Prints on our hearts

Chapter one

      The children scrambled up the beach, racing towards the large house. The large island stood proudly on its own. Jake lead the way up the stone path winding up the hill. Alex looked curiously at the ten children racing up towards her home. Her keen senses picked up the falcon perched on the smallest girl's shoulder. "Miss, should we run them off?", asked the boy standing behind her in the shadows. "No, Stand down I shall greet them.", said Alex, her brown hair up high in a ponytail swung over her shoulder as she spun to meet the children at the door. Were her speculations true? Had Alma returned to her? Just before Jake could knock the door swung open to reveal the dark blue eyes of the woman of the house. The children were drenched and panting hard. Clearly cold and hungry but Alex could only see the falcon staring back at her. "Why have you come here?", she asked curiously pulling her gaze from the falcon. The dark haired boy in front looked back at the children then met her gaze again. "Our loop was attacked. By hollows. Miss Peregrine seemed to want us to come here. Can you help us? Miss Peregrine was hurt.", he said turning to the girl with the falcon. Alex's breath caught. Suddenly the bird went limp and fell. Alex's quick reflexes caught her before she hit the ground. She pulled the bird to her chest carefully. "Peter! Bring them in. Give them food and clothes.", she said glancing over her shoulder. Her gaze met the worried children again. "I shall help her. Go with Peter.", she said and with that she was quickly up an old spiral staircase. She softly laid the bird on her large bed as she raced around her large shelf of all kinds of medicines. Her shaky hands held tight to the glass bottle as she sat on the large royal red bed. "Alma.", she said softly. The bird stirred slightly. A sigh of relief flooded over the woman as the bird accepted the medicine raised to her beak. "Rest Alma. I shall care for the children.", she said as she softly stroked a wing with the back of her hand. As the bird rested her head back down, Alex stood and quietly exited the room. She leaned against the now closed door and put her hand over her chest. "Miss, Dinner's almost ready.", said a tall small framed girl with bright brown eyes. Alex looked at her with a soft smile. "Of coarse. Let us dine then shall we?", she said following the girl to the dining room. She sat down at the head of the table. As she sat, she unbuttoned her crisp, black, suit jacket. All fifthteen children looked at her. She took a steadying breath before addressing the children. "She is in need of rest. I will do everything in my power to help you. Hopefully she will respond positively to the medication I have given her. You can see her as soon as she wakes and is strong enough. With that being said you are all very welcome to stay here. Peter shall show you to your rooms after dinner. Make yourself at home. Now I believe some introductions are in order. Peter, you start and we will go around the table.", she said making sure to meet everyone's gaze. Peter stood. "Do we say our peculiarities too?", He asked the woman smiling up at him. "Only if you like.", She replied sweetly. "Okay then. I am Peter and I can communicate with animals.", he said and sat down quickly. Beside him Amelia stood. "I am Amelia and I turn into a leopard.", she said proudly. Alex watched with pride at her children. Next stood Anna. Her green slit eyes stared down at her hands. "I am Anna and I am part snake.", she said trying to hide her forked tongue. Alex softened her gaze at her youngest. Jake seemed to notice and spoke up. "Anna I think that is really cool!", he said with a large warm smile. Anna smiled, her cheeks turning a light cherry color. Alex smiled at Jake. Next stood the small blonde haired girl. "Hi my name is Claire.", she said quietly and sat back down quickly. Alex smiled sweetly at the little girl. Beside her stood a shirt. "Hi I'm Millard. Obviously I am invisible." , he said somewhat proudly. After Millard stood a brown haired boy. Bees buzzed around him. "I am Hugh. These are my bees.", he said and sat down again. Next up was a brown haired girl. She smiled proudly. "I am Fiona and I can make plants grow and die by will.", she said with her head held high. Next stood a well dressed blonde boy. "I am Horace. I have prophetic dreams.", he said very proudly Much like an aristocrat. Beside him an older dark haired boy stood. "I am Enoch. I resurrect the dead.", he said smugly. He nudged the small girl beside him who stood. "I am Bronwyn and I have super strength.", she said just as proud as the others. Next stood a red haired girl with gloves. "I am Emma and I control fire.", she said glancing over at Enoch who smirked at her. Alex noticed and smiled at her. Second to last to sand was a blonde girl. "I am Olive and i'm lighter than air." she said looking around the table. She sat and finally the dark haired boy stood. "I am Jake. I can see hollows.", He said somewhat quietly. He sat back down and everyone looked at Alex in expectation. She stood smiling. "I am Miss W. I knew of you all. Miss Peregrine and I used to write to each other. I am not a Ymbryne like her but you can find out everything else once she is better. Now please eat as much as you like and Peter here can take you to meet Jackson and Aaron afterwards.", she said and promptly sat down to eat. The new children happily stuffed their faces. All except little claire. She simply stared at her food. Alex leaned to Jake. "Why is young Claire not eating?", she asked with concern. Jake looked up. "Oh she is embarrassed in front of new people. She has a mouth on the back of her head.", He said looking down the table at her. "Anna. How about we show Claire how you eat?", she said suggestively hoping she would catch on. Anna smiled at claire. She picked up a piece of chicken and proceeded to swallow it whole, her sharp hooked teeth showing. Once the food was down she flicked her forked tongue at Claire who smiled and happily ate with her large mouth. Alex quietly ate. She seemed to have lost her appetite as her sharp hearing listened for any movement from her room. Once she was done, she stood and quietly excused herself. Peter was old enough to handle everything in her absence. She walked quickly up her spiral stairs. A small hallway stood at the top. Her door was the only one up here. She quietly entered the room. Her sharp eyes adjusted quickly. She gasped to see the disheveled woman laying on the bed. She was paler than normal and her hair lay in a mess around her head. Alex softly sat on the edge of the bed. She gently stroked the woman's cheek with the back of her hand.