Ch. 1: Part 4

His lack of camping experience showed through as he fumbled with the tent. The convenience store had supplied him with meals for the next day or two.
He’d have to do something about his dwindling budget. Could he find some work? He wanted to mix with others as little as possible, but he didn’t really have a choice. He didn’t want to steal from these people. Besides the fact that theft in the small town would lay suspicion on any strangers, it just seemed wrong to hinder anyone else’s life for his own sake. Even to eat. Who was he? He was a freak. No, he wouldn’t do that to this town. They didn’t deserve it. He’d have to get work. But he didn’t want to add unwanted attention – which was any – to himself. The pawn shop knew about the camping gear and if he went around looking for a job in town, they would know about it. He doubted they would react positively to a stranger living in the woods somewhere. It had to be someone’s land. Probably logging property. Maybe that was an option. He didn’t exactly know the qualifications for lumberjacks or whatever they were called, but maybe he could do something.
He’d made a fire rather easily. He and his friends back home used to set fire to stuff all the time. He shook his head. Maybe home wasn’t something he should be thinking about right now. It wasn’t home anymore.
He made himself comfortable on the ground beside the fire. Night had crept in slowly, dimming the sky til only the moon and the light of the fire told him his way around camp. He leaned back to look at the stars.
He hadn’t been flying since that first time. That had been stupid. Anyone could have seen him. He was a bit bigger than a bird. His wings ached to take flight. He left his shirt off while around camp and his wings were splayed over the ground on either side of him. But they yearned to be in motion. He brought them up and flapped once. The fire flickered spastically as the air blew across it. He sighed as he rotated his hotdog in the fire. Maybe if he went out far enough or went high enough, no one would spot him. He’d try another trip later.
After he’d shoved down six hotdogs, he put out the fire and crawled into his tent. He laid out on his stomach and snuggled into the sleeping bag. The one person tent was a little too small for his wings, so he couldn’t stretch them the way he wanted. They sloped lazily down his sides. He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustle through the trees. He pulled in a deep breath and was asleep before his body let it out.