Not letting you keep me down

Once Archimedes was out of sight, Cyclone tread to the back of the Pidove Post, lied down and, for the second time in her adult life, sobbed heavily. God, what a failure she was. A random, stupid act getting her trapped in this strange place, with its strange rules. After she felt she couldn’t squeeze out anymore tears she just say motionless, head hung low. She noticed a huge, pink and yellow face staring at her from the distance, one of those abodes in the likeness of some mon.

“What are you looking at?” Cyclone sniffled. “Big, stupid face. Lots of stupid faces. I won’t let you things keep me down.”

As if to prove a point, Cyclone scrambled, half flying half climbing, up the side of the Pidove Post. Once she made it to the top she surveyed Tao Village with its gathering of towering, blank faces.

“I’m not letting you keep me down.” She noticed a shadow cross the roof of the post and she looked up, seeing Peep patrolling the sky. “And I won’t let you keep me down either, you with your stupid-looking head feathers! I’ll show everyone here I’m not some weak, pathetic coward like the rest of you!”

“I see you are well, Miss Cyclone?”

Startled from her sudden company, Cyclone nearly lost her footing, Archimedes grasping her bag strap in his beak to prevent her from tumbling off the side of the hut.

“Ark... uh....”

“It’s Archimedes. What do you say we have something to eat, and then I’ll show you a tour of Tao Village. Does that sound good?”

“Sounds great, but can you get this stupid thing off of me?”

Archimedes obliged, hopping behind Cyclone and loosening the strap, letting the bag fall with a slump. Cyclone breathed deeply and stretched her wings. Archimedes took the bag in his feet and glided to the doorway of the post. Taking one last look around Tao Village with its goofy structures, Cyclone smirked, and then followed her new mentor, eager to begin this different kind of training.

end

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