Some Things Don’t Change

Is it from The Menagerie by Tui and Kari Sutherland?

Logan Wilde noticed the feathers as soon as he woke up. There were five of them scattered across his gray carpet like autumn leaves. Logan stared at them, rubbing his eyes as his third backup alarm went off.

     At first, he thought he was dreaming at he kicked the heavy blankets off before rolling out of bed and landing in a crouch on the floor. A shock of blonde hair fell into his eyes, and, annoyed, he brushed it away.

     He gently picked one of the feathers up, studying its deep golden barbs. There was only one place these feathers could have come from.

     Kennedy.

     Logan suddenly remembered the annoying alarm in the background. Sighing, he turned around and whacked it with a force field, sending it flying across his bedroom to smash to pieces on the floor.

     "You know your mother tells you not to do that," a soft voice called from the living room.

    "Ehh," Logan replied, hurriedly changing into jeans and T-shirt before heading out of his messy room.

    She was waiting for him in the window seat, as usual. In fact, everything was the same--her deep brown skin, her dark eyes, her black hair with the four golden streaks, the four golden wings on her back... Except one thing. There was something in her eyes that made him stop for just a moment.

     "Is something wrong?" he asked.

     "You look different," she replied, the look vanishing before he could press any farther. "Anyway...this isn't a social visit."

     "Man, I wanted to say that line!" Logan complained.

     "Some things never change," Kennedy smiled, before continuing. "As you know, your brother and sister are often off on missions with the Shadow Elite."

     "Stop reminding me," Logan snapped. "Though technically, I should be with them. I'm fourteen and just as powerful as they are, if not more so!"

     "I know," Kennedy agreed mildly, "but you don't use them like you should. For example, the alarm clock this morning. That's not what force fields are for."

     "Who says so?" Logan wanted to know.

     "Oh shut up," Kennedy smiled broadly. "Look, the point is, you need experience, and you need to learn to use your powers right. But because you're so stubborn, no one wants to teach you anything. So..."

     There was silence for a moment, as Chris walked in. But, he was so intent on getting the results of today's mission off to Brian that he didn't notice the two teenagers.

     "I'm taking you with me," Kennedy finished up. She studied Logan's face to see how he would react.

     "I don't know..." he said doubtfully. "Do Chris and Abigail know? Does Brandon?"

     "Your siblings don't know, but I would assume Brandon does. It's hard to get stuff past him," Kennedy admitted, "even for me. So?"

     "Well, if they don't know...I'm in!"

     "Good. We leave tomorrow." She smirked. "Don't forget to set all three alarms--I'm not coming in and waking you up."

     Logan only smiled. He knew he was going to sleep through all three. And he also knew she'd wake him up.

     Some things just didn't change.