Meeting (Chapter 1)

Falling

Half Moon

I wake up, but Nightshade isn't there. I assume he's out looking for morning grass to chomp on, and there isn't much of that here in Jasper. Nightshade would have to travel a little farther.

I get up and shake off any feathers that should have already fallen out.

I look at the orange dust and rocks surrounding me. It is covering my entire body.

I brush off and drift down to the ground.

I shrink my wings and make my hair return to the short brown version.

I re-tie my shoes and brush myself off again. The orange sand is very hard to get off.

I start walking. I see the outline of the town, and I know where to look like I came out of my own house.

I make it to town and walk from behind one of the houses.

I flip over my hood, shielding my face from the sun.

I walk past one of the only schools in this small town, which is quite large.

I see the two boys I saw earlier. They are talking about something. They walk towards the curb, and a yellow and black striped sports car brakes, opens its door, and honks.

The smaller boy hops in, and the car speeds away.

The teenager sighs and walks away.

But he stops when a motorcycle starts inching towards him. He reluctantly swings his leg over, and he speeds off.

I want to follow them, but I dont want to draw attention to myself.

I run the other way. I have to get far enough so people won't see my wings.

I get outside of town, and let my wings fully grow out.

I try and follow the cars, but I have to stay up in the clouds do they don't see me.

I hear something behind me. It sounds like a jet engine. It sounds like a military engine, but why would a military jet be all the way out here?

I look underneath my arm, and what is following me is not military.

It is self-flying. No one is in the cockpit.

But this isn't a drone. This is supposed to be a one-manned jet.

Why wasn't there anyone in the pilot's seat?!?!

I start going faster, but they catch up in no time.

I dive. I am far enough from town anyway for no one to see me.

They dive, too. I start hyperventilating.

Who is this?!?! What do they want from me?!?!

I hear scraping of metal, and then feel something grab me on one of my wings.

It felt like a giant claw. It wrenched me backwards and threw me. I couldn't regain my balance, which sent me tumbling.

I screamed, feeling my wings going numb. I couldn't do anything but fall.

I try opening my wings to slow the fall, but they were both pinned my large, metal hands. The fingers were sharpened into claws, which were digging into my bones.

I see the ground coming closer and closer.

I scream and grab my dagger from my belt. I try slashing at the long talons, but I cant get to them.

I get pulled up ever so slightly and then my face slams into the ground.

Everything goes black.