*Andy Icarus*
"What's his problem? Mommy yell at him? Ha!" A voice from behind me teased. What the- The unfamiliar man behind me. It must've been him. I was in a hurry to relocate the old Phoenix in my arms to quarantine. So, that the ageing female Phoenix didn't accidentally injure someone or worse injure herself while she underwent her rebirth. As she was getting closer to her rebirth she was becoming more and more vulnerable. Vulnerability meant weakness in a world surrounded by the most viscous beasts of all, humans. She was becoming a danger to not only herself but everyone around her as well. What the humans who ran the city deemed dangerous was cast away. Executed or exiled. It was the humans way of guaranteeing 'safety'. I can't allow this to happen to such an incredible creature. Cutting through the middle of the reception had been the fastest way to get to quarantine so that I could release the quarantined Phoenix. If she got too uncomfortable in her containment she might attempt to break free. Which would be dangerous for everyone. I'd asked the unfamiliar man to move. Why was he being so immature? Did he not understand the urgency of relocating an ageing Phoenix to quarantine? I wasn't the best communicator, I knew this, but I certainly wasn't rude. At least I don't think I was. Communicating had never been my strong point. Anyway. Who stands in the middle of a reception gawking anyway? What an irritating man. Who exactly was he? I felt my face getting hotter. A scorching sensation came over me. A Phoenix nursery was no place for tourists.
"Excuse me?" I interrogated. Who did this guy think he was? The people here were just trying to do their jobs. As soon as the words slipped out I regretted them. I shouldn't have stooped to his level. I should have been the bigger person and ignored him. Squawk! I turned to look towards the old Phoenix. Trapped in a cage engineered by man. While she looked healthy now over the course of a week or two she would deteriorate into nothing more than ash. Sadness began to take over me body. She would be reborn. A bloom of happiness. I felt my face relaxing. Standing here and starting a fight wouldn't get her to quarantine any faster. It wouldn't get her to safety any faster. She was getting uncomfortable. I could tell by the way she was brushing her wings up against the steel cage sending sparks flying. Luckily no one was close enough to have caught the Phoenix's sparks. That could have been very dangerous. I bent down and reassumed the caged Phoenix in my arms which ached from the weight of the majestic bird. I silently walked away. Away from a fight and towards quarantine.
"And I thought the tuna I ate last night tasted funny," Spited the man again as I walked away. I could feel my face burning but I had to ignore it. Now was not the time. I could hear laughter behind me. The laughter only aiding the hot sensation spread throughout my body. Yet, with great self control, I managed to continue to quarantine. SLAM! I reverted my head towards the front door. Where a burgundy cloaked figure stood. A matching top hat sitting on the man's head.
"Catia! Are you in here? You good for nothing feline!" The strange figure with the burgundy cape and top hat boomed, his voice echoing off the walls of the reception in a foreign accent. Sound really did travel in here. Oh no. The once calm and contained Phoenix panicked. Beating her fiery wings against both sides of the steel cage. Sparks soaring through the air. Towards me. I became uneasy. Losing my balance as my shirt set alight from the Phoenix's sparks. As I struggled to regain my balance and calm the panicking Phoenix at the same time, a tabby cat rushed past my feet. It's slender back brushing against the back of my feet. Shit. As I fell the tabby cat's wide eyes starred into mine. Was this the cat on the unfamiliar man's shoulder? Had this unfamiliar man somehow found yet another way to irritate me? Exactly who was he? SMASH! The cage hit the ground hard as I fell on my side shielding my head using my arms. No longer holding the cage with the old Phoenix in it. My ribs ached from the sudden contact with the marble floor. I winced in pain as the aching feeling spread down the side of my body from my ribs to my hips. I clasped my ribs. In an attempt to numb the pain. Still wincing in pain I manage to raise my head to the cage. To see how badly the Phoenix had been injured from my fall. To my misfortune the cage laid a few metres away from me with it's steel door open. Empty. I forced myself with pain to my knees. My ears ringing. The reception had turned to chaos. With people fleeing in all different directions.
"Crap," The word escaped my mouth unintentionally.
"I'm terribly sorry but you are in grave danger," The caped man said now suddenly next to me. Canadian. The caped man was Canadian. I assumed from his accent. I sighed. Why were Canadians always so polite?
"Not the time," I replied. Rolling my eyes. Not registering what he had said. Why did people insist on making my job a living hell today? The Canadian man extended a hand out in front of me. Placing his other hand on my back as he helped me to stand up. Pain surged through my body. Not now. Now was not the time to worry about pain. I had to focus.
"Are you sure your okay?" The Canadian man asked, worry in his voice.
"Yeah I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" I said in an attempt to distract him from how my hand was still clasping my ribs.
"You hit the ground pretty hard-" The Canadian man continued gesturing at my hand clasping my rib.
"I fell, I'll be fine." I interrupted in defence. Releasing my hand from my rib. The Canadian man nodded. A loud screech sounding in the air. Echoing off the walls of the reception like before. Catching my attention. The old Phoenix. I have to act quick.