Winged Warrior

Chapter 4: Concealed

Fishing through the trunk at the end of her bed, Skye searched for a suitable outfit for the pizza parlor. She was gifted beautiful new clothing from her uncle before departing for the academy. She treasured the few articles, vowing to take care of them. Her uncle was rarely able to afford new things because they were constantly on the move, never staying in the same place too long.

Skye searched for her loose white sweater, adorned with gold stitching along her sleeves that tightened around her wrists. She paired it with ripped, blue skinny jeans, and slightly worn converse. She ruffled her silky hair--adding some volume, and put on a touch of makeup. To finish it off, she wrapped herself in her uniform's cape.

Jesse was finally ready. She took far longer than Skye had expected, but she looked great.

Jesse wore a soft pink blouse, with her front tucked into white skinny jeans, her hair lay in delicate ringlets and her beautiful antlers stood abruptly from her skull. Her makeup was skillfully done but wasn't too much. Her long legs rested upon cute, off-white tennis shoes.

"Sorry, I took so long. I know we're just going out for pizza, but I haven't left the academy for a while."

"Don't be sorry. You look hot!" Skye uplifted her friend.

"So do you!" Jesse squealed, unable to contain her excitement.

"This is off-topic, but I was thinking about what Becca and her friends were saying about your antlers earlier," Skye started, "But, since I met you, I've thought that they were quite beautiful," Skye batted her lashes, "Perhaps...We could decorate them?"

"Ummm, I dunno Skye."

"Well, you can't hide them. Plus, they are part of who you are! Why don't you rock them instead?"

Skye continued, "At least let me do 'em up a little. If you don't like them, we can't take it all off after."

After some convincing, Jesse let her take the reigns.

With there being plenteous greenery and whatnot around the academy, Skye decided on various pink and white flowers, ranging in all sizes. She then began skillfully placing the delicate flowers on Jesse's antlers, carefully fastening them in place.

She could barely hold her excitement when she finished. Jesse looked amazing.

When Jesse checked herself out, she even looked surprised. "Wow. Are you sure I can pull this off?"

"Girl, if you can't, nobody can." Skye filled her friend with confidence. "Seriously, you look great--head to toe!"

It was settled, and the girls eagerly exited Skye's dorm.

The walk to the parlor was short; however, inside the pizza place was packed!

"What did we expect on a Friday evening," Jesse half laugh-yelled over the voices and music. "Half the academy is probably here."

Skye nudged her timid friend, sending her a quick wink.

The girls waited as a waitress cleared a booth for them. She bid them well and scurried off to clear more tables and assist other customers.

"Oh!" Jesse let a gasp slip, "Jax is here."

Skye leaned forward in her seat, "Where?!" She whisper-shouted.

"Over by the restrooms! Look! Navy shirt."

The girls openly stared into the crowd of people, gawking at Jesse's crush. "Oh yeah, you guys would look good together." Skye teased.

"Shut up!" Jesse laughed, smacking Skye's arm. The girls giggled while watching Jax and his friends when he turned--making direct eye contact with them.

"Eek! He saw us looking!" Jesse groaned, hiding her face.

"Uh, Jesse... I think he's coming over here."

Skye hyped her friend quickly, "You look hot, you're confident, be cool!"

Just as Jax got close to their booth, Jesse waved. He returned her wave and smiled, but suddenly made a sharp right turn, heading straight for the soda fountain.

"Pfftt," the girls choked on their laughs. "I can't believe we thought he was coming over here. We don't really talk anymore."

"Maybe you should change that."

"Girl, where do you get your confidence!?" Jesse chimed.

The girls chattered over their cheese-stuffed pizza and cokes. Skye broke the news about the deal she made with Ms. Acacia about not attending the self-defense classes the following day, saying she was exempt due to her earlier display in the cafeteria and that Ms. Acacia felt it may be best to allow some heated tempers to cool.

Lies, of course. But they satisfied Jesse and her questions.

Skye felt some degree of guilt for lying to her new friend. However, the one time she chose to trust someone with her secrets, she was exploited and later, almost killed, along with her uncle. Her reasons for secrecy were justifiable in her eyes.

Familiar faces floated around the parlor, including some of Becca's "friends" from earlier--but not Becca. Skye also assumed the invisible boy from homeroom, Levi, was present since she heard his name a few times and noticed a few folks seeming to speak to nothingness at times.

Skye also couldn't help but notice Riftan in the room at a neighboring booth, gaining plenty of attention from many individuals. She wasn't sure if he noticed her, too--but then again, why would she care anyway? She tried not to.

The occasional glance from both familiar and unfamiliar faces was directed at Skye, but she truly cared no mind about them.

Skye felt completely carefree and genuinely enjoyed the time she was spending with Jesse.

Jesse was fascinated with the human realm, having never been, and likely never able to go due to her antlers. Skye assured her friend that she wasn't missing out on anything. Anisidora and the human realm were quite similar in some sense, but Anisidora was much more vast with magic, culture, and beasts and creatures.

Skye couldn't help but express her dislike towards humans, despite disguising herself as one. She believed that the ones who hunted her were humans, and if not, they never gave even a hint about their beings. They simply craved the powers she possessed along with the beauty of her feathered wings. Clearly, not all humans were alike--her "uncle" proved it, but she still held distrust of strangers, especially human ones.

Skye shook the negative thoughts from her head. "Back to Jax," Her grin showed, "Maybe he thinks you're not interested? You should talk to him, feel him out and see if there's chemistry."

Jesse pouted her lips as if to say, "Don't make me."

Skye rolled her eyes, "Come onnnnn! At least rekindle your friendship. You don't have to ask him out or anything."

Jesse shushed her slightly, "Werewolf hearing," she mouthed.

"Is he..?" Skye whispered.

"No, but some of his friends are, and there are others around."

"Can I ask what he is?"

"So, his mom is actually a fairy." Jesse explained, "His dad was a cheetah morphic though--he passed away during the war."

Skye listened as Jesse continued, "Appearance-wise, he takes after his mother--minus the size difference and wings. He also inherited her magic. With the use of magic, he is able to morph into a cheetah completely, utilizing his speed and sharp vision.

"Are some people and creatures really so complex?" Skye rolled the idea over in her brain.

Jesse cackled, "You think that's complex? We barely scratched the surface."

"Well still, go feel the vibe!" Skye wiggled-danced in excitement, "I'll be here watching your back."

After a few minutes of hyping up her friend, Skye somehow managed to persuade Jesse to at least strike up a short conversation with Jax, and she slumped off begrudgingly.

She tried not to be obvious while watching Jesse's interaction, but she couldn't help it! It was fun, and kind of exhilarating. She prayed Jax would show interest, or at least be sweet towards Jesse, considering her nervousness.

He was friendly when she greeted him, but then Skye's view of the two was blocked by a dark figure. She leaned forward to see around; however, it moved to block her once again.

"You make a fantastic wall," Skye blurted, annoyed. She looked up at the figure's face, "Emery?"

"Well, hello, and thank you." He slid into her side of the booth, pressing her closer to the window. His mischievous eyes studied her face, a little closer than she felt comfortable. He turned his head suddenly, "So, who are we spying on?" He searched the crowd.

"I am just looking out for Jesse, she's over talking to a friend."

"Uhuh, the mighty shorty who's gonna beat up all the meanies."

Skye scoffed, "Better believe it," She joked.

"Oh I do, shortcake. I'm staying off your naughty list." Skye grimaced at the nickname. This man is almost laughable!

An awkward silence fell upon the two as Skye strained to see Jesse in the crowd. She seemed to be enjoying herself, laughing and nodding at whatever it was Jax was saying. Werewolf hearing would probably be pretty useful right about now.

"So about that I.O.U.," Emery wiggled his brows, breaking the silence.

Skye side-eyed him, suspiciously.

"Maybe you could do me a favor, aaand... help me eat a slice of triple Dutch chocolate cake," He smiled innocently, "There's ice cream, too--vanilla."

It didn't take much to persuade Skye, being that she was extremely food motivated.

"Oh yeah? Then we're square?"

"Fair and square." He cheesed, showing all his teeth.

"I suppose it's the right thing to do then," Skye laughed at the harmlessness of his "I.O.U. request".

"You're so generous," Emery poked fun.

The two laughed as they continued their bizarre banter. Soon after, their cake arrived.

What a site it was to behold--glorious, really. Despite being stuffed with pizza, Skye knew she could probably demolish this cake on her own.

Taking her first bite, she sighed, rolling her eyes back, relishing the richness of the chocolate.

She sipped her coke to wash it down and glanced at Emery. He was smirking at her.

"Just eat your cake," she chuckled, a little embarrassed. She knew what he was thinking.

He threw his hands up in surrender, "Saw nothing, heard nothing, thought nothing."

As they neared their last bite, Emery attempted to hold a spoonful of cake and ice cream up to Skye's lips. She jerked her head back in surprise. In return, he stuck his bottom lip out and gave her two perfectly, large, brown, puppy eyes.

"It would make my night." His voice was slightly lower.

Skye suddenly felt shy and frazzled, she didn't have any words. Instead, she just leaned forward and accepted the dessert he offered her.

A sudden BAM and c***k startled Skye from across the room. The room silenced as everyone's eyes landed on Riftan. He stood over his broken table, huffing. His blackened eyes stared straight at Skye's face full of cake. Her blood ran cold and she froze.

Emery noticed and stood, scooting out from the booth and standing between their line of sight.

Skye didn't see what happened next, but she heard feet shuffle and a bell ding with the swoosh of a door.

People began throwing questions in the air, "What happened?", "What's wrong with him?", "What's going on?", "Who/What was he looking at?"

Skye breathed a little, daring herself to look out the window she had been crammed against. But there was nothing besides a pile of torn clothing.

She wasn't sure what just happened. Riftan had stared at her, so was he mad at something she did? Maybe about what happened earlier in the cafeteria?

Emery turned and smiled, "Who peed in his cereal?"

Skye tried to laugh, "Yeah."

Jesse crept up behind Emery, beaming. Skye used the opportunity to take her mind off Riftan's tantrum.

"Hey, girl! How'd it go?"

"Skye," Jesse paused, "I think the vibes are there!"

Skye scooted onto her shaking legs and hugged her friend, "That's awesome! You'll have to tell me all about it later!"

Emery walked the girls back to the dorms before turning to go back towards town, "Don't you stay in the boy's dorms?" Jesse questioned.

"No, I stay with my grandparents. They live close by." He winked and waved, "Have a good night ladies, stay safe."

The girls bid him farewell and entered the dorms.

Jesse went to her dorm to change and retrieve her bedding. Skye unlocked and entered her room, feeling an eerie itch ascend over her. She flicked on her lights and scanned her room--empty; however, a smell lingered, but it was pleasant.

She released a sigh, exhaling away her troubled thoughts regarding Riftan. If anyone at the school frightened her the slightest, it was Riftan. She just couldn't help it, and there was no use lying to herself.

She quickly changed into her baggy clothing, stretching her wings out before tucking them into her loose pants. She wished to be able to keep them free at all times.

She threw her hair into a messy bun and readied herself for bed. Jesse knocked and entered a few minutes later, lugging her bedding, a small speaker, and snacks. "Could you help me with these flowers?" She shook her head, causing a small flower to float past her face.

The girls giggled and began their slumber party. Skye's first-ever slumber party.