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With a smile at how smoothly everything was going, Alek passed the last off to Rooke with a quick ruffle of his hair. She turned to observe the flow of the kitchen. Everyone, for the most part, appeared content and it was her job to keep it that way. Her mind moved through thoughts like a hummingbird's wings. In all honesty Alek doesn't know when she became the leader of her flock, it kind of just happened one day. She takes her job seriously, but it causes her to internally panic more times than she'd like to admit. She pushed her insecure feelings aside to think about the next move, what are they going to do? She knew they needed to move on, staying in one place was too dangerous, but to where? It wasn't like she had the world mapped out perfectly in her head. Hell she barely knew where they were. She'd figure out of this place had a computer/internet before freaking out anymore. Step one, she at least had that.
Pushing off the counter with cups in her hand, she squeezed Addy's shoulder as she passed. "I'll have water please." She requested from the girl taking drink orders. She placed the cups in the center of the table and then made her way to a seat. As Rooke asked, "Tyson, are you okay? Did you think about something sad?" Alek's hand gently but firmly cupped around the back of Tyson's neck and stroked it with her thumb. She didn't know why she was so touchy when it came to praises and reassuring gestures, it wasn't like foxes were known for it. She'll blame it on her human side (which is her dominant DNA). With a gently squeeze, she moved on to where she was going to sit and plopped down ready to eat.

Rooke's eyes flickered up to Alek seeing her comfort Tyson. He pursed his lips a bit, figuring that Tyson would be okay. He IS a rather strong male, physically and (What Rooke assumed) Mentally. Rooke took a sip of his water, sitting so that his legs were crossed on the chair. He rested his elbows on his knees as he sat forward, chin resting on his hands after the sip of water. His mouth watered just at the smell of the pancakes. He frequently glanced back to see Puki hard at work. He grinned whenever he caught Puki's eye.

As she finished making the pancakes, Puki looked over at the others, "Training..? Well, I suppose it is good we get stronger, but..." She sighed, "Well, I don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but..." She shook her head, "N-never mind, sorry. Breakfast is ready!" She said, placing the plate on the table, "Everyone, please eat!" She said, smiling, "We have a big day ahead of us... Well, not really but still." She laughed.

Still lost in thought about how great his sister would have been for this group, he did not hear Rooke. It wasn't till Alek touch his neck that he start to come around again. Instinctively as she stroked the back of his neck, he lowered and tilted his head away like a cat or dog who wants you to keep petting them would. As he snaps out of his day dream he noticed that he had been out of it for a little while and that he had shown a sign of emotion, or in his mind weakness around the others. Returning to his normal emotionless expression, "Excuse me. Puki, the pancakes smell good. Please, eat up everyone. Its not every morning we get such a nice breakfast." And with that he stood, pushed in his chair, and walked out the door making sure to close it behind him. Through the window they could see him jump and swing around one of the porch post as he climbs to the roof. Once at the highest point of the roof Tyson sits down and to himself, "The whitecoats were right. You are weak, to show such weakness in front of the others like that. If you were still at the school they would have you put down or worse for that. Maybe it really would have been better if she were here instead of you. For that matter even he would be better then you. How is an Alpha going to have any need of some one who falls apart so easy. No get back down there and eat." but no matter how much he tried, he just could not force himself to go back to the table, to face them after being so weak in front of them. The thought of exiling himself crossed his mind. They would need everyone at their best and cant afford some one as weak as him. Beside as an exile he could better track any erasers who are following and either attack them or at less try to trick them into following him.

Addy rolled her eyes and Rooke's remark about the water, but it smiled as Alek politely asked for a glass. She quietly poured two glasses of water and her glass of orange juice tuning into the conversation about Tyson as she did. She frowned slightly as she listened to the obvious worry and discomfort in the room, the snake side coming out in her, as she could practically taste the emotion in the room. She caught her distracted self and quickly tipped the water up before overflowing the glass and making a huge mess. She grabbed the glasses and turned around just as Tyson left the room. She stood there awkwardly for a second and held out the glasses to Rooke and Alek, "Um, here's your waters" She said quietly, and quickly sat down ate the table.

"This does look delicious. You're the best, Puki." Alek grinned although her eyes watched Tyson leave and climb to the roof. She added extra pancakes to her plate, set aside to be packed for later. She knew Tyson would be hungry and probably say nothing, she wasn't stupid he was growing boy.
She ate silently most of her plate before an idea hatched in her head. She stood, opened the door, and called up. "Ty, be awesome and see if there's a computer in the house with internet. If there is look up large cities nearby. Thanks." She didn't give him time to answer before heading back inside and eating the rest of her meal. "Rooke, we'll look through the book on our way to our next destination. You can read to me to pass the time. After we're done here, we're cleaning up everything because we aren't slobs. Everyone got it?" She pointed her fork at each person around the table, then twirled it before stabbing another piece of pancake. She hummed as the fluffy pancake melted in her mouth. Cleaning up the house would give her time to think through her next moves once they found somewhere to go.

Tyson quickly pushed off and let himself slide down and over the edge of the roof. Were he reach back, grabbed the edge and let himself swing for a moment before dropping to the porch. He calmly walked back inside closing the door behind him and headed to the table. Once there grabbed Rooke water and pretended to drink some well giving him a playful wink. This of cource was his way of trying to be more "fun" and to mask his true feelings. After setting the glass back down in front of Rooke he grabbed Alek's water and walked toward the rest of the house to look for the computer. "Sure no problem miss fox boss lady. Oh and thanks for the drink... Addy." Now thinking he is trying to hard he continued to walk off take a drink from her glass. It wasn't long before he found a desktop in the back office/study area. Now came the real problem, how to logon, this one was password protected and the hint didn't really help. "Great! Found one! Give me some time to figure out the password though!" He shouted back towards the others. Tyson figured that he alone would never crack it, but if he had help or if the password was written down some were in the room it would be no problem. So he started carefully searching the room.

Rooke ate quietly, knowing it was impolite to talk with his mouth full. He watched Tyson leave with a frown on his face, but he didn't peruse the older male. When everyone had sat down at the table, save for Tyson, Rooke smiled hearing Alek mention the picture book that he had been given. He nodded gratefully, mumbling a 'thanks, that'd be great' or something along those lines. When Tyson came back, and grabbed his glass of water the sparrow boy was half tempted to quickly reach up and swipe it out of his hand. It was his first instinct, and his hand even flinched up slightly, but upon seeing the playful wink his instincts were swept away, and replaced with a playful attitude. He smiled back at the older male, laughing a bit, and then laughing even harder seeing Tyson take Alek's drink.

After finishing two full on pancakes, as well as his water, Rooke was stuffed. He cleaned up his dishes, as well as picking up anything else that was done being used, including other members plates. He put the dishes into the sink, washing them with a soapy sponge and water. Once done with that he went into his room. It wasn't too hard to pack up his little belongings. It was just 7 simple outfits, toiletries, and spare shoes that he had managed to find while scrounging about. He took the smooth colorful rocks from his pocket and put them in a large jar that was half full of similar rocks. He hummed as he closed the lid, and looked at his well made collection. "It's grown a lot more sense the last time I fully looked at it," Rooke sounded pleased with himself. After shoving the jar into his bag he looked around the empty room. Figuring blankets and pillows were also needed he managed to find a way to shove them into his already pretty full bag. Once forcing the zipper shut he double checked the entire room before nodding, content. But now what was he to do?

Figuring someone needed help, he went to go see if Tyson needed anything. He had heard him yell from the back room, so therefore knew he was looking for something. With Rookes extremely acceptable eye site he could probably help the other flock member. Going into the back room he lightly rapped on the door frame. "You need help looking for the password?" Rooke asked, hoping Tyson would help him. He gave Tyson a small smile.

Because she was nearly an adult, Alek narrowed her eyes and playfully stuck out her tongue when Tyson stole her water. She could tell that he was trying a little too hard to interact with everyone, but she didn't mind. At least he was trying. Forking the last of her meal, she watched Rooke start the dishes. "Excellent breakfast Puki, you're the best." As she brought her plate to the counter, she ruffled Puki's hair. Before relinquishing her plate to the soapy water, Alek found a Tupperware container and placed the three pancakes she reserved for Tyson in it. "Thank you, Little Sparrow." She rubbed her cheek to his as she placed her plate in the water. "Addy and Synxa would you mind packing water and some food? Not a lot because we have to carry them, but enough just in case? Greatly appreciated." Her eyes tracked Rooke as he disappeared to the room he had slept in. "Unless one of you learned anything from Alicia about breaking into computers, then that takes priority. Puki, if you could think of some essentials we'll need, please start packing them. I'm going to help Tyson find the password. Thanks guys." She smiled before heading to the room Tyson had placed his things. After putting the Tupperware on top of his bag, she wandered passed the study, saying "I'll check the master bedroom."
The room wasn't large, but it was bigger than the other two bedrooms. It looked lived in, full of life. Tapping her finger on her arm, Alek decided on the tables next to the bed. There were a few books (she took one that sounded interesting), pills, tissues, and other random things in them but nothing that would give away a password. Unsatisfied with those, she made her way to the bureau. Unlike the side tables, this piece of furniture was scattered with things from photos and perfume, to jewelry and notes. After sifting through the notes (which were boring reminders) she started pilfering different pieces of jewelry; some to keep, others to pawn off. If it would fit in her pocket easily, there it went. She didn't take all of it, but enough to ensure a decent cash in.
Having enough gold, silver, and jewels in her pocket, she picked up a picture of the happy family. It was a young couple, probably a few years older than herself. They were so happy and carefree. Her eyes narrowed at the security the couple felt. Something she and her flock may never have. She had the urge to smash the perfect couple's picture to pieces but thought better of it. Instead she flicked it behind her and listened to it land on the bed. Whatever, that life seemed boring anyway running for your life was the way to go. Continuing on her mission, she started going through the drawers which yielded nothing but clothes. She moved through the room finding nothing about a password. Before heading to the study, Alek took some makeup for Synxa and then walked to where her flock mates were. "Bedroom yielded nothing in the password department, but they left some clothes behind and a few other things. Where haven't you checked?"

Addy dug into her pancakes the second she was sure everyone was fine. She savored every bite seeing to how she wasn't sure when she'd get to eat pancakes again. She watched Tyson as he came back and forth between the rooms, giggling slightly when he tried to steal Rooke's water and then moved on to Aleks. She let her eyes stray to the picture book that Alek had given Rooke smiling slightly as the memories flashed and danced across her thoughts. She couldn't imagine or even fathom loosing any of them, Alicia was difficult for her, but she knew it probably effected Alek the most out of all of them. She was too lost in her thoughts to even notice that she had finished her pancakes, she mumbled a small thank you to Puki for the delicious meal and another to Rooke as he took her plate to wash it.

"Sure thing" She replied to Alek as she got up from the table and opened the fridge grabbing a handful of waters and a couple of bottles of juice. With her arms full she carried them down the hall and out into her temporary room. She set the bottles on the bed and drug out her bag from under the bed, putting all of the bottles inside. She still had room to pack her small closet of clothes, her necessities, and a small charm bracelet that had become one of her most prized possessions. She careful placed it in one of the side pockets and zipped her bag up dragging it to the edge of the doorway. She went back in just to rummage through the room and settled on taking a small quilted blanket that she had found in the closet, she didn't think that they would miss it anyway.

She lugged her bag and quilt out to the front door of the house ready for when they were going to head off.

Synxa began to eat her pancakes quietly, her eyes still at the table. She nodded at Alek's words as she finished, then stood, walking to the fridge to get water. She dropped her plate in the sink along the way, "Thanks Rooke." She made sure not to make contact with anyone. She really couldn't do it right now. She took the water back up to the room she'd been staying in ad began to pack. She'd looting quite a bit of makeup and products from the house, and she really wanted to take all of them. Bt she knew Alak, Puki and Tyson would tell her to stop taking things they didn't need. She decided to just keep the stuff that she liked best. Easiest to use, and made her the most cute. She went to the mirror and applied her makeup as usual. It wouldn't do not to be cute, even if they were traveling. She put the makeup she wanted in her backpack. She folded her clothes and put them in as well, then in went the water bottles. She zipped it up and carried it back down stairs. her tail flicking gently, "How do I look?" She asked Addy, "Is my makeup on ok?"

Puki finished her share of pancakes, "Synxa, if you eat too quickly you'll get a tummy ache..." She said. Puki sighed a little, "Sure thing, Alek. Let's see..." She got up and brought her plate over to the sink. She then went about the house, searching for any items they would need. First aid kit. Very important. She reminded herself. She went to one of the bathrooms in the house and took bandaids, disinfectant and Advil from within. Woman's sanitary products for the girls, just in case, tweezers, nail clippers and some sleeping pills were also taken. She brought them back to her room and began to pack them up. Don't forget food. Puki returned to the kitchen, looking for non perishables. She located a few cans of soup and vegetables, as well as a box of raisins.

A survival guide for the area was laying unopened on the living room table. She wasn't the best reader, but it wouldn't hurt to have it, right? She picked it up as well as some matches she found nearby. Carrying it back to her room, she sighed a bit. She wished they could stay, if only a little longer. Have a little stability in their lives. Maybe one day, they'd be able to live safe, without having to run everyday. She began to put the items in her backpack, then her clothes, toothbrush and comb. Goodbye, mountain house She thought as she made her way back down stairs and to the door.

Rooke looked back seeing everyone rush about. He looked back to Tyson, who seamed to be intent on finding the password to the computer. Rooke started to search around the room, starting first with the desk drawers. After searching the partially empty drawers, and finding nothing, he frowned and looked around, before going to the small closet. He opened it, seeing a bunch of old computer stuff, books, and boxes of what seamed to be molding paper work. Rooke wrinkled his nose at the musty smell.

"Rooke, I'll help you." She sauntered over with a wrinkled nose as dust particles and the musty smell of disused paper hit her nose. Alek rubbed at it to prevent herself from sneezing. It worked for the time being as she bent over the young sparrow reading over the papers he unearthed. None so far gave any clue to what the couple's password could be. Then she reached up to the higher shelves and pulled down a few shoe boxes with pictures, random objects, and papers. She continued to look through them, finding nothing useful.

"Oh cleaver. A note hidden all but the corner of it under the monitor. Give me a second to logon." Tyson had decided to search around the computer desk again when he notice something sticking out from under the monitor. It didn't take him long to logon and pull up a map of the area. He looked at Alek then at Rooke then back at Alek, "Be right back." He got up and walked to the other room were his bag was. After rummaging through it for a moment he pulled out a small object and then rejoined Rooke and Alek in the computer room. He walked over to Rooke, "I got something for you. I was going to wait till you were older but I think now is as good of a time as any. I had a friend back at the school, a very close friend, who made this for me, but I want you to have it." He softly took Rooke's wrist and twisted it till his palm was up. Then he placed the object in Rooke's open hand, using the heel of his hand curled Rooke's fingers over the object. It was light, oddly shaped and felt slightly ruff. "My friend told me, that with this Bear totem I would have the strength and fearlessness of the bear. That it would proved the strength and power I need to get through anything. I want you to have it, so it may bring you strength and luck. Just promise that you will keep that with you at all times. And thanks kid. You mind if Alek and I had the room for a moment. I promise we will be out soon." He couldn't bring him self to tell Rooke that the rock, which half had a carving of a bear head and the other half left untouched, was made by his brother.

Rooke looked over when he heard that Tyson has the password. "Well that was a very obvious place," Rooke mumbled to himself as he got up, brushing off mystery dirt and dust from his hands. When Tyson excused himself Rooke raised an eyebrow, and looked at the map of the area. It was absolutely huge! The sparrows mind could hardly fit around the idea of being in such a massive world. He started to grow a little discourage seeing that all around them was mostly woods. He was frowning deeply when Tyson came back in, and when Ty gave him what he said was a bear totem, Rookes eyes lit up.

Rooke knew for a fact that the bear totem was going to look cool, just by the description of what it'll help him do. He looked at the old talisman and continued to beam widely. "I promise I'll never take it off!" Rooke exclaimed, instantly tying it onto his neck. When Tyson asked him to leave he nodded in understanding. He stared at Tyson for a split second, hesitation in his eyes before he quickly gave Tyson a tight hug. He then released the only other boy in the flock, and sprinted out of the room. "Addy I got a cool bear neckless from Tyson!" The 10 year old yelled in joy, running to look for the older girl. Rooke knew that the carved rock obviously meant something more than just a totem to Tyson. Inwardly, Rooke made an oath to never lose or take off the neckless. It was special to Tyson, so it was special to him.

Alek chuckled when Rooke muttered to himself about the password being in an obvious spot. Truly, it was pretty obvious and how they didn't find it sooner was silly of them. She leaned and watched as Ty left to get something and Rooke's face change as he looked at the map and how large the world was. Sometimes she forgets that the world actually is large when all she's known is to run yet never run far enough. No matter where they went, it always seemed like the school was right behind them. Maybe the world wasn't as large as the maps made it appear to be.

As Ty walked back in, Alek's amber eyes shot up to him and watched as he gave the younger boy a carved rock. She strained a little to see what it was and gave a soft smile at the bear totem. It was well carved. She had a feeling someone perhaps more important to Ty than the flock had made it. They were all someone else once, thus she tried not to take the flock being placed second to heart. When Ty asked if Rooke could leave the room for a moment, Alek's left eyebrow quirked in questioning. Once the sparrow ran off after hugging the older boy she asked, "What's up, Ty?" She pushed off the door jam to stand in front of him, fingers hooked in her front pockets and head slightly cocked to the side.

Addy's eyes flicked up to Synxa as she heard her name. "You look amazing!" She exclaimed, smiling brightly, she had always thought Synxa's makeup was beautiful. She knew that most other girls her age started wearing and painting their faces, but she had never had the chance to try it out. "It always looks wonderful Synxa, you never have to worry!" she said cheerily.

When she heard her name being yelled by Rooke she stepped into the hallway and almost got bulldozed by him. His face was lit up with excitement, and in his hand he was holding a small bear totem necklace. "Wow, it's so cool!" She said, examining the necklace in his hands slightly running her fingers over the carved wood. She pulled away and touched her own charm bracelet, losing herself in her thoughts for a moment before jumping back to reality. "I knew he always had a soft spot for you" She said with a toothy grin poking him in the chest.

Tyson couldn't look Alek in the eyes as she stood there waiting for him to answer. How could he, with what he was about to say, who knows how she will react. He took a few steps back and started to nervously pace the room, just as nervously and with ever increasing difficulty, "What I'm about to say cant leave this room. I...we...me and Alicia...we had some secrets we were going to keep... but givin our situation..." He sighed "I'm not like the rest of you. I... I'm...I'm.." He gave a heavy sigh and closed his eyes as he said, "Alek. I'm an eraser..." He slowly opened his eyes and gave her a scared, shameful, worried look, "By that I mean, that's what they wanted me to be... Me and my brother. My real brother, my twin, the one who carved the bear I gave to Rooke." He fell to his knees like a man kneeling at the chopping block. "The day before we escaped... my family died. My beautiful, kind, innocent young sister, and my twin brother..." He then went quiet and closed his eyes like a man about to die.

"Tyson said it would give me the strength and fearlessness of a bear! I knew I was invincible! I can feel it's working already!" Rooke was panting heavily, seeing as he sprinted multiple doorways down a hallway. 'Running in a house always makes you more tired than running outside.... I wonder why' Rooke thought to himself, pausing for a moment before saying to Addy. "I thought Tyson was always neutral about me! I mean he's super quiet and reserved, so I figured he just hated everyone but then he started to ask me to help him work out, so I just thought he needed a work out buddy, speaking of work out buddy that whole helping him thing was fun, I think it'd be cool to do it again. Maybe even work out with him?! Oh that'd be so cool! We could both be manly together! Yes, this bear totem is such an invitation to friendship! Now Tyson and Alek are talking, I have no idea about what, probably on where we're going to go next? We're in the middle of no where, and I can't help but feel a little discouraged, I'm actually tempted to go up and stake out the next place we can sleep tonight. That'd be cool. In fact, I might actually do that." As Rooke rambled on his words got faster and faster, and his eyes slowly started to loose focus as he stared at Addy. When at the end of his ramblings he blinked, shook his head, and stood up straight looking back to Addy, normally. "That was weird," He mumbled.

Without another word Rooke turned on his boot heals and started to walk away. "You look very beautiful, Synax!" Rooke called over his shoulder. He was beaming, already starting to devise more on his plan. 'Alek will be so proud! I won't be the stupid little kid weighing everyone down now! I'll be useful, and now that I'm more brave I can face anything that I come up against! I'M INVINCIBLE!'. He lifted his arms in the air at the end of his tiny aside. Going to his room he grabbed the duffle back he packed up. Hiking it up onto his shoulders he looked around, making sure he wasn't going to leave anything behind. Rooke knew, of course, that any moment now it would settle into Abby and Syn all he had just said, so he knew he had to be quick before they could stop him on going on this, totally not reckless and stupid, journey.

He hurried out of his room, looking back to see Addy pretty much getting ready to run at him. Rooke made a weird nose at the back of his throat, and it actually sounded kinda like a chirp of a bird. He sprinted away, faster than Addy seeing as he was lighter. As he blew past Alek and Tyson, completely forgetting they were talking about something apparently important, he still thought it was the plan of where to go next, he yelled out, "I'll be back!" Bursting out the back door he shimmied his wings so they would be able to comfortably fly with the duffle bag strap between them. With a leap off the porch railing, his black and white wings burst out from his back, ripping his already ripped shirt where it had been sewn back together. With a quick stroke downward Rooke torpedoed up. He could control his speed easily, and he set his mind on going fast. His amazing eyes looked around as he flapped his wings to shoot off what he figured was East. Of course he didn't see anything right away.

He had explored 1 mile out in every direction sense they've been at the small cottage, so he knew that it'd probably take a little longer, maybe about 5 miles, to see if there was any suitable place to go. The young sparrow still thought his idea was the most brilliant idea ever. 'The others will be so proud to know I'm doing something to help!' Rooke thought as he raced East.

Alek was pretty relaxed until the word eraser was spoke. Within seconds her body locked up and fur puffed out. The automatic response was beyond her control, she appeared bigger (thus the purpose of puffing out), her needle like fangs dropped, breathing slowled but became deeper, and her slitter pupils dilated to take in everything.

Although she was 100% ready to fight any threats her way, Alek had been taught to listen even when threatened. She listened as Tyson fell apart in front if her. Honesty she was not only annoyed but pissed off no one had given her a heads up early. She had been living with him for over a year! If anything, Alicia should have told her just in case something happened. Case in point, she was kidnapped and they were left on their own. Good going Alicia...

Taking a deep breath she forced herself to calm down. One of the few things positive about her wonderful time at the school, she did learn control. Had to really I'm her line of work (assassination and stealing). Getting control over herself, she dropped in front of Tyson after he had finished about the unfortunate events regarding his biological siblings.

She thought a moment before creeping closer and hooking her finger under his chin to make sure his eyes looked into hers. "It's a tragedy you had to go through that, I don't know how losing a sibling feels but I offer you my condolences. However, if I find out that you are secretly working for The School and are still an eraser I promise you I will eviscerate you. I will do anything to protect our flock even if it means killing you.

"That being said," Alek's eyes softened while she removed her finger from his chin and started carding them through his short hair. "You are still part of this flock, this weird yet wonderful family. I will stand by you and protect you just like everyone else. You were designed to be a killer, to hunt us down... that doesn't mean you have to. We were all in some way created to do so. Hell I'm supposed to be an assassin." She grinned, trying to ease some tension. "We're family, no matter what you were supposed to be. Free will is a wonderful and terrible privelage, keep being you." She gave him a tight hug before looking towards the door startled. Rooke ran by yelling something before taking to the air.

With a groan, Alek rubbed her forehead. "This flock sometimes. PUKI! Can you make sure Rooke doesn't get lost or introuble, please?" She looked back down at Tyson with a grin. "Don't worry anymore, you can tell the rest when you're ready or not at all. I'm here either way. Now," She stood up and offered a hand. "Let's find our next destination."

Tyson smiled as he listened to Alek explain how she would protect the flock no matter what and about how much she would support him. He took her hand and stood up. In a happy voice, which was rare for him, "Alek. You and the others are as much my family as my sister and brother ever were. Its the reason I am the way I am around all of you. Its the reason I acted the way I did this morning, you all remind me of them so much. I swear on my life I will do ANY... thing to protect you and the flock. Alek, you are my Alpha. Your will is my will, my life is yours. That's an other reason I am trying to connect with the others, because it is how you are. I promise to do as you say from this moment on, my Alpha. I will protect you and our family with my life. As far as the school goes... I want to see that place burn to the ground. And if you command it I will gladly do so. In the mean time, I will help you find our next destination." Turning to the computer which still had the map of the area up, he quickly search the area. He found a city, a small town and... a hunting camp. Tyson quickly pulled up a search of the hunting camp and city to find out if they would be ok. Turns out that the hunting camp belongs to a paramilitary group that don't take kindly to outsiders and the city just got all new security systems put in. "Alek, we got a problem... There is a group in the mountains not to far away and they don't like outsiders. I can only imagine what a group like that would do to us. And the only nearby city just got a security upgrade thanks to a generous donation from our favorite group. I think if we can keep a low profile we maybe ok but it will be hard to stay hidden or see danger coming... Speaking of which... were is Rooke going?"

He turned to the door, he hated people going off on their own, unless it was himself of course. Tyson hurried out the room heading for the front door. "Synxa, beautiful, can you keep an eye on Alek for me. Addy can you make sure every thing is ready to go by the front door? And Puki, your with me. We're going to get Rooke." he said this as he passed each of them and grabbed his bag on his way out the door. Once outside he swung he bag onto his back and leaped climbing up the nearest tree. He looked back to make sure Puki was following and was going to be able to keep pace.

Rooke continued to fly at high speeds, ripping through the air. The wind blew back his cropped hair, and if he opened his mouth his cheeks would be forced to puff out. He was luckily ably to keep his eyes mostly closed so he could see with no problem. Twisting and turning around other flying animals, He staked out the ground, occasionally looking up. It didn't take him long to find a camp, smoke rising from a speck of fire down below on the ground. Rookes eyes lit up, not knowing that it was the hunting camp Tyson was warning Alek about. Rooke was just about to look up to make sure nothing was coming at him when suddenly there was a searing pain in his right shoulder. He let out a pained scream, hearing a cracking and splattering noise. Out of reflex his wings folded in, against his back, as he looked at his shoulder. Bird feathers, that weren't his, poured from his shoulder as well as bird parts, and blood. His eyes watered knowing that under all the bird bones and guts was probably deep puncture wounds. His entire body had stiffened, and his mind instantly focused on the shoulder wound. He wasn't paying attention to flying, or should we say falling? His wings refused to stretch out once again, and he quickly plummeted to the ground.

Feeling the air around him change directions Rooke was pulled away from the blood right as a tree was coming at his face. He gasped, and instantly spread out his wings. His feet jolted forward as his torso jolted back. Instead of his face hitting first it was now his abdomen. Rooke grunted in pain as he crashed through thick branches and leaves before slamming into something hard. If it wasn't for the blanket and pillow in his duffle back, which his upper torso slammed against, his head would of been split open. Rooke had blacked out, and when he slammed against a tree, 100 feet up in the air, then fell and landed on his stomach he had woken up. Body screaming in pain Rooke groaned, and his eyes poured tears out uncontrollably. Amazingly nothing was broken, but he knew his shoulder, and left side were badly punctured and gashed. The young, stupid feeling boy slowly lifted himself up. He slowly pealed the duffle back off his chest and over his head, wincing and sucking in through his teeth.

He looked at his shoulder, slowly reaching over and clearing off all the feathers and guts that covered his shoulder. Unfortunately Rooke was out of luck in the injury department. 2 bones of the bird had managed to completely blow through his shoulder, he assumed a beak and probably a rib, and about 5 other tiny, hollow bones jutted out from his shoulder. He continued to cry and whimper, refusing to move his right arm now, afraid there will be impossibly more pain. "God this was a stupid idea," Rooke whimpered, his bottom lip quivering. He could now feel the stings of tiny cuts all over his face. His lip was split, and fat, and one of his eyes was starting to swell shut. He looked down at his bloody shirt with his good eye, and slowly lifted his shirt up. There was a massive bruise on his left side, as well as gashes. Rooke fell back on his hutches in defeat, looking back at his wings. Chunks of feathers were missing, and one of them had a deep gash on the meat, right where the feathers met his skin. "God what will the others think?" He couldn't help but ask. Embarrassment and sadness swelled in his chest as his throat started to burn, and his face got hot. The embarrassment and sadness didn't last long, however, because his head shot up upon hearing voices and the snapping of twigs. His eye went wide upon realizing his injuries were the last of his problems.

Alpha. That was a strange word to be finally verbalized. Alek knew, to some degree, that Tyson had probably seen her as his leader (Alpha) after Alicia died. He, like everyone else in the flock, followed her with very little questioning involved. They followed her to this isolated, no one around for miles house. Seriously, they should have had some say. She understood that it was safe for the time being, but really they knew nothing about the area... which apparently had a hunter's camp right next door. Wonderful, the day keeps getting better.

With a sigh, she continued looking into the city and camp as Tyson went in search for their lost sparrow. She's going to have to give everyone the Buddy System talk. That'll be number seven on her list of things to do. "Shit." She muttered looking into everything known about the hunter's camp. Up side they were all humans. No genetically modified part animal part human hybrids or erasers. Always a plus. However, they were quite terrifying to read about. They didn't follow the government, they were radical, and they didn't give a shit about anyone but themselves. If you are trespassing, even if it was an accident, they appear to shoot first and ask questions later.

Leaning back in her chair while rubbing her eyes, Alek thought out a plan. They needed to get out of here. First, find Rooke and possibly save him. Could be easy if they didn't care about showing off their unique alterations to their genetic code. Which would make hiding from The School harder. Hopefully Rooke was fine and Tyson and Puki would get to him before the hunter's did. Not her immediate problem at the moment. She trusted her flock mates to either take care of the problem or call for help. Next, figure out what to do once everyone was together. They needed to stay under the radar once near and in the city. Slipping in was their best choice meaning they couldn't show any of their... gifts. She mentally noted to make sure to tell everyone not to show their wings, tails, ears, extreme climbing abilities, etc. Anything that a normal human couldn't do, they needed to hide. IF things went well and they found Rooke unharmed (she doubted that because the world didn't seem to favor them) she would send him, Tyson, Addy, and Puki to find somewhere to live while in the city. She and Synax would hit the underground, make friends with the runaways, transients, and homeless. They were always good people to know. They knew the city the best and in a pinch could probably help them escape or hide.

Memorizing every route between the house and the city, she shut down the computer and looked around one last time before heading downstairs to where Addy and Synax were. With her bag slung over her shoulders, she watched as the two younger girls moved around to finish packing. "I going to wait just outside the back door in case there's a call for help. If you need me for anything let me know. Thank you." She smiled and walked out the door, leaving it open for easy access.

Rooke quickly got up from where he was kneeling. His heart raced as he raced away from the unfriendly voices. He could smell the overwhelming smell of gun oil now that he was paying attention. His cut nose wrinkled in discust at the smell, reminding him of the guns the erasers and guards use to carry around. Rooke was unable to run far, and therefore had to quickly stop and dive under a bush, 100 yards away from where he fell. His wings were hard to shove under the bush with him, and he couldn't retract his wounded wing. Rooke attempted to steady his breathing as he looked out from the bush, trying to see if he couldn't get a look at the owner of the gruff voices.

He was unable to see around a few trees, but he was able to see where he landed, feathers and broken branches strewn across the ground. He got a good look of a long muzzle that belonged to a rifle. He continued to not have the ability to see past a cluster of trees. Rooke, catching his breath quickly, rustled out from under the bush he was under. Instead of sprinting away he chose to sneak from tree to tree, going around the back of the men. Finally able to see past the wall of trees, he saw there were about 3 or 5 men. Rooke didn't know, he got those two numbers mixed up usually. It looked more than 3, so he assumed it was 5. His lips pursed as he started to back up, having seen enough. When his wings hit something soft, warm, and moving, he froze. "And what do you think you're doing?" A gruff voice growled in back of him.