Owl was the first one up; she had made sure of it. Unlike the others, she hadn't slept a wink at night. It wasn't even because she was weary of the man downstairs, no to her dismay, it was because she was actually very excited. Although she had no desire to put her family in danger, wasn't this strange turn of events what she had been hoping, no, dreaming for all along?
She practically jumped off her worn out mattress and hastily put on her sweater. She had no interest in becoming his 'partner' as he had said, but what if by helping him, he could get them out of this dump and into new, strange and wonderful lands; new worlds even. It was these thoughts that had kept her up at night and she certainly hoped, as she ran down the cracked steps, that the Sky man hadn't changed his mind after she had confronted him the night before. He could be their saviour!
Her heart suddenly dropped.
She looked over the downstairs' room, her eyes scanning the place thoroughly as though Eagle weren't big enough to be seen just by a passing glance. She shut her eyes and clenched her fists as she realised he was well and truly gone. The room was absolutely empty.
Why was she so stupid?
She was always the one ranting about how one day they would get out of this cursed place and yet, she was the one who had shut the door when the opportunity had presented itself!
Wallowing in her self-pity, she hadn't heard the sound of the soft crunch that accompanied the man who entered the room.
"Owl ?"
She snapped her head up so quickly at the sound of her name, that she was sure she would have pain for at least a week.
"Eagle?" She asked in wonder.
For the first time, the tall uniformed man looked unsure. Owl almost looked happy to see him, what a quick change of heart and one he was certainly not complaining of; but strange all the same.
"I thought you had left..." She admitted as she kept her gaze steady on him, afraid he might disappear again.
His arrogant smirk was in place again.
"My dear, you will come to realise that it is very difficult to deny me something that I want."
She blushed at his implication but decided to ignore the comment; she had more important matters to discuss than her love life.
"I've decided that we'll help you."
"Oh?" He lifted a finely sculpted brow at her, "and what has brought this about?"
"It'll be an exchange," she clarified. "We help you and you help us."
Now he was thoroughly amused.
"You do realise I can simply make you do my will without giving anything in return?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, not liking his power play one bit.
"Yes but wouldn't it be easier if we worked together rather than you forcing me all the time?" She said sweetly, her eyes sending him the message that if he didn't comply she would resist him about every single little thing, basically getting him nowhere.
"Hmmm, I suppose we can come to some kind of a mutual agreement," he resisted the urge to chuckle seeing as how serious she was being. But she certainly was adorable, he concluded; how wonderful it was to have met his mate in such an unusual place.
"And what about us Owl, don't we get a say?"
Eagle had already heard them coming, but Owl hadn't. Standing at the head of the stairs, arms crossed, brows furrowed, Lark didn't look too happy. Neither did Fish for that matter, but she was usually easy enough to convince. Moa however was thrilled as she ran down the stairs to hug Owl; it was her dream to go on an adventure and now it was about to come true.
"Lark," Owl began, "I know what you're thinking, that this is too dangerous right?"
Owl continued when Lark nodded.
"Well you're right, this is going to be dangerous," she agreed.
"But do you really want to miss this opportunity out of fear?" She challenged him. "Because I can guarantee you if we miss it," she continued, "all four of us are going to live some meaningless, completely pointless lives, possibly until we're as ripe as raisins and then we're just going to die; the end."
"I don't want to stay here anymore Lark," she added quietly.
"And neither do I," Moa seconded loudly.
"Hey big guy," Fish called to Eagle.
"Can you guarantee us food for every day?"
"If you are asking if I have money, I can assure you I do."
"Great then, I'm in," she announced as she made her way down the stairs.
"Come on Lark, stop being so pig headed, you heard him, he has money what more could you want," she added on her way down.
"Fish, you're unbelievable," Lark hissed, embarrassed by his friend's shallow demand.
"Lark please," Owl pleaded to the man she considered a brother. "We'll never get another chance like this again."
The silence that followed was deafening but luckily it didn't last too long.
With a great sigh of surrender, Lark slowly and reluctantly started making his way down the stairs.
"Yesss!" Moa exclaimed as the whole group came together.
It was a nice scene; all four of them together and in agreement, ready to take things to the next level. Eagle watched them in amusement.
"Wonderful Owl, you are truly an expert negotiator," Eagle mocked.
"I am assuming, from what I gathered from this little debate, that my side of the bargain rests in removing you all from Earth?"
"But Owl," he continued darkly, "can you really trust me?"
"You had all night to kill us in our sleep," Owl answered without missing a beat.
The implication was not lost on Eagle. "I see, so I've passed a test then?"
"Call it what you want but you're our only chance now, so you're a risk I'm willing to take."
Eagle smiled and it looked like a genuine one now.
"Very well then Owl, I must say I am quite pleased with you. You are a formidable woman."
"Thanks, I guess," she accepted the praise wearily.
He was just too weird.
"So are you gonna be my new daddy?" Moa asked not so innocently.
Surprisingly, it was Fish who jumped in.
"Woah, ok, let's change the topic little lady," she picked Moa up, settling her on her shoulders and quickly walking away from the group. As the two made their hasty exit, they left behind a wide eyed and mortified Owl.
Lark himself was both astonished and amused at Moa's boldness.
"What a perceptive little girl," Eagle chuckled, settling his gaze on Owl, "don't you think so 'mommy'."
"Oh, shut it," Owl grumbled as she and Lark followed the other two out.
Eagle watched them go, completely delighted with the situation. He had had no plans to leave Earth without Owl anyway and adding three more people to that list would not be a problem at all. Owl had just made his job easier, now all he had to do was complete his mission and then he could be off with Owl in tow.
-O-
"I want him found!" King Leopard threw his glass at the wall opposite himself, covering the wall with wine and the ground with glass.
"Of course my Lord," a uniformed soldier bowed deeply. "We will search the area thoroughly; the alien will be found."
"You had better find him," the monarch snarled, "your life depends on it."
The soldier remained emotionless despite the threat, before bowing once more and turning to leave.
"You've done the right thing," a slithery voice whispered into the king's left ear.
The king straightened his shoulders, "of course I did, I am the king after all."
"Yes, yesss of course your majesty," the other voice agreed.
"Once I find that intruder, I will have him publicly executed!" The king promised aloud.
"The Empire will not make a fool of me!"
The King turned to look at the owner of the serpentine voice.
"I can't thank you enough Commander Octopus. Without your Intel, we would never have known the Empire was sending in a spy."
"My dear king," Octopus began, "the Rebellion has always favoured those the Empire looks down on. You will always have an ally in us."
"Yes," the king agreed. "Perhaps it's about time Earth made it clear whose side it's on. The Empire has looked down its nose at us for far too long."
"And what will you do about it?" Commander Octopus questioned nonchalantly.
"I have decided," the king said gruffly, "that Earth will officially enter the Rebellion."
"Such a wise decision," Octopus agreed, spreading his lips into a thin smile.
"But my Lord, is that really so wise?" A young, heavily decorated soldier questioned. He was speaking to the king, but his eyes were following the movements of Commander Octopus.
"Are you challenging my authority on the matter boy?"
"No Sir, but we've had no issue with the Empire previously, so why now?"
"Tut, tut Prince Grizz, do you not believe the information I have brought you to be true?"
"Frankly," the Prince glared at Octopus, "I don't trust you at all."
"Silence boy!" The King commanded; his face tinged with red.
"I have made my decision and it is final!"
"Father," Prince Grizz begged, "don't you see that you are being played like a marionette; this will get us all killed."
Before the king could respond, the woman sitting next to him gracefully rose from her seat.
"That is quite enough Grizz," her feminine, smooth voice covered the room with peace like a blanket.
"But mother-" The prince stopped his protest at her raised hand.
"Your father has made his decision, if you cannot abide leave the room; you are causing a scene."
It looked like the prince was going to continue, but quickly stopped when his eyes were once more drawn to Octopus. The snake was smiling; he was amused by the turmoil he was causing within the royal family. Grizz changed his mind abruptly and decided to retreat; he made a quick bow before storming out of the great hall.
As they watched him leave, the Commander turned his attention to the Queen.
"Ah my lady, truly you are a force to be reckoned with."
"Charming as always Commander Octopus," the Queen said as she seated herself.
"Well done wife," the king grunted. "That boy's head is always in the clouds; such a useless firstborn."
"Then how pleased you must be that I've given you more than one son," the queen commented coolly.
"Very," the king agreed.
"Commander, as you heard, you now have Earth's complete cooperation with the Rebellion, any opposition will be dealt with swiftly, no matter its source."
"Excellent!" Octopus exclaimed, completely satisfied with the way things had played out. He had heard that the First born prince was a soft-hearted, intelligent boy and had been anticipating some kind of opposition from him, but it seemed as though the boy held no influence on his parents at all, which made his job far more easier to do.
Commander Octopus smiled to himself. Everything was going according to plan; Vult would be pleased. How Earth had survived this long with such a foolish monarch was a miracle in itself, but now that he was here, he was going to use it to his full advantage.