Wings and Things (Part 2)

It took another few hours to rehash everything that had happened in the Clan that the Staraptors were not aware of.  One of those hours was spent trying to comprehend the two shiny kits.  Another was spent trying to explain the phenomenon.  The final hour was all talk about the Legendary Trio. 

I shrugged.  "You two already knew that we knew them, so it's ok for me to tell you all this.  But they want it kept a secret for as long as possible, so please don't say anything?"

Streak was still trying to comprehend everything that I had told him.  In his place, Night responded.  "Of course, Splash.  We just expected a little more... heads-up about these things.  Besides, I would not want to cross the Great Raikou on the best of days."

I shrugged.  "I wouldn't want to cross any of them on the best of days.  Luckily for us, we seem to be on their good side."

Streak finally seemed to catch up.  "Humans are despicable."

Clover's voice came from outside the camp as she and Snow approached.  "Not all of them are!"

I smiled.  "Hey, Clover!  Your coaches are here.  How's Soursap?"

A warm smile crossed her and Snow's face as the Leafeon reported.  "He's doing better than fine!  His trainer, Chris?  He's taking such good care of him!  We talked through the glass pane thing while Chris wasn't in the room."

Snow continued.  "He looked so much greener than when we last saw him!"

Bolt snickered as he walked by.  "Only in Leafeons is that phrase a good thing!"  Inferno laughed as they went towards the Prey Hole.

I rolled my eyes at them as Clover continued.  "Chris has reworked his entire moveset to be centered around Synthesis.  He's healthier than ever!"

I smiled warmly as Night commented.  "That's wonderful!  Good for him!"

Streak chuckled.  "Before long, we'll have to stop calling him Soursap!"

Surf, who was sitting next to me silently, spoke up.  "Well, it's all we've ever known him as.  He never gave us another name.  And, until this point, he really was a Soursap!"

Snow nodded.  "Next time we visit, we'll have to ask if Chris calls him something else.  He loves that human."

I nodded.  "That's really great, Clover."

She nodded vigorously before turning to the two Staraptors.  "I'm not so out of energy that I can't finally have my flight lesson!"

Streak smiled.  "Good!  Let's see what you can do!"

 

 

As Clover's lesson proceeded, I decided to go and see the kits before Clover crashed again.  I heard Snow's coaching advice as I entered the log den.  "Espy?" I called quietly.  "Umbreon?"

 

Umbreon's yellow rings glowed very softly into view.  "Over here.  Be quiet.  Espeon and the kits are sleeping."

 

I crept closer to the proud father, being especially careful not to step on any tails or paws.  "How are the kits?"

 

Umbreon smiled.  At least, I think he did.  His rings and eyes were the only thing visible in the dark.  He must have covered the hole in the log that let the light in.  "One likes being in charge, and she's very supportive of the others.  Two is a bit more standoffish.  She likes doing thing her own way."

 

I nodded.  "Yeah, I heard that argument."

 

"She is a bit rebellious," Umbreon agreed.  "Three is interesting."

 

"How so?" I asked, tilting my head.

 

Umbreon shrugged.  "I'm not exactly sure myself.  He acts a lot like Bolt or Inferno, what with his big mouth and likeness of getting into trouble, but I never actually had enough evidence to punish him for anything so far."

 

"Maybe he's just lucky."

 

"Maybe."

 

I readjusted my position.  "What about Four?  How's he doing?"

 

Umbreon took a moment before answering.  "Holding up.  I'm trying to be more careful around him and let Espeon handle him, like you said, but he seems so lonely sometimes."

 

I looked at the snoozing Four, glowing softly on the other side of the nest.  "Well, that'll happen when he can't get too close to anyone without rubbing some radioactivity off on them."

 

Umbreon's red eyes rested on his glowing son as well.  "I just feel so sorry for him."

 

"He'll get there," I assured him.  "It's not like anyone is rejecting him for it."

 

"I guess."

 

I looked back at Umbreon.  "What about Five?"

 

He closed his eyes.  Guessing by the accompanying sigh, it was in joy.  "She is my little Swablu.  She is the sweetest thing to everyone.  It's like she doesn't have the capacity to do any harm intentionally."

 

I smiled as I looked at the youngest of the kits, smaller than all of her siblings.  "Don't we all wish we had a kit like that?"

 

Umbreon stopped moving suddenly, his rings glowing brightly and his eyes going wide.  "Uh-oh."

 

I took a step towards him.  "What?"

 

Umbreon spoke without moving.  "I'm getting another premonition."