Apple

Apple almost bolted right then and there. A bird of some kind came in. “I don’t know,” she squeaked and hid behind Rory.

Why am I acting so scared? she wondered.

The bird narrowed his eyes, “What’s that supposed to mean? WHAT is happening?”

Rory stepped in front of Apple, hiding her from view. “Rory...” she whispered, shrinking into the shadows.

“It’s nothing you should be worried about, Screech!” said Rory defiantly.

“Oh, really?” asked the bird, ruffling up his feathers.

“Rory, who is that?” whimpered Apple.

“I should ask the same thing,” snarled the bird called Screech.

“Come on, Apple. Good-bye, Screech,” Rory said, pulling Apple with him.

“O-okay,” Apple said.

“I’m serious, Rory! What’s-” Screech started to say. He never finished the sentence. Rory jumped on him, Apple didn’t think he hurt him, but it didn’t seem good.

“Rory, get off him!” she yelled. One of Rory’s antenna twitched, telling her two things. One, he had heard her, and two, that he wasn’t going to hurt Screech, just scare him. Rory let out a growl.

Wide eyed, Screech scrambled out from under Rory and said, “There’s no need to get out of hand, Rory.” He quickly left them.

Apple looked up at Rory and gasped. His lips were pulled up over his teeth which had turned into long razors. Rory stretched his lips over his teeth and seemed to grind them together. When he curled up his lip again to touch them-to make sure they weren't sharp again-they were dull again.

“Rory, I’m scared,” Apple said.

“Come on, Apple,” Rory said, pulling her harder. She followed him, even though she didn’t have much choice.

Rory pulled her along for a long time before he finally slowed down. He didn’t seem to want to wear her out. “We can keep going,” Apple said. “I’m stronger than I look.”

Rory turned around and stared at her for a long moment. His eyes were very sad. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” Apple replied.

Rory shook his head.“N-no... you don’t understand... I’m a monster and.. and I can’t...control myself at night.”

“But, I want to stay with you...help you,” Apple said.

“No,” Rory said firmly. “I’ve been attacking a village...I don’t want to but I’ve just blacked out and I can’t control myself until morning. L-let me take you to White Hawk.... He’ll tell you.”

“But...” Apple protested.

“Come,” Rory said, dragging her with him.

When they reached a ditch, Apple finally said, “You’re not taking me to see White Hawk, are you?”

Rory didn't answer, he just took her down inside.

“He’s over there,” Rory said, he nodded to a white roach with black stripes. “Ask him about their...monster. Please, try not to tell him it’s me. I’d...I’d rather stay back here. I don’t like to hear what I’ve done.”

“O-okay,” Apple said, scared now.

Apple padded up to White Hawk, “Um...White Hawk? I was wondering...if you would tell me about...your monster.”

White Hawk looked at her surprised, “Oh, I didn’t see you there. Our monster? You mean the one that... of-of course.. there’s no other... It.. it’s.. well. Well, it’s been attacking our village at night... It’s hard to see it, but.. we think it’s an ava, but it seems to have some kind of resemblance to a mutant, it’s strange. It’s killed a lot of our adults and-” he gasped, trying not to cry, “all-all of our children,” he looked around the village. “We’ve been trying to move, but we’re all too weak. I got lucky I wasn't hurt...”

Apple just stared at him.

“Have you come to help?” he asked hopefully.

“I well...I don’t know...” Apple said, her voice cracking. “I’ll try...”

“Thank you so much!” rushed White Hawk. “C-could you gather some fruit from the woods maybe? The monster... it’s chased all the avas away. We can’t hunt.”

Apple was staring at the ground now. She wanted so badly to turn around look at Rory.to go back to him, comfort him, be with him.

“Thank you again,” White Hawk continued. “What was you’re name?”

“Oh, I must not have said it. It’s Apple,” Apple said.

White Hawk gave a weak smile, “Reminds me of Leaf...”

Apple cursed under her breath. “I don’t know of any Leafs!” she said quickly. “Um...anything else I can do after that?”

“Well, you can help Hazel calm down Shayla,” said White Hawk, nodding towards a red-and-white dog that was fussing over a white-and-yellow bird. “She’s been frightened for days..”

“Okay, I’m good with birds...sort of,” Apple said drawing a sharp breath. White Hawk gave her an almost doubtful look. “It’ll be okay!” she said.

Before White Hawk could say anything else, Apple ran out of the ditch. She saw Rory and knew he wouldn’t follow her. She ran straight past him and kept running. She couldn’t let anyone see how upset she was over this.

Apple found a nice wide tree and hid behind it. She whined as tears started to roll down her muzzle.

Apple stayed there, even after dark. She knew Rory had searched for her. She had heard him calling her name. He couldn’t seem to find her.

He said he couldn’t control himself after dark... Apple thought. The village! She curled up in a tighter ball and started to cry harder. She cried herself to sleep, her dreams filled with muffled screams.

When she woke, she wanted to yell for Rory. She knew it was stupid. If she did, they would come for her. They would ask her questions. She would have to lie. She didn’t want them to know about Rory.

She knew one thing for sure, they would hurt him. She couldn’t let that happen.