Avian

Attacked!

Ava awakened by the hands of Jordan scooping her up into his palms. Still a little groggy from the short rest, she managed to crack a question.

"What's going on?" She muttered, trying to process the commotion. The morning light had  not even started to show.  She needed to sleep more. 

"Ssshhhh" Jordan whispered gently. 

Ava listened carefully.  sounds of human voices came from in the motel parking lot. 

"Its the cops.  The manager must have grown suspicious." Peter whispered. 

"We need to move out now."  Replied Jordan. 

"What about Ava and Kanza?"  Asked Peter.  Jordan thought for a moment.  "I have an idea."

Jordan lifted me up to his face, and with his other hand, he nudged me gently.  "Ava."  He whispered. 

Her body needed more rest.  She lay in his palm and sluggishly tried to sit up.  He caringly used his other hand to assist her upright, and pushed the hair away from her face with his thumb. 

"Yes."  She replied with a yawn. 

"Ava, I know you're still tired, but we may have been discovered and we need to get out of here, quickly."  Ava looked around the room and noticed Kanza perched on Peters shoulder. 

"It might be better if you and Kanza make an escape without us so that way you are not discovered with us."  Jordan looked into her eyes concerned.

"you and Kanza can fly out of here with no detection.  You can meet with us as soon as the coast is clear.  Just stay out of sight."  Jordan said, He looked to Kanza, she nodded bravely. 

"We need to go now." Peter said with urgency. 

Kanza leaped into Jordan's hand with Ava.  Come on Ava!  Lets go!"  She grabbed Ava's arm and lifted her to her feet. 

Peter cracked the door just enough to let them through.  Jordan held his hand out high so that we could fly.  Kanza did not hesitate.  She leaped off his palm and headed to a nearby power line.  Ava, however, stumbled a little as she maintained her balance. 

"fly Ava!" Peter called from behind. 

Instinctively, Ava jumped and beat her wings.  But fell to the ground. Shoot!  It might have helped if she stretched her wings first.  After a rest like that, they got a little stiff.  Just as Ava was about to take off again somthing all too familiar landed on top of her! She felt the sharp claws dig into her thigh.  But before anymore damage could be done the cat shrieked and bolted away. Immediately she was scooped up and buried in someone's hands, held closely to the warm thumping of Jordan's chest.

She could feel warm blood oozing from her leg.  She clenched the wound with her hand to try and stop the bleeding.  Jordan's heart beat heavily as they made their exit. 

"I've got you Ava." Jordan whispered as he breathed heavily.  She was relieved, but at the same time disappointed in herself. 

"This way, hurry, stay down."  Ava could hear Peter say.  They were still.  Jordan calmed his breathing, and cracked his hands just enough to see Ava buried between his palms and his clean white shirt.  "oh no," he spoke softly. 

"What is it?" Peter asked. 

"she's bleeding."  Jordan replied. 

"We need to find safety." Peter whispered urgently. 

They managed to make it into a nearby ally way, miraculously, without being detected.

Jordan and Peter caught their breath.  Jordan slowly exposed Ava so that he could get a better look at her injury that she clutched tightly.  It hurt like hell!  But she lay there and bit her tongue.

"Ava, can you move your hand for just a sec.?" He pleaded, as he gently nudged her hand away from the wound. grimacing, as he examined it.  Peter leaned in to get a better look.  There were three deep puncher wounds in her small thigh. 

"This needs to be cleaned before there's an infection." Peter expressed with urgency. 

The sound of soft wings grew closer.  "Ava!"  Kanza gasped, as she landed next to her in Jordan's palms.  She seen the pain Ava was in and put her hands on her head.  "Its going to be okay Ava." 

"Thank goodness for your arrow! otherwise that cat could have killed her! "  Jordan said.

She looked up at Jordan, "Thank you for getting her out of there in time..."

Peter tore off a small section of his shirt.  "Here." He said, as he took Ava's leg and started to gently wrap it in the cloth.  Intense pain flooded Ava's body, and she buried her face in Jordan's hands.  "Its alright."  Jordan tried to comfort her. 

"This will at least stop the bleeding.  But we need to find something to sterilize the wound." Peter said.

"Is it just me, or do you have bad luck with cats?"  Jordan teased Ava, trying to lighten the mood.

Ava managed to let out a strained laugh and looked up into his eyes.  "Good thing you have my back." 

Peter finished tying the bandage.  Kanza climbed into his palm and then perched on his shoulder.  Jordan brought Ava close to his chest where she would be safe.  A patch of blood stained his once white shirt. 

"We are about thirty miles from the city.  Beyond that is the Red woods.  We should look for a ride."  Peter said. 

They continued on foot, staying hidden, following the main road. 

Jordan held Ava close, making sure she was alright.