Mᴜᴛᴀɴᴛ Aᴘᴏᴄᴀʟʏᴘsᴇ 6: Tʜᴇ Vᴀʟʟᴇʏ

04 || 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝗼𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟽𝚝𝚑, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾
𝟺𝙿𝙼

Just outside of the school's perimeter, the same spy was lurking in the bushes, trees, houses, and even sitting on fences. How can he do this? Since he is a Flight Shifter, a shapeshifting mutant that can become any bird he wants is using his abilities to watch this new community that has come into Spokane.

As a little blue jay with bright feathers and a black beak, Cormac watched through the large windows of the school, observed guards chatting in front of the school's double doors, and even got to witness a horse galloping onto the campus in a hurry yesterday. Now, he sees the leader of the group-- which he assumes is the leader wearing a dark mask and holding an entirely different demeanor than anyone else on this property.

The blue jay flew from the fence across the street from the school and flies to one of the windows to have a look inside. He perched tightly against the glass window and peered inward to see different people of ages and sizes settling nicely into their home. Cormac goes to check another side of the school, getting the same view, only this time, he saw more animal mutants. He could hear them chuckling, cracking jokes, and others just kept to themselves on their beds.

After he spied on the community long enough, Cormac flew from the area to go find a safe spot to report his observations. He shifted from a blue jay to a young man with massive wings, and a feathered tail and hair. He brings out the radio from his hip and speaks into it to give his friend the daily update. "Cormac to Bayard."

"Go ahead, Core." Bayard says to him.

"Looks like our 'friends' are settling nicely. Wanna give the introduction tomorrow?" Cormac asked, pacing back and forth on the road in a neighborhood a few streets down.

Bayard thought this was a tough question to answer now that it was about time to introduce himself to Leo's group. "Probably. Anything interesting?"

Cormac shrugged, holding down the radio button. "Not much. I think I figured out who the leader is, though. He's a mutant turtle with a bionic arm."

"Great report, Cormac." Says Bay. "We'll possibly introduce ourselves late tomorrow. Great looking out, mate."

"Over and out." Says Cormac.

****

Yesterday, shortly after Duke's hand had been taken care of, he found Vincent in their room. He saw that all of their roommates have left the room which means the couple with their baby has it all to themselves.

Since then, they have made up but hardly spoke until today. Now that they are laying in bed, trying to get an evening nap in, Vv let out a deep sigh while resting on Duke's bare chest. "Does your hand hurt?" Vv whispered, looking at his bandaged knuckles.

Duke took a quick glance at his bandages, seeing the wraps and gauze should be changed later. He shrugged at his girlfriend's question and replies with, "Sore... but doesn't hurt."

"Good," Vincent says, looking at him with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. And... for how I reacted." She looked away from him.

"You had the right." Duke said, holding her closer to his chest.

Vincent looks back at him. "It's just... the thought of losing you. Bethany wouldn't have a father, and... I don't know what I would do. Duke, I was so scared when Donnie told me that you were bitten..." She buried her face into his chest, feeling his warmth.

Duke closed his eyes, wanting to cry from hearing her words, but he needed to remain strong. "You won't lose me. It's hard to kill me. You should know that." Duke says, a short laugh escaping his mouth.