Luciana took a deep breath of the fresh air as she Kyter walked around outside the warren. They had walked down to the lake and had seen what Kyter guessed was a coal ship coming in. But they were now on their way back to the warren. Kyter was getting better and no longer needed help to get around. He was fun to be with, though there was a layer under his eyes that spoke of sadness and sorrow. A spark of fear seemed to sit there in the back of his eyes, but when Kyter was with her, it seemed to recede.

She looked to Kyter now. His black fur was ruffled and uncombed, his grey eyes murky with emotions, and his movements stiff, but sure. She smiled; he was unlike any bucks she had known back in First Warren. She laughed at herself inwardly, you’re too young to worry about such things. She shook her head as she turned to Kyter again. He was picking his way carefully over some rocks.

“Where’s Forsythe?” She asked, wondering. She had told her father about the young buck’s gift with maps, and it seemed anymore that’s where he was.

“I think your father stole him again,” Kyter said, smiling as he readied to jump down from a large rock.

“Kyter, your leg!” She exclaimed in alarm.

Kyter looked down at his legs, smiled at her, and slid off the rock. “Forgot,” he said as his feet touched the ground. He then began kicking at small pebbles. But then he stopped walking and looked at her, “Luciana. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” she said, shrugging as she stepped up on a log and began to balance as she walked across it.

Kyter followed her on the ground and said, “Why don’t you hang out with Jaylee and Marie? They’re does; you’re a doe. But instead, you’re always hanging out with Forsythe and me; why is that?” He looked at her, and she saw that he looked slightly confused.

She laughed and lost her balance. She slipped and fell off the log, jumping back up quickly and beginning to dust herself off. She then looked to Kyter. “I grew up in the palace, and for a while, it was just Lander and me. Lander was older than me, by a lot, but he still played with me. I got used to it, I guess. Then when my mother and father wanted me to make friends with other does it felt weird. The only doe friend I have is Avalon, but her parents didn’t want her to come though I begged them.” Luciana shrugged and looked to Kyter. His eyes were soft, gentle, grey like the waves that lapped at the shores of Ayman lake on a stormy day.

But then Kyter’s eyes widened, and he stood still. She waited, thinking he was going to say something, but he only tilted his head. She wondered what he was looking at, soon realizing it was something above and behind her. She turned and almost screamed. Birds filled the sky. Giant black shadows tainted the wide blue expanse. Their bleak black wings beat a dreadful beat as they flew ever nearer. Luciana turned to Kyter, wondering what they should do. But he hadn’t moved. He just stood there watching as their foes drew ever closer.

Kyter’s eyes locked on the birds which filled the sky. His mind once again amazed at their graceful flight. He couldn’t stop admiring them, wishing he could be like them. Free up there in the sky, with nothing to fear. What a thought, nothing to fear, he wondered what that would feel like. What would it feel like to be free of it all? To be free of every fear.

He heard Luciana scream his name, and he shook his head as he looked at her. “Kyter, what do we do?” She asked, her blue eyes wide and riddled with a thousand fears.

He looked past her head at the terrors which hovered above. One bird had left the others and was screaming toward them at an alarming rate. Its talons extended to strike, and as it grew closer, it let out a furious screech. The screech rattled in his ears like a thousand tumbling blocks that beat him as they fell. It struck a chord in his heart that filled his being with fear. Though he wished to cover his ears, he knew he did not have time. The bird would soon be upon them, ready to pierce them with its deadly talons. He jumped for Luciana, knocking her to the ground as the bird soared past them.

He leveled up on his elbow and saw the bird bank, and turn around. A wave of fierce anger lit its eyes as it looked at them. The bird was big, bigger than he had imagined. It was so close that Kyter could feel the hate radiating from it like heat from a fire. He didn’t know what to do? There was nowhere they could go, no way to escape the monster before them.

He got to his feet slowly, his leg aching softly from the jarring impact of moments before. Luciana stood beside him and grasped his bad arm. She then whispered in his ear, “Kyter, I don’t want to die. But if we do, know you are the bravest buck I ever knew, and I…”

The bird let out a mighty screech, cutting Luciana off as it flew toward them. Its sharp, curved beak poised to strike. Its talons extended to end the lives of these young rabbits whose journey had only just begun.

Kyter stood taller in his position in front of Luciana. If this was to be the end, he wished to die protecting her. Standing bravely, though his heart quaked.

Sorry this is rushed....Dad just got home which means its time for dinner....lol...see you guys!

Kayti