Wildheart, Forever

Tam

Tam was actually somewhat pleased with how the Black Swan was handling this. The shady little hecks were actually giving them useful steps to follow this time- before they decided what they were going to plant in the surrounding woods, they would have to document the natural resources.

Then, they would also have to have a plan for adapting the creatures to the environment so they don't die out, and then there was bringing it up to be a reason for the sanctuary to be declared. In other words, a lot on their plates.

So, that's why they had convinced the older groups to do a 'forest investigation' activity. With their help , the first step would go by much quicker. The eco-savvy lesbian couple that led Grove 5 was particularly excited about the activity- and they were easily able to get their group interested.

Tam was currently analysing a type of moss the kids had found- it was as interesting as it sounded. Not very, that is.

Sophie walked up to Tam, tossing him a water bottle. He caught it, standing up from a crouch and pulling his girlfriend into a hug. However, he immediately pulled back when Sophie flinched, holding her at arm's length to see what was wrong.

There was no blood, no knife or other weapon that he could see at first. Tam was just about to begin a shadow vapour reading on her when she grabbed his hands.

"Tam, I'm fine. I just haven't stretched my wings in a while, so they're starting to get really sore."

"Wings?"

Sophie's eyes widened comically, and she smacked her forehead before beginning to explain.

"Okay, so do you remember how there were a bunch of Neverseen agents around camp last year? There was a little more to that story, I won't get into all of it just now, but Gisela threw Keefe off a cliff, so I somehow grew wings and rescued him. The wings are apparently retractable, but can get really sore."

"What." Tam said insightfully, his brain running to catch up. Neverseen agents, Keefe's mom threw him off a cliff, Sophie grew retractable wings and saved him- Gods, which of those two things was worse?

Okay, so nevermind the whole cliff thing, Tam was going to address the wings thing first.

"So, your wings hurt from hiding them, right?"

"Yeah."

"We're pretty much alone in the woods, you should give yourself a break now."

Sophie was about to protest, but Tam held up a finger. "It's better for you to do it now, when there's someone to have your back if a human comes. Besides, I'm kinda curious to see how beautiful your wings are, Stardust."

Sophie flushed a bright red, but she quickly shrugged her jacket off. A few seconds later, wings sprouted through the shoulder holes of her tank top, the feathers bursting into colour under the filtered light.

Gods, Sophie was beautiful. Tam smiled at her, reaching out to run a finger over one of her feathers.

"I mean, you are the Moonlark, so this is kind of fitting."

Sophie laughed, giving him a kiss on the cheek and rumpling his hair before flying off through the forest. Chuckling, Tam put his notebook in his backpack and took off running after her. He was basically done with the moss anyways, and a break wouldn't hurt.