Issue 1 Downtime

Sometimes, you just needed to stretch your wings and your horizons.

Ryan glided along the edge of the woods, the school some ways in the distance. He smiled as birds were stirred up, flying around him as they took to wing, staying just high enough that the winds favored his flight instead of hampering him. Sunset always looks nicer from up here, he reflected as he coasted along.

Ryan would get the impression that someone on the ground was watching him.

Ryan frowned, glancing around as he spiralled over the spot, trying to find the watcher. Cautiously, he circled toward an open area, not wanting to shut his eyes to search for life while he was flying.

As soon as he landed, a spear hit the ground near his feet.

Ryan let off a blast in the direction that the spear had come from, hurriedly moving away and starting for another takeoff. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

A second spear landed in front of him, "Take to the sky, little bird." A voice called from the trees "Makes it a challenge."

Don't know who you are, but I'll show you a challenge, fucker... Ryan wheeled up toward the sky, trying to get some altitude to be able to really fight.

A third spear sailed by his head.

Ryan wheeled around, eyes glowing as he tried to pick up speed. "Going to keep hiding like a little coward!" he shouted as he dipped for speed, trying to spot a target to fire at.

"Now, now, everyone knows you hunt duck from a blind." a voice chided. Another spear went by Ryan's head as he dipped lower, which might distract him from the little pinch as something hit his neck.

Ryan growled as he sent a blast back at the forest where the spear had come from. This... doesn't sound like something I should fight, he thought, starting to take a sharp turn away... then turning in for another pass. Eh, can't just run away without giving it a shot, at least...

As Ryan came back, he might notice that his vision was becoming blurry, and he was starting to feel a bit dizzy. A couple more spears were thrown, one coming very close to his wing.

What the... oh hell... what happened? Ryan thought, woozily, as he tried to stay level. He managed to reach down and grab something from his belt as he tried to get away, trying to light up and purge himself of whatever was going through him from that sting he hadn't even registered at the time. Should have... just gone...

"Not as challenging after all." he said with a sigh, picking up Ryan

"Says the chump... hiding..." Ryan muttered, the emergency beacon falling from his hand as his head continued to swim.