Thank you all for reading this far into The United Hybrids. I know these later chapters are shorter but I have reason. That reason I can't give until later in the book. As usual I hope you enjoy The United Hybrids!

Chapter 5

Canopy

Canopy watched as the others lazed around just as she was doing. It was a rather boring day and the others felt nothing to do. She sighed as she stood up and stretched her wings wide. She shook herself trying to get herself more awake. Canopy walked through the cave to the other side where one of the corridors led. She looked over as she heard talon steps behind her. Aries was behind her catching up to Canopy.

"Canopy," she looked behind her. "I hate to say this but I'm hungry."

Canopy let out a slight laugh. "You're part Mudwing. You're always hungry."

"This is different," Aries sounded frantic. "None of us have eaten since yesterday morning."

Canopy thought about iit for a minute. Aries was right. "Well, check the coup for chickens."

Aries shook her head. "I looked this morning. There's none left."

"What about eggs?" Canopy had stopped and looked at her.

"Nothing. The nests are empty. No chickens, not even a rooster." Aries looked back worriedly.

"This isn't good." Canopy flicked her tail.

"What do we do? The others don't suspect a thing…At least I don't think." She looked back again.

"I don't know. The guardians should have been back by now. They've never left us this long before." Canopy's heart started to race.

"We can't go much longer without food. We've never had to deal with that before," Aries fidgeted with her claws.

"I… I think we need to leave." Canopy looked to the wood doors held in place. She knew the doors from the outside were painted to look just like the stone surrounding them.

"Leave!?" Aries head shot up. "We can't! We would be hunted the moment we step foot out there."

"We don't have much of a choice." Canopy sat down with a sigh. "We can't live like this anymore. We need to see the world."

Aries sat down next to Canopy. "Are you sure?"

"I'm not sure about anything right now," Canopy said truthfully. "But I do know we need to leave."

Aries stretched one of her wings, little star patterns on the membrane glittered. "Should I go tell the others?"

Canopy shook her head. "No. I'll tell them."

They both got up and started walking back down the corridor they had come from. It was quiet except a little snore coming from Abyss. He was laying on his side sprawled out sleeping in one of the corners. Aries ran over to him and nudged him awake with a talon. As he woke up he yawned loudly and stretched as he stood up. He followed Aries to the others as they were alerted.

"I must speak with you all," Canopy said in a sad but authorial voice. They all looked over and sat up, listening to Canopy. "We have run out of food." They all gasped aside from Aries who looked Calm but her talons trembled the slightest.

"We can't be!" Constellation piped up. "We had enough to last us years."

"Only if the guardians were here," Canopy pointed out. "The guardians would have brought more food to us but we haven't seen them in over a month now. We have to assume they're gone now."

They all sat quietly. Abyss spoke up. "What do we do then?" They all looked at her as if she had all the answers.

"We leave." she answered simply.

Everyone started whispering to each other except Abyss. He was quiet. He then raised his head to look at her. "I agree."

The others whipped their heads around to look at Abyss. "We would be killed!" Dusk flared his wings.

"We will die here if we stay. I say we go out." Abyss walked over to Canopy's side. "It'll be better for us too. We could survive and stop the queens."

"But how?" Stratus asked.

"We will figure it out," Aries stepped up to Canopy as well. "Together."

Canopy flashed a grateful smile to Abyss and Aries. She looked at the other three. "We need to do this. We can do it," she put her wings around the group, looking at them all. "Together, we can do anything."

Constellation looked to Dusk and Stratus nodded. "I think she's right. We need to open our wings to the outside."

Stratus sighed. "I wouldn't leave you guys for anything. I'm in."

They all looked to Dusk as he grumbled. "Fine. Let's do this."

Canopy smiled at all of them. "We can do this." She straightened herself. "Grab anything you'll need."

Constellation immediately went to the library cave and put as many scrolls as she could into one of the bags she had. Stratus went to the sleeping cave grabbing most of the blankets and putting them in a bag of his own. Abyss started pulling down one of the bells and gave Canopy a look that said 'in case we run into trouble'. Aries went down the corridor to the training cave and grabbed the decorative, but real, spears off the wall. Dusk was filling jars with water and placing them in a large bag filled with sheep's wool.

Canopy smiled at them all as they started finishing. They all walked up to her with readied faces and satchels filled. She nodded to them and started towards the wooden doors. She pulled on the look feeling it stick to the door. She motioned her head for Aries to come forwards. Aries stepped forward and blew a small plume of fire at the look. It melted away as the fire licked at it. Soon the main part of the look clanked on the floor.

"Thanks." Canopy said to Aries. Aries nodded and went behind Canopy. Canopy opened the doors slowly, careful of anyone near. The doors gave a loud creek and swung open as a breeze swept through the cave. Outside the sun was shining brightly as birds sang in the trees.

Canopy gasped at the beautiful world outside.

They had done it. They were free.