The streets of rubble were filthy. Garbage and broken items were everywhere; the shattered glass making it even more dangerous. But they were used to it. Eagle however was not.
There was a frown on his face as yet another piece of glass embedded itself under his boot. He looked from his foot to Owl's and frowned even more deeply.
"Perhaps I should carry you," he commented more to himself than to her.
"No thanks buddy," Owl replied, keeping her eyes on the road.
"It's not far now anyway," she added.
Fish, Lark and Moa were following close behind. Nobody was really sure what was going on but they went along with it; they didn't really have a choice, after all the man was basically holding them hostage.
"The situation is worse than we thought," the man remarked quietly to himself as he took in the miserable state of his surroundings.
Owl watched him from the corner of her eye, not quite sure what to make of him. He was so strange. He was definitely strong but despite his 'hold' on her, she didn't really feel threatened and from what she could see neither did the others, least of all Moa.
But she was no fool.
Despite his seemingly lighthearted attitude she knew this could get ugly. Citizens of the Sky did not come to Earth because it was a nice place to visit. She was pretty sure it was even against the law. Officially Earth was in a grey zone when it came to its standing with the Empire. It was neither an ally nor a foe, but deep down everyone knew Earth's noble class had no real love for the Empire. The only reason it had yet to ally itself with the rebellion was the fear that the Empire would prove to be too strong to take out regardless of how many people joined the fight. Especially if the Empire really decided to flex its muscles. And this Eagle didn't look like a nobody either; his uniform spoke of military rank. Who was he?
"Who are you?" Lark spoke life to her thoughts.
They all turned to look at him curiously, but his own piercing eyes remained steady on the road.
After a moment of silence all he said was, " A friend."
Owl snorted at that vague answer and waved off the uncomfortable silence that followed.
"We've arrived."
Eagle clearly looked unimpressed at the sight of their humble abode. His face was expressionless but his eyes spoke volumes on what he thought about their abandoned building.
None of them cared though, they knew it wasn't much but it was theirs and that's all that mattered to them.
"Home, home, home sweet home!" Moa started singing as she ran into the crumbling structure.
Eagle's hand twitched, it looked like he had wanted to grab Moa before she had run in.
"Is it safe?" He wondered aloud before looking down at Owl, but it was Fish who answered.
"Maybe, maybe not, but it's better than living on streets full of broken glass, no?"
Lark smiled, showing off his surprisingly pearly white teeth.
"Must be quite different from what you're used to eh big guy?"
"Quite," Eagle replied as he made his way in. He dragged a scowling Owl along with him.
"This place is a howling waste land," the man said as he inspected their home. "Are all your cities like this?"
"Why do you want to know?" Owl countered. Eagle smiled at her haughty tone.
"I am not your enemy Owl, don't be so tense with me," he chided her as he continued his observation.
"Maybe if you tell us why you're here, we can be of more help to you," Fish offered, trying to be more civil about the situation.
"Or maybe you can leave before you get us all killed," Owl muttered.
"Do not worry, no one could touch a single hair on your head in my presence." He turned to Owl, "you only need to remain close to me."
"This is a slum," Lark supplied, trying to maintain some form of peace. "The capital city looks much more different."
"Is that where the King of this world lives?" Eagle questioned as he examined the area they called the 'kitchen.'
"Yes, and the rest of the nobility too."
"But you can't go there," Moa piped up.
"You would need an identification chip, otherwise they'll execute you," she finished somberly.
"Are you all chipped as well?" Eagle looked over them all, as though he expected to see a piece of machinery sticking out somewhere.
"Are you?" This time he looked straight at Owl; he had a dangerous look in his eye.
She snorted, " as if I would let them track me like some animal."
"Good, I would not have wanted that either," he continued, "it would have made my job somewhat more difficult."
"What difference would it have made to you?" Fish asked him suspiciously.
He paused for a moment.
"Well, I would have had to forcibly remove it," he sighed, "and that would not have been pleasant."
"Excuse me?" Owl looked at him incredulously. "What right would you have had to do that?"
Lark kept his eyes on Owl, he was sure she was going to attack the man any second now; he needed to be ready to intercept.
But it was Moa who saved the day. Grabbing hold of one of the man's large hands, Moa blinked up at him with her big blue eyes.
"Can you stop saying weird things to Owl and just tell us what you want?"
"I have said strange things?" The man questioned as he looked down at Moa.
The girl nodded.
"I see, perhaps I have been too forward," he apologized; his eye once more on Owl.
"I will try to be more careful of my words," he offered, before giving Owl a look that pretty much said, nothing's going to change.
Fish and Lark snickered; the man was a gem. No one had ever gotten under Owl's skin this fast. Yet in spite of how bizarre the situation was, the man exuded an aura that made them feel at rest. Like everything was going to be ok.
Owl ignored the mock apology and sat down on one of the large flat stones they used as chairs. She pulled her legs to herself; settling her chin on her knees.
Lark who was leaning against the wall next to her reached down and patted her back. He was trying to unsuccessfully console their weary leader.
It was getting dark outside and the light had dimmed in the building. They had electricity but it was timed; it would only come on in an hour or so. Meanwhile the sun was setting, casting a dark shadow across the building.
Eagle looked out the window before turning back to the four expectant faces.
"It's getting dark," he noted. "Is it time for your feeble bodies to rest?"
"Why, don't you sleep too?" Fish inquired, surprised by what he was insinuating.
He chuckled at her question.
"My body does not require anything. Everything is done out of freedom, not necessity."
"Oh, so what you're saying is that you're perfect?" Owl grumbled under her breath.
"But of course," he agreed, gracing her with a dashing smile.
"However, I do lack one good thing," he added.
"What's that?" Lark wondered.
"A partner."
The silence that followed that statement lasted not even a minute before Moa chimed in.
"You mean a friend? I can be your friend!"
Eagle smiled warmly at her, "thank you my dear."
The sound of a loud clap filled the room. Owl rose from her seat on the rock, a determined look on her face.
"Ok everyone; we've all had an exciting day," she began, "but now, like the alien said, bed time."
"Especially for you Moa," she added.
She turned to Fish and Lark as well nudging her head toward the staircase.
Lark looked hesitant, but Fish could tell Owl wanted to speak to the man alone, so she grabbed both Lark and Moa and made her way to the staircase. Both Eagle and Owl watched them as they left the room; Eagle waving a goodnight to Moa as she smiled at him on her way out.
As soon as they were out of sight, Owl pounced. She walked up to him and slammed her hand on his chest.
"You need to go," she commanded.
"I personally don't think you're a bad person, but you're putting my family at risk and that's unacceptable."
"Besides," she continued. "I hate your kind."
He didn't make a move. He only stared down at her as she glared up at him. She had expected her outburst to lead to some kind of reaction from him but all he did was remain immovable like a wall. His piercing blue eyes however seemed to tell a different story. She had to avert her gaze; it felt like he was looking right through her, into her very soul.
"I perceive that you are filled with much bitterness," he concluded quietly. Then he grabbed hold of her shoulder and pulled her in for a powerful hug. His large body seemed to surround her; even when she tried to move, she could not.
"Let go!" Her voice came out muffled as her mouth, nose and face remained smashed against his chest.
He didn't move.
"I said, let go," she growled; moving her body, trying to wiggle her way out.
"But this is what you need, "he remarked, as though what he was doing was perfectly natural.
With a great shove she broke free from his embrace, knowing full well he let her.
"Who do you think you are?" She snapped. "My needs are none of your business."
"You have accepted me, brought me to your home; your needs are now my needs and your concerns are my concerns."
He spoke as though Owl was the one who was behaving strangely. It seemed that for him the matter had been settled some time ago. It was Owl who was simply not cooperating.
Owl raised her hand.
"Listen, Eagle," she began, "no offense but I don't need you to care about me or my friends."
"I'm the leader here," she pointed out. "I've taken care of us for years now; we don't need your help.
Eagle suddenly smiled warmly at her. He reached out a hand, settling it on her head and started caressing her. For a moment, Owl felt like he was treating her like some pitiful dog, but his next words stopped her from retaliating.
"And you've done a fine job," he acknowledged. "But now you just need to rest in me."
She laughed.
"But aren't you here to cause trouble?" She reminded him that she was fully aware that he was technically an illegal alien trespassing in their dystopian world.
"If we follow you, we'll all probably die."
"As I said before," he assured, "though we may face many dangers, in my presence no harm will befall you."
"And you know," he continued, "you will all die regardless of whether you follow me or not."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Are you saying following you will change the naturally occurring process we call death," she mocked him bitterly.
"Don't ever call it natural," he grimaced. "It was not supposed to be like this."
He looked around at the rubble, the garbage and closed his eyes.
"Earth was supposed to be a beautiful garden, not a desert wasteland," he said cryptically.
Owl had no idea what he was talking about; this was the only life she knew, the only Earth she knew. The Earth where the corrupt seemed to live in high towers, while the rest of them struggled in the mud.
She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, this conversation was not going in the right direction.
"Ok Eagle, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Find a place to sleep or whatever it is you do at night and we'll sort this out in the morning."
She didn't even give him time to respond before turning to leave. She was tired and her thoughts were going haywire, she needed to get herself back in order to start her second round of questions for the next day.
Eagle did not pursue her; he could feel that she needed the space. However she needed to get used to him fast because he had every intention of making her his partner.
He knew that she hadn't felt it, but the moment they had made contact, a connection had been made, it was clear to him that she was his other half. It was very technical really, every Skyworlder had the perfect partner waiting for him or her somewhere, being united increased their power, but he would have never guessed that his was an Earthling. It was a good thing though that he did actually like her.
He smiled to himself; Tiger was never going to let him live this down.
He turned to gaze out one of the cracked windows. He certainly had a lot to think about as he waited for the first rays of the sun to emerge in the morning.