MagiStream

Jupiter let out a sigh of relief when he stopped pulsating light. His muscles loosened and his eyelids drooped from exhaustion. Carefully he slid himself down on the floor of the cave, and fell asleep quickly, not even caring that he was lying on hard packed dirt.

Vegas settled beside Jupiter and, now that he stopped pushing it away, completely and utterly exhausted. He closed his eyes, using his hands behind his head as a pillow, and let out a slow sigh, slipping into sleep as easily as he could spread his wings.

Cheerio blinked at the morning light. What? Where am I? she looked around, and the breath caught in her throat. It wasn't a dream. We really escaped. she thought in awe, Standing up, she brushed the dirt off of her hospital gown. Ugh, I'm still wearing this thing too.

Gracie rolled in her sleep, muttering to herself. "Don't take me, I don't wanna..." she mumbled into the dirt.

Jupiter sighed, and threw the rock again at the wall of the cave. Obediently, it bounced off and flew right back at Jupiter, landing in his hand.

Tiger Lily unfurled her wings, stretching them to the extent that the cage would allow her, like she did every morning. She blinked her eyes open in surprise as she realized they were fully extended, and when she sat up, her head didn't hit the top of her crate, like it usually did. A sense of relief washed over her, and she smiled. Wow... I'll never get used to this.

Ozzy sat up, brushing rock dust off of his face. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked around, still seemingly amazed by their new surroundings. "Where do you think we are?" he asked curiously.

Vegas continued to sleep, tired after staying up later than the rest of the flock last night.

Cheerio didn't hear Ozzy, as she was preoccupied with looking down the length of her wing. Beautiful, dark brown feathers covered her whole wing, with small golden feathers peeking in between. With caution, she brought her wings down hard, and felt her own body lift an inch or two off the ground in response.

Gracie turned to meet Ozzy's eyes. "Well, mountains obviously. Does it matter where we are?" she didn't care if she sounded b*tchy or sarcastic; she didn't know if these, bird people or whatever they were called, would be allies or not.

Jupiter looked down on Vegas and narrowed his eyes. He wished he could sleep like that. Unfortunately, bad dreams had kept him up almost all night. With a sigh that kinda sounded like a moan, he threw the rock against the wall again.

Ozzy's face flushed in embarrassment. "It was just a question, geez," he muttered. "I'd think it would matter, 'cause..." He groped his mind, searching for a reason to tell Gracie off, but Tiger Lily beat him to it.

Tiger Lily glanced at Gracie, frowning. "Yeah, it does kind of matter. We need to get as far away from that facility as possible. I heard a couple of nurses talking once, and they mentioned a different facility from that one. How would you like to have escaped that, only to blunder right into the hands of another, only because you thought it didn't matter where we were?" she snapped.

Vegas's eyes opened as he heard the rock clatter against the wall. For a moment, he'd thought a cart had been wheeled past his cage, but he realized where he was and let out a slow sigh, trying to get used to the idea of freedom.

Cheerio narrowed her eyes. "Look, we don't have time to fight. But, Tiger Lily is right, we need to find somewhere safe, and not be stuck between two labs, in which both want us dead." she turned away, rubbing her temple. It was just so much, finally being free, but still in a way, captured. Never being able to be normal again. Cheerio felt tears sting her eyes. She hated those damn scientists so much!

Gracie's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she sneered. "Whatever. Like I care if you get captured." Gracie stopped abruptly, knowing she'd gone too far. Oh my god she's going to kill me. Was the only thought going through her mind as she turned and raced away from the tunnel, wings tucked in behind her.

Jupiter stared after her, not even trying to stop her. She'd gone too far. The rock he was messing with landed on the ground away from him, sounding with a tone of finality.

Tiger Lily let out a snort of anger and, the moment Gracie got to her feet, raced after her. Her longer legs allowed her to catch up, and she came up behind her, fingers curled into fists. Spreading her wings just a fraction, she propelled herself forward, knocking Gracie to the ground. She raised a fist and was about to sink it into Gracie's stomach, but the red mist faded, and she let out a slow breath. "We shouldn't be fighting," she muttered, standing up and holding out a hand to the younger mutant.

Ozzy watched them go, letting out a barely discernible whimper and drawing his knees closer to his chest. He glanced towards the sky through the cave mouth and asked, "When are we gonna get going?"

Vegas glanced at Ozzy, then shrugged. "Whenever those two buttheads get back, I guess," he said, managing a grin at him.

Cheerio watched with wide eyes as Tiger Lily raced after Gracie. Mouth pressed into a grim line, she thought I wouldn't care if she left for good. She's only been mean and rude to everyone.. With a grunt of anger, Cheerio turned to examine her wings. They were sore from her first flight, but other than that they felt fine.

Gracie snarled at Tiger Lily. "Back off b*tch!" She stumbled to her feet. "Leave me alone." she turned and walked back to camp, knowing that if she tried to run again, everyone would be after her. She's a danger to their secret.

Jupiter narrowed his eyes as he saw Gracie walk back into camp.

Tiger Lily glared after Gracie, pulling back her spurned hand, but said nothing. She walked quietly after her back to the rest of the flock, sweeping past her and settling beside Cheerio and Ozzy and turning her back on Gracie.

Ozzy stared sadly at Gracie for a moment, but turned to Tiger Lily instead, reaching out and brushing bits of gravel and dust off of Tiger Lily's knees.

Vegas watched them closely, checking for any injuries, but he found no major ones. He scooted to Jupiter's side and asked, "How do you feel? Like, after drinking the water last night?"