Between Two Worlds

Chapter Five

We decided to follow the boys. We needed to learn more about them.

We let them leave to what was called ‘running practice’. How an individual could practice running is beyond me. All you're doing is moving your legs.

Ryker and Micah had decided to stay behind. The injures Ryker were facing could be life threatening, but I knew Micah had enough experience to mend his wounds.

For the first 20 minutes that the boys are at running practice, the boys were talking and laughing like nothing happened. They seemed spooked, but calm. The boy, Cade, still seemed frightened and it was noticeable among the other teammates. I've never seen so many humans in one group before.

I was able to take refuge on top of a tall, silver light. Thorn had flown circles above Cade and Brayden, keeping a narrowed eye on them at all times. Occasionally, the trio would shoot uneasy glances at us, but they didn't dare mention our presence.

Then a man on a bike arrived shortly and rallied them together. Then they started running. We trailed them from the skies, looking at how each person ran a different pace. Brayden and a few boys in the front, and Cade and Nick in the middle of the ‘pack’.

Most of them ran calmly, but the 3 boys ran on edge. Jumpy, even, as if they were afraid. When the man’s bike crushed a branch and made the snap sound, all 3 would become startled. After their run, they would stretch and do several sets of stretches. They called the running stretches ‘Plyos’, as I've heard.

I heard many interesting conversations. They girls would gossip about school and parties, which seemed entertaining. However, I enjoyed eavesdropping on the boy's conversations; they were more physically active than the girls, and they laughed more. Something's they'd make random motions with their arms and hit each other.

They would run a certain amount of distance depending on their paces, which is what I've heard. We couldn't watch all three guys, because they were separated.

“I'll follow Cade's group,” Thorn called as he soared from his perch and flew at a safe distance behind the group of runners. The leader of the pack was oblivious to the falcon, but Thorn later told me that Cade had glanced multiple times behind him.

I chose to follow Brayden’s group. His group was smaller, and contained much faster runners. It was exciting following a swift group. I trusted Nick not to tell anyone, because out of the trio, Brayden was the quiet but defensive and hot-headed one. He got angry quickly, so I flew a few feet behind him to keep a hearing check.

Thorn had flown straight to Nick’s house after the runs. He wanted to check on Ryker, and so did I. However, I had the duty of watching Cade, Nick and Brayden, and I couldn't leave them alone.

Just about all of them were heading home, I observed the trio from the huge tree near the concrete lot. They were unaware of my presence, and they must've assumed I went home with Thorn. I tilted my head as I heard Nick break the silence.

“How about we head to my house, to hang out a bit or something?”

“Yeah, sounds good,” Brayden responded, kicking a small pebble into the grass.

Cade mumbles something and nods his head yes.

I arrived at the house shortly before them, and I darted back to the bush with my cheetah avatar. Soon, I heard the boys go in the house and continue playing with the box with bright colors. They were having fun, but I sensed awkwardness around each one of them.

“You think they are still out there?” Cade questioned, turning around quickly to check on the same window I crashed into.

“For the hundredth time, Cade, we don’t think they are.”

I couldn’t tell who said that, but it sounded like Brayden. I turned around to Thorn, who was seated beside Micah, and asked-

“How’s Ryker doing?”

The look on Micah’s ashen face makes me think they’ve already declared him dead. I lowered my gaze as we prepared for the worst.

“His injury was critical…but he’s still alive, but he’s barely holding on.”

Thorn glares up at the window of the room the boys are in. His eyes were burning with pure rage.

“This was their fault. Ryker wouldn’t be like this is that stupid boy hadn’t smacked him.”

He was right, it was Cade’s fault. However, it was also Ryker’s. The peregrine had lashed out when he should of stayed hidden and undetected, instead of lunging out at them.

“It was my fault as well, Thorn.”

We all turned and stared in shock at Ryker. We didn’t think he was awake. Realizing that these could be some of Ryker’s last moments, Thorn rushed to his side and began to comfort him.

Besides Micah, I had known Ryker the longest. When my father hunted, the falcon would train me all the aerodynamics he knew. Ryker was always harsh and impatient, but at times he was really sweet, and I respected him for that. He wasn't hot headed, just simply short tempered and easily provoked.

I turned back to face the window. The boys’ soft, hushed conversations were still going on. Straining my short ears, I heard Cade whisper,

“Who wants to come see if they are out there?”

There was a silence, but then in unison Brayden and Nick replied, “I’ll come.”

I turned to the others and said, “The boys are coming out again, and Thorn, don’t get any ideas.”

Thorn looked down at the ground with a stone cold glare. As the boys came out of the door, I made myself comfortable by spitting small embers to burn the small twigs around me. This time, it was Brayden holding the flashlight. They searched warily around for our bush, and when they spotted it, they came walking towards us. Cade approached first.

“Hey.”

Thorn lifted his head and he bared his teeth. Micah and I lifted our heads, and I flicked an ear to signal that Cade could continue.

“Uh, I think we got off on a bad start. Would you want to talk about it, or anything?”

There was a pause.

“Um, er, I’m really really sorry about punching your friend.”

I glanced at Thorn and Micah. Ryker had passed out again. Thorn had a glance that read, ‘‘NO. Don’t you dare go out,” and Micah’s face was too strained to read.

With a narrowed green glare, I summoned Thorn and the boys outside. I left Micah with Ryker, and hoped for the best. I trust the stag to heal my senior friend.

Meanwhile, as Thorn and I dragged ourselves from the bush, I felt my paws tingle with energy and a bit of anger.

It was time I gave these boys a proper introduction.