August, Luke, Lori and Gio all ran out the back window and through the fire escape leading into the nearby alleyway. The whole time, Gio held tightly onto August's hand. From there, they ran through town and towards their home.
Even though Luke heard multiple men chasing after them, only three seemed to find them. Afraid of leading them to the hideout and causing too much noise in a public area, Luke decided to direct them to the forest.
"This way!" Luke called out and waved his siblings towards the trees. They all followed and soon enough they stopped in a clearing away from prying eyes. "Stay behind me," Luke told August as he put a protective arm in front of her.
Overhead Talon could be seen flying in the sky, with Tony on her back.
"Hey, is that them?" Tony pointed over her shoulder.
"Oh no, they're in trouble," Talon nosedived as Tony clutched to her back feathers. Just as the three men were inching closer, Talon picked one of them up off the ground as if he were a mouse and dropped him off at a nearby river that dragged him away in its strong current.
"Talon!" Luke shouted as she landed in front of them, "How did you find us?"
Tony hopped off her back, "We were getting worried when you didn't come home, so we came to look for you. It's a good thing that we were flying overhead or who knows what would have happened?"
"Stay away from my kids!" Talon screeched.
"Do you know these guys?" Gio asked.
"They're probably from the A.M.," she told him.
"The what?" Lori shouted.
"I'll explain later," Talon said as she rushed forward and kicked one man in the chest and swiped the other with a wing. One fell into the bushes and the other hit a tree, knocking him out.
"That was amazing!" Lori cheered.
Once the danger was cleared, Tony ran over to August, excited to meet a human for the first time. "Hi, I'm Tony! Nice to meet you!"
"Oh, hey Tony, I'm August,"
"So you're August," Talon approached the girl.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry for all of the trouble I've caused, but I have to praise your kids for doing such a great job protecting me. You've really raised them well!"
"Yes, well, it wasn't easy, but I did my best,"
"It is nice to meet you as well. I've heard so much about you, from Gio." August held her hand out, but Talon glanced at her wings.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I don't do handshakes,"
"Oh, it's cool. I know a guy who's a bit of a germaphobe too,"
"It's not that—I mean I," Talon sighed, "never mind. Now that, that's settled, why don't we go home and—" a thunk was heard as Talon fell to the ground and behind her stood a figure in a black mask with a cane held high.
"What the—" Gio almost swore as the figure jumped between him and August. They faltered on their left leg a bit, but quickly stood and raised their cane, threateningly.
"Stay back!" They shouted, grabbing August around the waist.
"H-hey, let me go!" August struggled, but they were much stronger than her.
"What are your names?" The stranger asked.
"Don't tell them, Luke!" Lori shouted and Luke glared at her, "Shoot!"
"Way to go, Lori." Luke said and Gio smacked his forehead, "Crap!"
"Which one of you is the leader?" They asked and the cats all pointed at Luke. "Wait, really?"
