Beasts

15: Chicken

Six months ago...

"Hey, beautiful." Danny draped his arms around my shoulders and kissed the side of my neck and rested his chin on my shoulder. "Whatcha doing?"

"Contemplating the meaning of life and if we're real or not." I say flatly and chew on my pen.

"Whoa. Is geometry that hard for you?" He chuckled and I felt his throat vibrate. Ding! My phone dings. I should change it so it vibrates. I don't like ringtones. Danny grabs my phone out of my pocket and holds it up for me.

"Ugh. I forgot I have to go to my cousin's birthday party." I groan and close my notebook.

"Really? Now?" Danny asks and gets off me.

"Yah. I'm sorry about our date, I completely forgot I had to go." I get up from my desk and grab a solid blue dress from the closet. Good enough. Not to fancy, not to casual. Just as I'm about to change, I turn around and motion for Danny to turn around. He rolls his eyes and does. I put it on and quickly tie up my hair.

"Kay, you can turn around now." He does and a smile spreads across his face. He walks over, grabs my face, and quickly plants a kiss on my lips. My heart skips a beat when he pulls away.

"Good luck. I'll be waiting for that date later." He warns and waves a finger at me. I smile and pretend to bite it. That's how it became tradition to wish the other one luck before doing something they didn't want to do.

Present...

I start walking. Walking where? I don't know. I wish I grabbed my violin first because I really feel like letting my emotions out. Instead I just have to walk. I go all the way to the stream. It's colours flickering every so often to remind me it's charmed. I sit down down in the railing of the bridge and start swinging my feet, my boots barely touching the water's surface. The place still has that pine smell and magical feel, there's just something else in the air. A sombre mood. Dark. Depressing. Some other gloomy word that starts with D.

"June?" I glance over at Phoenix and Iridescent coming towards me. "Why are you here?" Iridescent asks and sits down beside me. Phoenix sits on the other side so they sandwich me with their concern.

"I'm not in the mood to talk." I say and continue staring at the water. I wish I could just dive in there and never come up.

"We're sorry." She said. For what? I want to say.

"We wanted to make your life here as great as possible." She explained.

"Bear told us you were feeling down before coming here." Phoenix added. "Looks like we just made things worse... For you and us."

"Not true. You guys are amazing. Out of all the sons and daughters my parents could of had, they had me."

"That's a good thing!" Iridescent nudged my arm. "I would never ask for anyone beside's you to be the chief's daughter."

"Or to be my kitten." Phoenix teased and rested his arm on my shoulder.

Few hours later...

"So," I began when I walked out of the bathroom. "right in the morning we'll start our great adventure that will most likely end in us dying?"

"At least I'm dying with my best friends." Phoenix said with a smile on his face.

"For now, let's just eat dinner." Iridescent said and got up from my chair. "What do you guys want to eat?"

I look over at Phoenix and shrugged. "Food." I finally say.

"Food for me too." Phoenix smiled.

"Food it is!" Iridescent cheered and paraded out the door.

We went to the tribe kitchen and made some chicken wraps.

"So chickens, what's your opinion on them?" Phoenix blurted out as we ate in my cabin.

"Where did that come from?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Chicken wraps. Chicken. Now answer."

"I like them! They're adorable!" Iridescent chimed.

"Not when they're peaking at you." I muttered and took a bite of my wrap.

"Have you been peaked by chickens?" Phoenix asked with a sly grin.

"No. That's dumb." I said and ducked my head.

"That's hilarious! Chickens!?" Phoenix laughed and Iridescent fought back her's.

"Shut up." I gave him a push. "I was just a kid, okay. I do have a scar though." Dang it! Shouldn't of said that...

"No. Way. Show!" He persisted. I sighed and held my left pinky to them. Near the nail was a scar of where one of the chickens bit me. He snorted and let go of my hand. "Wow. Just wow." He shook his head. I turned my head and looked out the window. The dark outline of the trees outside had this look to them. Like they were hands disgusted by leaves. I wonder what creatures could be watching us right now...

"Kitten! June! Hey!" I blinked and turned back to Phoenix who was waving at my face.

"Hm?" I looked around and Iridescent was no where to be seen. "Where's Iridescent?"

"She left while you were staring at trees. She's gonna sleep guard the tribe." He said and finished his dinner. I got up and dragged myself to the bathroom. Somehow, I didn't even realize how late it was even though I was staring outside. I got ready for bed by changing into Darth Vader shirt that was a size too big and deep blue, flannel pants.

When I stepped out, I was alone. Phoenix must of left. I took a step and in a split second, Phoenix jumped at me and yelled "Boo!" I squeaked and took a step back.

"You jerk." I said flatly with a smile.

"I know you are but what am I?" He teased.

"A nine year old." I drop my clothes on my desk chair and sat down on my bed with my phone.

"Still trying to beat my high score, eh?" Phoenix said and plopped down beside me.

"No. Just trying to regain my crown." I say and die on the fifth jump. "I didn't need that crown anyway."

I stiffed a yawn. "I think it's time to go to sleep." Phoenix said and plucked the phone out of my hands. We went from playing to watching shows.

"Mmm..." I say and pull the blanket over myself.

"Night." Phoenix said and closed the lamp. Just as the door was about to close, something snapped.

"Wait!" I called out, sitting up. Phoenix whipped around with a fireball in his hand to see. My hand was reaching out and my mouth was open but nothing came out.

"What is it?" He asked taking a step closer. I dropped my hand and swallowed.

"Can you stay?" Damn it. Why did I say that? What is wrong with me? Once I saw the confusion in his eyes I regained myself. "Never mind. Forget I said anything..." I said and buried myself in my blanket. So stupid.

What the-? Phoenix lays down beside me and I shift over to give him some room. My heart's beating so fast I could pass off as someone having a heart attack. Without thinking, I curled up into a ball and nudged myself against his arm. "Sweet dreams, kitten." He, God damn, jinxed it.