Learning To Fly With Broken Wings

Chapter 5 : Sneaking Out

Jacinda's POV

I woke up with sweat drenching my PJs, I turned on my lamp quickly and I took a couple minutes to calm my heart down.

"Just a dream" I thought over and over again.

I looked to my clock and I saw it was 3:30 in the morning. I was afraid to sleep again and even afraid to turn off my lamp.

"Just a dream" I thought over and over again...or was it not.

I knew I needed to find a way to fall asleep and I knew I wouldn't fall asleep just sitting here.

I quietly got out of my bed after an idea popped into my head.

I slipped on some sweatpants and a sweatshirt.

I then quietly I opened my door, trying not to make the door creak.

I knew if I woke my mother I would be in so much trouble.

I managed to get downstairs without making a peep.

I then unlocked the front door and I quickly slipped out.

The grass felt good under my barefeet, it was cold and full of late morning dew.

I then opened my wings and lifted into the windless night, I soared above the sleeping roost with a sense of freedom that I rarely have.

No one was out flying except some of the older avians and the guards.

It is a new moon and it is a pitch black night with a million stars dotted everywhere.

I flew above the trees for sometime to get myself tired, until I smelled something before I saw it. 

The smell of smoke entered my nose and then I saw a dim light ahead.

I stopped and flew in place to think through two options.

The first one was to fly back to the roost and go wake the elders and tell them about the fire or feed my curiosity and go check it out myself.

I finally decided on the second option and brought my wings close to my sides and dived down close to where the small fire is.

I landed softly without a sound and began walking to the fire with stealth.

After fighting bushes, branches, and one grumpy raccoon, I made it.

I consealed myself in a tree close to the campfire ( I had to fight a raccoon to get in the tree by the way...not fun ).

I saw a small tent and an object on the outside right side of the tent.

I wanted to get closer, but I knew it was a risky move.

After a couple of minutes deciding, I got down from the tree.

I walked towards the object and whoever's tent that was.

I had to get extremely close to see what was the object and then I realized what it was and knew who was in the tent.

It was another camera, "great" I thought looking at the camera thinking what to do this time.

Then an idea popped in my head and I began stretching my arms towards the camera.

I was about a couple inches until I heard movement in the tent.

"Shoot" I thought and then I backed away from the camera and went back to tree.

I was about to climb up again until I saw the same raccoon, it hissed at me.

"Fine keep the tree" I whispered to the hissing raccoon.

Then I heard the tent being unzipped. Without thinking I jumped into a nearby bush.

When I hit the ground I held still, afraid that I would be discovered if I moved.

I heard footsteps and they were getting closer, the footsteps stopped only a couple feet away were I was hiding.

"Hello is anyone there?" said a voice that was strong yet gentle.

I didn't dare to move now or even breath, minutes passed which felt like hours or even days before he walked away from my hiding place and back into his tent.

I waited until I heard him snoring before I got out of my hiding place.

After I got out of the bush I ran silently away from the campsite and opened my wings and jumped into the air and flew back towards the roost not knowing what to do.

I decided to go home and deal
with this in the morning.

I landed on my front porch and silently slipped in.

I had my back turned to the kitchen and my front towards the door to lock it again.

Before I could even touch the lock, the lights switched on.

"Jacinda Lee Wind! What on earth have you been?" Said my mother.

I noticed immediately that she was trying not to yell and wake the neighbors and she was wearing her least favorite PJs...the pink and white one that father had gotten her a while back.

"Nothing, I just went for a quick fly to shake off a nightmare" I said.

My mother then walked down the stairs where she was before hand and came close to me.

"Nothing doesn't mean you come back smelling like smoke and have leaves and twigs in your hair" said my mother.

I looked at her and she glaring at me,
I looked down but didn't answer her.

"Jacinda answer me" said my mother raising her voice.

"I am telling the truth" I said. 

"No you are not" said my mother raising her voice more.

"Yes I am! Can you just listen to me like father did!" I yelled.

That was all I had to say to defeat her.

She didn't say anything until I wanted to go to bed.

"I am going back to bed and maybe you should too" I said.

Then I turned around and walked upstairs and into my room.

I quickly slipped off my sweatpants and sweatshirt and climbed into my bed.

I brought my covers to my chin again and closed my eyes.

I heard my mother walking up the stairs and then paused at my door, I opened my eyes again.

She stayed at my door for a second then continued to walk back to her room.

I sighed a breath of relief that she didn't come in here and start the battle again.

I closed my eyes again after I turned off my lamp, the only two things that remained in my mind at 4:30 in the morning was how did my mother know I sneaked out and why is Joel still around.