The Orions Second Son

Chapter 7

Joshua went to follow Terrilyn to her room when she stopped him.
"Imma quickly get dressed, I'll knock when you can enter."
Joshua nodded in reply. He sat at the counter again, sipping on his tea. He glanced outside, Raina was nowhere to be seen. All except Steele's massive shoes. He liked that Raina wasn't fearful of the big guy, Steele had someone, just like he had Terrilyn.
Speaking of Terrilyn, he heard what sounded like knocking and decided to investigate. He opened the door, it had already taken plenty of time for her to get dressed. What he saw was absolute chaos.
Terrilyn was holding a black bird upside down, it was trying to flap its wings as she held its feet and wings to its side. They both noticed him and stopped.
"I think Alona's a guy." She spoke in defense. Joshua slightly nodded and stepped to them. He took Alona from Terrilyn and held them to his chest.
"Check under the tail feathers." He instructed. Terrilyn did.
"He is no longer Alona... his new name will be... Stephan!" Joshua released the new Stephan into his cage and closed the door. Narrans started squawking from across the room, looks like she finally recognized him.

"Josh! Josh!" Narrans squawked from across the room. 

"Narrans! Narrans!" He mocked back to the bird. He opened the cage she was in and felt the soft feathers nestle in his hand lovingly. He pet the macaw as Terrilyn smiled at the couple. Narrans eyes pinned as she saw Joshua take out a treat he had in his pocket, a chunk of walnut. She happily took it and perched herself on his shoulder, using her talons to eat.

The three went outside for a short walk/flight. Narrans glided around the humans while they walked and talked.

"So school is almost over! I can't wait for the summer!" Terrilin spoke as she skipped beside Joshua.

"So excited."

"Don't be so down about it, you could move in with us maybe." She said with a thoughtful meaning behind it. All Joshua heard was the part about moving away from his family, even with the bad stuff he still wanted to have a sort of home base. Every summer he would be shipped off to his grandparents' house, except they passed a few months ago. He had to find somewhere to go while his parents disowned him for a couple of months.

"Yeah..." He held his hand out in front of himself as he walked, getting a sense of movement. He felt, out there. Somewhere, just not here. He heard Terrilyn talking and tried to reconnect.

"You could hang out in my room all summer, have pancakes every morning, have smores every night!"

"And hang out with Narrans every afternoon." He continued. Narrans circled back at her name.

"Exactly! And Steele could, could..."

"Could help us set up tents in the forest if we go camping."

"And keep us warm at night."

"And safe during the day."

"All the while caring for a friend." Terrilyn finished. "Like a second son," she whispered. She glanced over at Joshua, smiling at the sky thinking of the summer they described.

"And actually be happy." He spoke.

"And finally be happy." She repeated. Joshua turned to her and smiled, she beamed back and tackled him in a bear hug. Narrans squawked from above. The two were laughing on the ground as Narrans landed and joined in the fun.

Later in the day, the group returned to Terilyns home. Steele was outside the door and noticed the group coming. Joshua tried to hide behind Terrilyn as they approached, but of course, his height was a disadvantage. Narrans sat perched on top of his shoulder contently. Terrilyn turned her head confused to Joshua. He just gave her a weary smile and stood up behind her.

Steele shifted in front of them as not to scare Joshua as they entered the house. Raina sat outside still tending to the flower beds. Terrilyn skipped through to the door while he speedwalked over. Steele watched as he tripped in the door way, he stiffled a little laugh. Joshua glared at the floor as he stood up.

Terrilyn put Narrans away and sat with him in the kitchen. Joshua smiled as she spun happily in the circular stools. He decided to join in, now both of them were spinning. Raina opened the door to see them both doing their thing. She started laughing histaricly at the scene, and Steele looked down at her confused. At least until he noticed what was happening inside, and joined in laughing.

Terrilyn and Joshua hung out for a couple hours more until Joshua felt it was time to leave. Like last time, Steele carried him home. Joshua was fine with it for the most part, just anxious of home.

"Dont listen to them." Steele boomed above him. Joshua looked up at him. "Just, come to me if you need help." Steeles violet eyes sparkled in the setting sun. Joshua nodded to him in understanding and hopped off Steeles hand. 

"Thank you." Joshua called to him. Steele nodded in appreciation. Joshua entered the house, his father must have been in the back, he heard running outside as his father ran inside from the shaking of Steele leaving.

"Joshua!" He spoke winded, "What the absolute HELL Are you doing with him?!" His father grabbed his arm harshly and dragged him to his room. His father trew him on the bed and laughed as he hit the ground instead. "Do not ever leave this house when we aren't home. You even know this!" He thew a rag at the boys face, "And finish the chores we gave you."

"I did!"

"DONT TALK BACK TO ME."  He went to hit him but Joshua covered his face, his father instead dug his nails into his arm and pulled him towards his face, blood slowly pooled around his nails. " You did them poorly. Redo them, all of them" He growled. And with that his father left him in his room. Joshua tried to get up and tied the rag around his bleeding arm. He went to stand again, using his good arm to push himself ontop of the bed and work from there.

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Tell me what you think so far, I would love to hear it. Aswell, I hope you all had a great summer now that schools starting. I might upload shorter chapters when I can or upload every other week or so. But anyways! Adios!

-Mojo

Word count: 1061