He shook his head. "Floppy's scared."

" then go comfort floppy somewhere else. "

"Okay..." He went back inside, going to find Isiea

She turned away from him.

Lightning flickered, and thunder rumbled in the distance. What a great day it was starting off to be.

Oh yes. So great. But at least the smell of rain was nice.

The late spring rain wasn't frigid, but it was cold enough to be uncomfortable.

Something rustled in the bushes next to the house. A possum or a deer, or even a fox, seeking shelter from the rain. The wildlife out here was stupidly bold and had little fear of humans. If it wasn't for Beau, the family's Geman Shepard, your mom's vegetable garden would be a buffet for rabbits and deer, and the local raccoon family would help themselves to everything in the cupboards.

A branch snapped in the trees, closer this time.

Although she was wearing a jacket, she didn't bother putting on her hood.

Her head turned towards the trees. She stared at them for a moment before turning away. It was probably just an animal.

Besides, Liseolette didn't seem anything like "inflate-a-boob" Angie, Ms. Perfect Cheerleader, who'd flip out if she saw a caged gerbil or a speck of dirt on her Hollister jeans.

The forest was suddenly very quiet. She wasn't alone. An enormous blackbird perched on a branch, feathers spiked out against the rain, sitting as motionless as a statue, it's eyes as green as colored glass.

(yooo why you gotta do Angie like that)

She stared at the strange bird, thinking it was quite odd for such a creature to be out. She hadn't seen it around before either, which only added to the strangeness.