROYED our families name. They think our family is cursed!" one tall man hissed as he gripped her giant hand over her mouth, to which she bit down, hard enough to break the skin, which made the man shout and smack her across the face, then pushed a rag into her mouth and tied it.
"John just throw a bag over her head, Oliver will tie blocks to her feet, and lets drop her in the lake, then we better hightail it outta here. Her mother will be lookin for her very soon after she realizes her kiddo is gone." another shorter man, mayne a teenager shifted nervously around, clearly tense.
"Hold her down." The head man instructed as another placed a burlap sack over her head. The girl, who's mouth was covered by several pieces of cloth screeched loudly, jerking around, but she was no match for the two men who finished tying the Cement blocks to her feet
"There we go-"
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Esmeralda screamed and hit the tall man with a stick she had found across the huge lake.
" WHAT THE HELL?! Ditch her in the lake before this naked nutcase gets us!! hurry!" the one screamed, as he trird to wrestle the branch from the Avocet. she swung and hit his face, but only with little force due to him holding the other end. it wasn't even enough to phase him, as he shoved her back in an attempt to secure the branch. Esmeralda fell backwards just in time to watch the other man got ready to shove girl into the Lake off the rickety wood docks.
"NO!" Esme screamed as she stood up, trying to rush to her as the one man grabbed her by her hair, and side kicked so she fell down, her head and nose coliding with the cement.
"Not so high and mighty now, are ya honey?What are you, her classmate?" He taunted. Esmeralda groaned, but refused let the girl die. She quickly stood up (albeit shakily) stood up and punched the man in,the face, right before transforming into an avocet end making her way to the water.
"WHAT IN THE DEVILS NAME! SHE CAN DO IT TOO!!" All the men stood there for a mere second in awe, but then all started yelling "RUN!" simltaniously. The tallest man shoved the girl into the waters, then scarambled off like the rest, never to be seen again.
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"Where are You?" Esme dived deep into the water, until she saw a dark sack floating towards the bottom. the girl, who had been under for nearly half a minute looked frantic, yanking at the Ribbon binding her to the blocks blindly, her movements getting slower and slower. The bird swam down quickly, examining thr fabric that held her down.
"Can I transform under water?" Esmeralda thought as she flung her wings out to do it. She pushed herself hard to transform underwater, which was extremly difficult, but the woman persisted until she finally felt her fingers. as soon as she did, she grabbed the sack off the girls head.
"Am I too late?" she wondered as the girl eyes were half closed and her mouth was slightly agape, a few random jerks as if she was coughing
Esmeralda quickly searched for anything she could use to cut the fabric. finding nothing, she started to freak out, until the saw the girls metal hairpin. She pulled it out of the unrepsonsive girls hair, stabbing the rather sharp metal edge through the strong fabric ribbon material, enough make a hole. she crammed her pale fingers into the tiny opening, tearing The teenagers right side free. she did they same the other one with a little more struggle, but soon got the girl completely free.
"Finally!." Esme wrapped her arms around the girl's tiny waist, kicking her long legs forcefully to bring her to the surface
the air was cold and bitter when she finally able to fill her lungs, but Esme didnt mind as she flung the girl to the sandy shore, climbing up beside her.
"breathe!" Esmeralda screeched as she shook the girl, her mind tracing back to the day she was at the lake swiming, a young persian woman frantically performed a type of Cardio pulmonary resuscitation, or the as she dubbed it on her daughter, blowing air into her mouth, then tipping her sideways.
She bent down to the teen, and tilted her head backwards to open the airway, and started to follow what she remembered, Just as frantic as the woman on the lake that day.
"Please wake up..." Esmeralda whispered as she shoved the girl sideways one more time not expecting much, but tensed up as she heard a gasp followed by quite a bit of coughing.
"Finally!" Esmeralda smiled. "Thank the birds!!" She took a deep breath of fresh air as she fell back, laughing a little in shock as the girl launched up and threw up the remaining water to the side of herself in the snow that was piling up.
"T-Thank you!!" the girl stuttered, then used her remaining strengh to wrap her arms around Esmeralda's neck.
"No need to thank me, but are you okay?" Esmeralda asked, laying her head on the girls wet shoulder, tired and shaken up. The teen nodded. "My papa don't want me anymore.." She whsipered as tears pricking at her eyes. The snow had started to pour down again on the windy night, creating a whirlwind of white.
"I-im so sorry." Esmeralda did not move as the girl continued crying on her shoulder.
"Are you...cold?" The girl wiped her eyes and stared at Esmeralda's hands and feet, a little concerned at the lack of color.
"N-no. I actually cannot feel the,cold anymore, thanks for the cornern though!" Esme smiled at her new friend.
"um... okay kinda odd question, but why are you naked" she asked.
"WHAT??" Esme glanced down "MY CLOTHES!!" her voice cracked slightly as it hit her that her clothing was still laying on the roof, now peobably drenched in the warm rain of july, 1683.. Esmeralda sighed, but a sudden smile flashed her lips at how much trouble she was going to be in at this point. the sneaking out, leaving her clothing strewn about on the rooftop, getting caught up in this whole mess, the punishment seemed to just keep getting worse as Esme let her mind wander.
"So uh, I guess I should introduce myself yes?" the girl asked. Esmeralda nodded slowly, her vision become blurrier in the bright snow.
"I'm Diana Michaels. I'm 15, and my supposed loving family just backstabbed me. and you?"
"Esmeralda Evans. 16 years old" She used her fake last name sense she never had one, being born a bird. Why Evans? she never really knew, it just had a cute ring to it as Maybelle Finch put it. Emseralda felt a pair of arms latch around her again. She couldn't understand why she was getting so tired though, having being just fully awake before she had left.
"Thank you so, so much." Diana smiled gently, but then got really close to her ear
"This is gonna sound quite idiotic, but you did actually turn into a bird right, or do I have just that bad of a concussion?" Diana whispered Esmeralda was going to say no, denying anything of the sort, but then thought back to what Diana's father said.
"Dont be alarmed, I can do it too!" Diana saw the. terrified look gracing the older girls features. she stood up, still dripping fromt he lake and swung her arms quickly to turn into a juvenile painted Bunting. she was instantly grounded due to how wet she was, but nonetheless she hopped her way up to esmerldas shoulder, pecking the Avocet's cheek, then jumping back down and changing back with a shiver.
"we should get moving before you free to death." Diana said as she helped Esme up, wrapping her tiny arms around her waist. only being 5'2, Diana certainly had a little bit of a struggle supporting the 8 inch taller woman.
"My step uncle is Peculiar, and he swore up and down I was too before he left to fight in the revolution. Turn into a bird one time where that ugly snarky b*tch Maria can see behind the church and suddenly "DIANA'S A WITCH! like come on I'm too petty to be a witch, I woulda turned all y'all into frogs by now!" she exclaimed. the avocet gave a tiny smile. She truly loved how over theatrical Diana was. it was hilarious, plus Diana's strong American accent made it even better.
"Really? she accused you of being a witch? Aren't witches supposed to be ugly?"Esmeralda asked as she stumbled a little, her feet numb.
" awe your so kind! thank you! " Diana grinned, feel a light blush in her cheeks. "But in all seriousness, I don't think your hands should be turning blue, nor your toes. How msny fingers am i holding up?"
"Um...4 fingers."
"No, all 5 are up."
"You only have four fingers. plus your thumb." Esmeralda ran a hand through her icy black curls, watchign her steps intently.
"oh I guess your right." Diana shook her head to get the snow out of her hair. well, I dont think you have a concussion, but on the other hand I'm postive you have a broken nose." she diagnosed
"What is a concussion?" Esmeralda asked softly. She had never even heard of such a thing.
"You're tellin me you know how to correctly label Appendages but don't know what a concussion is?" Diana mocked as she made a right turn, leading them down a dark pathway.
"im sorry, I haven't studied that much about humans but my sister maybelle says I'm doing quite well for only being 3 and half years old!" Esme slurred, leaning a little more heavily on Diana.
"your only 3 years old!?" Diana exclaimed, eyying the avocet up and down.
"Its true!" Emseralda flopped down onto a nearby bench, feeling much to tired to conrinue walking. "I was born a bird, down at that lake we were just at!"
"Really? That's...fascinating." Diana thought on it for a moment. "Its so werid to think, an animal that was forced to pick up human traits." she pulled Esmeralda up off the bench. replacing her arm around her waist to help her stay steady.
"Do you at least like being human?"
"Yes. it has presented me with grand opprotunies, with only one fallback." the avocet sighed, picking a single leaf from a little maple tree.
"Whats that fallback?" the 15 year old asked.
"My teacher she is quite unruly. She is hard to work alongside, moves quite fast, and demands the most unreasonable things of us!" Esme threw up her hands, almost losing her balance.
"careful there!" Diana noticed that under the long thick black hair, Esme was still naked, and they would soon be in town, which could present a real problem.
"When I get older, im going to open a place just for Ymbrynes like us! im going to teach them, and care for them like a real teacher and mother would!" the 16 year old felt a wet peice of cloth being placed aorund her shoulders.
"oh, thank you!! I didn't even think about that! make a left here, we will be entering the loop soon, and going naked might tick miss Goose off!"
"Well, you seem to not think about the simple things, like clothing and concussions. while you teach them girls, I'll make sure you don"t forget those little things! Diana stopped at they found the loop enterance, a rather dinky little wood bridge. the wood structure was a little dangerous looking, a few dead strands weeds and ivy intertwining its support beams
"we could run a loop together!!!" Emseralda fell a little relieved at the thought of being paired with such a nice, chrasmatic young woman. "Here." Esme held the gate to the bridge open. soon you and I will be in the warm July of 1683." she smiled warmly, but Diana ran back outside.
"Whats wrong?" Esme leaned against the wodden frane of the bridge, confused. Why did she run?
"I'm...kinda..." Diana glanced around at the dead shrubbery around the snowtly landscape. "nervous. Is it gonna hurt? what if something goes wrong and i cant get in and my brothers and father find me out here? will I like, Die or somethin?"
"I wouldn't let that happen." Esme limped over, her whole left leg starting to becoming numb "Come on. I'll be right you the whole time, You can hug me while we walk in if you feel it would comfort you to know we couldn't get seprated that way while entering." She took The 15 year olds hand and lead her back to the beginning. Diana threw her arms around Esme tightly, clenching her eyes shut as The Avocet took about twenty steps down the bridge, a warm gust of wind signaled their arrival into the loop.
" We made it. You still breathing Diana?" Esme frown at the younger girls reaction. the bunting nodded her head, not daring to open her eyes as she dug her face into Esmeralda's back.
"Is it over yet?" She asked shakily.
"Yes, open your eyes silly."esmeralda said. Diana gasped at the lush greenery and beautiful forest surrounding her. up ahead she could see a huge manor or sorts with bright candles burning in each window except a single one in the top right corner.
Esmeralda took Diana's hand, giving it a little squeeze as Diana was taken aback at the scenery befote her eyes. "Welcome home Diana."Esme smiled.
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"Was that intresting enough for you?" She looked down to find Claire asleep on her lap.
"Thank You, again." A voice called from the doorway. Ms. Avocet glanced up to see miss bunting standing in the doorway, her hands on her hips as she walked more into the room.
"Don't worry, I regret my descion each and every day Diana." Avocet joked.
"Oh I'm sure." Ms. Bunting laughed a little as she helped miss Avocet out of her rocking chair and threw a coat over her shoulders, preparing to set off to take Claire home.
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