Runaways: The Journey Home

Chapter 24

The next few days of traveling kept Brooklyn very busy, though sometimes he needed to be careful of hurting his still healing stomach. He had been in the wilderness area of Montana for a time but could tell he was nearing the border.

Brooklyn was grateful to leave the state he was kidnapped in, hoping he could make it home before Goliath decided to replace him. His supplies were still doing alright, but he knew he would have to restock soon. That meant going into a city or a town which he didn't want to do so much, afraid of Anthony finding him in a place with other humans.

At one point, he wanted to rest though, spotting another empty cave. Brooklyn ventured in there, before eventually deciding that he couldn't sleep so much despite having bags under his eyes.

No, can't rest today, Brook decided, even when he yawned. He took one of his last sandwiches out, seeing only two left in there. Being without his stone sleep increased his hunger more, too.

Brooklyn ate up one of the sandwiches, savoring every bit of it before heading outside again.

While gliding into dawn he suddenly saw something like a town; the town of Bismarck. Brooklyn halted in his gliding then, eyes dilated a little at the town showing on the horizon and quickly changed his direction another way. He panted shakily from nearly going there. Sure, he was fine with Mark and Nora, but kids were different from adults who scared him more. His stomach had hurt too then from the fright he had as well.

The red male after a bit took to the air again away from the town, seeing a small river near it and decided to follow that instead of going into Bismarck. He knew he ought to feel ashamed from being timid about going to town but he couldn't help what he was feeling, tears coming out of his eyes while gliding.

I wish I had a travel companion, Brook thought miserably, loneliness growing like a tidal wave, everywhere around him feeling so big.

Hours later, near evening, Brooklyn kept up his pace, unaware of the clouds beginning to form. It got darker all around, making him notice, glancing up. It wasn't even 6:00 yet. He flinched from the sight of those clouds. Not now! He thought, as thunder suddenly rumbled in the sky, not wanting to get caught in a storm. It was too late though when the rain began to come, small drops falling on his head and causing Brook to cringe from it. He hated storms.

Brooklyn tried to ignore it. Weather won't stop him. He wouldn't stop no matter what, rain or no rain, flapping his wings as hard as he could to glide faster. But then his nerves got to him when lightning flashed up, and thunder boomed in his ears.

"No, no!" Brooklyn panted in fear, the rain pelting harder down on him now, soaking him all over and his bag. He hoped the last of the supplies wouldn't get too wet. Another thunderous boom rang in his head, making him cover his ears, feeling really scared, as a harsh wind struck him in his back, knocking him off balance.

"Ah!" He screamed, the wind continuing to beat on him as well as the rain soaking his hair, getting into his face, and blinding his vision.

That was it, he had to find some shelter and wait out this storm. It just wasn't safe to glide in this horrific storm. His belly was also cramping up from the stress of the struggle in the high wind. With the wind also making the rain come down so hard, the visibility to see was also hard.

Brooklyn had flown in this kind of weather many a time, but those times he was in more familiar surroundings. Now he was on his own and in unfamiliar turf.

He had to squint a lot to try to see even just in front of him. Rain soaked his hair and pack, plus his loincloth. Droplets fell off his body like crazy. It was a cold rain too. Brooklyn hoped he wouldn't get sick. It was late fall and getting cooler out. But it was still warm enough for this severe storm to strike.