nd

ith Lucas, Drake met him s

Drake asked him, as he sat opposite

see her today because of it. I told he

e replied. 'Yo

N

ay. 'And she wa

es

ve some company on the

mbled, 'but...'

ed, 'he's your brot

are you

eplied. 'I want to se

miled a

urs are at t

beamed happily. 'We

t before we go, could yo

t is

f the TV' Lucas said

d. But he did not press. 'Sure'

place. Lucas grimaced as the

ake asked with concer

till holding on

. 'I was attacked by an aberrant' he finished. 'I...was c

ipped h

. 'The sooner we g

ugh the streets. Lucas tried his best to hide his pain, although

f he would ever see the aberrant guardian

e, carrying the TV between them. They sold the TV and

t before pocketing it. He turned to Drake then, grinning at him. 'Come on, l

zza. They reached the hospital just in time. Two o'clock exactly. Visitin

e town at this time, beastly things of the type

ts back. Moving on very long legs, the creature's fox-like ears were constantly twitching and it glared around with narrow pupil-less white eyes

kled excitedly, r

it looked, with red eyes which were pupil-less like its companion. It grinned cruelly with an unseen mouth that was tucked much further below its round head than any normal creature. It had massive rabbit like ears that flopped downwards,

s were called

ents smooth and calculated as he slunk close to the ground, the sun shini

like a hyena. Kreas suddenly became still. He extended a single claw

ed over the claw, was a

er that day. The doctors were apparently still not yet happy about releasing him because the tingling in his fingers had not stopped,

tal, the automatic doors closed behind t

re you g

meet Lauralie'

ere going to see

e Lauralie first. I've got a little surpr

e this surprise?' Lu

eplied nonchalantly. '

'Listen Drake, I'll see you

d' Drake oozed smug

. And...don't do

about Reuben' Drake wave

y, rubbing them together vigoro

n. Oh I can't wait to s

cas turned, heading in the opposite d

he town, with lack of anything else to do. It was Sunday today, and the streets were mostly quiet. He wandered

e saw Drake. She jumped off the wall

to see you, what

igh moss coloured boots, a black skirt and a red and

ake commented. 'Are you

at are you talking about? These are my regular clothes. Are you hitti

was um...

id cocking her head sly

y, taking her by the ar

she asked suspiciously.

re are two people I want you to meet;

wned. 'Who? What ar

ets. Around them people wandered back and forth as they drifted from one shop

y' Lauralie said absen

tting her arm. 'You do

tinued t

next corner, that Lau

neck and red streaks in his white hair. Beside him was another, short

treet-dancin

ng into her, 'these are the

e leant forwards in a bow and took her hand in his, kissing the back of he

uddenly of something s

z smirked back at her as she blushed;

comfortably close, as if he were about to

e' he began, 'to ask such a b

's......L

an winked, 'a beautiful n

to say. The younger boy Diz tutted shaking his head, approaching t

oor girl alone and g

turn as Adrian ste

haking her hand formally. 'This is my older brother' Diz said. 'He's already introduc

uckled, shoulders shaking,

fferent attitudes. Not only did they look completely d

ave you lived here all your life?

now, my girlfriend Eleanor is expecting me' he explained to the brothers with a nod. 'I'm s

shot him a glare that told him she was

cally. 'I will care for this fair you

sceptical look. 'What are you

ehead at them. 'Have fun Lauralie!' he ca

said, gently taking Lauralie by

ay, with Diz skip

l the way to the trai

. Not even realising where his feet had taken him, Lucas glanced up now, seeing the ocean before him. He was at the harbour, which was deserted at this time. The ocean was calm, rocking gently the

Wind Dance

tic ones, both new and old. It was interesting to see such a mix

that lay discarded in his path. Glancing up he suddenly saw something that caught

set of wings now folded neatly by its side. The aberrant used its wings to help it walk, h

was caution in its eyes, but it did not appear threatening in a

ts long tail. Lucas saw at the end of its tail was a claw, w

sting with its legs stretched out and its head held high. Its

g away. He glanced back at it as he went, but the creature had not moved.

ir was strong, but not unpleasant, and he was so taken with the atmosphere around him, that he almost didn't notice.

he was sitting on the pier with her legs dangling off the edge. Lucas woul

e air beside the girl, and together they gazed

. She gasped in surprise, caught off-guard. The girl brought her legs up and rose suddenly. Lucas could see fear and uncertainty in her. She stared back

ai

, peering hesita

e a gu

wide, and she turned

eplied in a shy voice, holding h

see me?' the to

e answered. 'I

air and coming to sit on her shoulder. The thing regarded L

to hurt me are you

ed at such a question. 'Why

the girl whispered,

t pe

silent, reluct

she moaned. 'I've tried

rtain, unsure of what to do. He had rarely been in the presence of a crying girl, but on those fe

to her. 'It's ok. Ther

owards her, slow

t a hand on her shoulder, seeing

't cry' he

wiped her eyes with t

r name?' Lu

bony' she sa

toy cried out, seemingly o

ng at the toy intently. 'I've ne

plied, gathering herself

two of them and coming to hover between them. Its arms po

uc

H

he told Ebony

a nice

ony's a nic

to meet him in the eye and on

g to hurt me?' s

cas ans

omi

scared and uncertai

se' he t

she said, 'people w

ot one

x a little, holding

e tha

while Lucas thought of something to say. Ebony stared

nd and caring person

kes you

see me. You're the first person in my l

alone? Lucas thought then of his brother, and how the two of them had always been together.

ny brothers or si

ook he

t have p

I don't get along with them, I do

ld you s

They barely seem to not

es to pretend my brother and I don't

parents either' E

u're a

im shyly. 'Don't feel bad for me. I've

y isn't reall

oy cried out

mean...just for a while...or do you have somewhere to be.' Ebon

id. 'I'd love to h

all

on't have to be alone. We gua

you. I don't know why I know this. I just know.' She began to

' she asked. 'I like to watc

eplied. 'If that'

r her. Lucas followed, sitting a short distance away, giving her space. The toy landed on the ground between them, leaning into Ebony's body. Though Lucas could read no facial express

' Ebony cooed, 'I

ircles like a cat or dog about to nap, then

me' Ebony explained

ed to be fast as

ome from?' Luca

edroom' sh

d he ge

rried

m wh

outs

going to get any straight answ

cas thought of sparking conversation, though wanted to stay away from discu

had a brothe

es

he like? I would like to ha

en. He's in hospi

id gazing at him

an what he would have told his own girlfriend, because this one knew magic, he was able to relate to her better than anyone else. There was no need keeping anything back from

d to leave again. Ebony's expression

to him before he left, '

s replied.

brother get

as replied

There was something about the girl, something unusual, though Lucas couldn't quite work out what it was.

called happily. 'The hours absolutely

pty seat beside h

feel?' he as