Winged Warrior

Chapter 6: Burnt Out

Skye tried not to relive the recent events as she listened to Riftan explain them to the school nurse and Ms. Acacia.

Jesse sat close to her, bouncing her knee anxiously, which didn't ease Skye's nerves. So, she drowned the voices out.

She's endured more than this, so she could get through this, too. Though the creature's rotting face was burned into her memory, she attempted to focus on other thoughts--happy thoughts. However, her ears perked at what was said next.

"It's strange that a siren would even be out here at all." The nurse commented.

"Yes, I know." Riftan replied, "They only reside in salt water. Freshwater dissolves their very being, which is why it appeared so torn up."

Ms. Acacia hadn't said anything during the report, even now, she remained silent.

"I'm concerned that it had a motive coming here," Riftan continued.

Skye froze. Did they know she was here? Already? Her heart quickened as she took some deep breaths.

Riftan glanced at her and squinted slightly, suspicion written on his brow. Was her paranoia apparent?

Ms. Acacia finally spoke, "We cannot assume it had a reason for being here." Her perfect poker face gave nothing away, "However, it would be wise to make this news known to everyone, in case there are more 'incidents'. For now, our conclusion rests with uncertainty, therefore, we will advise students to keep their distance from Lake Perch."

"Yes, ma'am."

Ms. Acacia turned towards Skye, "Did you make any physical contact with the siren, Skye?"

"No," she looked at the floor, "Riftan intervened only moments after it lept at me." He stiffened slightly.

Acacia's chin rose, "Well done, Riftan, you're very alert."

The nurse stepped forward with a syringe and gestured for Riftan's arm. He accepted the injection and nodded. He then turned to leave.

Ms Acaica addressed Skye, "Well, I have some calls to make, so I will speak to you more about this, this evening."

Skye agreed and excused herself, hurrying before Riftan was gone.

She peaked out from the doorway, turning into the hall, "Riftan!" He flinched a little, "Thank you."

He didn't turn around, instead, he raised his hand and waved, disappearing around the corner.

She blew out a slow, steady stream, emptying her lungs. Jesse looped her arm and lightly tugged her to their dorms.

"Jesse," Skye wanted to lighten the mood, "Did we miss lunch?"

Jesse chuckled, "Girl, how're you so skinny!? I know you aren't starving!"

The girls giggled.

"I'm glad you're okay," Jesse nudged her friend.

"Can't get rid of me that easily," Skye teased.

"It's just so bizarre..."Jesse began rambling. It wasn't the craziest thing that's happened to her though.

After returning to Skye's dorm, the girls raided their slumber party snack stash from the night before. Once again, eating away their worries.

They returned Skye's room to its presentable appearance and headed to the library. This allowed her to return and search for more books containing knowledge about Anisidora and its beings and creatures. Jesse chose to entertain herself with thrilling romance novels.

Skye's mind couldn't help but wander back to the day's earlier horrors. She was sure that the siren came for her, she just wasn't sure if it intended to kill her or not. Her previous captors always wanted her alive, so she wondered if they were even a part of this. Perhaps she was paranoid, though. It could have attacked her for simply being the only one around at the time--chance.

This was probably the conversation she'd also have with Ms. Acacia later.

Dinner came and went, and of course, the girls didn't miss it.

When Skye met with Ms. Acacia and was asked if she had any suspicions--of course she did. Skye had been hunted for most of her life, so she didn't take coincidences lightly. She was relieved when Acacia agreed.

Ms. Acacia offered Skye comfort, promising her protection. For all they knew, Skye was the last of her kind and deserved her freedom as much as anyone else. She wondered if that day would come.

After wishing her well, Ms. Acacia sent Skye on her way, easing some of her worries.

Skye ventured to her dorm and knocked on Jesse's door, bidding her a good night.

The earlier atrocity began to take its toll, as Skye lazily shuffled back to her door. She creaked her door open and couldn't recall if she had been the one to have left her light on. Now that she thought about it, she was sure she would have locked her door, too. Her hair prickled, as she felt a woosh of air slide past her. Ghost?

She didn't believe in ghosts. Skye closed her door and locked it.

She moved to the spare closet and grabbed a broom, before swiftly swinging it side to side--everywhere. This academy had invisible people, so even if she couldn't see he/she, she could still whack them.

She skimmed her room before moving into the bathroom.

When she leaned forward to swing her broom in the shower, the bathroom door slammed shut. She jumped, and grabbed the handle, ripping her door open. Just as she exited the bathroom, she saw her dorm's door sling wide open. Skye swallowed her breath, reining in her growing frustration and fear. Her eyes welled.

She cautiously tip-toed to the door and shut it again, locking it. She leaned against the door and slumped to the floor.

Why were these things happening? She released some of her pent-up emotions and cried. However, a comforting aroma soon filled her nose, and sleep lulled her.

Sniffling, Skye pulled her petite body up from the floor and pushed the extra trunk from the end of the spare bed that mirrored her own, to block her door. She then, crawled into her bed, surrounding herself with the comfort of her pillows, and slept.

She awoke early the following morning. Showering, washing away her unsettling uneasiness from the following day, and preparing herself for the bakesale, Skye had been told to meet with the 'Bringing Together Committee' at 8 am in the cafeteria's kitchen. She learned she not only had to sell baked goods but had to make them too. Great.

Upon entering the kitchen, Skye decided to make cookies because "How could you fail at cookies?"

She did. Completely. Her poor cookies not only suffered from saltiness but also first-degree burns.

Though some of her friendlier peers insisted that they weren't so bad, Skye had eyes, and she sure wouldn't buy them.

With the sale starting at 10 am, and tables and decore still needing to go up, Skye decided her cookies will just have to be 50% off, or maybe even buy-one-get-one. Oh well, there were worse things she could worry about.

Eating was great, cooking and baking--not so much.

And so, the sale began.

It wasn't long until Skye could see Jesse's bobbing antlers. Jesse browsed the selection of baked goods, filling a small plate with samples. When she neared Skye, her face lit up at the site of her friend.

"You're up early!" Skye teased.

"Of course! The werewolves get done their Sunday morning training in like.." She glanced at her watch, "10 minutes. They'll devour this entire room when they get here."

"In that case, hurry and take your fill!" Skye pushed her burnt cookies forward.

Jesse's lip quivered slightly, "Crispy," She grabbed a sample and nibbled on it.

Skye rolled her eyes dramatically, "They're just crunchy."

Jesse nodded and set the rest of her burnt sample onto her plate, she laughed nervously, "I've never had anything like this before."

"What kind of cookies were these again?" Jesse continued.

Skye looked confused, "Chocolate chip?"

"WHERE ARE THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS!?" Jesse couldn't hold her laugh any longer. Tears squeezed from her eyes as she held her stomach.

Skye's jaw dropped as she closely inspected her cookies, "My cookies are chipless?!" She couldn't believe her poor, terrible cookies and wheezed as her laughter escaped her.

While the girls struggled to catch their breaths, Emery showed up, "Hey ladies, what's so funny?"

They tried to play it cool but struggled to control their trembling voices, "Oh, nothing. Want a cookie?" Skye beamed her contagious smile at him.

Emery returned her smile, "Hmm, I dunno... How do I know you didn't do something to these?"

Skye pouted her lips, "You don't want any?" Looking at her sad cookies, "They're buy-one-get-one."

"Oh, please!" He threw his arms in the air, grabbed an entire cookie, and chomped into it. His vigorous chews slowed to a stop.

"Oh," was all he could muster.

"Oh? What's wrong?" The girls could barely hold in their giggles.

Emery choked, "They're great... The salt really shines through."

The three erupted in laughter.

"These are the star of the show!" They joked.

"Come and get 'em!"

Skye reached for a second cookie to give to Emery, "Here's your 'get-one'!"

The three received many quizzical glances from peers, as they fought for their composure.

The doors to the cafeteria flew open, and werewolf students flooded the cafeteria, making their rounds. It didn't take long for many of the neighboring tables to begin to sell out of their baked goods; however, Skye could only manage to rid herself of a few samplers.

Emery played as her salesman, as he tried to convince any passersby that her cookies were, "Keto" and "Tasted amazing for being 'healthy'", and chimed the buy-one-get-one sale. Obviously lies, but the lack of chocolate chips did make them somewhat healthier--sorta.

His efforts proved futile, without a single sale.

Becca and some of her friends brushed by, snickering at Skye's failed attempt at a cookie, whisper-shouting insults at her and her dessert. Skye couldn't help but notice gossip of the siren attack from yesterday float around either.

Emery gave her a sympathetic glance, asking to buy a half-dozen.

"You don't want these," Skye chuckled, "I appreciate your advertising though."

Emery grabbed a cookie, munching on its burnt outside, "Really, it's kinda growing on me."

Skye punched his shoulder, looking up to momentarily meet his eyes with her own, "Thanks anyways."

She turned back to her cookies, nearly bumping into someone's chest--Riftan's chest--AGAIN!

She made a surprised "oof", and excused herself.

"I'll take the rest of these." Riftan motioned to her pathetic biscuit.

Skye's eyes widened, "Uh, are you sure you don't wanna try a sample first?"

"I did."

Her sample platter didn't seem to be missing any more pieces. She looked back up at Riftan, "Well, okay." She bounced to her cute baggies to package them for him.

"Whoa, whoa!" Emery leaned towards Skye, "What about my half-dozen?"

Riftan looked away clicking his tongue, annoyed.

"You really want them that bad?" Skye snickered.

Emery leaned forward, bending down to look into her eyes, "Mhmm," He smirked.

His sudden change in demeanor surprised Skye. His confidence beamed, but his usual goofiness seemed to trickle away. Butterflies tickled her stomach, sending shivers down her back, that coursed through her arms.

She shoved him away, covering her nervousness with another laugh, "Fine."

Riftan stood straighter, disgust, and jealousy displayed evidently on his face. He shifted his feet and huffed loud enough for Emery and Skye to look over.

Skye couldn't help but blush with embarrassment. She almost felt a sense of guilt wash over her when she looked over at Riftan. She pushed away from Emery and busied herself with packaging the cookies--three packages of two for Emery, and the remaining eighteen cookies for Riftan.

"Alright," Skye handed Emery his packs, "Enjoy," Sarcasm laced her voice. He smiled.

She placed Riftan's nine packs into a small paper bag and gave it to him, barely brushing his hands. Warmth and tingles erupted where his skin had grazed hers. Strange. She hadn't noticed this sensation when he had carried her before.

Riftan must have noticed her puzzled expression because the corner of his mouth twitched, "Thank you," His low, smooth voice soothed her thoughts, entrancing her.

"No problem," she blabbed, "I mean--they're free--for the other day." What had gotten over her?

He tipped his head, his eyes never leaving hers, "Okay," he accepted her thanks.

This time it was Emery to break the silence and stares, coughing a little too aggressively, breaking Skye from her daze.

"So are mine free too?" Emery batted his eyes and smacked his lips.

"Haaa," Skye smacked her lips in response, "No."

"See you." Riftan began to leave.

"Bye."

Skye glanced around the cafeteria, looking for Jesse. She noticed some stares from fellow peers. Nothing new there. They had plenty to gossip about after yesterday's events. She happened to notice Becca also took part in the stares and whispers, probably just spreading rumors.

She still wasn't used to the attention, though she had been receiving it since day one of her arrival at the Academy for Fantastic Beasts and Beings. She had planned to lay low and fit in--so far she's failed at that, too. She sighed.

"Well, $3.00," Emery dumped some change into Skye's hand, "ya' crook."

At least she's made some friends.

The bakesale didn't last long, and after helping with cleanup, Skye was dismissed.

She wandered over to where Jesse and Emery sat, waiting for the lunch buffet to open.

Jesse greeted her friend, "Long time no see. I gotcha something." She pushed a small plate full of pastries and desserts forward, wiggling her brows.

"I think I love you," Skye blurted excitedly, doing a small happy dance.

The group's laughter echoed throughout the space. They received more glances and some glares, but couldn't care less.