(( Dropping In ))

It was a shame he never had gotten to go on a cross-country trip with his parents, and now he was doing it alone. Living by himself, feeling excluded from the wet city was getting old. He needed a new beginning. He had heard vaguely of sanctuary for those who didn’t fit in too well with the crowd. It was day six, of flying. His wings were growing increasingly stronger over the trip, his stops now became scarcer, but then again he was growing wearier as the days passed. It was a mind changing experience, seeing all the landscapes. He had flown over the snow capped mountains, plains, forests, deserts, cities, and even had stopped in some isolated, quirky little communities and towns to rest over night. It would have been cooler to spread wings at night, but there was too much to see before he reached his destination, the Big Apple. The sun began to cast a peach and rose colored shadow against the clouds and smog of the city horizon. The sun sank like a shining copper penny beneath the concrete and nearby bay. He had estimated he’d be in New York by tonight, and he was close, really close. Somewhere in the tangled mass of streets, alleys, and sky scrapers might be his new family and home. He decided not to use the maps that looked like it had a plate of spaghetti thrown at it. He would find it himself or ask around. Surely a mutant home wouldn’t be hard to find. He crossed his fingers that his hopes wouldn’t be let down. He made the membrane folds of his wings taught, and he began to descend from the sky cruising along looking for a rather idle street. He passed over Times Square. He had seen nothing like it. The flashing lights and tall colorful buildings took the spotlight of tourist attention. He quickly maneuvered away from the area. Soon he came to a sleepy boulevard, and smoothly landed, jogging to a stop. He took a quick look around, tail undulating behind him as he walked. He pushed open a door to an old fashioned deli. Of course the customers and people behind the counter looked up. That was to be expected as he managed to squeeze his wings through the door, the bell buzzing until he wriggled past the welcome matt. Luckily, no one jumped or panicked. He guessed perhaps with the X-men mansion around, things like this might be somewhat ordinary to the locals. Skyler gave a nervous chuckle, waving his clawed fingers at a few faces. He walked up the counters and leaned forward indicating he wanted to know something.
“Y-yes sir? You need something fly-boy?” asked the man, voice thick with the city’s accent.
“Yeah actually Mr. Meaty, you know anything about the X-mansion? You know where the not-so human peeps chill? I’ve been flying Kimosabe, and I’m tired. Was hoping you might know,” he explained.
“Ah, it’s in the north side of town--”
“Well, could you be more specific than that?”
“I wasn’t finished…it’s parallel to 14th Street. Follow to main drag 25 until you get to the Bellerose. It’s in that area, shouldn’t be hard to miss. I heard it’s a huge private property mansion,” answered the butcher, offering a hard smile.
“Thanks bub, owe yah one,” he replied mocking his NY accent.

He took to the skies again by now the airy canvas was painted indigo, and he wanted to find the X-mansion before it was late. He flew directly over the highway, and then circled around looking for 14th Street in hopes of finding it. At last his eyes set on the property. His jaw dropped at the sight of the size of the place and the pool and basketball courts. This was ten times better than that cramped little orphanage. Although he new he would need to gain privileged to live there. It was a responsibility. He spotted the iron gates, but those were for land-lubbers. He glided above the front lawn just getting a taste for what might be his. Then the security system figured he was an Unidentified Flying Object. Small laser canons unfolded from the innocent looking statues and bird baths, and fired red sparks. One had hit him directly in the side, and he let out a startled screech sending him off balance. He teetered and burst into a bedroom window. The glass shattered under his weight sending shards flying as he made a crash landing onto the floor. Skyler tumbled and rolled coming abruptly to a stop when he made contact with a desk, knocking that over as well. He laid there for a moment, cursing under his breath before he slowly got up. He quickly looked himself over, luckily there were no cuts, the glass hadn’t penetrated his skin. He looked around and cringed feeling his stomach churn with guilt at the damage done to the room.
“Honey, I’m home…” he said aloud, feeling antsy for his next brilliant move. He looked franticly around, he picked up the desk back on its legs and put the lamp back…it still looked like a tornado hit. He looked out the hole in the wall, trying to decide whether he should do a hit and run. Although those types of games tended come back and bite you in the butt. This was going to be one terrible first impression. He folded his wings, listening to what might be out in the hallway. He wondered if anyone had heard the clatter. He grabbed his hair with his clawed fingers, knees locked with the feeling of certain doom.