“My mom and dad were really good,” Juniper said sadly, she was worried about what had happened to them after she was arrested and taken away. “But when my eyes and hands changed, they sold everything they had and we went on the run so that no one would ever see me. Then they bought a farmhouse and I lived there from, uh, eleven, I think? I haven’t seen any other people since then. Until now…”
She tilted her head, “Your brother’s here? That must be nice, right? To see him again?” She’d assumed that Mira would have been overjoyed and gone to see her brother already, but that was how she thought she would be if she hadn’t seen her sibling in a long time. But she didn’t know for sure. She had no siblings.
She took the plate as it was offered; the food smelt so good and her stomach rumbled again impatiently. She scooped up her bag and carefully made her way to the door, pushing it open and holding it for Mira as they headed out of the kitchen with food in tow.
“Thank you so much for this,” Juniper said, putting the plate down carefully and then settling on one of the benches. As she did, her wings stretched out fully and then settled in a neutral position behind her, enjoying the fact that she was seated and they weren’t cramped. It felt nice, meant that her back wasn’t aching.