“I didn’t lie for you,” Jean says aloud.

I look over my shoulder at the sharp-eyed boy who was obviously angry at me for last night’s debacle.

I give a lighthearted smile, saying back.

“I know, I know, I’m really glad your quick thinking helped Dominique, so thank you jean”

He turned his sharp glare away from me, probably blushing at the praise I heaped on him. Jean isn’t so difficult if you throw some praise his way. He’s hot and cold at the same time. If there ever was a word for that, it would have jeans face right beside it in the dictionary. I chuckled silently on the inside, knowing if it was out loud; I would never hear the end of it.

The sounds of the wet mops sloshing around on the ground are like smooth waves crashing into the rocky shoreline on a peak sunny day. The soothing noises make me yawn, just as a ray of sunlight hits the upper window just above the wash station. Jean takes a break to wipe his forehead and take a look at the rising sun. I do the same, placing my mop against a stall. We both emptied out our buckets, placing them against the wall to stand on them and get a better view outside.

We both silently watched in awe and after about five minutes of watching, we stepped down and both have a seat, on our buckets, taking in the beauty of a fading sunrise.

“I wonder if she can also see up there?”

Jean sighs.

“I doubt it, you’re the one who taught us the sun rises in the east. That attic faces west”

I said nothing. I hadn’t meant to speak that aloud, but Jean was right, so I gave a light heart smile at the answer.

I wanted to rush to see Dominique again. I wondered if she had eaten, or slept right, or was she able to say my name now? That last thought was a little bit on the hopeful side. We had been practicing all week, sentences and words and how to pronounce our names. The best she could manage was the beginning stutter of each of our names. I wasn’t disappointed, I was hopeful. Her growth was all uphill from here. The surprises she was sure to show me in the days to come, would make it all worthwhile.

I was about to get up to finish wiping down the stalls when Jean said in a low whisper.

“what do you plan to do with her? You know she can’t stay here.”

Jean seemed to take notice of my absent-mindedness, as he asked the question that was sure to be on the whole group's mind.

I didn’t know what was to happen beyond today. I was going with the flow, day by day. Would anyone besides myself understand that?

Dazedly in thought, I stared, pondering the question. Was it so wrong to leave it up in the air for now? Just live happily with what we have right now. But even I knew this wasn’t happiness, this was delusional thoughts on my part. This place was no happiness, this place was no existence for a lone girl stranded like her, nor a boy without a family or home.

In one more year I would be old enough to travel to the city to take on amateur adventuring jobs. I would cross the orphanage's disdain for adventuring when I got there, but this was as full proof, of a plan that he had. He, Dominique, and the crew taking a quest, to make a life living together.

He knew Vascha and Poe would come, but Jean was more on the tricky side. Jean was too stubborn for his own good.

After a small bout of silence, and patience on Jean's part, I shook my head.

Jean let out an exasperated sigh.

I sat staring at the tile on the bathroom floor, while Jean got up and went into a stall.

“Hey, can I get a little privacy in here?”

I jumped to my feet, taking the hint, to stand off outside the restroom. I crouched my back and head against the wall, thinking of the first time I saw that brilliant jet-black wing.

“Peter, catch me if you can” a little girl yelled.

“you know he’s the slowest, he won’t catch up”

“…”

It was evening and the four of us were out playing a game of tag In the back of the orphanage, was a large, wooded area that we were only allowed a hundred feet to play within.

The sound of the other children playing, played out the background noise, as we played under the large oak trees looming in great shade, and beyond.

I was running ragged around, panting so hard to keep up with the more athletic of the bunch.

“Poe just where do you get all that speed from, I breathed out gasping for some air.

The gentle giant made noises as fled and dived into areas most of us couldn’t get to in time. He seemed to be avoiding all of us at all costs, even if it was just me tagging.

The sun was out and bright today, shining heavily on my shoulders as I ran up to a slowing Vascha.

It seemed as if she wasn’t running at full speed as I chased, but I paid no mind. This was fine by me if I didn’t have to be it anymore.

“oh no, Peter, you got me.” She said fishily, heading back to the starting point, which was the biggest oak tree on the back lining of the tree waypoint into the wooded area.

The winds picked up as Vascha started her count. I felt I had it this time. There was no way she would come for me. I made sure my shoes were tied as I branched away from Poe and Jean.

“3,2,1 HERE I COME.

She came dashing Jean's way; I knew she wouldn’t aim toward me. I smirked as I tried to avoid any path that Vascha would and was to take.

As I laid out my plan to run zigzag from her, she came out and hugged me from behind.

“Peter you’re it again”

I stood there frozen in disappointment.

“Geez let’s play another game, peter will always be it.”

Jean said aloud so the rest of the group could come to an agreement. Vascha blushed as she let me go and nodded her head. Poe sat back against the tallest tree around and nodded also.

Et tu, I thought, but they weren’t wrong. As far as I could remember my speed and reflexes were as slow as the teaching lessons on Sunday.

After a hard-fought game of rock, papers, scissors. I was chosen to be it. I had picked rock three straight times and was out right away. My mind was thinking of all the many great rock species out in the world, and the ones yet to be discovered.

Although my speed was on the latter side, my discovery skills were on par with some of the greatest detectives. Although this was not a game of mystery and just pure luck, I had the upper hand, I thought.

I was searching for almost 10 minutes before I stumbled onto a new type of lizard, I hadn’t yet discovered out here. I stopped to get a better look when I noticed a foot sticking out. from behind a bush. From the banana peel lying next to it, I knew who my victim would be.

So, I snuck up quietly and made my way over to the bush, with light steps, and breath. I jumped to the side of the bush to discover Poe, with an apple in his hand, fast asleep. I smiled and crouched in front of the gentle giant. I proceeded to pat his head as he woke up startled. He looked happy to see me, and got up without a word, walking all the way to the start.

One down two to go, I thought. With Poe out of the running, I might have just a chance in this game, after all, Poe was the fasted among us all. I clenched my fist and started on my way, of course after picking the lizard up and placing him in a safe spot.

I didn’t like to be 'it' first because I was indeed the worst seeker. I sometimes got sidetracked and the game would last hours. I was on my game today though, I found Poe in record time. It seemed I had turned over a new leaf, so I thought to put it to the test. I used my ultra-great detective skills to track Jeans tracks on the ground. All I found were leaves and dirt. I made my way deeper inside the wooded area, looking high and low. That’s when I saw it, a large stag beetle on the stump of a tree that was knocked down by years of time and lightning. On my way to get a better look is where I tripped over a very large stick, falling onto my back.

I then looked up to the beetle who flew away towards a smaller tree quite a way, but not far away, from where I lay.

“aha” I mumbled to myself.

I saw Jeans white and black shoes, hanging from atop the small tree, but I don’t think he saw me just yet. I got to my feet hiding behind the trees. His focus was on the skyline view. So, I made my way towards the tree and under him, I jumped up and touched the bottom of his shoe.

“Got you”

He got startled, and almost lost his balance, and I had to grab ahold of the bottom of his foot to help him keep balance, as he caught himself slowly.

“Tch” He made a sound, making his way down the tree and by my side. He continued with distaste. “Took you long enough” Not knowing it was by pure chance, Jean left with some reluctance.

I breathed in and out.

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Now, I was in for the real challenge. Vascha was the best hider amongst all of the kids at the orphanage, not just the small group. She was clever and knowledgeable of these woods. I was brimming with confidence; I mean I had broken two records in one day. Nobody could hide from my clever skills of deduction. Usually, the day would be half over, and the others would give up so they could switch the seeker. I looked up to the gods and sky, smiling at my unique luck.

I noticed a thin line of smoke clearing past the blue skyline and clouds floating by. I started walking towards it, being the curious boy, I was. The smoke was starting to thin, by the looks of it there had been a fire, that had been put out. I wondered just what kind of fire it was, and why was it lit in the first place. I paid no mind to my surroundings, only looking up to see the thin line carrying away towards the wind blowing it. I had most likely passed Vascha, along with the limit us children had to adhere to. The deeper I got the more I could see the thing line waning out. Not watching where I was going, I tripped over what I thought was a large animal or branch. I fell face first into a tree, grabbing ahold of my nose and falling back in pain. I looked up once more and the smoke line had dissipated and was fading far too fast to track now. Without the smoke in the air for guidance; I was sure to lose my way there.

I raised myself up against the tree that had sucker-punched me and wiped my forehead and nose.

I then heard a small rumbling noise, followed by an almost silent gasp. I slowly turned to the stick or anime I had fallen over and gasped at what lay at my feet. There lay a monster, or so I thought, instead lay a small child. They were covered in a black substance and dark feathers like a small wing-shaped blanket. The small feather-like blanket, covered half of their body. I looked on in disbelief.

“um hello, are you ok?”

I reached out to touch the person, creature, laying naked covered in feathers, bruises, and cuts. After a closer inspection, the child was skin, and bones compared to me or any of the others.

I gasped aloud when I saw that the child was naked. I took a closer peek when my face turned crimson. The child was a girl, by the way, her mosquito-bit chest protruded out.

“you don’t look so well”

I said in a rushed tone, trying to sound urgent. I followed up with.

“is there anything I could do to help”

I could see a faint heartbeat, beating throughout her feathered-covered area.

I crouched to get an even better look. The wing was attached to her back, and it was badly damaged.

I caressed the Jet Black wing, with curiosity.

She was startled awake, and with what little strength she had she jumped back in shock and fear.

The small child bared her teeth at me, growling, as she folded back down in pain.

She tried to stretch her wing in desperation but was met with more pain than a child like her could bear. She groaned and moaned in pain.

I stood completely still breathing heavily in front of the fallen little girl. I didn’t feel threatened, or if any harm would come my way. She was just scared, and from the noises her body made. She was hungry and hurt. I strained my mind at what to do, and then thought, I heard a running river nearby. She was nearly unconscious, so I grabbed the shirt off my back and wrapped her in it, covering her completely.

I then raced towards the river, trying to be as still and careful as not to hurt the girl.

After arriving at the riverside, I cupped some water into her mouth. I did my best to wet her lips and tilt her head so the water could go down a lot smoother. She was swallowing, which was a good sign. I could see faint signs of life. I brought another cusp to her mouth and slowly watched her swallow it all. Her breathing was shallow, but it was there. I then took another step towards the river, then heard a small cough and gasp of air. I looked over my shoulder, eyes widened, rushing over to her side. I managed another cusp of water and watched her drink it down heartedly. I could see her breathing returning to a normal breath intake. I looked at her small chest rhythmically moving up and down. She managed to sit herself up, her breathing becoming ragged as she used what little strength she had. I relaxed my breathing, letting out a sigh of relief. I was beginning to tear up and I didn’t know why. I looked down at the girl and smiled wide.

“hello there, I’m peter and I’m glad you’re alive…what is your name?”

I choked up on the latter part. This little girl brought painful memories up and hurt my chest.

The little girl becoming more aware of her surroundings opened her eyes and tried to jump out to the side of me. Her fatigue made this attempt useless.

“it’s ok, it's ok”

I said placing my hand's palm upright towards her to show that I wasn’t any harm.

“a…k…” the little girl grunted out.

“Is your throat ok, or can you not speak?” peter asked crouching down, but then thought it was quite impatient to get her to talk. She was severely dehydrated and in terrible condition. First things first, was to make sure she was alright.

She grabbed ahold of the shirt I placed on her and tried to tear it off, but when she did, she flinched from the pain in her upper back.

I looked on with concern. It must have been her wing, I wondered.

I brought out the knife that I always had on me and snapped it into place, whipping it out like a switchblade. I started walking towards the girl, when she covered her face, crying out in fear.

“a…a…ka…” a gurgling noise came from her throat, which made me stop in my tracks.

I looked at the poor defenseless girl and folded my knife back into place. I reached into my other pocket and brought a tin can, that I had been saving for special occasions. I crouched and crawled over to her and placed the can in front of her. She unfolded her hands to watch closely to what I was doing.

I then pointed inside the container, wafting up to get her to smell the aroma too.

She mimicked me and wafted the smell of meat paste into her nose. Her eyes widened at the prospect of fresh food. I showed her what to do. I grabbed a small piece of meat tore it and placed it into my mouth.

The meat was a delicacy here at the orphanage so I would save up cans of it if we ever had it for times, I would want to have more than the sisters would give us. It wasn’t rare to have meat, it was just rare for us orphans to have any. When we did it was always cooked meat in a can, around here it was a delicacy. So, I figured this was the best time to pop it open. I took a small bite to savor the taste of all the hard work I had to do to procure this can to myself because I planned on letting this girl have it all. She needed it far more than I myself would.

She reached out and grabbed the piece I tore off and placed it into her mouth.

Her eyes widened in shock. She swallowed it, grabbed the can, and brought it to her mouth.

I raised my hands In a fury to stop her from eating it all in one bite, not because I wanted some, but because I knew she would vomit it all out if she ate too fast after not having anything in her stomach.

I raised 1 finger, and she mimicked that too, placing the can back down and grabbing a single piece to swallow down whole again. I smiled at the charming little girl.

My face turned grim once more at the thought of her identity. Just who was she? Why was she lost? Why was she even out here in the middle of nowhere, all bruised and cut up? My heart wrenched, thinking, who could do this to such a sweet soul? Why would they? Did somebody do this to her? Were they still after her? Was it safe to even be out here right now? So many thoughts whirled through my mind. My heart and mind ached with concern and pain.

She grabbed another piece of meat, this time taking her time to chew it slowly and then swallowing it with the cutest expression.

I tried to get closer to her face when she grunted and pushed back. This caused her to choke on her piece of meat. I rushed to her side and patted her back to dislodge the meat. It hit the ground and both their face saddens.

I then smiled and pointed to the can, making a ‘it is all you gesture’, her eyes widened as she looked from the can to me, then back and forth a couple of times.

I crawled over to her on my knees and gestured towards her back. She grunted, turning her back away. I let out a relaxed sigh and placed my palms out again, letting her know I was of no harm. Her face was pale and full of worry, but she lightened her stance and gradually let me close in on her back. Her wing had life in it, it was moving around in the shirt that I had put on her. I slowly removed the knife from my pocket, while the little girl snacked on the canned meat. I then cut a tear down the shirt in the back. This startled the girl as she tried brushing me away. This caused me to fall backward, the knife cutting into my hand. Blood was leaking out slowly. I smiled, holding out my hand, letting the girl know that it wasn’t bad at all.

“no worries.”

I wiped the blood away from my pants pockets. The girl rushed over to me this time. She grabbed ahold of my hand and then ahold of the knife on the ground. She then cut into her own palm. Shocked I tried to protest but was met with rather amazing results. She spilled her own blood on his, curing not only my cut but hers too. I looked on in wonder at my hand that was just sliced open a second ago. Not even a scar was left. I smiled looking on at the girl, meeting her eyes. I grabbed ahold of her shoulders and shouted.

“you’re amazing”

She was puzzled at all my shouting and gestures. I let go of her and just gave her a huge smile, patting her head. Her face dropped, and that’s when I noticed that all the cuts on her body were scabbed up. Mine were gone, but hers were not. Did she do this to herself? Or had another done this to her?

I reached out, noticing all the jagged scars on her tiny body. I wanted to break down and cry, I didn’t though. I just pulled her in and hugged her so tightly. She struggled at first, but then her body went slack, and I could feel hot tears on my bare chest.

I rubbed her back, letting her know that it was going to be alright and how beautiful he thought her wing was. Which was now free and moving around even with it being damaged.

I spent time trying to talk to her and communicate in any way possible to understand her situation. She didn’t seem to speak or have any human-like interaction skills.

I knew from her angel-like appearance that she was no mere human, although he didn’t know exactly what she was. That didn’t matter though, there was a girl in need, and I was going to help any way I could.

We sat by each other for the company until the sun set hit the water banks. That’s when I noticed that the sun had already started to set… just how long had I been out here?

My face turned an elvish white…

The game of hide and seek too…

Was anybody looking for him, like he was supposed to be looking for them?

I rose to my feet, trying not to panic. What do I do? Bring the girl along with him back to the orphanage? Or somehow make a makeshift place for her to stay. I shook off the latter thought. I couldn’t leave a defenseless girl all alone.

Ok, ok, I thought, first I need to find the rest of the group. Then I could fill them in and maybe all together they could figure a situation out. I looked around at the never-ending tree line.

I was lost…

I didn’t realize just how deep I had gone into the forest. I looked at the girl, smiled, then looked to the sky to reminisce.

.“peter”

“peterrr”

“…”

Voices called out simultaneously. I turned my head in the direction and called out names, which I was truly grateful to hear. They all came running in my direction when they heard my voice call out to them.

As they arrived on the scene, their faces betrayed no feeling of the situation. They had seen me with my shirt off and a girl right next to me with my shirt on and a black wing fluttering from the back of the said shirt, and a terrified look on that girl’s face. The group, fearing my health all ran towards the scene.

I jumped up to dissuade them from any misunderstanding.

After a non-confrontational confrontation, I elaborated on what happened. The group all looked on at the girl with gloomy and shocked faces. I then apologized, especially to Vascha, whom I forgot to seek. Introducing them one by one, I got the idea to bring her into the group. I thought it was brilliant, I mean we were missing a hero at the time, we had each of us four. I myself, having been named after the valiant Peter by my older brother, the others being named by me.

Jean after Jean the great, Poe after Poe the brave, Vascha after Vascha the serene. We all agreed on the consensus to have the newest member join our group. She needed a name though, we all thought. I smiled holding my hand out to the angelic angel before him.

“Welcome Dominique, after Dominique the Bold, to our group of makeshift heroes”

We all walked back together, Vascha leading the way. I walked in the back with Dominique’s hand in mine. I looked up to the sky at that moment and there was no smoke, nor a cloud in sight. I wondered at the time just what that was.

I was scolded when we got back for losing my shirt and having them replace it, but we took advantage of that all. While I was getting scolded the group would bring Dominique into our secret hideout. We all left part of our dinner up there for her alone. I myself made my way that night into the attic to check in on our guest. I snuck in to see just how she was holding up. The group had made a makeshift bed for her, and she was very much asleep with his shirt on, the plate next to her clean as can be. I smiled at the sight of covering her with a blanket that was very special to me, but she needed it more than I did now. I placed a piece of bread wrapped in a towel next to her and whispered.

“Please watch over her brother.”

“Peter, Peter Wake the hell up. WAKE UP DUMBASS”

Jean was shaking me, I guess I dozed off there at the end of my reminiscing.

THWACK, came a mop on top of my head. My glasses fell halfway off my nose, and I rubbed my head groaning.

“I’m up I’m up,” I said to the boy harassing me.

Jean handed me my mop, saying

“let’s finish this and then we can study with Dom.”

I fixed my glasses, looked up, and smiled.

“yeah, let’s do that.