The man dropped his arms and Niel rushed to my side, his eyes never leaving the man. The stranger turned and began running from us, or more specifically Angelinia. She took a few steps after him, quickening her pace with each footfall, "Angel," I called. She instantly froze and turned those large electric blue eyes at me. I shook my head 'no'. Angel turned her head in the direction the man had gone and growled before slinking back over to me and a rather frightened Neil.
I heard a loud purring noise and looked over at Neil and Angel. Angelinia was resting her basketball sized leopard head on Niel's folded legs. It was kind of cute, but I had to turn away before my stomach turned itself inside out. I looked at the sky instead and decided it would be an okay time for a bit of lunch. "I'll be right back," I announced, setting off the opposite way the stranger had gone.
I wasn't ready to dig into our dried foods yet and knew that there were some eatable plants in the wild. "If worse comes to worse," I mumbled, an image of Angel and Niel together found its way into my mind, "I could just kill a rabbit or something." I searched the forest floor for any signs of food or prey, and had just found a fox den when I heard a high pitched squeal. My heart skipped a beat and I sprinted back to the spot I had left my companions. "Angelinia," I gasped, bursting through the thick underbrush.
"What," She asked, confused, "did something happen?"
"Di- I thought- You screamed," I gaped between gasps for air. Both of them looked at me like I had lost my mind. "When did you change back," I asked just to change the topic.
"About two minutes ago," Neil answered for her. "When did you get a dagger?"
I looked at my hand, sure enough, I was holding a beautiful silver dagger with a smooth pearl handle. "Good question," I replied, admiring the fine craftsmanship. There was something engraved in the blade, but the lighting was just right that I couldn't quite make it out. Maybe if I-
"Can I see it," Angel asked loudly, waking me from my thoughts. I extended the hilt of the dagger and she reached out to take it from me, but before her hand made contact with it, she pulled her hand back with a yelp of both pain and surprise.
I looked at her, confused, "Are you okay?"
She nodded in response, "It surprised me," she held her hand close to the core of her body, "that's all." I looked down, knowing that that was not in fact everything.
I headed back to the woods without another word and I could feel their eyes watching me, the same eyes the townspeople have when they look at me. Eyes filled with regret and shame. Why do they all have to look down on me? I thought furiously, is it because I haven't any wings, or is it because my parents... I couldn't finish the thought.
I found myself a lovely rock to sit on, It had a beautiful view of the trees, dirt patches, underbrush, and other rocks. I'd only been gone maybe ten minutes, thinking about the events of the past few days since Neil showed up in my doorway. Angel had never used those eyes on me before, I thought, wetness blurring my vision, she had always been by my side. Memories of the first year after my parents' deaths came rushing into my head.
"We were just shopping," Angel loudly scolded, "there's no reason for you to do something so childish!" I just looked up at her from my place in the mud. The market place was the busiest I'd ever seen it, but everyone had turned their attention on us. "I think she's been through enough," She continued, "she doesn't need all of you getting in her way."
I stood up and glanced around the gathered crowed, keeping my head low. Everyone was just staring, their eyes boring into me with distaste, sadness, regret, and shame. "What's wrong with me?" I had cried out quietly into Angel's back, "what's wrong with me?"
I heard someone shriek, the same as before, but louder. I followed the sound, my mind still pondering past events. "N-Niel!" The voice called, with a hint of... laughter? I burst through the clearing to see Angel on the ground, and Niel above her. "What are you doing to her?" I asked in shock. He just turned to me with a sly smile before turning his attention to Angelinia once more.
I grabbed my bag and stormed off, tears threatening to spill onto my cheeks. Why does my chest ache? I fiddled through my bag for some dried meat, no way could I hunt with an unclear mind, and began to chew the tough food. So many negative thoughts were running through my mind, but the thought that scared me the most, was: Why do I feel the urge to get...revenge?
