Chapter Two

Logan's path to school in the morning took him through a dense section of trees. The dirt trail he had spent the last two years walking on was now compact and smooth. He had been happy when he had found the shortcut to the high school this way. For one, it cut the time it took him to walk to class in half; and it was also incredibly peaceful. There was a small creek that was only about three feet across that ran parallel with his trail and added to the tranquility. The path had always been able to put him in a good mood before school.

He walked for a while feeling only barely indignant to the fact that his mother had told him he wasn't aloud to open any presents until after school. Eventually though he felt selfish enough that he put the thoughts out of his mind. His mother had treated him to a giant feast of a breakfast this morning so he didn't mind the lack of gifts too much. Apple stuffed French toast, thick smoked bacon, perfectly scrambled eggs with shredded cheese and a hot chocolate with a mountain of whipped cream that would have put Everest to shame. His mouth watered just thinking about it; though he was sure he couldn't fit anything else into his stomach he was so full. So far he had had a very pleasant birthday. Weird. He thought it was strange to think of him as a sixteen year old, he didn't feel any older.

Normally on his walks to school, he would have been accompanied by his sister, but his mother had told him that she had walked to school early that morning. It was strange for her to walk alone, but she had done it before so he pushed it out of his mind. When Logan had first shone her this shortcut, she was so excited. Something about the way she looked at the trees and the creek made Logan wonder what had actually happened to her as a kid; though he rarely asked. He knew that one day she would tell him but he understood that it must be weird for her to have only been a part of his family for two years.

As he looked down at the digital watch he wore on his left wrist, he realized he was a bit early. So, leaping onto an outcropped rock that he often sat on, Logan leaned down and stared into the slow moving water. His features were distorted slightly by the water but it was a mirror nonetheless. His short cropped brown hair was similar to the cut his father had (most likely because his mother cut both of their hair) and was sticking out in all sorts of directions. His dark green eyes were a little bloodshot from a mishap with the shampoo bottle he had earlier and his dark bushy eyebrows just made the redness more noticeable. His nose, which stuck a little further out from his face than he would have liked, had large nostrils that often flared against his will. His pale skin was dotted with freckles and his sharp chin had a small scar on it from when he was a child—some sort of accident with the corner of a coffee table and a cookie.

The t-shirt he had chosen for himself was red with a blue collar and was over the top of one of his many long sleeve white undershirts that he loved to wear. His jeans were held up by a brown belt and splotched with the wear and tear one would expect from a young boy. He looked like a completely average newly christened sixteen year old. Overall, Logan was somewhat unique in that he was not disappointed with the body he was born with. Then again he was also known to many of his friends as an incurable optimist.

Letting the water take all his real life thoughts away, Logan began to think of everything and of nothing. Of the way the water flowed over the rocks. Of the strange gifts he might get when the school day was finished. Of nightmares. Bad dreams that always seemed to creep back into his mind. Strange creatures in a world that seemed impossible and yet at the same time so real. He thought about whether or not he would dream that dream again tonight. Deep down he knew that he would, though he could not explain why. He just wished that, after how intense they seemed, and how terrified he was when he woke each time, that he would finally be able to make sense of them. Hell, he thought sarcastically, it is my birthday, maybe I should just wish them away. Though even in the slight possibility his wish might come true Logan didn't believe it would work. He laughed to himself at the irony as he hopped off the rock and continued his trek to school.

Who is the incurable optimist now?

Logan's day at school had been pretty uneventful; in fact it had been one of the more boring days he had had of high school. Aside from the occasional high five from a friend or an awkward greeting of "happy birthday" from a teacher, Logan had felt thoroughly unfulfilled. It didn't help that Erik, Logan's tall and lanky best friend had missed his first three classes because of a doctor visit. So naturally Logan had spent all morning daydreaming in class. Not far off from the usual behavior it had just been a whole lot quieter.

Math class was the worst by far, Algebra, all sorts of numbers and equations that Logan could never understand. It didn't help that it was right before lunch so his stomach was always growling at him by the time it was over. With little effort he had put on his best "paying attention and slightly intrigued face" and began to drown out the teacher's lecture.

Although he would never let anyone know, Logan felt pretty put off about the whole morning. His sister had left without him, Erik wasn't around, and his parents had seemed a little distant at breakfast. Logan usually didn't complain about his situations but it was his birthday, it should be a good day. He was still hoping that the gift his dad had hinted at was going to lift his spirits. He was turning sixteen after all, he was just hoping he was going to get the same four wheeled present other kids his age were getting.

Math whizzed by a lot swifter than normal, by the time the alarm bell rang, Logan was out the door first and sprinting towards the cafeteria; overcooked pizza and day-old cookies on his mind.

Much to his dismay, it turned out to be day old chicken burgers and rubbery green beans waiting for him. And crappy lunch was added to his day of unexciting events. By the time sixth period rolled around Logan was feeling pretty indignant. He was hopeful that his P.E. Class would cheer him up, but he wasn't holding his breath for it.

Physical Education was one of Logan's favorite classes. It required athletic activities, participation, but more importantly a lack of logical thought processing. This is exactly what he preferred. As he finished changing in the locker room (which he did in a toilet stall) he walked out onto the track and instantly knew the day would be better.

Erik was already changed and running a lap with some of the other kids, so Logan tightened up his shoes and slipped in with the rest of the pack when they came closer. Erik reached forward and gave him a hearty slap on the back.

"Happy B-day, buddy!" They ran next to each other behind the rest of the class. "How's sixteen been treatin' ya?"

Logan couldn't help but feel instantly better and a cheesy grin spread across his face. He didn't want to tell Erik how crappy his day had been though.

"Not bad, the school part sucks, but other than that it's good."

As other classmates started to fill in behind them Erik smiled extra wide and broke off from Logan. He weaved his way over to Katie Devlin, the same girl he'd been trying to ask out for a few months now. It was humorous to see Erik; a six foot tall skinny guy with a poof of blond hair and freckles, running next to the very popular Katie; who was barely five feet tall and had perfectly straightened brown hair. Logan laughed even harder as Katie sped up and sighed angrily. Erik made his way back over to Logan with a sad smile.

"One of these days, man, she's going to say yes." Erik said with a smile.

"You just keep telling yourself that." Logan laughed as Erik punched him in the arm. The two of them did a few more laps and then huddled together when the whole class started playing flag football.

Logan's optimist streak started to pick back up as he realized the rest of the day might end up being a lot better.

The football game had gone in the boys favor, and Erik even had a chance to score a touchdown, right until Katie Devlin tackled him to the ground. She thought of it as a way to deliver the message that she wasn't interested, Erik thought she was flirting, and Logan just thought the whole situation was humorous. As the end of the period started coming to a close, Logan couldn't help but notice that the sky was beginning to glow a familiar orange.

It reminded him again of his dream and the intense images flashed before his eyes again.

This time they'll all die, one by one. Not even you will be able to save them

The same orange glowing eyes pierced Logan's nerves, and a shiver ran up his spine. He could see the wolf creature, which seemed to be made of shadows, stalking the injured gryphon, as if he were standing right there. He could hear Kaylin's screams echo throughout the room as the chanting began and the General began to rise off the ground, circling. Logan felt the same hatred that his sister had felt, but just as every other time he had had the dream, it was interrupted, this time by a punch in the shoulder.

"Wake up, fool!" Erik said laughing, "Time to go."

Logan forced a smile and followed his friend off of the football field. He tried his best not to look at the strange orange sky hovering above him.