I Am A Flyer

A Lovely Day for a Picnic

A picnic.

It was an actual, real picnic. Raven hadn't been kidding. Jett didn't know whether to be relieved or to be terrified.

They were sitting under a huge tree in a grassy corner of the compound. The wire fence was right beside them as well - a gigantic, ugly thing with wicked barbs and a high voltage running throughout it.

Raven had brought a large container of steaming stew, along with some buns and several bottles of water. There were three apples as well. All in all, quite a feast. At least for Jett, who couldn't remember the last time he actually had a proper meal.

Forget about being scared of Raven. There was food! Without waiting for the others, he grabbed a tin plate, scooped a huge serving of stew into it, and picked up a fork. Shoveling it in at an incredible rate, he was nearly finished by the time the other two had just started to eat.

When he couldn't get anymore good stuff using his fork, he picked up a bun, and used it to mop up what was left. And then he went for seconds.

Suil watched him with a kind of awe. "Jett, you've never been to the cafeteria?"

The black-eyed boy paused, and looked up at Suil, his face covered in stew. Suil blinked. Raven pretended not to notice, busying himself with eating his own meal calmly.

"Cafeteria?" Jett wondered, after swallowing a mouthful. "What's that?"

"Here," Raven held out a napkin, not even looking at Jett. When the boy took it, Raven explained, "It's a place where we go to get our meals. In your case, it's where the kids like you go to get fed. If you don't go, you don't eat. Simple as that."

Jett finished mopping up his face, blushing a little as he realized that he had just acted with all the grace and etiquette of a pig. He started to eat again, though this time, careful to not make a mess of himself.

"It's right next to our barrack," Suil put in. "I'm surprised you didn't know that, Jett."

Jett bit back a scowl. "I've been. . .busy. . ." Trying to stay alive. He threw a glance at Raven. The flyer was helping himself to another serving of the last bit of stew. Jett was confused.

Why was he doing this?He isn't acting anything like. . .before. Is he even the same person? From what he saw, Jett didn't think so, but something in his gut told him to be wary. He tried, but just by watching Raven, he could feel himself starting to relax a little. There was nothing about Raven that was threatening or frightening - he was just acting like a normal person, who was simply sharing a meal with others.

Jett couldn't help it; he could feel his tension and fright slowly melting away. He cleared his plate of food, and eyed the apples. He couldn't remember having an apple in the longest time. Where he lived, the only source of apples was in the village, and of course, the villagers wouldn't share with an outsider like him.

Raven caught him looking, and smiled. Picking one up, he suddenly hurled it straight at Jett's head. Reflexively, the boy's hands shot up and grabbed it out of the air. Startled out of his wits, Jett gaped at Raven.

"Wh-wha-?"

"Have one," Raven stuck the last of his bun into his mouth carelessly. "They're good for you - lots of fiber and all that."

Jett uneasily looked at the apple in his hands, then at Raven. "Why-"

His question was never finished, because a familiar caw interrupted him. He looked up curiously, to see a large black bird descend from above. Recognition shone in his eyes, and his entire face lit up. "Ravia!"