[This is the first page of a double-page update! Make sure to click through to see both pages!]

Janis stirred with a little chirp as Hawk scratched the top of her head gently. She stretched out one leg and lifted her head, so that Hawk would scratch her chin instead. He did, telling her lightly, "You be good, huh?"

He left the house with a stuffed-full duffel back strapped around his chest, sitting between his wings, and locked the front door. He put the key above the door frame, and stepped down off the porch, shifting his wings around.

It was a quiet morning; the street in front of the house was empty, and so was the nearby intersection. He took off from the street, wings kicking up a flurry of dust as he did so.