He could hear the swoop of Shane's wings above him and immediately flew harder. Devin had been the dumbest of them all, challenging Shane to a race. Now, he had to deal with it. He had to admit, he was being a bit of a show off when he flapped his own pair of wings, gliding in and out of the treetops. Shane grinned down at him and Devin quickly saluted, carrying on. Devin smirked, flying up higher and shoving Shane before flying off, officially ahead of him.
"Cheater." Shane huffed.
Devin could see the rest of the group and flew quicker, hearing Shane a little bit behind him. The two landed in a ruffle of feathers and shrieks.
"Watch it!" Shane hissed.
"You watch it!" Devin snorted.
"Ladies, ladies, break it up." Rollan chuckled.
"Ladies? I am completely male!" Devin pouted.
"You have enough traits to be one." Conor shrugged.
"I have the privilege to call you Mother Nature now." Devin smiled smugly.
"Go ahead, I control nature. We are nature," Conor leaned in. "I am practically a god."
"Ooo, let's see what Mother Nature can do." Devin sat with his hand under his chin, yawning.
Conor focused on the ground, and a moment later, vines tied Devin's feet together.
Devin paused. "You've got to be kidding me." He grumbled quietly. Conor undid it with a small laugh.
"Now let's see what our totally favourite, excellent, outstanding human can do."
"Ah, thank you." Devin bowed.
"Honestly, I thought he was describing me." Rollan shrugged.
"Rollan, now is not the time." Meilin groaned.
Devin cleared his throat, running before taking off to the sky. He circled in the sky, dived a few times, spun in the air, and finally finished off with another dive before landing. The landing was unimpressive.
"How can you do that when you've literally only had those for a week." Conor blinked.
"Talent." Devin clapped for himself, mainly because no one else did. "And now I sleep." He added as he settled down under the tree and closed his eyes.
"The food won't catch itself." Dawson reminded him with a small, sweet smile.
Devin sighed. "When will I ever get any rest?"
"Clearly when you're done your tasks." Dawson shrugged, pulling out another book and he finished the one he was reading a moment ago.
"He doesn't have to, I have some food." Devin relaxed at the voice of Abeke. She seemed to always return with food.
"Oh, thank goodness." Devin slumped down again, covering his eyes with his arm.
"That pose is too dramatic to be sleeping." Rollan laughed.
Devin took off his boot, throwing it at Rollan's face with a scowl. "Am I not allowed to sleep? Excuse me, I took both of the shifts last night." He sniffed.
"Right."

   "I hear something." Dawson murmured.
   "What?" Devin asked carelessly.
   "Shh, listen."
   All 7 of them paused in their activities, the air becoming silent— except for the rustling in the bushes.
   Slowly, a German shepherd stepped out, nose first. An older woman stepped out after it, bearing a warm smile.
   Devin cringed, but secretly hoped it wasn't that noticeable. Or maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. Was it?
   "Hello, children," the woman began.
   "I forgot we were children." Devin interrupted. "Also, I'd like to know how you're suddenly here. Very abrupt. I was trying to catch some z's, m'am." He added.
   The woman ignored him, her hand falling on the back of her dog. "I've heard you seven have extraordinary abilities. Because of that, you must know you're safer if you come with me, to the Greencloaks, so we can protect you from an evil army called the Conquerors. It's clearly dangerous for you all out here."
   "This escalated from a nice, yummy picnic to a stranger inviting us to.. somewhere." Rollan screwed up his face. "From what I've learned, that's probably not a good idea."
   "You're right, it's not." Meilin nodded in agreement.
   The woman frowned. "It's dangerous out here." She repeated.
   "We noticed, madam," Abeke smiled, "but we wish to stay out here alone."
   "Father used to constantly yell at me for stranger danger, so because he haunts my mind, I'm gonna have to decline too." Dawson shrugged, grinning.
   "I'm sticking with them." Shane stood taller, putting on a charming smile.
   Devin could sense the woman's defeat as her gaze fell upon him. He looked around at the others, blinking a few times. "You're all so sure," he said in displeasure, "but I don't want to die either."
   Shane stiffened. "You're not going to go with that stranger, right?"
   "Of course not, you idiot. I just don't really want to meet an evil army, unless you want to." Devin snorted. (probably cocaine but you know what it's 1 am i stopped caring)
   The woman suddenly held a dark gaze. "My name is Anisha. I am your ally. I can be trusted." Her eyes swept across all of them. After a moment of unsettling silence, she turned around and began to wander off, her slobbery dog following after her.
   "She's the opposite of trusted." Dawson laughed.
   "You take humour in that?" Devin asked in surprise. He yawned, sniffling.
   Dawson didn't reply, instead turning to face a puddle. Water droplets from the leaves overhead dripped into it, making little splat noises.
   "I'm off to snooze. Make sure Dawson doesn't do anything stupid." Devin stood up, flopping down in a more comfortable patch of reeds.
   Abeke turned to Dawson, grinning widely. "Just drown him."