When Pandas Fly

Chapter 6 - Sharp Mirrors and Flat Butts

It had been a month since Caldwell had recruited them to the B.A.W.W.E.. Everyday fell into a routine; wake up, get ready, eat, train, eat, sleep, and repeat. Autumn and Hunter both made their way to the cafeteria, the one they first visited with Caldwell. They had been discussing if they wanted to escape, and if they did, the materials they needed in order to live somewhere else.

"We need wood, food, water, and clothing," Hunter listed. "We can't make it in the tundra if we don't have those things. I think-"

"Hunter!" Autumn interrupted, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before turning back to Hunter. "We haven't even decided if we're escaping yet! It's so nice here. We have food, heat, and a purpose here! And hey, this training has given me some serious guns," she added, rolling up her shirt sleeve and flexing the rather large and defined muscles on her arm.

"They're trying to brainwash you, Autumn. Do you think we'll be treated like royalty forever? You saw the forest. They're trying to bribe us."

"Being bribed is nice though," Autumn muttered. Hunter gave her a sharp glance and just like that, the conversation ended. Throughout the weeks, the same thing had been happening, their friendship slowly faltering.

-----🌏-----

It was the time of the day when the kids had to go back to their room; they didn't want to be caught outside after curfew. They were laying on the queen mattress, back to back, discussing, once again, their current situation:

"I think we should go," Hunter was saying. "I think we can be so much happier out there, where we can actually see the clouds. So much happier in a place where it doesn't feel like smiles are forced. Yeah, I know, here we don't have to worry about food or shelter, but out there, we actually have a life, you know?" He turned to face her back, and tugged at her shoulder, turning her over too so they were face to face.

He stared into those wild purple eyes. "Imagine how it could be," Hunter whispered, just you and me and the snow." He grabbed Autumn's hand. "We could fight crime, we could relax, whatever we want. But we can only do that," he said, his own hazel eyes searching hers, "if we leave."

Autumn smiled, thinking of the possibility. But it then started to settle and sag. She quickly sat up, the sheets pooling in her lap. "Uhhhh, Hunter?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember what you said about it being you, me, and snow?"

"Uh-huh," Hunter replied, not sure where she was going with this.

"You forgot something."

"What?"

She pointed to the corner of the room, finger shaking. "Theon," she said slowly. Hunter turned his head where Autumn was pointing. And sure enough, sitting in a corner, was the fat, furry panda, casually chewing on a small price of bamboo.

-----🌏-----

"Do you have the checklist ready?" Autumn asked as she slid out of bed. Her head was filled with scary thoughts of Hunter getting hurt or dying, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Hunter, on the other hand, was feeling quite the contrary; he was pumped up and casually whistling a rhythm, sounding very similar to the ancient Christmas tune of "Jingle Bells."

"Yup," he answered in a swell tone. "Right here." He held up his right hand. "Let's start with rope."

"Where the heck are we going to get that?" asked Autumn.

"I don't know," Hunter replied. "We're gonna have to figure that out."

Autumn sighed, running a hand over her face. "How about we cut the shower curtains?"

"Yeah, I guess that'll work."

"We need to find something to cut it with, though."

"Umm...," Autumn looked around the room. "Ooh, what about the mirror? If we shattered it, we could use a shard to tear the fabric."

"I guess that could work," Hunter said as he unhooked the oval shaped mirror from the wall and threw it to the ground. It didn't break. He picked up the mirror one again, smashing it against the bedpost, trying to break it. Still no luck. For his final attempt, he placed the mirror on two books that he found sitting in the drawer and placed them about six inches apart. He put the mirror on top of the books, in a way so that there was a gap between the mirror and the ground. Hunter climbed onto the bedside and jumped off and on to the slim sheet of mirror. It finally broke.

"Oof," he panted. "That was a tough one."

Autumn was checking her nails as she yawned, "Oh please, I could've done it on the first try."

Hunter faced Autumn, narrowing his eyes in challenge. "Yeah, right."

"Yup. I could probably beat you fighting, just like I have every single day in training."

Hunter's cheeks flushed red. "That doesn't count. The soldiers rig our exercises to me lose because I'm so much better than them. And if you're so great than why didn't you spend those three years in the tundra by yourself?"

Autumn just laughed as she walked up to him and pinched his cheeks. "It's because I knew a little baby like you could never live without me." She released him and went to pick up a piece of broken glass, cutting herself in the process and letting out a colorful array of words.

"Oh no, do you need a little band-aid to fix that itty bitty cut? Ha!" Hunter teased. "And you call me a baby."

Autumn glared at Hunter, burning daggers right at his head. "No, Hunter, I'm alright, thank you. But are you sure you don't need any help holding that piece of glass, Mr I-had-abs-but-I-covered-them-with-fat guy?"

"Fine, if you want to be your whiny and complaining self, the person that actually wants to be cared for by the selfish monsters here, then go ahead and face the world by yourself." Hunter took Theon by the armpit and held him close

"You realize that you have to be alone with your flat little butt too, right?"

Hunter took a deep breath and slowly put Theon down.

"Oh, so are you're not leaving me now?" said Autumn, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, Hunter! Nice! I'm so proud! You've finally made a decent decision for once. Congratulations!" She rolled her eyes.

Hunter tried to contain himself, but his temper was threatening to blow.

"Aww, look at you, turning all red. Are you over hyperventilating over how stupid you are?" Autumn snarled.

Hunter couldn't control his temper any longer. He sprung off of his feet, and tackled Autumn, hands at her neck.

*sigh* They need to get along better. But honestly tho, what happened to Theon? I much rather spend time with a fuzzy panda...