Pain without Gain | July 31, 2276

I can't explain it, but flying felt as natural as breathing. Though I'm pretty sure I wouldn't die if I stopped doing it, I knew I'd probably go crazy from being grounded for too long.

An airy laugh escaped my lips as I dodged Subject 537-377K's sloppy attempt at touching my shoulder. He pouted when I blew a raspberry at him.

"You're way too fast for this game!" Subject 537-377K huffed.

I grinned at him, "While that's true, I'm not little miss barrel roll over there. She's the queen of going untouched."

I jerked my chin towards an older black-winged girl who twisted her body over the heads of a couple of triplets who tried to face her head-on.

"...Right." he agreed, awestruck by the girl's ability to fly backward.

"How about we race instead?" I asked. "Whoever wins gets a week's worth of the loser's desert!"

K smirked, "You're on!"

It took them less than five minutes for word of a race to spread and create a large crowd that held both excited avians, curious guards and beasts. Beasts are a lot like us hybrids, only much more scarier seeing as they had the DNA of wild dogs in their genes. I recognized one of them as Lily, a raccoon dogs whose eyes were always filled with mischief.

As one of the nicer Beasts, she was quick to wave once she caught sight of me. I returned the gesture with a faint smile.

"Alright ladies, I want a good clean race to the old oak tree," Subject 597-010V began as she paced before us. "That means no use of your powers and no grabbing at your opponent's hair or limbs."

Her lips then quirked into a smirk, "Are you both ready?"

Nodding, we got in position; slightly crouched, arms straightened to meet our widened hips, and our hands planted firmly in front of us.

"Alright then on the count of three, not when I say one," Subject 597-010V continued. "Three...two...one...GO!"

At her yell, we quickly sprinted forward before unfurling our wings and shooting a foot above the ground.

We fell into a low glide, our shadows like dark clouds over the lawn below.

"You're pretty quick for a raven, K!" I cried over the wind. "But there's no way you're going to beat me!"

"In your dreams maybe!" he laughed back. "Your chocolate chip cookies'll be mine, just you wait!"

I glared at him but didn't reply. I was always told by a few scientists that I could go much faster than what I was doing now, but I couldn't risk going over the fence by accident.

Hopefully, I'll be able to learn my limits during training. I grinned.

Neck and neck we continued toward the tree, soft pants leaving our lips once I'd managed to barely slap my palm against its rough surface.

"Looks like I win, K," I said. "No hard feelings right? I'll go halfsies on the cookies with you until our next race if you want?"

Subject 537-377K smiled with a huff, "Sure, but I'm bringing a ruler just to make sure they're the same size, got i—"

Bullets pierced his ankle and shoulder with two thunderous cracks, leaving an eruption of blood and bone in their wake. Subject 537-377K cried out as his wings folded themselves tightly against his back. This left him to free fall in a near-perfect spiral toward the ground. He didn't so much as twitch when his body met the grass with a wet thud.

I could only watch in horror as he briefly groaned before growing still. Soon, I too followed his path as a hybrid comet, the white-hot pain coursing through me leaving my mouth twisted in a silent scream.

Through cracked eyelids that were slowly being filled with shadows, I saw the others racing toward us with a grim look dancing in their eyes.

The others were above me now, their faces coated in a mix of tears and snot. It was gross but the pain made it too hard to even frown. Lily was behind them too. Her fangs were bared, her eyes wild as she shouted at a frightened man. He was tightly clutching the rifle he held as he shook before her.

All of their mouths were moving, but I couldn't make out any words due to the dull roar left behind by my racing heart.

It was only after her furred fist connected heavily with the man's pale jaw did I finally succumbed to darkness.

— —

HAPPY (very late) NEW YEAR! Sorry I haven't written in awhile, I've been busy with work and life. But I'm back and I'll be attempting to write on a decent schedule. I won't tell you what it will be because I haven't fully figured it out yet either hahahaha.

But anywho onto children being shot. For starters, it was Izuku and Shinso who took a bullet to the ankles and shoulders. These aren't life threatening injuries but they will be noted again in the future once they've healed off screen. I'm also sorry this chapter was mad short.

Also I know the other members of the flock barely got screen time this go around but I promise they'll be in the spotlight starting next chapter.

I can't wait to see you in the next one.