Winged Warrior

Chapter 2: The Elements

Startled, Skye awoke and searched for a clock. She felt as if she had slept for days, and didn't remember the last time she had slept so soundly. She felt perfectly awake.

Finding a clock hanging to the left of her room's door, it read 6:56. Classes didn't start until 8:00. I could probably grab some breakfast before class, Skye thought to herself.

Jumping out of bed, she had made up her mind! She dressed in her stylish uniform-- deciding not to wear the snug blazer and to keep it simple today with just her airy dress shirt as she had been quite warm wearing her heavy cape the previous day. She tucked her magnificent wings into the pouch in her cape, stumbling a bit as she quickly pulled her shoes over her heels.

Moving around her new room, a delectable smell arose in her nostrils, causing her stomach to groan in hunger. She scrambled to brush her hair and teeth, wash her face, and grab her class supplies.

There wasn't a word to describe how she felt--she just felt good.

Before heading for the door, Skye plucked a dainty white flower from the pot resting on her sill. She slid it behind her ear and used it to keep her hair in place, loving the feeling of her revived hope.

Skye reached for the door and threw it open, startling Jesse who stood in front of her with her hand raised in a knocking position. "Good morning." Jesse greeted her with a chuckle, "Hungry?"

"Starving!" Skye announced, "It smells amazing."

Jesse sniffed the air, "Wow, good nose. I don't smell anything."

Entering the cafeteria, Skye was surprised to see how empty it was, especially with that amazing smell wafting throughout the corridors.

After piling their plates sky-high with French toast and bacon, the girls took their seats next to the grand windows overlooking the vast gardens outdoors.

Skye was halfway through her breakfast when she noticed a man dancing gracefully amongst the flowers. It was raining--but only where the man was. How odd! The rain fell whenever he lowered his body toward the ground, relentlessly drenching everything beneath him. Every time his body lifted back up towards the sky, the rain slowed to a gentle sprinkle.

Mesmerized, Skye watched the man spin, twirl, bend, and stretch in the garden--the flowers his audience.

"Have you not seen a wielder before?" Jesse asked.

"No. I don't really know much about them." Skye lied, as she had no idea what wielders were.

"They wield the elements. Usually, they specialize in just one, but some can wield multiple." Jesse explained, "That's the academy's groundskeeper; he can wield both water and earth."

"It's beautiful. Are there many student wielders?"

"Not a ton. It's a dying art."

After breakfast, the girls hurried to class, making it just in time for the bell.

Entering class, Skye's eyes immediately fell upon the deep blue orbs of Riftan. She didn't remember seeing him in this class yesterday.

His eyes followed her every move, making her feel stiff and uneasy.

Skye chose to sit close to Jesse on the opposite side of the room from Riftan. Is this dude planning retribution? She gulped.

Anytime she glanced around the room, Riftan's eyes were still on her, causing her to feel anxious, and quickening her heart. She wanted to escape from his blank stare and find refuge in the shadows. What's worse, other students were beginning to notice, too.

By the time class finally ended, Skye was nearly hyperventilating. The pressure of a dozen eyes on her was unnerving. People were chuckling, whispering--talking about her, and kept staring! Did they know something she didn't? Was Riftan really planning to hurt her or something? Revenge?

She rushed from the room and into the hall, desperate to escape the haunting eyes of not only Riftan but everyone else, too. She tried to remain calm, searching for a bathroom. She just needed to get away.

Finally! Toward the end of the hall on the left, the girls' bathroom sign swayed slightly. She pushed through the doors and hid in a stall. She took several long deep breaths, calming her heart in an attempt to soothe her overwhelming anxiety. The memories of being poked at-- and eyes--so many eyes just staring at her, flooded her vision. Nightmares she thought that she had overcome.

After a few minutes, she felt almost calm again when suddenly she heard voices and laughter along with the swoosh of a door.

"He's probably planning on some kind of revenge on her for almost plowing him over yesterday."

"Wouldn't wanna be her." A girl laughed.

"I feel bad, it's like her second day or somethi-"

"OOH! Psychological! What if he's just gonna keep staring till she loses it?"

Then it's already worked. Skye mocked herself, disappointed that she caved so fast.

Another girl snickered, "I'm pretty sure he doesn't play like that."

Skye waited until the voices faded, then let out a big sigh, letting out the breath she just realized she had been holding. Perhaps he was planning something, or maybe he just planned to torture her psychologically. He probably assumed she'd heard by now what he was capable of, and knew that some fear might reside in her--especially after her encounter with that wolf girl yesterday, and knowing he was also a wolf, but an even stronger one. But, then why would he have saved her from the big bad wolf girl the other day?

Maybe she needed to play her own game. Skye knew herself to also be very capable and she had managed to take care of herself this far, right?

Right, it was decided.

Straightening her uniform, splashing some water on her face, and fixing her hair, Skye confidently strode to her next class, reminding herself that she was confident and strong-- she could handle herself! So bring it.

Nearly fifteen minutes late for magic class, she knocked before entering and apologized for her tardiness.

And there was Riftan. He was in this class with her too! She did not remember seeing him in this class either the previous day. After bumping into him yesterday, it now seemed like he was everywhere.

Skye held her head high as she marched toward the back of the classroom. She flashed a bright smile at Jesse on her way by, as if mentally declaring her strength. Taking her seat, she made eye contact with Riftan and held it. She decided she didn't care what position he holds or what influence he has, she would not be scared, not of anything, not anymore.

Skye broke eye contact first. She felt she had made her point clearly enough, and would no longer let this petty situation interrupt her studies.

During lunch, Skye pointedly enjoyed her food and chatted freely with her new friends. She could feel Riftan's eyes on her from across the room, and some eyes of other students, but rather than shuddering in discomfort, she straightened her back and exuded confidence that she certainly did not feel on the inside.

Having time to spare, and feeling slightly suffocated, Skye ventured away from Jesse and her friends and journeyed to the gardens surrounding the academy.

She was fond of gardens and enjoyed the tranquility of the scenery. A stone pathway weaved and parted through the various plants and occasionally dipped into the woods, revealing hundreds of colorful mushrooms. Skye kneeled to inspect the mushrooms. They were everywhere! They carpeted the forest floor and grew on the sides of trees leading high up into the branches. Some mushrooms were even hanging upside-down, dangling like tiny chandeliers from vines. Some were speckled and bright, while others were dark and appeared dangerous, and some that lay near the base of the tree even glowed.

Skye spun in awe, mesmerized, taking in a full 360° view of the wondrous sight before her.

"This is one of my favorite parts of the garden, too." A gentle voice mused.

The gardener from earlier sat nearby on a bench, also taking a break. He was an older man, his remaining hair was gray, and he had a peaceful appearance, as if completely content with everything, "It's nice to see others appreciate the gardens," he commented.

"They're amazing," Skye gushed, "Do you care for them by yourself?"

"Not usually. I actually have an apprentice, my grandson, but he's away for a while."

"He's definitely learning from the right person then." She complimented.

The gardener chuckled and thanked her, "He's got the talent, he just needs to straighten up. He's a troublemaker."

He introduced himself as Sam and explained that he lived with his wife close by the academy. His grandson, Emery, was living on campus and attending classes throughout the day, although he had been away for a few days due to a family emergency.

Skye heard the bell signaling the end of lunch. Before excusing herself, Skye handed Sam the flower that was resting behind her ear and wished him well. She would come to visit him and his gardens again. The serenity that the garden offered and the casual conversation shared with Sam somewhat eased her troubled thoughts and gave her a sense of peace that she knew would help her to get through the rest of the day.

Hurrying through the gardens, Skye rounded a corner of tall bushes and skimmed shoulders with a muscular guy, "Sorry," she murmured before taking another step.

"Right," he snickered as if she didn't mean her apology, stopping Skye in her tracks. "Same time tomorrow, yeah?"

"Excuse me?" Skye blurted, astonished and confused at what this stranger was possibly implying. "What are you talking about?"

"Bump into me tomorrow--same time," he smiled, before turning to head in the direction Skye had just left.

Rolling her eyes, Skye continued as well. She wasn't sure how to take his comments. Should she feel flattered? Disgusted? It didn't matter.

Just as Skye thought she had a short period, free from Riftan's dark eyes--he walked into the classroom. His eyes immediately met hers, challenging her to another stare-down. This time, however, she wasn't in the mood. Plus, something was different. His gaze was...annoyed, perhaps? Angry? She couldn't tell. So, rather, she put on her best nonchalant act.

Making eye contact again, she smiled at him. His eyes darkened for a moment, sending shivers down her spine. Bad idea. She avoided eye contact for the remainder of the class.

Skye stuck close to Jesse. She didn't want to live in fear of Riftan or whatever he may be plotting, but she didn't want to be caught alone either. Who knew what anyone here was capable of? So, she had to be smart.

Besides Jesse, her group of friends at lunch, the gardener, the creep in the garden, and some teachers, nobody attempted to talk to Skye--no students. They all seemed to be curious, but with Riftan's constant stare, they seemed to be waiting for whatever was stirring to finally unfold. Skye gulped down her anxiety. Just one more class and she could escape to the sanctuary of her dorm.

Fourth period and Riftan was in this class again too, but she paid no attention to him. Instead, she listened intently to the lecture. Skye's teacher spoke about the culture of werewolves. She learned some of their traditions, religion, and beliefs, and realized that their culture was quite fascinating. They worshiped the goddess of the moon and lived in wolven communities called "packs". They often found reasons to celebrate and have grand parties. They also have selected soul mates given to them by their goddess, whom they are able to find only after turning 18.

Skye was baffled at the complexity of wolven culture and society. Surely, there was much more to this world than she had ever imagined. She was definitely making that trip to the library later. She needed to know more.

After class, Skye and Jesse headed toward their dorms, discussing their evening plans.

Jesse entered her dorm, "I'll meet up with you for dinner at the cafe. 6:00 good for you?"

"Works for me."

Skye turned to unlock her door and was surprised to find that it was not locked. She twisted her key to lock it, before unlocking it again, trying to remember if she had been this careless when leaving earlier that morning. How could she be? Sure, she felt good earlier, but she knew that many students would not appreciate a new "human" student, and might possibly prank her or sneak through her belongings.

Taking a deep breath, she twisted the nob and poked her head around to look around before entering. To her relief, everything was just as she left it, and there was no one inside. Nothing looked or even smelled odd. Her worst fear would have been Riftan acting out some twisted scheme of revenge, but perhaps, she just left her door unlocked, too excited about food. She chuckled at her gluttony, already thinking about dinner.

She dropped off her class supplies and took out her handy map of the academy. The library was located in an entirely separate building. She followed her map to the west end of the institute, eager to reach her destination in order to feel a sense of security. She felt uneasy on her own.

From the outside, the library was huge! And it was even bigger on the inside! An overwhelming sense of awe filled her as she gazed at the thousands upon thousands of books that lined the lovely carved shelves and presented their overflowing knowledge. Trees sprouted in various areas, and their branches acted as additional shelves. Some had lounging swings, where students could enjoy their reading, and beautiful golden lamps lowly hung to provide light. There were multiple floors that had the appearance of being supported by trees, many of their limbs resting upon the second and third floors, adding more seating and serenity. The ceiling was covered with windows providing lots of natural light. This was heaven.

Picking her jaw up from the floor, Skye admired the books that lined the shelves, reading their spines and occasionally pulling out ones that looked considerably old. She ascended a delicate spiral staircase, leading to the second floor. She was looking for something about werewolves, figuring she should stay on pace with her lectures and learn about each being and creature in-depth at a slow and steady pace.

Walking along the long, winding balconies overlooking the ground floor, Skye lost herself in the enchanting carvings of flowers that adorned the shelves holding the heaviness of knowledge, history, spells, and journals. She marveled at the number of books made available for students and teachers alike.

"Werewolves", she mouthed, finding what she had been searching for. She skimmed the shelves, choosing anything that stood out. Six books in, Skye was about to find a comfortable place to sit for a few hours when a large, ancient-looking book caught her eye, entitled "The History of the Wolf".

Placing her small stack of books at her feet, she reached for the large book, stretching to her fullest in an attempt to retrieve this old masterpiece from the second-from-top shelf. So close. This isn't something she would have normally struggled with, considering her wings. One little flit and she could effortlessly grab this ancient piece that mocked her from above. Shaking her head, Skye turned to look for something to stand on.

After searching for some time, she returned with a collapsible stepping stool. While setting it in place, she noticed a pleasant smell wafting through the aisles. Skye stepped onto the stool and started to reach up, but the book wasn't there anymore! There's no way someone would have been interested in the same old, dusty book as her at the same time, especially when there was almost nobody around. She glanced at her pile of books and was surprised to see the old ragged book resting upon the top of her stack. She shuddered.

Hopefully, someone walking by had noticed her struggles and simply decided to give her a hand while she was gone. But with how her day was going, she was likely still being watched. Was this meant to scare her? This seemed like a kind gesture, but could it also be a subtle warning, meant to scare her? Hinting that someone was following and watching? She could be reading into things too much, but something had seemed off since she arrived at this institute.

The academy was for young adults. Its purpose: to support young adults transitioning from high school and refresh their minds with the basics and provide guidance towards the future. Not quite college; however, a step after high school. This place was considered an opportunity for young adults to meet, mingle, create and grow connections, figure out what they want to do with their lives, as well as become more socially accepting towards those residing within the mythical realm. Anasidora had many wars in its past, with creatures and beasts fighting and killing one another over the same issues that the human realm faced daily.

So, being that the academy was for young adults, varying between the ages of 17 and 21, there seemed to be a lot of high school drama and immaturity. Obvious cliques formed throughout the institute and discrimination was clearly seen amongst the different creatures, with power and authority between individuals often being challenged.

Sighing, Skye grabbed her stack of books and placed them on a nearby table before returning the stepping stool to where she had found it. She scanned the aisles as she passed them, taking note of only two other bodies on the second floor, neither of which she recognized.

Fear pricked at her spine, and the anxiety of being watched thudded through her chest. She retrieved her books and prepared to leave, hurrying to escape the predator that stealthily lurked in the crevices of her fear.

She checked out her books and hurriedly walked back to her dorm.

To her relief, Skye's door was still locked. So, she entered and hid away until supper, studying all that she could about werewolves.

During this time, she learned some valuable information about them. She'd already learned they were strong, fast, and turned into actual freaking wolves! But also that they have keen eye-sight, an incredible sense of smell, and an actual separate being that resides in them. Their souls intertwined, one being human, and one wolf. Their speed, strength, and senses are better than any average creature or human while in human form, but are enhanced even further when in their "wolf form". They are powerful beings--much more powerful than she had anticipated.

With a few minutes to spare before supper, Skye pulled herself together and took some deep breaths of confidence.

Jesse was already waiting for her in the cafeteria when she arrived.

The two girls piled their plates high and Skye listened to Jesse excitedly tell her about volleyball practice. Skye promised to come to watch one of these days. It sounded like Jesse was quite good, and she displayed a strong passion for it.

Maybe one day Skye could partake in those kinds of activities: the ones that she's not supposed to wear a cape for. For now, she'd eat her sorrows.

After returning to her dorm, and feeling less anxious after being with Jesse, Skye had a long, hot shower, washing away all the stress and anxiety from the day. She meditated on all her learned information and dwelled on how to handle a situation that could arise with another werewolf--she'd have to outsmart them.

She prepared for bed and braided her long, silky hair. Relaxing into the comfortable nest she created with her pillows, she sunk into her fluffy mattress, sighing with pure contentment.

She reached to turn off her lamp but stopped. The shadows were back. Instead of moving to peek through her little "spy hole" in the center of the door, she watched and waited, holding her breath.

She kept perfectly still and quiet.

The two small shadows moved slightly but remained. So, Skye flipped off her lamp, making it seem as if she hadn't noticed and was going to sleep.

Using her wings, she silently lifted herself, lightening her footsteps with the use of gentle swiffs to keep herself elevated. Reaching the peephole, she settled her weight and slowly released her breath. A muscular, tall figure--likely that of a man--swiftly moved from sight. Skye hastily unlocked and threw the door open but only caught a glimpse of the same figure disappearing around the corner at the end of the hall. He's fast.

He was too fast. Werewolf. Could it be Riftan?

Despite struggling with fear and anxiety almost all day, she now felt angry. Someone was following her, watching her. What were their intentions? And what might they know? The wrath she felt at the moment was rightfully hers. She had lived her whole life in constant fear. For Skye, this academy was a new leaf.

She locked her door, placed a sticky note over her peephole, and stuffed her damp towel in the slit under the door.

If only she knew how torturous this would prove to be for the one who awaited her, as the delectable aroma of her sweet-smelling bath towel filled the halls.

Feeling more secure but still angry, she slept a restless slumber.