The feel of the night is cool against my skin.  Midnight’s breeze tickling the feathers of my wings. SACRED FATHER, I have wings!!! What kind of monster am I? No, not a monster, I am Hamatsa, godling-made human. No, not Hamatsa, a man – a man blessed with the divine gift of flight. My people needed to know that. It is unfortunate that my friend had to die learning that lesson. But I am only a man.

There’s going to be hell to pay should any of the nosy Anglos discover my retreat. But I could not stand being cooped up in that shoebox any longer. They don’t understand – they can’t understand – the sense of freedom from taking flight of my own accord, whenever I wish.  Mayhaps they will understand, but I sincerely doubt it. I should enjoy my time out here, while I can. But…what if I don’t go back?

What a world it is for us five brought together by circumstance and not of own choosing. To do what? Save the world? Gods no, there is no hope for this world! And what of our supposed benevolent savior? I no more believe in the goodness of his/its intentions than I do in the notion of Hamatsa. We five are supposed to be unique, possessing talents far above any the world has ever seen. But again I have my doubts. I have heard noises in the quiet of night from unseen places elsewhere within the complex. Noises that strangely resemble---

Goddess of Night, where have I gone? So lost in my own thoughts and mistrust that I have neglected to navigate, and appear to be over some area of the city previously unseen. Thank the Goddess for a moonless night; else my form would be clearly visible. We have been warned of the circumstances should the populace discover us. “In due time, in due time,” they tell us repeatedly. Is due time the incident the other day at that building downtown where cameras could have caught our every move, and probably did? My shoulders still ache from my, uh, run-in with that structure. The human matchstick didn’t really do what I think he did, did he? Could he? Would he? What a truly strange assemblage we are.

It would be prudent while I am out to begin training myself in the matter of these two new appendages. How about an evasive roll? No…wait…not that way…whooooaaaaaa, unh…other way…how do I stop this?…trees! trees!…unh…damn! That’s going to take some work.

I’m obviously not paying attention today. As much as it pains me, I should return and get some rest. Tomorrow I think I’ll paint the roof of our training room like open sky. Then I’ll come back out tomorrow night, and explore our surroundings, just in case. Hopefully somewhat less distracted. These are strange times indeed.

Fare thee well in your journey, Mother Night. Thank you for my freedom even if momentary.

Hope I can find my way back. I knew I should have been paying more attention…