“You’re being unreasonable.”

Karen glanced about the classroom, judged it a few safe minutes before Mr Thorne arrived, and rocked back in her seat, arms crossed. It wasn’t full attendance again yet, not since Halloween, with students claiming to be off for grief as if anyone cared, or just scared since the fire. It made things quieter, less distractions, though Logan’s sparse frame towered over her with an exasperated grimace.

“Come on, Karen- I found it for you,” He urged, and dropped his voice, hand on his heart, “Don’t you trust me?”

“Sure, but last time you were certain, I ended up this big,” She held her hands about a bread loaf apart, “So, fair’s fair. It’s Diana’s turn. I gotta ask her anyway, she’s not telling me everything.”

“Surely that’s a point against her? If she’s keeping secrets? While me and Matt are offering to programme the stone for free. We’re ninety… look, we’re pretty sure we can attune it to you.”

“You’re not seriously bringing up Matt as an endorsement, are you?”

“Leave her be, Logan. You’re not gonna change her mind,” Maddie sighed, joining their huddle, “It doesn’t work.”

“Ex-actly,” Karen bragged, leaning back further on the wobbling chair, “Heeeeey, how was exile, Maddie? Was your daddy maddy?”

“Well, yeah, with the veil and all. Halloween really really spooked him. Wasn’t that bad for being grounded, Bonnie was back from university, so hung out.” She cocked her head and grabbed Karen’s ankle to keep her from overbalancing. “How ‘bout you guys?”

“I’m fine. Logan found I’d been sleeping on a magic stone, so hopefully we can use it to get my hair back. He’s just grumpy I’m not his project,” She produced the miracle stone, the little orb of iron, and rolled it between her fingers.

“Can you at least keep it in your bag? What if you fluff out?” Logan groaned.

“I’m not fluffy.” She dropped it back into her pack, “I’m aerodynamic.”

“You were though- oh, kitten Karen was soooooo cute,” Maddie giggled, “Fancy making that potion again? I only got one picture.”

His eyebrows raised behind his long fringe and he leaned back, “Uh, in the interest of my own bodily safety, I’ve got to say no.”

“Wise choice.” Karen kicked forward, righting her chair, and held out a hand, “Can I see? Never saw my reflection like that.”

Maddie clutched her phone, “No way, you’re gonna delete it.”

“Am not.” She lied, smile breaking the corners of her lips, and lunged to grab it, “Come on!”

“Nooooope” Maddie kept it out of reach- she was still a little quicker, and ducked behind Logan “I’ve got to send it to Emily, and Olive- oh, and all the deputies, then they won’t be scared of you. Wouldn’t that be great?”

“You’re the worst. C’mon, Logan, tell her- she could buy a cat if she wants cute.”

“But aren’t cats just worse than griffins? Or, is hundred percent feline better?”

“I- no, they’re animals so- look, as a pet, they’re better pets because they won’t stab you if you troll them all morning...” She trailed off as they broke into new laughter, as the last pupils filtered into the maths classroom, slower than the rest but still ahead of the teacher.

The reason for their lethargy was obvious. Grant, dark haired and bulky, was supporting his weight on two crutches while a thick white cast covered his left foot, where it had twisted on Halloween. The girl behind him was less recognizable. Irene’s right arm was in a sling, and her honey blonde hair was cut short to a simple bob. Dark circles ringed her narrow eyes and several plasters covered one cheek.

Karen’s mirth evaporated at the sight.

That was it? The extent of their injuries after the horrific night of Halloween? After Caleb had died? Where was the justice? Would they even bare scars from their stupidity?

Irene’s lily green eyes met her glare, widened and the girl gasped, “They let you back in school?”

“ME? What about you shitheads?!” Karen exploded, the world blurring with hot pain and phantom colours, “Why aren’t you in jail? Cos you’re human?!”

Heads turned at the confrontation, and Maddie gently asked, “Karen? What do you mean? What did she do?”

“I did nothing- she’s trying to use me as a scapegoat!” Irene sneered, voice trembling slightly.

“Irene and her apes wrecked Halloween- the fire, the pigeons, the dea- it’s all their fault!”

“Oh, are we throwing everything around now?” Her prey threw a hand out to her, “Fine, in case anyone couldn’t put it together, Karen’s been lying to everyone for years- she’s a mystic, she’s a bloodthirsty bird, and she’s already hatched a little demon chick. That’s where she vanished off to.

“Uh, Irene, actua-” Grant began.

“Shut up you moron!” Irene snapped, tears in her eyes, “And that’s not even all- she’s still plotting stuff, she’s got familiars around with this wizard freak, and she’s got something that stinks of magic in her bag.”

Logan blinked, his eyes glancing back to where the Miracle Stone lay, and then to Irene with a bewildered look.

But she was still going, hissing and gasping, “She’s already killed one of us- what do you think happened to C-Caleb? She s-seduced him, lured him off, and tore him a-apart for fun!”

Karen swayed. Everything was so wrong. And yet she could feel every eye on her, whispers flowing about her eyes, as if there was anything wrong with her. She could feel the veil flowing around her, so easy to snap, so easy to break and show them just how majestic she was. She could imagine chairs and desks and screaming biped children battering off wings too big for this room. Changing was a terrible idea.

So she screamed and lashed to tear the toxic tongue from the false witches mouth.

* * * * *

Boom.

Thoom.

Boom.

Thoom.

Her heartbeat resounded like drums in her skull. Karen shifted, and hissed at the stinging cold of the icepack on her brow. It didn’t seem to help so she lowered it, and gingerly poked the lump with a pinky finger. The pain almost made her gag, the horrid taste of Veil potion still coated her throat, and she swallowed it with difficulty.

The Ranelk High School’s reception had likely been colourful a decade ago, when it was painted with mountain scenery and soft plush chairs cushioned the waiting area before the office counter. Yet time had only greyed the images, hardened the seats and rendered the clerks behind the counter old hens, always chattering to one another without worry of who waited. They only changed tones when the door to one of the smaller side rooms opened, unstable footsteps approached, and Grant limped out with a row of plasters on his neck and hand.

Mr Harris, the beefy coach in a slack tracksuit shadowed him and tutted, “Wait there now, we’ll see if your folks call back. Karen, ice pack on head and sit still, Mrs Kelly’ll call you in a mo.”

“Fine,” She grudgingly pushed the pack over the lump again, and glowered as Grant sat four seats over. “He gets to keep those things?”

“They’re crutches! My ankle’s twisted, in case you forgot.”

“Yes, he keeps crutches. Now behave or else you’ll have reception to deal with,” Harris gave an exaggerated fearful look to the three ladies chattering on computers behind the desk, before striding off back towards the gym.

She watched him go, slumped and held her head, before murmuring, “They’re weapons if you brain people with them. I didn’t use weapons.”

“You don’t need weapons, got nails like little box cutters, you psychopath,” Grant groaned back, “How are they even that sharp? You use a whetstone, Thomson?”

“Scratching post.”

He snorted with a small smile, then glanced over, gauging her words. “So I was right then? You were that hippogriff on Halloween?”

“Griffin. Hippogriffs are horse freaks, don’t lump me in with them.”

“Ah. Sure.” He leaned back, as if considering the meaning of life in the escaped balloon at the ceiling. “Why’d you do it?”

“Because she was mocking me. If you didn’t want scratched, you should have just stayed out of it.”

“Yeah. Well, you were going to gut her, no contest. But not what I meant,” He bit his lips, then quietly, “I think you saved my life from the fire. Jambo too. Why?”

Karen slumped back, expecting to feel her ponytil hit the wall, but instead it was just her short haired scalp, and a surge of pain pulsed through her skull.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

A moment passed.

Grant coughed, “Uh, you faint? Thomson?”

“No, you didn’t knock me out, Jason Bourne,” Karen snapped and adjusted the ice pack, “I got you two because I’m an idiot. Flying would have helped better. But you carried me away from the pigeons, so… I didn’t want to be in debt to a dead gorilla.”

“Right. How come you were tiny?””

“Magic’s dumb.”

“Ah. Well, even if you regret it, thanks. We owe ya.”

She made to glower again, but the boys’ face was open, pensive and scratched. Weak.

“Thanks for not letting pigeons eat me.” She grunted, “And they’re not mine. You saw it. Irene summoned the Bad Egg.”

“Yeah. Well, she’s an idiot and magic’s dumb.” He started, “Uh… egg?”

“The Siren. X-19. The pigeon thing. Whatever. I think it did this to me.”

“No. That was me and the crutches. Remember?”

“Not- no, made me a griffin, dumbass.”

Grant stared at her, and reached to scratch his head, only for his crutch to bang into his scalp and he winced, “Urgh. It.. you weren’t born a griff-thing?”

“No, I was human until september.” She rolled her eyes, “Careful, don’t lose too many brain cells.”

“Well sorry if you’re confusing. Right, so….” His frown intensified, and he glanced at his hands, “You weren’t lying. You were human. You’re a victim of all this, like Irene?”

“No, what? Firstly, no, I’m nothing like that idiot biped!” Karen bounced upright, glowering at him and lifted two fingers, “Second, I’m not a victim. I’m fine- I’m strong, while you can barely walk, you’ve got no right to call me weak!”

Grant gave her a weird look, soft and yet cold, “Yeah. Sure. I’m sorry.”

“Ms Thomson,” The quiet tones of Mrs Kelly broke the tension, and the short fluffy haired lady beckoned her behind the counter, “If you’re full of energy again, in here please.”

“Yes Miss.” Her head reeled as she stood, adjusted the ice pack and followed her through to the office, a plain grey room with slightly comfier seats and a wide window of the grey sky outside, where clouds would sweep up through the heavens to form cathedrals, arches and wonders unseen by any ‘victim’.

“You’ve had a hard time Karen.” Kelly’s voice was soft, touched by an irish lilt, “I know. This year’s no’ been normal for anyone, and you’ve had it stranger than most. Then this week on top of it, losing your friend, it’s natural.”

“Miss. I’m fine.” She slowly pulled her focus from the tempting sky to the vice principal, to this weird tone. Where was the anger? “He wasn’t my friend.”

“Ah. Well Ms Thomson, do you understand why you are here?”

“Yeah.Didn’t mean to hurt Grant. Irene started it- why isn’t she here?”

“I suspected as much. Most classes have a bad egg in them, and you’re normally well behaved, but Irene merely spoke, you two are the ones who got physica-”

“She’d have gotten physical if I got my hands on her!”

“Karen. She has a broken arm. I understand that you’ve had terrible experiences too, but I really feel that you’re not ready to return to organised education quite yet. Are your parents around?”

She was just going to get sent home? Her gaze flicked to the window again, to that awesome sky, to the clouds beckoning her. Yet Pa probably wouldn’t let her fly if he got called. She’d get a lecture and be seen as hurt and unstable and weak.

“No, no, I can handle school. I just lost my temper at her, I can handle everything just fine.”

“Are you quite sure? I know that you’re claustrophobic, it can be very stressful here, and your buddy Hana isn’t back yet, is she?” Doubt and pity etched itself on the teacher’s wrinkles, “Do you really think you can conduct yourself appropriately as a student here?”

“Yes. She just surprised me. Now I know she and… other people are around, I can deal with it.” Karen argued, “My friends are here Miss, I can’t stand getting sent home all lonesome again and keeping Pa off work even more- and I’ve got to do a full day sooner or later, right?”

“Well. Well then, provided you give a full apology to Grant, and vice versa, we shall live it as this for extenuating circumstances.” Mrs Kelly planted her hands on the desk and stood, though it barely affected her height, “But this is your last chance, Ms Thomson. Any other misbehaviour or incidents, and we will have to suspend you- we have the safety of your fellow pupils to consider as well as your own.”

“As long as I don’t owe Irene anything. I can talk to Grant.” She shoved the chair back and stood. The watery blue eyes followed her, brimming with sickening pity. “Really. It was one off. I’m fine. Great even- I can fly now!”

“Very well, come.” Mrs Kelly instructed, and she was escorted out and back to reception. The apology seemed to confuse Grant, but he agreed to it before the jury of receptionists before they were sent back to class.

Even with the icepack on her head, school felt like the world was drumming at Karen’s skull. Whispers and looks followed her, fear and contempt in their colour blind eyes. They muttered of how she’d revealed her species on her first day back, or that she was a fake and the real Karen had been spotted dancing in the fire, or that she could summon birds with a scream and one had flown into the window when she lashed out at Irene.

Bipeds could definitely get creative with rumours very quickly. Yet as nonsensical as they were, the mystique they painted her with was almost better than the alternative.

Logan, Maddie, Mark, Emily and even Olive the gorgon seemed to regard her with humourless, careful sympathy. The morning’s teasing was gone, replaced with worry in their eyes, as if she needed help. As if she was weak.

By lunchtime, rumours of the argument had spread like wildfire, as had interest. Grant tried to ask her more, then a satyr kid loudly approached her, then Maddie and Logan tried to talk to her and just drew more people. It was too much, far too much, so Karen excused herself to the bathroom, slipped out the window, and scurried up the climbing frame. At the highest point, she chucked her bag, angled herself, and leapt with all her might. Her fingers grabbed and hooked onto the gutter, her foot kicked off the wall, and with a grunt she scrabbled over the edge and settled on the roof of the offices.

Peace and quiet.

Karen leaned against the edge, kicked some shoes and bottles out of the way, and sat down out of view to dig into a tuna curry she’d gotten for lunch. She’d have to eat fast to manage it all, but that was easy with no conversation to distract her, and her stomach was empty.

“Yo! Katie!” A gust of wind stirred her short hair, and Karen groaned to see a swooping, winged figure dart towards her. The tengu girl, Fei looked as excited as ever, sporting a loose shirt to allow her broad black wing-arms to support her, and a wicked grin on her crimson face.

“Karen, not Katie, don’t you ever listen?” She huffed, “How come you ain’t veiled?”

Fei smirked as she landed on long taloned toes, and threw up short claws on her wings in a thumbs up, “Behold- my fingers! Class B, remember?”

“You just fly around school?”

“There’s no rule against flying.” Her smile widened, “Jealous?”

“No. I can do tricks too.” Karen blinked, letting her eyes shift, welcoming the ultraviolet colours, “How’s this?”

“Oooooh- no- is that magic? Like, trickery or like, magic magic?”

“Secret. Now, mind shooing? I’ve got a headache.”

“Sure, just stay put and look cool, don’t move!” Fei cackled, darted back, and tumbled off the precipice.

“Wha- why?!” But the girl was too quick to explain, flitting away and into the mess of humanity below. Her smile had stank of mischief though, so Karen scarfed down half her lunch, shoved it in her bag, and peered over the roofs edge.

It was only a twelve foot drop. Easy.

Well, easy when she had giant wings.

Without them, her landing was a jolt through the legs and a surge of pain to the tailbone.

“Ouch.” A student halfway up the climbing frame winced at her discomfort.

Karen gritted her teeth and bounced upright, baring a pained grin. “Yeah. I’m fine, don’t worry about it.”

“Girl on the roof. You the griffon?”

“Yup, but I’m not doing questions and answers right now, so piss off and whisper rumours like everyone else”

“Good.” He dropped off the bars with a gentle landing, “I’m a griffon too.”

Her heart seemed to lurch and she suppressed her reaction, examining him from the corner of her eye as she walked. He had to be a year above with a lean, near grown frame and light brown skin. Dark hair was dyed a vivid red and red-two save the roots, above dark almond eyes. Loose pants and a vest and satchel seemed sensible clothes for a veiled griffin, though many colourful badges adorned them, as did half a dozen rubber bangles on bare arms.

“You’re the one I saw wednesday? Striped one?” She tested, slinging her bag over her shoulders disinterestedly.

“Name’s Alastair. You’re the girl with amazing wings and terrible avian?”

“Excuse me, my avian is perfect, you’re the one who was garbling nonsense.”

“Whatever.” He shrugged gracefully, “What do I call you?”

“Karen. Thomson. Diana’s nicknamed me stormwing in avian.” She looked at him and swallowed, “Did you hunt a human on sunday? Some kid died, they think a griffin did it.”

“They wouldn’t find a corpse if I had. Not that I hunt humans, but… no sense wasting meat.” He gave a gentle chuckle, detached and casual, “My family’s of the same mindset. It’s a stupid thing to accuse a griffon of.”

“Exactly- they know some freak spirit was kicking around there, it clearly did it!” She argued, voice rising. No, no she didn’t want to seem unstable, she didn’t want more pity, she wasn’t weaker than him. “Anyway, I’ve got to get inside, there’s a harpy planning a prank.”

“Fei? No, she wanted me to meet you- she’s up there watching,” Alastair pointed a finger skywards to a gliding reddish figure, “I think she expects love at first sight. Unfortunately I have standards.”

“Uh-huh?” Karen scoffed, unsure whether to glare at him or Fei, “So why hunt me down?”

“To meet. And to ask a favour, could you teach me to fly please?”

She was raising a middle finger to the flying figure before his words hit. “Wait- what- say that again?”

“I cannot fly. You can fly competently, and so I’d like to learn from you.” He explained very slowly and clearly.

“But you’re a griffin. You hav- you have wings, I saw them you’re like a freaking rainbow- what do you mean you can’t fly?! You’re half giant bird, what’s the point if you can’t use your own gaudy wings?!”

Alastair gave another graceful shrug, “I did not learn growing up. I want to learn now.”

“Can you even hear yourself?!” Karen snarled, throwing her arms wide, “You’re utterly shameless! What is wrong with you, you’re acting like this is no big deal- you’re older than me and you can’t use half your body! Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is? You might as well not know how to walk, you’re pathetic!”

“I’m magnificent.” He gave a thin assured smile, and tilted his head a sliver, “So you’ll teach me?In exchange I could teach you to speak Avian.”

“Hm? No. No way am I wasting my time on an overgrown kitten, I’ve got better things to do.”

“There is no need to insult me. I’ll overlook it since you’re injured.” Alastair’s tone didn’t change, but his figure tensed, striding beside her instead of ambling.

Her head ached as she met his glare, refusing to blink. Don’t show weakness. Let him see her scars and know she was dangerous too. “Then take it seriously and deal with your own problems, go jump off that cliff or something. I’ve got enough to deal with.”

Almond eyes continued to look for a second longer, then softened and he gave a bland smile, “Well, perhaps I can help with your problems if they’re so numerous. I only have one, and you can definitely help me, so think about it. Just ask if you need my help.”

Then he sauntered off, leaving Karen scoffing in his wake. Griffins truly were obscenely proud, even when they had no reason to be- how could flightless specimens exist?! It was a sickening thought, like a beached whale or a legless spider. Why live if you couldn’t fly?