Realism Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Desperate Times, Desperate Measures ❯ Leaving It Behind ( Chapter 3 )

Leaving it Behind

 

I never did see them again, my parents. Not to say I didn't miss them. But they wouldn't have recognized me. Their child was blonde-haired and brown-eyed, and she sure didn't have a tail. I probably drove them to an early death with my leaving. Every night, I'd pray they were ok enough to care for my little sister. Never saw her again either, did see her picture on the internet though. She had become everything she had ever dreamed.

~*~

“Darkfire, stop!” Angel wheezed, grabbing the fox's arm. “Three miles calls for a rest!”

She pulled from his grasp and slipped off her backpack. “Fine.” Despite her urge to continue, she wiped the sweat from her brow and was panting hard.

Osadyro stretched out in the grass, watching the clouds. “You could never keep it up this long before, D. What d'you suppose changed that?”

Darkfire swallowed hard. “Foxes have to be fast and have endurance to outrun hounds and hunters. I s'pose that's what.” She looked around at all the trees and flowers; so serene.

“Hey, D, look.” The tiger pointed to the sky. “A kite.”

The fox and wolf followed her finger. They watched it for a bit until the sound of laughter caught their attention.

“Someone's coming,” Angel murmured, tensing.

Osadyro sat up and touched his leg. “Calm down. It's just a bunch of kids.”

“Yea,” Darkfire said. “They don't sound more than ten at the oldest.”

Over the hill, a group of five young children emerged, giggling and chasing the high kite. A couple were running ahead, turning back to watch the lone boy holding the string. The other two stayed by the boy's side, sometimes steadying him.

“Look, the kite!” one of the forward boys cried. The kite looped and then rocketed into the earth right in front of Darkfire, Osadyro, and Angel. The boy that spoke stopped, holding his friend back. At the base of the hill, the boy was rolling up the string, slowly making his way down. Soon, all five were standing feet away from the kite.

The first boy looked at the three older kids fearfully. “What d'you want?” His voice wavered.

Darkfire stooped down and picked up the crudely made kite. She smiled and held it out. “We don't want anything.”

The boy took the kite.

“My name's Darkfire. And this is Angel and Osadyro.”

The boys regarded them with caution.

“Mike,” the one with the kite said.

“Jake.”

“Ralph.”

“Sam.”

“Alex.”

“Are you guys here all alone?” Osadyro questioned, holding her tail still behind her back.

“Our parents are in the picnic area,” Jake piped up, blushing.

The others nodded.

“You shouldn't wander too far,” Angel scolded. “They'll get worried and get all flustered looking for you.”

Sam looked over his shoulder. “Mike…it's getting dark…my mom'll yell at me.”

“Yea,” Alex whispered.

“Bye,” Mike said. They all waved, turned, and started running back up the hill.

Darkfire sighed. “See? That wasn't so bad.”

“Yea, but it is getting dark and we've no place to sleep,” Osadyro noted, looking at the sky.

“No place? Look around you, Osa, we've got a whole park.” She spread her arms out as if to prove it. “Just like campin'.”

Angel shook his head. “Not like campin'.”

“C'mon, there's gotta be a picnic area over the hill. We can sleep on the tables.”

~*~

The bright morning sun drifted lazily over the grassy hills. A warm breeze batted at the treetops and flower heads. Birds chirped awake, beginning to flutter about and sing. The cicadas quieted and the crickets woke to accompany the birds. Dew-laden grass sparkled brilliantly under the sun.

A loud yawn broke through the peace.

“Damn did I sleep good!” Darkfire smiled, standing and stretching.

Angel sat up and popped his back with a sickening crack. “Speak for yourself,” he grumbled.

She looked over at him, and with a straight face said, “I am.”

The wolf glared at her, bristling.

“Cool it, Angel. We don't need to be fighting each other,” Osadyro growled, turning over.

“I agree with Osa, Angie. We have bigger problems.”

“I told you not to call me that!” The boy jumped to his feet and launched at Darkfire. She jumped to side, putting her hands out in front of her. Angel turned sharply and slid on the wet grass. He jabbed at her head; she blocked. Then he kicked; she moved to the side and brought her hand up under his leg sharply, his other leg sliding from under him and causing him to fall to the ground.

“Yea, well, I can still kick your ass without hitting you.” She walked over to Osadyro's table and sat down. “We should get going. The world's a big place.”

The tiger looked at her friend with forlorn eyes. “We wanted to see the world, D. And now we get to. So why do I feel so sad and scared to leave?”

Darkfire nodded and looked to the sky. “'Cause this isn't how we wanted to see it. This isn't how we planned it.” She sighed and took Osa's hand, stroking it softly. “But don't worry. We can still make this hunt into a fun vacation.”

Sitting up, the tiger hugged the fox. “Thank you so much for being my friend, D. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

“Probably kill someone.”

“Probably.”

“Starting with Angel and then your dad.”

“Other way around, D.”

“Oh, right, that's me.” She laughed and stood once more. “East Coast or West Coast, guys?”

“West,” Angel voted.

Osadyro nodded.

“All right.” She put her back to the rising sun and started off, katana held firmly in her hand. The wolf and tiger followed her, wondering what sort of life was left for them to lead. How long it would take to get wherever they were going. Curious as to how they planned on getting off the continent. They were all thinking about that. And what bothered them most were not the questions, but rather the answers.