On the Horizon

Chapter Three

I must've fallen asleep at one point, because I woke up to the crack of thunder.

I jolt up, and wince.

In able to let my wing heal, I positioned myself so I could have my wings out in the car.

I look out the window. "Where are we?" I ask Nate as the rain beats down on the car roof.

"Somewhere in Jersey." Nate shrugs.

I keep my eyes on the storm clouds above us. "How long has it been raining?" I ask.

Nate thinks. "Like an hour or so."

"AN HOUR?" I yelp.

"Woah it's just the weather." Nate jumps.

"Not for me!" I yelp, pointing into the cloud.

Two Windreds fly out of the cloud, then back in.

Nate pales when he sees them. "I can wait for gas." He mutters.

Then he accelerates. "The edge of the storm is just up ahead." Nate says. "Maybe I can outrun it."

As Nate speeds up, so does the wind.

A Windred sweeps down and flies beside the car, another on our other side.

"Nate!" I yell.

Nate reaches to the glovebox, and pulls out a shotgun. "You've got six shots." He says. "Make 'em count."

I roll down my window just slightly, and aim.

The Windred flies above the car, making Nate slide into another lane. "This is gonna be a problem." He grumbles.

I slide into the back, and slowly roll down the window. Rain gets in the car, but I ignore it.

I shoot, and don't miss.

The Windred to our left drops from the air, and falls behind us.

The other goes to the right again, and I shoot.

Nate yelps, but it goes through the open window and hits the Windred.

I climb back into the front, and stash the gun away.

The storm subsides.

"That was terrifying." Nate rasps.

I laugh. "You've only seen two. I once fought five in one spot. Almost died."

Nate doesn't answer.

"Scared yet?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Just thinking how crazy this is." Nate glances to the exit, then merges toward it. "I need gas. We can get something to drink while we're there."

"I might know of something that can heal my wing." I think. "But we'll need a map."

"Got it." Nate nods.

                                                               ***

While Nate pumped gas, I put my wings away, and went into the convenience store.

I look at the map stand, my eyes scanning over the paper.

"Can I help you?" A woman asks, smiling and stepping next to me.

"Yes." I answer. "I need a map of the Smoky Mountains."

The woman thinks. "We have a map of Tennessee, but until you reach that state you might not find anything in too much detail of the area."

She hands me a map. "Anything else?"

"I'm just going to get a few other things." I shrug.

"I'll be at the cashier when you're ready." She smiles, and walks away.

"Find it?" Nate asks, walking up with two water bottles, and a small bag of skittles.

"No, but this is good enough." I say. "I'll tell you more on the way."

Nate nods. "Candy?" he asks, gesturing to the candy aisle.

"Candy is poisonous for the Winged." I shake my head.

Nate looks horrified. "You can't eat candy?"

I nod. "What does it taste like?"

"Well they all taste different." Nate says, thinking. "I like Skittles the best."

Nate goes into a rant about candy, and stops when we reach the cashier.

When we get back into the car, and Nate pulls out, I decide to explain.

"There's this shady shop in Gatlinburg," I start. "It's run by a Winged. They sell souvenirs to humans, but in the back they sell healing supplies and weapons to Wingeds, if you know who to ask."

"If you guys are so busy saving the human race then who's running a shop?" Nate asks.

"We have a full economy at home." I argue. "But the owners are Curta."

"Which are?" Nate asks.

"Veterans." I clarify. "Curta is Latin for clipped. They're wings were ruined in battle by enemies. These ones by Windreds. They can no longer live with the rest of us, but instead serve as help. Plenty of them do it. And our government makes sure they are safely protected."

Nate nods. "So do you all know everything about the world?"

I laugh. "I may know a little bit more about reality than humans, but I'm still learning."

"So what is going to heal your wings?"

"Wings are tempermental." I sigh. "They can only be healed with elixirs that have helium in them."

"Wait you have to drink it?" Nate snickers. "Does that mean-"

"Yes." I laugh. "I've seen it used. My friend Ruthie once had to take it, her voice was high for like two hours while the elixir set in."

"This'll be fun." Nate grins. "I'm totally filming it."

I groan, but laugh.

Here we go.