isn’t that bad, you just have to get used to the stealing, oh, and fighting for your food at the dinner table, but I had no trouble with that. I had unknowingly become Karnage’s favorite pirate, I always had food when I was supposed to, and an added condition, I spent most every meal with Karnage in his Captain’s Quarters, we’d talk, I begrudgingly told him about my childhood and life on the streets, he spoke of how he became a pirate, we did laugh some. He wasn’t a total brute, but I still didn’t like him, or trust him for that matter.  One day, Mad Dog, Dumptruck and I were busying ourselves repairing planes, I was under the plane, tightening screws, and the guys were polishing it up and stuff. “Are you finished down there, Flo?” Mad Dog asked, I rolled my eyes “Yeah, Mad Dog, finished a long time ago, it’s just comfortable down here” I said my voice thick with sarcasm. “Flora, I need to be speaking with you” Oh! Leave it to Karnage to ruin everyone’s fun. “Ok, Dumptruck, get down here!” He obeyed without question “Look, this screw attaches to fuel lines, don’t take the pressure off of it until it’s good and tight, or you’ll get sprayed, got it?” he nodded seeming to understand and scooted out from under the plane, grabbing the towel Dumptruck had dropped and looked up Karnage, from my position on the floor, I raised a brow at him. “What’s up Cap?” I asked tossing the towel aside and getting to my feet. His arm slinked around my waist; I tried not to blush at the closeness, and led me down the hall to his Captain’s Quarters. He opened the door for me and closed it behind himself. I spun on my heel and faced him, I opened my mouth to ask what he wanted, but was abruptly silenced when he lurched forward and kissed me, no, that’s too polite for what he does. Karnage grabbed me by my hair and waist, slamming me against the wall and promptly sticking his tongue in my mouth. I panicked, I’d never been kissed by a boy before, let alone so roughly, I squirmed and tried to shove him off of me. No way, there was no way, I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, but it didn’t matter what I wanted, he was the captain, not me.

I had taken a long shower after he had finished, I scrubbed myself hard, I just wanted to wash it all off, his hands, his kiss, his scent, everything, but I couldn’t, I didn’t feel clean anymore, I was disgusted with him, and myself, for letting it happen. I hated being known as the Captain’s girl, but I was, no one else was allowed very close, whether he was present or not, I had argued with him about it once, never made that mistake again, I wanted out, and I knew exactly when and how I was going to do it.

It was the morning after my 19th birthday, they’d actually been considerate enough to give me a party, it was mainly just a big feast, but sweet nonetheless, I won’t mention Karnage’s “gift” to me, but I ended up crying in the shower afterwards. I snuck my way through the huge air vessel, backpack tossed over my shoulder, airfoil in hand. It took a bit of stumbling, but I found it, the take off area, I sprinted to its edge and jumped right off, throwing my foil under me. I looked up, watching as the Iron Vulture got further and further away, good, I hoped I’d never have to see it, or Karnage, ever again. A plane passed by under me, yellow, decent sized, perfect. I pulled out my rope, swirled it in the air and lassoed the plane’s tail, it pulled me forward on my air foil “Whoa!” I laughed joyously as the plane pulled me toward none other than Cape Suzette.

As soon as I felt I was close enough I released the roped and surfed in, landing easily on the dock, catching the airfoil easily in my hand and tossing it back into my backpack.  I looked at the building before me, it had a big sign out front simply titled Louie’s it looked like an OK place I walked in and was greeted by the sound of people taking and laughing, everyone was happy, eating and enjoying themselves. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, but needing to recharge my batteries a little, I sat in one of the corner tables, thumping my bag on the floor beside me. I buried my face in my face in my hands and groaned, yeah, I was free, but what do I do now, I really didn’t want to go back to living on the streets, I shuddered at the thought of sleeping in the allies.

I suppose I sat there a few minutes, when someone tapped my shoulder, I jumped and gasped. An orangutan backed up clearly not expecting my reaction “Sorry, toots, didn’t mean to scare you” a witty comeback came to mind, but I swallowed it, it was no way to make friends in a new place. “Not your fault” I muttered “I’m Flora” I said offering my hand, he shook it eagerly “Louie, nice to meet ya ma’am” I smiled at him “likewise.”

“You look awful, can I get ya somethin’?” he asked, I considered a moment and nodded “sure, what’s good?” He laughed and said he knew just what I needed, I laughed as he ran off. After a good meal and a humorous conversation with Louie, I left feeling much better than I had when I arrived. I bought a newspaper (I certainly wasn’t hurting for cash, I had plenty of money and gems in backpack, some stolen, others inherited). I found a house near the loading docks, it was cheap, I bought it, by noon, I had the keys and deed in hand.

The house was two stories, made of simple wood paneling, simple red shutters and a ceiling to match. It connected right to the docks and had a great view of the harbor, it was perfect! The inside was even better, when I walked in I was greeted by the living area, nice and spacious a white couch against the far wall (which were baby blue) two recliners sat angled to eachother and a nice dark oak coffee table sat in the center. To my left, behind a breakfast bar was the kitchen, it was pretty simple, it had your basic appliances, a nice round dinning table, eggshell white walls and red and white tiled floors. My room was upstairs, along with two other bedrooms and bathrooms, it was lovely. Nice decorated lavender walls, dark oak wood furniture (dresser, vanity, chest of droors) There was a large window on the far left wall, next to the vanity. I had a queen size bed, with lavender and royal purple sheets and comforter. Yes, I was going to feel right at home.

As lovely as my home was, I was lonely and bored, I was used to living with a crowd, even in the streets I had a gang.  I decided to put an add out in the paper for some roommates, it was only two days before two girls showed up at my door. One was a wolf, she was four years ahead of me, her name was Thorn, she was smokey grey with dark hair, and light brown eyes, she wasn't goth, but she wore dark clothes, and had a bit of a dark personality. The other was a golden Jackel,she was two years under me, her name was Bloom, she had golden orange fur and sparkly blue eyes, her clothes and attitude was always bright and uplifting, she reminded me very much of Talula. I welcomed them into my home easily and we became as close as sisters.

One day there was a knock at the door, I was startled, I didn't know many people here yet, so who could that be? "Hey, Flower, can you get the door please?" Bloom called. "I'm on it!" I called back and jogged to the door, I opened it to see a family of bears. The tallest male was bulky and grey in color , but he seemed young and funloving. Then the other boy, about 12, maybe 13 years old, with brown fur, he was cute and looked just as fun loving as his father. The woman was light brown in color, seemed like the business type, but I could tell she had a gentle side somewhere. The youngest, and probably the cutest, was a little blonde bear cub of about 6 years, she was just a little sweetheart. "Um...can I help you?" I asked, the little girl giggled and jumped straight into my arms. "Whoa!" I laughed as I struggled to find balance. "Molly!" the woman scolded, taking her away. "Hey, we heard about the new comers and decided to come and see how you were settling in" the woman said offering me her hand. "I'm Rebecca Cunningham, and this is my daughter, Molly, that's Kit" She gestured to the boy, "and Baloo" she gestured to the man. "Oh, nice to meet you, I'm Flora Skyrunner."

I let them in and introduced them to my roomates, they hit it off pretty well. I made dinner, Baloo talked about his piloting business and I was amazed, I made up my mind right then that I wanted to be a pilot too. It was late when they left, but Kit paused at the door and handed me a peice of long rope, my rope. "You left it tied to the Sea Duck" he said slyly and I laughed "good on ya kid!" I said ruffling his hair, he laughed and ran out to join his family.

Thorn, Bloom, and I talked non-stop about piloting, we had found our calling that was for sure, we all went and got a piloting lisence and looked into planes  that were decent, but cheap, should things not go the way we plan at least we'd still be able to fly. We found a nice L-15 (I think that's what Kit called the Sea Duck, anyway it looks just like it.) It was sky blue, in good condition, and could make long trips, it was perfect. We got to work fixing her up, touching up her paint job, we decided to call her Skyrunner, the girl's thought it was only fair since the whole thing was my idea, we called our business "Skyrunner Heights" we posted a big sign with the title in fancy script outside the house. Life was finally looking up and I couldn't