"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" Lennox screamed. The normally edgy, clever classmate was suddenly freaking out how I'd never expected to see him, and had clearly uncovered my darkest secret: the wings.
"Uh, Lennox, buddy," I told him, not sure how to respond, "Th-this isn't as bad as it looks--" but was cut off the Feline swung at Audra, and she squeaked (kinda loudly) as it scratched her along the arm. She fell, but then spread her pale grey wings and sprang up into the air, but the Feline lunged again, pulling one of her ankle boots off with its claws.
"Okay, maybe it is as bad as it looks!" I corrected, "But please don't tell anyone about any of this! You never saw these wings, there was never a huge panther person trying to kill us in the middle of this forest. Okay?"
"Wha... how... OH GOD!" he faltered. I turned around back to the fight just in time as the Feline pounced at me with a SCROWWW, and I sprang to the air. I swung my katana, hoping to keep it back from the two humans.
It was cut all over, looking kinda weird from the fact it was bleeding navy blue and steaming the same colour-- Power. Yeah, bland name, I know, but that's ancient Avians for yah. The Feline never stopped though. How come Audra could kill one with a heavy rock before we had any training, and now six of us slicing it all over with a bit of training was barely slowing it down?
"BAD CAT!" I screamed at it, swinging at it and making it lose its balance. Ari snorted, his sword glowing with Essence. Then he ran up at the staggering Feline and stabbed it. If Hazel didn't look horrified before, she did now. The creature made another SCROWWW! noise, shrieky-sounding this time, and fell once Ari yanked his sword back out.
None of us said anything as the Feline started to disintegrate, but we edged a little closer, heaving breathes. And then it turned into dark mist that looked like a three-D shadow in the heavy snow, then drifted off into it.
None of us said anything. At least for a while.
"Well, you people are insane," Lennox blurted, nervous laughing, "I'm insane. Let's go before the police think I'm involved. I'm done with this! Back to myself, try and figure out what I just saw! Goodnight!"
He was about to walk away, back into the trees when Neil asked, "Wait, what were you doing out here in the first place, then?"
"I uh... well... the usual?" he replied, "Doesn't everyone go for alone time after all those crowds at school?"
"I liked too," Audra replied, clearly not noticing the rest of us were confused.
"I just go play with my friends, mostly Cirocco," Neil put in, gesturing to me happily.
"Oh..." Lennox looked away. Awkward silence.
And then along came the sirens of police cars.
"Shoot, they're coming!" I yelped.
"We gotta go!" Raina cried. I clicked the ruby on my sword and it shrunk back into a ring in my hand. I walked over to Hazel, trying not to tear up as I hugged her and said quietly,
"I'm so sorry, Hazel. I have to go, they can't see us. No one can know, but you will probably find out soon enough what we're doing in the first place."
"Please, Rocko," she replied, tugging tighter and managing to avoid my wings, "Be safe. I think I understand. I have a feeling we'll see each other again, though."
"Oh! And Hazel?" I told her, "On the full moon, just before Ti-- just before Christmas, get out of town and to a safe place, please. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you when I had the chance to protect you. Stay away from Woodleif on the full moon." I let go and backed up, turning to Lennox, "I suggest you do too. Maybe you should also get your family out of the way too."
YOU ARE READING
Soaring Over The World (Soaring Saga #2)
Fantasy[I'm still working on a cover!] 'One after another, swinging from branch to branch, ducking under twigs, straining my eyes to see in the dark. I felt around with my foot for a place to step, but felt nothing. I heard yelling behind me, but I forced...
