Okay hope you guys like this chapter!!! Feedback welcome.... I need to know if there is anything I should work...want to be an author so help me out please!!! Also can I say this has been fun to write! I'm working on chapter 5 cause I like to stay a head and have time to read over and edit many, many times...lol.....but here is chapter 2!!! Enjoy!!!

Kyter woke early the next morning. He had dreamed of birds again, of soaring, flying, and falling. He hated the thought of falling, falling scared him more than anything besides being alone. But mainly falling scared him because falling hurt and falling things hurt. He tried to shrug it off as he got dressed. Then walked out into the burrow. Jaylee was just coming out of her room, green eyes bright and cheerful, blue dress crisp and clean, not a tuft of fur out of place, she was definitely a morning rabbit and he was not. He yawned and stretched, rubbing at his sleepy eyes before slumping into a chair at the table.

His father was already sitting there with a cup of coffee and a ledger. Kyter looked away, how could anyone think about math at this time of the morning. His mother stood at the stove across the room, then she turned around; she was holding four steaming bowls of oatmeal. She set a bowl down in front of each of them then took her seat. Kyter picked his spoon up and was about to take a bite of the steaming cinnamon apple oatmeal when he heard crying. But not just any crying that of his little brother. He let his head fall and hit the table, why did babies have to be so loud? And so early. He wasn’t ready for crying, at least not yet.

His mother stood with a sigh, but his father got up smiling. “I’ll get Jonston, don’t worry.” He smiled again and disappeared. Soon the crying stopped and Kyter let out a grunt of approval.

“Kyter, eat up son, if you’re going with Jaylee and Marie you better hurry.” His mother said, as she sat back down. Kyter grunted again, it was too early, besides it had taken him a while to fall asleep and then he had awoken early to go to the Gathering Chamber and watch the trades, but now he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go. He was sleepy and only half awake.

There was a knock on the door, and he lifted his head a little as Jaylee hopped up and answered the door. Marie and Forsythe stood there. “All ready!” Marie chirped; she was a morning rabbit too.

“Not ready,” Kyter said, pushing his bowl away and laying his head on his crossed arms on the table.

He closed his eyes, and he could have fallen asleep had not Forsythe come over and shook him as he said, “Come on Kyter my dad said we could come to the mine later.”

Kyter sat up quickly, “Really?”

“Yeah, of course he said you would have to ask your dad,” Forsythe shrugged.

Kyter looked at his mom, but she shook her head a smile on her face. She then said, “Ask your dad.”

Kyter got up and ran over to his parent’s room, Forsythe following him. His dad was standing there bouncing Jonston gently as he shushed him. He looked up at Kyter and smiled as he said, “I remember when you were this small.” His dad smiled as if he wished he could have those days back.

Kyter cleared his throat and said, “We’re going to the Gathering Chamber and then me and Forsythe are going to the mine, if that’s okay with you. It’s okay with his dad.” Kyter smiled and waited.

“I’m not Gavin son…” His dad started but Forsythe interrupted.

“Please, Mister Fleck, I really want Kyter to come and dad will be there, and I’ll look out for him, please!” Forsythe said laying his hand on Kyter’s shoulders. Sometimes Kyter felt like Forsythe was his older brother, he was always there for him. Ever since he could remember Forsythe had been his friend and had always looked out for him.

Kyter watched as a smile started on his dad’s face, then his dad said, “Okay, you can go, you two remind me of Gavin and Massie,” Fleck shook his head and added, “or me and…” But he didn’t finish instead he shook his head again and said, “Never mind, run along and have a good time. I’ll see you two at the mine later.”

Kyter and Forsythe smiled at each and then ran back to Marie and Jaylee. The four of them then left the burrow and hurried down the halls to the Gathering Chamber.

After what had felt, to Kyter, like hours they left the Gathering Chamber. Marie and Jaylee went to do something else and he and Forsythe started toward the mine. Forsythe was saying something about the correct way to draw a map but Kyter wasn’t listening, just pretending to listen he was thinking about the mine. About what they might see, about how long they would get to stay and wondering how a hole in the ground could be so interesting.

They emerged outside and Kyter slowed. You could still see signs of the attack from yesterday. Broken buckets, barrels, and boxes littered the ground, along with glass and a strange oily substance. Dirty footprints soiled the clean white snow, as did big black and brown feathers. Kyter stopped and picked up one of the many feathers that littered the ground. As if transported back to yesterday, he felt like he could still hear the screams and screeches. Still feel the cold wind biting into him and still see the dark shapes of terrors gliding high above in the frosty air.

Forsythe stopped too, then shuddered as he said, “Come on Kyter let’s get to the mine.” He then started walking briskly away, taking long-treading strides. Kyter struggled to keep up with his friend but soon they reached the mine entrance.

It was like a large gaping black eye in a face of pure white. Rock and dirt soiled the snow around the entrance, as did many dirty footprints. Kyter paused, looking at the gaping abyss from a distance, before hurrying to catchup with Forsythe, who was already heading toward the mine entrance.

“Forsythe, wait up!” he called as he ran toward his friend. The few bucks who were outside, looked up from their work, smiled when they saw who it was, and went back to work. Well, except one buck.

“Forsythe not so fast, come here son, you too Kyter.” Kyter turned his run toward Captain Gavin, who stood with Lieutenant Kay Jack at a table. On the table were papers, charts, and maps held in place with many rocks, which were scattered over the table like a network of their own.

“Yes sir,” Kyter said at the same time that Forsythe said, “Yes, dad.”

Gavin smiled at them then said, “You can’t go in alone, Kay Jack why don’t you go with them?”

“But we haven’t finished here, sir,” Kay Jack said motioning to all the papers laid across the makeshift table.

“I’ll finish here Kay Jack, don’t worry about it.” Gavin said smiling.

“Well to be honest sir,” Kay Jack said, looking at the boys as he said, “no offense buckies, but I’m not a babysitter Gavin, I’m a soldier and a miner.”

“Isn’t your Greta expecting?” Gavin asked calmly, winking at the boys while Kay Jack was looking at the papers.

Kay Jack looked up and said, “Yes, but Gavin how does this…”

Gavin broke into a smile and interrupted Kay Jack as he said, “Good this will be good practice for you then.” Gavin then turned back to the papers as if the matter was settled.

Kay Jack huffed then turned to Kyter and Forsythe as he said, “Let’s have a look around the mine then shall we lads.”

Kyter grinned at Forsythe as the two of them took off running towards the mine entrance.

Hope you guys liked it! If there is anything that needs work let me know! Thanks so much!!!!!

And @Saraina its so good to have you back!!!!!!

K.A.P.