Present Day

I mumbled in my sleep and I stirred. I opened my eyes and I raised my head off the ground, I let out a yawn through my beak. I shook my head, trying to get the sleep out of my brain.

I looked around and I remembered that I've spent the night in the barn near April's house. I looked at the opening of the barn, seeing the sunshine outside. Must be morning.

I got up on all fours and let out a big stretch. I stopped stretching and something caught my eye on the ground.

I saw that there's a plate filled with meat and it's on the ground in front of me.

I looked curiously at it. Where did that come from?

That's when a thought popped up in my head. April must have left it here while I was sleeping.

A smile spread across my beak. She was pretty sneaky, I didn't hear her come in here at all. I guess most people are sneaky. I mean just ask Jason, he can be VERY sneaky.

I still looked at the food, thinking about eating it.

Well...I guess it wouldn't hurt just to eat something. After all she gave it to me.

I did tell her that I was going hunting today, but I guess she wanted to show some hospitality. Or she wanted to earn my trust in her.

Might as well not spoil her efforts. After all the food looks good, looks cooked too.

I laid down on my stomach. I reached out the plate with my paw and scooted the plate closer to me. I sighed in satisfaction.

Well...Breakfast is ready.

*****

Sheriff Dean Banks, was sitting at his desk at the police station. Looking on his computer, typing his report.

Officer Brooke Lancaster came into his office and knocked on the door. She asked, "Can I come in?"

The sheriff looked up and beckoned her, "Please Brooke come in."

Brooke walked up, until she was standing right in front of his desk. She asked, "Did you want to see me, sheriff? I was gonna go out on patrol, but officer Holcomb stopped me from leaving. He said you wanted to talk to me." Brooke then picked up a chair nearby and sat down on it, "Anything wrong, sir?"

The sheriff leaned over his desk and asked, "I heard about the guy you arrested is staying at your house."

Brooke frowned, "Jonas?" She nodded, "Yes he is. He seems like a good kid so far. He even got a job at the fish workshop at the docks."

The sheriff nodded and then he had a serious look on his face.

Brooke had a concerned look on her face, "Sir?"

The sheriff said, "Did Jonas ever say anything? Like what his life was like, all of that?"

Brooke shook her head, "No not really. Why should there be?"

The sheriff just stared at her, "I don't like the look of that kid, he seems shifty."

Brook shrugged, "Yeah and I know that I've arrested him for not having ID. But he looks like he didn't do nothing wrong. I know I don't know him THIS much, but there hasn't been any evidence that he stole some stuff from the gas station."

The sheriff sighed and got up from his chair, "I don't know Brooke." He started to walk to his window, staring out through it, "I just don't think he's telling the truth and besides he did have an attitude."

Brooke giggled, "Well everyone is always in a bad mood when they're arrested. That's a normal around here."

The sheriff looked at her and said, "It's the way he looked at me when you brought him here, he looked like he did something wrong. Like he was in trouble."

Brooke nodded in agreement, "I think the reason why he looked that way is because he didn't have any ID. He was probably a little scared. Not to mention I put him in handcuffs."

The sheriff nodded, "Maybe, but I still think he's the thief. Guys like him always lie through their teeth."

Brooke shook her head, "He's not acting that way in my house. I haven't noticed anything was stolen."

The sheriff came to her and said, "Well I think differently. Not to mention my daughter is talking to him."

Brooke frowned at him, "Emma? Well you did tell me she just broken up with her boyfriend, Jared I think. Maybe she wanted something fresh. Someone else to talk to."

The sheriff narrowed his eyes at her, "Brooke...I really don't trust him. He might be a criminal and you could be another victim."

Brooke giggled, "Well if he did take something that doesn't belong to him, I'll make sure he doesn't do it again. I'll make sure he does go to jail this time."

The sheriff exclaimed, "That's not funny officer."

Brooke waved him off, "Sorry." Then she asked, "So what do you want to do about it? He hasn't done anything wrong. There's no evidence that he did anything."'

The sheriff put his hand on her shoulder and looked straight into her eyes, "I want you to do some digging on Jonas."

Her eyes went wide, "That all?"

The sheriff nodded, "Yes, I want you to look him up on google or anything like that. Try to search his name and see if anything come up. Like where he's from, the works. He didn't have ID, so there must have been a reason. Why is he hitchhiking? What's his story?"

Brooke stood up on her feet and looked at him, "Sheriff...I don't think he's the bad guy. I know I'm going against my better judgment and that's not like me. But if he didn't do it, then he didn't do it. Plain and simple. Besides that he heard about Emma got attacked by thugs and he was concerned about her."

The sheriff narrowed his eyes, "Why?"

Brooke waved him off, "Nothing, just concerned." Then she grinned, 'You better calm down sheriff. I don't think he's getting any funny ideas about your daughter."

He rolled his eyes, "Well after what happened to Emma that night, it's hard not to be on edge. I don't want her to go through that ever again."

Brooke nodded in agreement, "I know."

The sheriff said, "Look can you do this one favor for me? We can't find any criminal record on this guy at all. At least try to look up his name. Alright?"

Brooke sighed and nodded, "Fine alright. But you might still be wrong about him."

The sheriff shrugged, "That's fine and if I'm wrong, I'll apologize."

Brooke nodded again, "Might as well, if you're wrong."

The sheriff nodded and said, "Talk later Brooke and don't let him find out what you're doing."

Brooke backed away from him until she was at the door, "I need to be on patrol, so I'll see you around sheriff." She whirled around and left the room.

The sheriff sighed and sat back down behind his desk. He looked near his computer and saw a photo of him, his wife and Emma.

The sheriff just stared at it for a bit and then he went back to typing on his computer.

*****

I walked on the sidewalk on my way back home. After my shift ended at the market. Being the cashier can be boring sometimes. Not a lot of customers come there.

As I was walking, my phone started to ring, someone's calling me. I let out a sigh. Knowing full well who it is.

I pulled out my phone, looked at the caller ID and yep I've guessed it right. It's that backstabbing bastard Jared.

That cheating hack! I don't even want to see him again!

But he  keeps calling me and I thought I made that perfectly clear. What an obsessed asshole!

I sighed in frustration while I was walking. Maybe I better answer it and tell him to screw off already. I'm tired of it. I want to move on from him. Not have him in the picture anymore.

He needs to stop this right now.

I answered the phone and held it at my ear, "Hello."

Jared at the other end said, "Hey Emma, how are you doing?"

I let out a small huff and said, "Doing fine, until you called me."

Jared sounded nervous but he said, "Look I want to talk to you."

I groaned and rolled my eyes, "What else do you need to talk about? I saw you kiss Dana Gatton. I saw you lock lips with her."

He said, "She kissed me first! I didn't want her."

I said to him with a stern voice at the phone, "Jared....I can't do this. I can't....This is stupid and you know it. You really need to stop bothering me and move on to another girl who has the time for you. I can't take this anymore. Enough with the texts and enough with the bullshit. I still think that you're a cheater and all that, so give it up. I'M NOT INTO YOU ANYMORE. You have betrayed me and I don't love you anymore."

Jared pleaded at the other end, "But Emma-"

I shouted at the phone, "Goodbye!" Then I pressed the button and hung up on him. Then I held the power button and the phone turned off completely.

I sighed. There now he can leave me alone. If he calls again, I'll block him.

I will not fall for his game again.

I put the phone back into my pocket, and kept walking on the sidewalk. Honestly that really felt good, getting all that off my chest. Jared has been bugging me for DAYS!

I was about to go around the corner of a building, until I bumped into someone. Me and the person both grunted and then I had an apologetic look on my face.

I said to the person, "I'm sorry about that. I didn't know you were coming around the-" I stopped talking and looked at the person.

A smile spread across my face when I saw that it was Jason who bumped into me. I said, "Hey."

Jason smiled back and said, "Hey there." Then he giggled, "God Emma, we've got to stop running into each other like that. We always find a way to bump one another."

I laughed and said, "I guess so!"

I looked at his clothes and saw that he was wearing fisherman clothes. I could even smell fish on him.

I frowned at him and pinched my nose with two fingers, "Geez, you smell like fish. What have you been doing?"

Jason laughed and said, "Well yesterday when I left you at your house, I got myself a job at the fish workshop at the docks. It was the only job I could get around here."

I let go of my nose and asked, "Really? You couldn't find work anywhere else?"

Jason shook his head, "No I couldn't. But the best part about it, I get to work tomorrow. I really like working there. I get to chop up fish and have fish guts all over me."

I put on a disgusted face and shook my head, "Well I wouldn't like it. I'm sure Ben would. He doesn't seem to be the type to be so timid about guts."

Jason shrugged, "Well he hunts sometimes in the woods, so yep I'm sure you're right."

I rolled my eyes and giggled. Then I asked, "Speaking of Ben, did you see him today?"

Jason looked like he had a nervous look and said, "Well honestly...He came to the house I was staying at last night. He knocked on my window."

My eyes went wide with surprise, "He did what?"

He nodded, "Yeah, he was so worried about me, he came to the house I was renting. He could've got himself in trouble for doing that. He even feels alone without me. And on top of that, he peeked through every house in this town, just to find me."

I had a pity look on my face, "Good god, he really is worried about you."

Jason sighed and nodded, "I feel sorry for the big guy. But even I need some space. Need time to myself. He's so paranoid for my safety and on top of that...He's still apprehensive about staying here."

I just stared at him and said, "I feel sorry for Ben as well. He reminds me of dad a bit. Ben is just overprotective of you."

Jason chuckled a bit and said, "Well Ben is not the sheriff of this town, that's the difference between them. Ben is just a...Big bird with a lion body."

I giggled and said, "Yep, sounds about right." I shrugged, "I guess I wouldn't judge Ben for his behavior and neither should you. He does treat you like you're his family."

He smiled at me, "Yeah, he treats me like I'm his nephew."

I grinned at him, "Well I think it's more than that. He treats you like you're his son."

Jason's face had a haunting look and he took his gaze to the ground. He muttered, "Maybe."

I frowned at him. Jason seems to be in thought right now. It was after I brought up the fact that Ben treats him like his son.

A thought popped up in my head. His father...Did something happen to his father?

Maybe...He did have that haunting look on his face.

I tried to change the subject, "So where's Ben now? Did he leave last night?"

Jason without looking at me said, "I told him to go to April's house outside of town. So at least he wouldn't feel alone living without me."

I stared at him. He still has that look. I hope he's okay.

I got a bit closer to Jason and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Jason looked at me and put on a smile. He nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just...Had something on my mind. Nothing much to it."

But I could tell he wasn't fine. His smile shows that he's fine. But the way his eyes look, tell a different story.

I wanted to press him about it, but he started to walk past me, "I need to go, I feel so dirty I want to take a shower. I'll see you around." He waved at me and then he walked off.

As I stared at him while he's walking, I was still feeling concern for him.

What happened to his family? What happened to his...Father?

Did his family die for something? Is that why he's alone with Ben? Is that why he doesn't have a home?

I need to ask him all that sometime. But I hope he can take it well.

Well he helped me, by rescuing me from those rapists. Now I want to help him.

It's the least I could do for him. That's what friends are for.

I sighed to myself. Then I whirled around and walked back home.

*****

I laid around in the barn and it's nighttime. I could hear the crickets outside the barn.

Honestly, I didn't do much at all today. After April left her food in here this morning, I just wondered around the area.

First of all I wanted to thank April for leaving me the food, I knocked on her window, but she wasn't in there. The food did taste pretty good.

After that, I just wondered around the house, around the woods for a little while. Just waiting for Jason to visit me here. After all he does know that I came here now. Well I did tell him I was going here, before I left him at the house he was staying at.

I wonder how he's doing? I hope he's starting this NEW LIFE well. He did say he got himself a job in town. Good start I guess.

When the afternoon came, I hunted got myself something to eat and I came back to the barn and laid down in here.

The animal I ate in the woods really made me sleepy. So before the sun went down, I went to sleep. Pretty deep sleep at that.

I snored a bit. And then I started to dream.

I was dreaming that I was at my old home, back in New York. I was near my cave. I was standing outside of it.

I heard a voice called out behind me, "Ben!" I jerked up my head and looked over my shoulder. I grinned when I saw Cassandra waving at me.

I whirled around and Cassandra came to me with a big smile on her face. I lowered my head to her level and grinned at her.

Cassandra reached out to touch my face and petted me. Then I saw Alan and Jason coming toward me. Father and son laughing together.

I grinned at them and then a surprise came when I saw another familiar face. It was April and Emma.

April and Emma came up behind Cassandra and they were smiling as well.

Cassandra looked at the girls and grinned at them.

Jason moved away from Alan and came to Emma. He wrapped his arm around her, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

April was looking in my eyes and I was looking at her.

Cassandra backed away from me, so she could let April reach out to me as well. April did reach out to my face and touched my feathers. Petting me.

I leaned in her touch. Just enjoying it.

April then said to me in a soothing voice, "Ben...Ben...Ben." Then the whole dream started to shift and I slowly opened up my eyes from the dream.

When I opened them, I could see April crouching down at my face, stroking my feathers.

My eyes went wide and I squawked. I raised my head fast and April backed away after she woke me up.

I breathed heavily, still comprehending what just happened.

April giggled nervously and said in embarrassment, "Uh...Hi."

After I regained my composure, I shot a glare at her, "God....Don't scare me like that. You do know it's rude to wake someone up like that, right?"

April stood straight up and muttered, "Sorry about that. It's just...You looked pretty cute when you were sleeping. I couldn't resist petting you."

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Well still you should've let me be. I was having a nice dream."

April grinned at me, "Oh yeah? What was it about?"

I opened my eyes and narrowed them at her, "You don't give up, do you?"

She shook her head, "Not really. I hardly ever give up."

I just stared at her and finally I said, "It wasn't much of a dream. Just dreaming of a few people that I...Used to know. Then you woke me up by petting my face."

I sighed, "You were gone all day. When I woke up, you weren't at your house. you were pretty much gone all day long. I was beginning to wonder if you just packed up the whole house and left me alone."

April laughed and shook her head, "Oh no, I had to work late shift tonight. So that's why I was gone all day. No one else was working, which that sucked."

I lowered my head to her level, "I could tell, you look like you wanted to get back home sooner."

April shrugged, "Well I don't feel tired for some reason."

I grinned at her, "You're a energetic little girl, are you?"

April frowned at me, "Excuse me?"

"I think you just have a lot of energy. Better than a few people that I've known. You're the most energetic one I've met, so far."

April just stared at me and shrugged, "I suppose I should take that as a compliment then?"

I shrugged my shoulders and wings, "Well I can be energetic myself. Even Jason can be too, if he had to." I cocked my head at her, "Speaking of which...Have you seen Jason today? He hasn't come here today."

April shook her head, "Nope not today." Then she tilted her head, "Does he know you're staying here?"

I nodded, "Oh yes, he does. I told him last night that I would be here."

April shrugged, "Well maybe he was just busy. Even we humans have to be busy, to get through the day."

I raised my head and looked outside behind her, through the opening of the barn, "Honestly...I think you humans should live in the woos like me. There aren't a lot of troubles in the woods much. Give yourselves a break from everything."

April just waved me off with her hand, "No thanks big guy. I don't think I could live in them. The bugs would eat me alive."

I giggled and looked down at her, "So? I live in the woods ALL the time and I put up with the bugs any day."

April laughed and said, "Well maybe you should teach me how. Your technique might come in handy."

"It's not my technique, it's my tolerance method."

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah whatever, I just want to learn that from you. I HATE bugs!"

I narrowed my eyes at her, "You don't like to put up with some things, do you?"

She shrugged, "That's who I am. Can't change it."

I nodded and I stared at the opening of the barn again. Not putting my gaze on her.

April said, "Hey Ben...Can I ask you something?"

I looked at her, "What?"

She looked kinda nervous and then she built the guts to ask me something, "How are you here?"

My eyes went wide, "Excuse me?"

April waved me off to calm me down, "What I mean is....Where did you come from? I thought gryphons don't exist. So what I'm asking is....Where did you come from?"

I stared at her. Pretty surprised by her question. Well she was gonna ask me that someday.

April said, "Look you don't have to tell me, I-"

I cut her off with my voice, "No it's okay. I can tell you a few things about me. Like where I came from, and how I exist."

She smiled at me, "Really? That mean you trust me?"

I shrugged, "Maybe. You haven't tried to kill me so far."

April asked, "So...Where did you come from?"

I looked at the wall beside me. Thinking of how I should tell my tale, "Well....My father found me."

Her face went wide with surprise, "Your Father?"

I nodded, then I said, "Well he wasn't really my REAL father. Not biologically anyway. You see he was a human like you." I looked at her and said, "He's Jason's grandfather. George. George Morgan."

She said his name, "George Morgan."

I nodded again, "You see my foster father George was an explorer. Years ago, he went to some mountains in....Scotland, I think. He found a cave, went inside it and found my egg. Basically I was the only thing he found. There were no other eggs."

April asked, "So then...How do you exist?"

I shrugged, "My father thinks it's because of the high elevation or something like that. Either that or it's the freezing temperature. Perhaps that kept my egg into hibernation for years." I added, "My father thought so anyway."

She asked again, "So...What was your...Father like?"

I smiled, "He's the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Ever since I've hatched, he kept me. His wife died before I was born, and he wanted to have another son. He already had one child and it was Jason's father, Alan. Alan Morgan."

I went on, "I was born and with that human family. That's how I knew Jason. I became his uncle. You see Alan was like a brother to me. Not your average normal kind of brothers, but we were brothers anyway. I knew Jason when he was a baby. We're close as well. Of course, I didn't really talk to him until he was old enough to meet me. He was still a little boy when he first met me."

April grinned, "Really? Sounds like you are really close to that family."

I sighed, "Well I never knew who my real family were. They probably died a long time ago, way before all of you were born." I closed my eyes, "Honestly I think I'm the only gryphon in the world. Of all the years I've been in this world, I never seen another one like me."

April crossed her arms and giggled, "Yeah, so that way you have another vainest grypohn mucking up your pride."

I laughed, "Well I guess you have a point there. I don't want another vain gryphon screwing up my good looks."

She rolled her eyes, "You know what, you really are the most vainest bird of all time. I see birds all the time and they don't show off their looks."

I gave her a mock expression, "Yes they do! They do it all the time and you don't notice it." Then I put a paw to my chest and added, "Of course they can't be as handsome as I am. I'm sexy."

She rolled her eyes again and shook her head, "God, you are a card."

I grinned at her, "Well think I'm handsome if you want. I won't force it. It's your mind after all."

That's when April brushed her long hair with her hand, "Well if you want to be vain about your looks. Then I'll be vain just like you."

April then started to swing her hair around and said to herself, "Oh I'm sexy and beautiful, I can't help but think that way about me." She giggled, paced back and forth in front of me, shaking her butt and went on, "I love to show off in front of everyone and blab to everyone that I'm good looking than them." She stopped pacing and laughed so hard at that.

I glared at her, "I don't blab to EVERYONE in the world, young lady."

April waved me off with her hand, "Well I could imagine that you would. That's totally YOU."

I groaned, "Whatever woman. I can see what your parents would probably say to you, shaking your ass in front of me. They would say, oh no our daughter is acting this way. That's not how we raised her."

April suddenly had a glum look on her face and looked down at her feet.

My eyes went wide with concern. Did I do something wrong? I asked, "Are you okay?"

She looked up and nodded, "I'm fine. It was nothing."

I frowned, "Are you sure? Because you looked...Sad."

April closed her eyes and sighed, "Look I'm fine, ok? Lets just say I went through some things in my life." She opened her eyes and went on, "Some things...That include my family."

I had a feeling what she was talking about, but I didn't say anything.

Now suddenly I felt sorry for her. Maybe...I should...Make it up to her.

What are you doing? You can't make it up to her! She's a stranger and you don't trust her! You only trust Jason!

But Jason told me to give her a chance and I spent my first night here, she hasn't tried to kill me yet. Not to mention she fed me this morning. That means something.

She seems...Okay to me.

I have an idea to make it up to her. To hell with my reluctance to make friends with her and to hell with my apprehensions of staying near this town.

I will do some good for her. I've done good for six years now. Ever since Alan and Cassandra died.

I will make it up to her.

I got up on all fours and asked, "Hey April, do you...Want to do something with me?"

Her face went wide from the question and she asked, "What?"

I  said, "Follow me outside." She had a curious look but she didn't ask yet. I walked to go outside and she followed me outside.

When we both walked outside to the sound of the crickets of the night. We both stopped outside the barn.

April with that curious expression on her face asked, "So...What is it you want to do with me?"

I lowered my body to the ground and she asked again, "What are you doing?"

I motioned my head to my head, "Get on."

She frowned, "Huh?"

I grinned at her, "I want you to get on my back. You're going to ride on me."

April's face went wide and she raised her hands and shook her head, "No, I can't do that."

I sighed and giggled, "I knew you would object. Jason was just like you. When he was little, he was afraid to ride on my back as well. But I did convince him to do it and he wasn't afraid ever since."

She asked, "How did you convince him to do THAT?"

I said, "By telling him that there's nothing to be afraid of and you can always trust me. Even when you fall, I would catch you."

"So you're saying...?"

I giggled again, "That if you did fall, I wouldn't let you die." Then I playfully narrowed my eyes at her, "Look if you want to miss your chance to do this, whatever I won't force you to ride me. But." I gave her a devious grin, "You don't know what you're missing."

April blinked three times at me and she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She nodded and finally said, "Well...Okay. But promise me you won't let me die when I fall."

I nodded, "I promise."

April walked slowly toward my back. She reached out to touch my wing. My wing flinched in reflux. Finally she grabbed ahold of my feathers and hurled her leg over my back and sat down on my back.

I looked back over my shoulder and asked, "Are you ready, April?"

She didn't say anything, only nodded. Then she wrapped her arms around my neck.

I looked ahead and started to flap my wings. Soon we were off the ground. I could hear April gasping and she tightened her grip around me.

We were over the woods now, over her house. My wings flapping against the wind. After that with a burst of speed we flew forward, over the trees. Into the night sky.

I flew high into the sky, enjoying the view from up here. Suddenly I felt her grip loosen up and I looked back over my shoulder. Looking at April.

As it turned out, April wasn't afraid anymore, she was...Smiling. She looked down at the land. At the scenery. She looked at me and kept her expression.

I smiled back at her. I think I've made it up to her. She's really happy now. Now I don't feel sorry for her. Whatever things she went through in her life, that included her family, I think she's over it now.

I went back to flying, flying further away from where we came from.

*****

We flew for an hour already and soon I was gliding down to April's house. When I got close to the ground, I landed on my hind feet first, then my front feet. I trotted to a stop.

After I landed, April slid off of me and landed with a grunt.

She dusted herself and then walked so she could stand in front of me. she still had that smile on her face.

I grinned down at her, "So did you like it?"

April nodded with excitement in her eyes, "Yes I did. I never even flew like that before. I have been on an airplane before, but THIS." She waved her hand me and then at the sky, "THIS doesn't even come close to comparison. You're not like an airplane at all! I was riding on your back!"

I was laughing and nodded, "Glad you've enjoyed it."

Suddenly when I was looking at her, she wasn't April anymore. She became...Cassandra.

I had a haunting look on my face and I turned my gaze away from her. I feel like I was going to break down in tears.

Cassandra...

April had a concerned look and asked, "Ben? What's wrong?"

I sighed and I looked at her, "Remember the other night when you told me I have soft feathers? That you...Remind me of someone? Someone like you?"

April nodded and muttered, "There really was someone else other than Jason that you've cared about."

I nodded, "Her name was Cassandra. She's Jason's mother. She was...Also my best friend."

April had a pity look and asked, "Ben...What happened to his family? Why are you two all alone?"

I sighed and said with a sad expression, "Well...Six years ago...Jason's mother and father...Died."

April shrugged, "How?"

I shut my eyes tight and muttered, "I don't want to talk about it." I opened m eyes and said, "Alan was like a brother and Cassandra was only my best friend. But...I've missed Cassandra the most. She...Really cared about my feelings. we always talked to each other. She always complimented me. And on top of that when she was sad...I would always take her flying."

I smiled a bit at the memories, "I could never forget her face. Not in a million years."

April looked down with a  sad look and muttered, "I'm...Sorry Ben."

I sighed, "It's okay April."

April took a step toward me and said with a hand to her chest, "I can actually relate to you. I know what that's like."

I had a pity look for her, "Whatever happened to your family, I'm sorry."

She smiled at me, with a tear falling down her face, "Thank you."

I said, "April...About how I treated you before...I'm sorry. I...I just didn't understand you. But I think I do now. You're not hurting me. In fact." I smiled at her, "You're just like Cassandra."

Her face went wide and she chuckled a bit and wiped the tear off her face with her hand, "No kidding?" Then she shrugged, "Well I never hated you for all that. It's understandable that you didn't trust me."

I just looked at her and then with a hopeful expression, I asked, "April...Do you...Want to be my friend?" I know that I was asking like what a child would say, but I didn't care.

April giggled and asked me one big question, "Does that mean...You trust me now?"

I nodded slowly, "Yes. Yes, I do."

April gave me the biggest smile she could muster, "I won't say no to that." Then she ran to me and gave me a hug. Wrapping her arms around my chest, burying her face in my feathers.

I lowered my head to her level and wrapped a paw around her back, returning the hug. I nuzzled her with my beak.

I know that I never told April the whole truth about what I feel about Cassandra. That I fell in love with her. But telling April that Cassandra's my best friend was good enough for me, for now.

April....

I'm glad you became my friend. I trust you now. I trust you with my life.

Because...You remind me of Cassandra. And that's good enough for me.

Thank you, April.