Cloud stepped outside of the stifling confines of the grocery store with a sigh, yet another long day weighed heavily on his shoulders and his legs felt like lead. He hated this place but it was the only place where he had been able to secure a job, as low paying as it was. Every little bit counted though, he was entirely on his own now.

Ever since his mother had died when he was 10 years old, he and his younger brother, Sky, had been bounced from one foster home to the next. They had no idea who their father was but apparently he hadn’t wanted them, otherwise they might not have been in this situation to begin with. Things hadn’t always been smooth but they always had each other…at least until now.

As soon as Cloud had turned 18, he had decided to strike out on his own. He was at least able to keep in touch with his younger brother and hoped that one day he could secure a stable enough living that he could take Sky into his care. At least, that was the plan. It was a lot harder in practice than it had been on paper. A year had turned into two and before he knew it he was in his 20’s and Sky was celebrating his sweet 16. How time flew.

Cloud shook his head and turned off the sidewalk and headed into the woods that he walked through twice a day almost every day. It was faster than taking the winding sidewalk back to his tiny apartment, and more relaxing at that. He felt more at home here than anywhere else, away from the stifling buildings and noisy cars and hard concrete. Tonight, though, the woods felt a bit different. The hair on the back of Cloud’s neck stood on end as he went deeper and deeper into the forest He couldn’t explain why but the energy felt…different. More charged, more…alive.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cloud suddenly saw something flicker. Like an old TV set turning off and on. He stopped and glanced in that direction, frowning. Nothing was there…at least he didn’t think there was. There! It did it again!