A/N: It's a double update because I didn't update last week ^^ Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
__________________________
They say that society eats.
But was that the entire truth?
Perhaps it was the—Half Truth.
For in society; there are the ones who eat, and the ones who are eaten;
The ones who feed, and the ones who are fed.
The—Half Truth; a beautiful name for the Half Lie.
There is a catch, however.
It is rather strange.
That those who feed and those who are fed;
Were all—
Human.
If society was an ecosystem;
It would comprise of one animal—and that is us.
The bird.
I'm sure it's laughing—at the humans.
It's laughing,
At our ugly selves
And yet marveling
At the beauty we sell.
_________________________
October was ending.
"Tori, do you have a moment to spare? I'd like to speak to you," Callaghan tapped the first year on his shoulder, a polite small on his lips.
Breakfast on this particular Friday morning was unusually quiet; what with the winter breeze sweeping through the grounds effortlessly—trees having shed their luscious skins of red and orange. The air in the Dining Hall was oddly heavy, despite the presence of Io's friends and near absence of Predators.
Predators, of course, were free to take their meals at any chosen time—and still enjoy the luxury of it.
Io had noticed the professor entering the Hall not too long ago with an anxious expression, as if he was searching for something; but hadn't thought much of his appearance. It took Callaghan's awkward announcement of his presence by clearing his throat beside their breakfast table for the sparrow to realize it was him that the Professor had been looking for.
The boy rose from his seat, albeit reluctantly.
He chanced a second look back, forcing himself to swallow worry as his friends at the breakfast table gave him a thumbs up.
Nash rolled his eyes, but shrugged his shoulders as his own sign of comfort.
Io's Avian caught on; landing on the boy's shoulder as he followed Callaghan to a quiet corner outside the Dining Hall.
The boy's mind searched for any possible reason for him to be called out.
What had he done wrong?
He had made sure to keep himself in check—he didn't want to stand out, after all;
Oh.
Was this about the night he made it to the treehouse...?
The sparrow's heart quickened the beat of its wings, realizing its mistake.
"Um, Sir. Did I do something wrong?" Dear Lord, he wanted to take back his words the moment he let them free. "I didn't mean that. I meant that I knew what I had done wrong, um. I'm sorry, either way. I hope I'm not in huge trouble—"
Callaghan shook his head quickly, trying for a reassuring smile.
"It's not a serious matter that calls for punishment, Tori. You worry too much," The professor smiled gently, adjusting his glasses with an elegant finger. "Hm, I'll simply act as if I didn't hear the second part of your introduction then, since you seemed to be implying that you did...do something unacceptable indeed."
The boy froze, shaking his head with a sheepish smile.
"A-Ah, that was...a slip of the tongue. Um, sorry Sir."
"No matter," Callaghan smiled knowingly, producing a large brown envelope that had a binding on it. "This is what calls for attention, Tori."
"Apparently, your name isn't on the list of Club Activities. Forgotten about them, perhaps?"
Io paused.
He heard his Avian sigh at the back of his mind, intelligently recalling that Pipa and he had been interrupted by a certain peacock before they could write down their names. "I—guess. Yeah...oh no."
The boy didn't know whether he should flash an awkward smile or get on his knees to beg for a second chance. "I'm so sorry Sir."
The appointed head of Marks smiled good-naturedly. "I see I've hit the nail on the head."
"Um, yes Sir."
"Well I'd like to reassure you that there is no reason for you to be in low spirits, Mr. Tori—" Callaghan practically beamed. "The council has decided to put you under a Club that has an available slot; which turns out, you have a final choice between the Astronomy Club and Equality Advocators."
Great, Io thought. If only he had written his name under the Librarian section at that point of time...
"They have entrusted me with the duty of passing you the necessary documents to make your decision. These are the appeal forms to enter the Club, since you'll be signing up late," The professor held out the large envelope for Io to accept.
"Once you've made your decision, please submit the documents to the Main Office."
"Um, Sir! Is there—is there no way I can appeal into another Club? To be a librarian? Perhaps?" The sparrow asked hopefully.
Callaghan smiled, a hint of pity in his eyes that resembled the sad sea. "Ah—that, I'm afraid, cannot be done. Apparently, Club Activities are beginning as of today. We have done our best to accommodate as many students as we can."
"I hope you understand, Mr. Tori," He added, biting his lip anxiously as he clasped his hands together. His Avian, a long-tailed widowbird, circled above the pair—beauty and elegance combined.
Io was quiet, papers in his hands as he filtered through the many questions that he had in his mind.
The professor was quick to respond, however, as though he had expected this outcome. "Of course, I have prepared some additional materials to help you with your decision."
The sparrow connected the dots eventually—first, by noting that Callaghan was in charge of the Astronomy Club; and second, by stealing a glance at the contents inside the envelope.
"As the professor in charge of the Astronomy Club, I'd like to personally introduce you to some equipment we normally use, and what we do on club days," Callaghan cut to the chase, smiling convincingly. "I'm sure it'd be fun."
No matter how you'd look at this situation; it was clear that the professor was excited about his passion for the night sky, and was eager to share it with a potential member of the Astronomy Club.
Io...couldn't refuse.
"Um, I...guess it would," He laughed. "When would that be, Sir?"
"Tonight, then? Ah—the council would prefer it if you made your decision before the week ends, after all."
Io just—couldn't—wait.
___________________________
"So? What was that about?" Nash was the first to ask when Io retreated back to the breakfast table, expression slightly sullen.
"Club Activity...stuff. Apparently I don't have a club," He sighed, shoulders fallen. But what about Pipa? The sparrow couldn't help but think, both of us didn't sign up for any Club Activity, unless—
"I don't have a—"
"Felice!" A sharp voice interrupted the canary mid-sentence, coming from the table next to them. "Make sure you're on time for our first club meeting! Be there at four o'clock sharp, you got that?"
It was the peacock. What was her name again? Ah yes, Gretchen Klein.
She threw a haughty glance across her shoulder, ignoring everyone else at the table as she spoke to Pipa.
"Um—what? But Gretchen, I...um, I didn't sign up for anything."
"Of course you didn't. I said I'd recommend you to the Sorority, didn't I? Don't be late, okay?"
Nash showed no interest in their conversation, spreading jam over his toast with an indifferent expression. Vijay Krishnan, who had been a recent addition to this particular table, blinked in confusion, gaze darting between Pipa and Gretchen.
Io, however, felt slightly disheartened.
He had thought he wasn't the only one without a Club.
Apparently, he thought wrong.
"What's Callaghan got to do with you not having a club?" Nash raised a brow, clicking his tongue in distaste after tasting the tea. It was too bitter.
Io shrugged with a light-hearted smile. "Gave me a choice between Astronomy and Equality Advocators."
"Both sound equally boring to me," Vijay laughed.
Nash was busy pouring packet after packet of sugar into his cup of tea. "The better option is pretty obvious, if you ask me."
"You mean Astro?" The sparrow nodded, quite sure that the E.A brought about nothing short of danger. Especially if the members were Marks.
"Huh? Of course not you idiot," Nash snorted with a roll of his eyes. "Astro's the worst."
Pipa had just gotten back into the conversation—finally let off by Gretchen and her table of exotic Marks.
"Well it can't be that bad, can it?" She glanced from Io to Nash with an awkward smile. "Stargazing can be fun too."
Io nodded in agreement, unable to comprehend the cons of Astrology apart from it behind boring and tedious.
"Stargazing is boring," Nash voiced the sparrow's thoughts off the bat, "But that's not what I was referring to."
The myna's gaze darted around, as if to check their surroundings. He considered the consequences of what he was going to say next; deduced that it would do no harm; and decided to continue.
"Astro's known for their late club meetings—"
"Which are mostly timed after the curfew."
Io could feel those words drain the blood from his face, swallowing a rising fear and downing his glass of milk instead, he met the gaze of a passing student.
His roommate Jiro stood not far from their table with a small smile, raising his hand for a sheepish wave before glancing around and making his way towards them.
"Most of its members—if they have any—are either Predators who want to slack off, or Nocturnes. Who are Predators as well, of course," Nash added as if saying the obvious, "It's disadvantageous for prey to join the club. Tsk, I'll just put it straight, it's—"
A notepad slid across the table in a discreet manner, entering the boy's vision.
It had one word: Dangerous?
The Marks at the table turned towards the source of the voice, raised gazes turning curious. Io's eyes lit up at the sight of his roommate, moving over to accommodate the new addition.
"Jiro!"
"Um, you are?" Nash raised a brow. "I've seen you around before. A sophomore, aren't you?"
Jiro nodded with a pleasant smile.
"Sit with us!" Pipa said immediately, patting the space between her and Io with a grin. After all, she was a master at making new friends.
Io noticed the nightingale's hesitation in taking a seat at their table. He caught the darting gaze of Jiro's that seemed to be searching for something, but at its relieved absence, returned with a smile.
Bowing his head slightly, he sat down in quiet happiness—placing his notepad and small lunchbox on the table.
"This is my roommate, Jiro," Io was quick to introduce, unable to contain the excitement that bubbled from within. "He's a nightingale, and he's really nice."
There was a short round of introductions and exchange of smiles (excluding Nash) that brought about a certain liveliness to the table; before Nash decided to pick off where he had left.
"Anyway, he's right about Astro being dangerous," The myna continued grudgingly, as if reluctant to admit that someone else was right other than himself. "Once you catch a Nocturne's eye, you're as good as hunted. They get very persistent about their prey."
Jiro nodded worriedly, penning his thoughts down with a difficult expression.
I'm so sorry, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation >_< Callaghan is a nice teacher but the club activity is an entirely different thing! D:
It's really dangerous at night.
The nightingale underlined the last line in an anxious disposition, trying his best to convince his friend.
It wasn't that Io doubted their opinions in the first place; in fact, his initial decision had been to join the Equality Advocators—simply because he had had enough of counting stars and mapping out those tiny sparkles. He wondered if that was what members did during club sessions as well.
He blanched at the thought, knowing he'd die of boredom.
Yet, why?
Why did his heart favor something about that night sky?
Whatever it was,
"It's Io's choice in the end though," Vijay prompted with a small smile. Nash rolled his eyes.
"Fine."
Pipa nodded, stealing one of the sparrow's cherry tomatoes discreetly. "He'll make the right one anyway!" She grinned.
He knew it started with seeing that eagle fly.
"Oh, by the way Jiro," The canary added quite suddenly, "Where's your tray?"
The Japanese boy smiled shyly for a moment, ears tinted with a red blush. He wrote his response.
I make my own meals (' v ') since my predator allows me to use his kitchen. But I have to make his meals too, in exchange @.@
"Woah...cool," Vijay's eyes lit up. "What's in there?"
Jiro uncovered the lid of his lunchbox for the rest to see.
Io was thinking.
He was in his own world at that point of time, despite the friendly chatter round the table.
The boy knew that this was no difficult decision, after all, it was merely a club activity. He wanted very much to do away with all the trouble by simply making his choice now and submitting his documents to the office without having to spend time in the evening listening to another one of Callaghan's lectures—
"Wow—did you make all of that yourself?" The nightingale nodded.
"Gosh, it's so colorful!"
"What's that? Oh its tofu."
But,
Curiosity got the better of him.
And it had always been the case, hadn't it?
"Io?"
Eyes were on him, concerned and slightly anxious. "Is something wrong?"
Io smiled with a light shake of his head, before pointing out the peculiar green noodles in Jiro's lunchbox—which he explained was something called chasoba.
On a side note, the sparrow noticed; he found it strange that none of the Marks at the table had made an effort to ask Jiro about his method of communication.
Well, perhaps they didn't care.
Or perhaps they felt that it was inappropriate to ask.
Or perhaps they merely accepted things the way they were.
_____________________________
Luka Sullivan shared a class with nine other predators that were taking their third year in Flight School. Most of them were eagles, just like himself.
Sharing a class was in fact an exaggerated description for the ten predators who merely saw the room as a place they used for a short amount of time that didn't belong to any single one of them.
Simply put—it wasn't territory.
For if it was, then sharing was never a word that existed in their minds or hearts.
Predators didn't like to share.
Sharing was not caring.
Despite the eagle-dominated class, Luka was not one to make friends with another simply because they shared a title.
After all, he knew that his own Avian rose above the rest as the golden eagle.
He was aware of his strength—and so were the many others around him, including the Headmistress.
Perhaps his strength was what she found particularly interesting; and therefore, entertaining—which brought her to the decision that he'd play an exciting role in the Season games.
This, Luka knew as well.
He was very much aware that he was being used as a toy to amuse, to test whether he'd throw V's pet off. Surprisingly, the golden eagle didn't feel all too insistent on going against her will. He didn't object to being ordered around.
What the young man didn't like, however, was the underlying belittlement of his strength due to his inexperience as a top predator.
They called him fledgling.
"What is freedom?"
Luka thought that Tenner was doing relatively well as a Mark teaching a class of third-year predators. She was not stammering in the least.
Still, philosophy was not his forte.
"We speak about freedom, dream about it, write about it, educate, rejoice in its glory, and even hope for freedom, but what is true freedom?"
"Is there a right to freedom?"
"How do we determine these rights?"
Luka wanted to laugh.
To him, there was no such thing as Love or Freedom.
There was only self.
His own existence, to be.
And he wondered why no one could be satisfied with just that.
The young man thought of the treehouse under night skies, mind turning towards its solitary world.
He reminded himself that he was no longer solitary, however. There appeared to be an intruder upon his territory; an insignificant prey, to be exact.
But how insignificant? He wondered, quite amused by the fact that a fresh prey like him had the guts to step into the night.
Luka was no Nocturne, but he had to admit his unusual inclination towards the beauty of darkness.
Perhaps there was someone he could share it with—
No.
No, he did not like to share.
It was his,
And his alone.
____________________________
"He's just a scavenger."
"Then you beat him in the games, idiot," The falcon laughed at the harpy eagle, pulling his prey along. "I'm going to play safe with my card."
The harpy eagle rolled her eyes. "That's not what I was referring to. And you know I don't go for Jokers. Too dangerous."
"Is it?" The falcon raised an amused brow, turning to his prey. "Is it, Kipa?"
"Eh?" The red-factor canary glanced up with surprise in his eyes. "You're asking me?"
"Well I..." His predator nodded for him to continue. "I just think that it would be a terrible mistake to look down on Lord Vaughn."
It was a very blunt answer.
But that was what the falcon liked about him.
"See?" He began, only to be interrupted by the harpy.
"Rude little prey you have there," Lucienne smirked despite hardened eyes. "You don't teach him manners, Dimitri? That's no good."
"Sorry sweetheart, your accent is too strong. I can't understand a word you're—"
A noticeable thump sounded from the back of the falcon's head when the harpy smacked it with her dictionary.
"Ferme ta bouche."
"Ugh, French again?" Dimitri rubbed the back of his head with a pained expression. "You're a fierce one aren't you?"
"Besides, my little Kipa merely stated a fact."
Lucienne cast a vague sideway glance at the falcon, gaze flitting to his prey for a moment. "He was rude."
Her companion paused with a laugh.
"You know, Lucienne. It's people like you who make Vaughn a winner."
The harpy raised a perfect brow, slightly amused.
"People like me?"
"Those who look down on him," The falcon smirked, returning her gaze briefly.
"Just because they are scavengers doesn't mean they can't kill."
"Headmistress V's son merely wants to prove his worth. That being said," Dimitri ran his fingers through his prey's smooth hair. "My Kipa's right—"
"We shouldn't belittle the vulture. Especially if it's the American Black Vulture."
____________________________
A/N:
The next chapter awaits you. It's about the Season games. *begs you to turn*
-Cuppiecake