(Cowritten by Peach and Walker, my resident fruit fly assistants.)

The group huddled together outside of a first floor hotel room- well, aside from Raven and Silver. The room they clung to had become silent the night before, possibly at about four in the morning. Behind that door was Raven, Silver, and two random kids. The first one had claimed to be a med student, ahead of his class. Fang especially hoped he was telling the truth, as he didn't need anyone's blood on his hands. The second was his friend, who was there to assist if things went awry. 

As it turns out, hotel floors aren't just uncomfortable on the feet. Sleeping outside the room in their party clothes was the most anyone could do to stay near their friend. Aside from Silver, who remained with Raven. Ryft had to threaten the guy to make this happen. She held tight onto hope that Silver could heal others, and not just herself. 

Finally, finally the door inched open.

Soul, who had been leaning on that door, stumbled forward with a half squeak.

"Oh- sorry." The assistant, Jax, half-whispered to the blond girl before addressing the now roused group. "You guys can come in now."

Fourteen teenagers in one hotel room was a lot. Even if it was a nice hotel. The bedroom door was open and an unfamiliar shape was cocooned in crisp white blankets. Silver sat only half awake in an out-of-place chair next to the bed. Her wavy silver hair was unkempt and ruffled from a long night of stress. Her eyes, though half closed, lit up slightly at the appearance of her friends. 

"Hiiii.."

"SILVER!" Atlas, at the speed of light, crashed through the group and practically tackled Silver out of the goofy chair. 

"Shh!" Ryft scolded sharply.

The blanket pile stirred. 

"Last night was a struggle and a half, but.. something truly incredible happened" the supposed med student, Jay, mumbled. "I don't know how to prepare you for this, but.."

Fang was halfway through telling this kid to shut up when a new voice interjected.

"What incredible.. happened?" Raven croaked, attempting to sit up. "Ah- ow ow- damn, I'm thirsty."

"Raven!" Cricket cried, her legs flashing out and back into existence with shock and joy.

Raven turned her head around, moving blankets away from her face. "Shit, dude.. did I drink last night?"

The room fell dead silent. Feathers. Black feathers, unkempt and messy, stuck out of Raven's face fanning out behind the back corners of her eyes. there were also a few on her cheeks. The back of her neck was covered in the things. 

Jade gasped loudly and Atlas screamed. Jay and Jax looked at each other, grimacing. "Turns out, it wasn't a parasite." Jay chuckled awkwardly.

"What?! Parasite?" Raven brought a frantic feather-backed hand to her face and felt the softness of her downy face feathers. She screamed. "What's happening to me?! Oh God, I remember now!" Shuddering violently, Raven pushed herself up to a sit where the most shocking feature was visible.

Gigantic black feathered wings had sprouted from her shoulder blades and rested at her sides. Raven was now hyperventilating. 

"No, no no.. It's okay, Raven.." Silver pulled herself out of her chair and Atlas' arms and reached out to the panicking girl. "Look, you're a freak now- just like Atlas, Jade, Cricket and I. There's no parasite. You're safe." 

Despite 'freak' not being a very friendly word, this seemed to bring a bit of clarity to Raven's thoughts. Her shuddering turned to light shivering and she relaxed a bit. "Wait, who are you guys?" she seemed to have just noticed Jay and Jax. 

"I'm Jay. I'm the closest Des Moines has to a medic." Jay was a tall person- about 6'0 with dark brown curly hair that had been given a amature trim. He had dark brown eyes and a concerned resting facial expression. His skin was fair and he wore a baggy red sweatshirt and dark blue jeans. He carried himself confidently and had a bit of a superior air to him.

"I'm Jax. I'm just kind of a loser.." Jax was at an average male height at about 5'8 and had short black hair with one blue and one orange highlight. His skin was pale and he was a bit lanky, though he had a structured jawline and a piercing eye shape. His eyes- he had heterochromia, and possessed one blue and one light brown eye. He had a bit of an awkward yet compassionate demeanor to him. Probably a computer nerd. He wore a black and dark grey striped sweater and worn blue jeans.

"Oh." Raven nodded to the two. "Thank you, Jay and Jax.. who is also not a loser."

Jax blushed lightly and attempted to conceal it while Ryft realized another thing. "Raven! You're naked!"

Cricket slapped a hand over Fang's eyes while Raven and Ryft made sure the blanket was covering any private areas.

"Okay! Literally not what it looks like!" Jay sputtered, facing an angry Atlas, a suddenly sword-wielding Jade, and the genuinely terrifying power duo of Soul and Spirit. 

"No, seriously! Guys!" Silver stepped in front of the tall young man. "She sprouted freakin' wings. Her shirt couldn't stay on!" Silver looked exhausted. She stooped the slightest bit and her arms hung loosely at her sides. It was like she'd been up all night.

"Oh yeah. That makes sense." Atlas took a few steps back and plopped down on the chair. Jade's sword disappeared with a bit of effort and the laser eyes that the former raider duo had possessed in spirit died away.

A knock sounded at the door and Maddie's cheerful face peeked into the crowded bedroom. "It's time for a walk, guys!"

---

Now back in their street clothes, the original group minus Raven and Silver, who were sleeping, plodded on behind Maddie on their way to meet Goose. Also Frost was there, brooding as usual. It was maybe ten in the morning and the summer sun was a bit toned down that day, though there was no lack of heat. The streets were a bit more lively and there may have been some cracks in the eternal yellow clouds. They found the guy in the middle of the street talking to a teen with a concealed item in her pocket. They spoke in hushed voices before the girl nodded and disappeared into a building connected to the skyway. Noticing the oncoming group, Goose gave a smile and a wave.

"What's up, newbies?" Goose jogged the last few yards in between them. "Catching some sun?" The yellow light reflected off his blond hair. 

"Just here to see you!" Maddie bounced back. 

"Awesome! I knew I brought the notebook for something!" Goose exclaimed, though it was painfully clear that this had been planned. He turned to the Sioux Rapids kids. "We need to assign you roles in our little society, as well as take note of your mutations." He was flipping through a black notebook and held a pencil between his pinkie and his ring finger.

"Woah, hold on. Roles?" Fang interjected, stepping forward to challenge Goose. "You gonna put us to work or something?"

"You could call it that." Goose didn't miss a beat, finally finding the page he wanted and writing something down. "We'll start with you, emo kid. What's your name and mutation?"

"I am also not okay with this." Ryft stepped up next to Fang. "Why are you writing this down?"

Goose looked up from his notebook, either mildly surprised or mildly annoyed. "Because you live here now. We need to keep track of everyone that lives here, in case-"

"Alright, buddy." Jade shouldered an offended Maddie out of the way to stand right in front of Goose. "I don't know how dumb you think we are, but we know something's shifty about this whole place. Before any of us commit to anything, you're gonna have to talk."

Frost decided this was enough and ran to stand next to Goose, shoving Jade backwards. "Careful, She-Ra." he grumbled. "Don't go threatening our boss man here. He's saving your sorry asses."

Fang took a deliberate step forward and Frost held his ground with a deadly stare. Cricket held Jade's shoulders so that her friend wouldn't fall. Ryft gritted her teeth at the nerve of Frost to lay a hand on one of her children. Atlas remained at the back of the group with Soul and Spirit, mostly just confused. 

"What do you mean, saving our as-" Fang began, before being interrupted by a gunshot.