Hidden in Plain Sight (Working title)
Chapter 11: Willow

Willow happily flew through the branches of a willow tree. The angels and creatures hadn't talked much during dinner. It had mostly been one-sided conversations.

She waited until the humans came in to call them outside.

"Creatures and angels! It's time to go outside!" Daisy called.

Audrie muttered something from nearby that sounded an awful lot like "Fucking humans..."

The creatures and angels gathered in front of the humans. Willow glided down and landed in front of them. The two humans led the creatures to the courtyard. The black bars towered high above the ground. Oak trees and redwoods were planted around the courtyard on either side. Grass covered the ground with pink, purple, and blue flowers spread throughout it. Willow walked over to a blue glower and picked it up off the stem. The flower had four petals. She twirled it with her fingers. She thought about her life before she came to the sanctuary. She'd been eleven when she was taken from her parents. She had no clue what happened to them. Willow hadn't had to worry about anything other than humans. She'd always dreamed of escaping the sanctuary but she never showed it or told anyone.

Except Midnight. Midnight knew. She was eighteen and Willow was sixteen so she felt she could trust her. But she'd also been the only othe creature or angel in the sanctuary. Willow liked Midnight. She liked how she would sit on her rock for most of the day unlike Willow, who flew around the trees. Matt had come after Willow, then Riley. Then there was Audrie and Avery, arriving at almost the same time. Audrie'd been knocked out but Avery had stared at the sanctuary fearfully. Willow liked Avery, too. She seemed to really like the quiet people. But once she got to know Midnight or people like her, she found that they're really kind and protective. Audrie, however, Willow didn't like. She seemed a little too anxious and protective. But she was only protective of herself. She was always aggressive torwards the creatures and angels.

Willow looked over at Audrie. Audrie was sitting by a redwood tree on the left side of the courtyard. She was being a little over-aggressive that day. She hissed at anyone who got close. Willow walked up to her. Maybe if she knew Audrie better she'd like her for what she was on the inside - uh, far past the extremely thick layer of prickles. Kind of like a cactus. Someone has to get through the needles to reach the water.

"He-" Willow started to greet Audrie when she walked up to her. She was greeted back with a hiss.

"Go away," Audrie said. She folded her wings around her legs. She was going to be hard to get used to.

"I just wanted to get to know you better..." Willow replied cautiously.

"Ha! Like I would trust anyone with any of my secrets."

"Well not your sec-"

"Just shut the fuck up and leave."

"Ok... My god." Willow added when she was far enough away that she'd be out of earshot.

Willow sat down on a part of the ground that didn't have flowers. Audrie was very prickly today. She guessed Audrie wouldn't exactly trust someone as soon as she met them but god, did she absolutely have to be so fucking rude?

Willow spread her wings, letting them soak up the warmth of the sun. It was warm out, so it might've still been spring. Willow should know this from her power to tell the seasons but her power wasn't as strong as most.

Willow quietly promised herself that eventually she would be out of the sanctuary and eventually she'd feel freedom again.