Winged Ones

Chapter 5

*BEEP BEEP BEEP Mreow? BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP Mauw! BEEP*

I yawned and stretched my arms out before stroking Dusk. He seemed to be annoyed at being woken up by the alarm, but calmed under the soothing rhythm of my hands.

"Goodmorning Dusk, did you sleep well?" He started purring as soon as I had finished speaking, so I take it he slept well. Dang, forgot to go over my day last night! Oh well, too late now. I should get up now if I want to have a shower before school, and I always want a shower before school. So I have to get up, into the cold.

"Dusk, I need to get up no- oh." As I was talking he stepped off me onto my bed, like he knew what I was saying. Again. I knew it, he's a genius! I slipped out of the covers, shivering at the cool morning air and once again as my feet touched the cool wooden floor. I hurriedly gathered my shower things hopping from foot to foot in a vain attempt to keep my feet from freezing and ran to the bathroom. Sadly the bathroom floor was tiled and even colder, but I chucked my towel on the ground as soon as I 'd closed the door. Mother wouldn't approve of me putting my towel on the bathroom floor but for some strange reason we don't have a mat of any kind to ease the chill from the tiles, so from my perspective I didn't have a choice.

I gazed into the bathroom mirror and inspected my face. The swelling was gone, but a dark bruise remained. I didn't bother attempting to cover it up with some of my mother's make up, as I knew it would only make things worse. Everyone would already know the story, and if I try to cover it up they will only mock me more. Still gazing into the mirror I brushed my hair and pulled it into my usual braid on the back of my head and pinned it in.

I stripped off my pyjamas and chucked them into the hamper. I turned the shower on, making sure it was just under burning temperature before stepping in. I cleaned my body, noting that the bruises from yesterday were slowly starting to fade and then simply relaxed, letting the steaming water sooth my aches and pains. I turned the pressure way up and let it massage my back, it felt like heaven. After a minute of just standing there getting my back pummelled by the hot water I turned off the shower and stepped out into the now steamy bathroom. I wrapped my towel around me and slowly dried off all the water before putting on the same old uniform and checking that my hair was still fine.

It was, so I went back to my room and grabbed my school bag.  I gave Dusk a quick pat goodbye and left the door ajar as I left. I whipped up a quick vegemite sandwich for lunch today and grabbed my usual breakfast of a green apple. I put the sandwich into my bag and zipped it up, slinging it over my shoulder as I ran out the door. I ran for a minute before slowing down to eat my apple, biting off huge chunks at a time. I took my last bite just as I was passing through the school gates, and threw the core into one of the garbage bins that are everywhere in school.

The bell rung, signalling for everyone to go to roll call. I sat in my usual spot and checked my timetable. First up I had mathematics which I find easy but Annisa and Bryn are in my class which ruins it. Then I have art, which is probably my favourite subject as I enjoy the work and my classmates simply ignore me. Lunch comes next, which will be the same old routine I'm betting. Lastly I have English, which will hopefully be my last class ever.

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I was jolted out of my crative writing task by the sound of the school bell ringing. As I packed away my things I reveled in the fact that that would be the last time I heard that bell ringing through the halls. I swung my backpack onto my back and raced out of class to the markets. I slowed as I entered the market grounds, looking for the stall with the bow. I found it after a minute, and walked up to it. There was a young man tending to the stall today, and I hoped he was friendly. I put on my most girly voice and started speaking.

"Excuse me sir, my brother wishes to buy this bow-" I pointed at the bow and continued "-but he cannot get here until later and fears that someone else may buy it before he can get here, seeing as it is such a magnificent bow." Always sneak in some flattery if possible, that's me when trying to get something. "I was wondering if you could please reserve it for him? He will be here later tonight at 11. He would be very grateful I'm sure" I looked at him with a pleading expression, hoping that he'd buy it.

"We have a policy of no reservations, but I could make an exception for you." He winked at me, and swapped the bow that was previously on display with one of the plainer ones that were stored out of sight.

"Thank you very much!" I said in a cheerful voice, grinning at him before turning and running towards home. 

I got home a few minutes after my usual time, not too late to raise suspicion though. I had a sneaky look around the house(Grabbing a few more tins of tuna along the way), and decided that my father must still be out at work or whatever he does most of the time. Good. I walked into my bedroom and greeted Dusk with a quick pat. He rubbed against my legs in response, which made me smile. I dumped my school bag on my desk, not bothering to unpack it. I shoved one of the new tins of tuna into my travel pack, noting that I need to repack it since I have my belt now. I'll do that later tonight though, when everyone is asleep.

I searched through my closet for my manliest outfit, coming up with a pair of dark brown cargo pants, a red and black plaid button-up shirt, a pair of old boots and an acubra hat. The shirt is a bit baggy, so it should be able to hide my small chest easily. I stuffed these clothes under my bed for later tonight, making sure they were hidden okay. 

I then decided to read through my notebook again, brush up one some usefull facts. I pulled it out of my travel pack and lay down on my bed to read it. Dusk soon jumped up and lay on my stomach, so I patted him gently with one hand and held the book with my other.

I passes time like this until mother called me for dinner hours later, then I gently pushed Dusk off and gave him his tuna before rushing to the kitchen. I almost inhaled my dinner and claimed tiredness, changing into my pajyamas and going to bed. Dusk joined me as was becoming the usual, and I stroked him until I heard my mother's soft snoring. Time for action.

 Author's note

Hello everyone, hope you enjoyed the chapter! The action will begin next chapter, and we'll discover if I can write it well :3 As always, please comment to let me know what you thought and give it a vote if you think it's worthy.

Stay sharp and live true,

~Ellania