The Academy

Chapter 1: Why Am I So Special?

"There she is!" "Get her!" "Damn!" I cursed to myself. I thought I would be able to rest here a moment before these grunts found me. With a resigned sigh, I leaped down from my perch and started running. Again. This was really starting to wear me out. I heard the booted feet behind and broke into a faster sprint, while managing to roll my eyes at the same time. Couldn't these morons at least try to be stealthy? I mean, I'm glad they aren't, their loudness having saved me multiple times, but c'mon, this is just embarrassing! Lost in thought, I almost didn't notice the sudden drop I was running into. I skidded to a stop, my bare feet sending millions of small pebbles skittering down the incline. I winced, realizing that my feet were probably being torn into tiny pieces. I really need to get some shoes, I thought to myself, but then I realized escaping probably took precedence over new getting new Nikes. As I looked over the edge of the cliff, my hospital gown fluttered in the breeze, and the same wind ruffled my feathers. And when I say that, I don't mean that old cliched phrase. I meant actual feathers. Yeah, I have wings. 10 feet of rust-red feathers, muscles, and bone, all attached to my back thanks to my lovely mutation. The same mutation that prompted HYDRA to give my parents a million dollars, not exaggerating by the way, to give up their only daughter so they could poke me, prod me, and do all other kinds of experiments so they could figure out how to get their own bird soldiers. I'm happy to say, in 13 years of trying, they still haven't. Unfortunately, they never let me practice either. I am a 13 year old bird girl with no idea how to fly.

Funny isn't it?

I heard the henchmen coming closer, while frantically trying to find a safe way down. I didn't see any other choices. Just as the first goon broke through the underbrush I dived of the cliff, immediately extending my wings and praying that I would figure out how to fly within the space of 10 seconds. I let my instincts take over as I spread my wings. I was gliding away from my previous life, soaring towards freedom.

It was pretty sweet.

I decided to flap my wings a bit and I gained some height. With a maniacal grin, I flapped like nobody's business. Soon I was up in the clouds, laughing as I winged my way towards the cluster of lights I saw below me. I tipped the edge of my left wing down and began a slow, spiraling descent towards the town before I realized something: I was a teenaged bird mutant in a hospital gown. As I landed on a mountainside, I realized that there was no way I would find any help here. And with it this close to a HYDRA base, there was every chance they would have agents here. "Well fuck. What should I do now?" I mused aloud to myself. "You could start by watching that mouth, young lady." I started in surprise, not having seen the raven haired lady in silver armor besides me. "W- Wh- who are you?!" The lady smiled at me and shook her head. "It is better that you not know. Just realize that you are my champion, and that you are special. You are a creature of air and fire, but that will destroy you. You must be balanced." I stared at the women in astonishment. Before I could say anything, she placed her hand on my forehead and boom. With a flash of silver light, I fell to my knees and she disappeared. As I stood up, I realized she had given me something. Clothes! I was wearing jeans and a white tee shirt, and my hair felt freshly washed, tied back with a gold elastic. I mouthed a silent thank you at the sky. I rubbed my arms, trying to get warm. I saw a cave just behind me, and while prying through chattering teeth that there wasn't a bear in there, I walked inside. Thank God, there wasn't anything in the cave, even though I've certainly smelled better, even at HYDRA. When I saw a pile of sticks in a corner, on a whim, a thrust my hand at it. To my surprise, a beam of fire shot out of my palm, not hurting me in the slightest, while lighting the pile of twigs ablaze. I stared at my hand in amazement, but at the same time I was so tired I figured, sleep first, figure out mystical fire powers later.