Chapter 11

“Elsa, how nice of you to join us.” Came Miss Betty’s voice. I had just shut the door behind me and entered the room.

      “Hey Miss Betty, can I get some dinner to go? I like eating outside.” I tried not to sound suspicious about the food. I had promised Coal that I would bring him some for him.

      “Sure, it’s not windy outside, I think that you could eat outside, why don’t we bring some lanterns and all go out?” she suggested.

      “No, that’s okay, Wolfe probably shouldn’t do a lot of walking around.” I fixed Wolfe with a look, and she nodded. I hope that she knew that I was talking about Coal.

      “Oh alright, I’ll pack some food in a basket for you. Do you know where Coal went off to? I should probably pack him some dinner as well.” And she walked back into the kitchen to go pack the food. I sighed, thanking God that I wasn’t found out. I wasn’t really lying, I do like to eat outside. Miss Betty came back with the basket and a cloth over it to help keep it warm. On the edge of the cloth was some embroidered symbols. I wondered what they meant, but thought nothing of it as I opened the door and left the cabin.

      “What took so long? I’m starving!” came Coal’s voice. He rushed over and grabbed the basket from my hands.

      “Slow down.” I said, “You don’t want to inhale your food.” I removed the cloth from the basket and he snatched it from me.

      “What are the symbols on this thing?” Coal asked, studying the cloth carefully.

      “I don’t know,” I said, “Why would I know? It’s probably an old language or something.” I said and grabbed a roll from the basket.

      “One more question” he said.

      “Ask away.” I said.

      “Why am I so hungry?” he asked, “I’ve never been this hungry in my life.” He asked.

      “Well,” I started “you do burn a lot of energy when you fly around. I personally have eaten half of a sheep in one meal, with Wolfe’s help of course, but that is still a lot.” I said. I almost regretted not eating the entire thing, but then I remembered that we had had extra. 

      “Well, I’m full already full. Almost.” Coal said, I realized that he had been eating while I was talking. I looked in the basket and saw that a whole baked potato was missing already, and he had mashed potatoes on his cheeks. There was also steak juice on his face. He must have eaten an entire steak!

      “Dude, slow down! You know that-” I started, but stopped when I saw his hungry face. I felt my face heating up a little right then and there. “Hey, look over there, a full moon is rising.” I said to change the subject as I grabbed another roll. “You want to go for a night flight?” I asked.

      “Sure, can I charge up first?” he said sarcastically.

      “By all means.” I said and held out a wing. He touched the feathers lightly, then sighed as the transformation took place. I noticed a subtler change in him this time. His hair changed a little bit, it became a darker color, more of a dirty blonde instead of a bright light blonde color.

      “That feels better, thanks.” And he ran off, leaping into a tree, to take off. He scrambled up the tree, with speed that I had not noticed before, and he jumped, spreading his ‘stolen’ wings.

      “Wait up!” I shouted, and started after him.

      “Elsa, have you seen Coal?” came Grey’s voice behind me. I stopped mid-stride and turned to face him.

      “No, not in a while at least.” I lied, hoping that he wouldn’t see through it.

      “Okay then, let me know if you do see him though.” He replied.

      “Will do.” I said, and waited for him to go back to the cabin before I went after Coal again.   

I gained on the boy, straining my wings up. Using my strength until I had stitches all over.

      Man, this kid is fast for a newbie. I thought to myself, pouring on the speed even more.

      “Catch me if you can!” came the voice from above.

      “You bet!” I shouted back. And jerked up so hard, I felt I was flying directly up. The shape above me got closer, and I flattened out, my wings brushing his on his down stroke and my up stroke. I flew even faster, and suddenly, my hair was not whipping about any more, but straight back. I looked behind me, and saw that Coal was just a little shape in the distance. Whoa, I thought to myself, I’ve never flown that fast before. And I repeated what I did, returning to him, the world almost seemed to turn underneath me.

      “How did you do that?” asked Coal, as I reached him.

      “I don’t know, but one minute I was flying next to you, the next, I was several miles ahead.” I wondered at it myself as I explained it.  “Let’s just get back, you might lose the wings soon.” I was shaking from the fear of what just happened, as much as from the adrenaline rush. I started down in a corkscrew, thinking over what had just happened.