I just want to say I do not own any of the characters in the Maximum Ride series, sadly. But here goes my own version of the story.
"Down, down, down!" I whispered to my flock. We all hunched behind a bush as Erasers walked several yards in front of us, looking for me and my troop.
"I have to go back for Jeb and Ari!" I said, a little too loudly. An Erasers head snapped toward our direction.
As he walked toward our hiding spot, Fang shook his head. "No time! Up and away!"
"What do you mean, 'No time'? I have to get them!" I shrieked.
Fang pulled me toward him. "They've already got them," He whispered. His eyes told me not to give anything away to the younger kids.
I drew in a shaky breath and nodded. "One, two. three, away!"
With a jump and one strong flap of our wings, we were airborne. Okay, I know what your thinking. You can fly? Yep. We are mutant bird kids. But more on that later.
I looked at my flock and did a quick head count. One, two, three, four, five. Okay, we're good. I looked down at the Erasers and saw them slowly retreating back to the School.
The School was where we lived, up until a year ago. We were living in dog crates, being experimented on by psycho scientists. Its all the School's fault for giving us Avian DNA, while we were still embryo. We have hollow bones, we heal quickly, have air sacks, and our metabolisms work really fast, so we need around 3,000 calories a day.
Most of the experiments in the School fail, either while being experimented on, or after they have been experimented on. So far, the School has had two big successes. Us, the Avian-Kids, and the Erasers, the half-man, half-wolf. In public, they look all normal and stuff. But, if your their prey, you'll see their... "bad" side. I'd like to say my flock and I are stronger than the Erasers, but sadly, that's not always the case.
You see, Jeb used to be one of the crazy psycho scientists, but then one day, we were kidnapped from the school by Jeb. He had always been nice to us. So he took us to live at his house and taught us everything we needed to know to survive; How to read, write, fend for food, hot-wire cars, and ect. Ari was Jeb's son, and really annoying in a little brother kind of way.
But now, Jeb and Ari were gone, and I was pretty sure I was going to look after the flock. I mean. I'd always have Fang, but he didn't have the mother instincts that I do.
Fang is 14, like me. He has shaggy dark hair and really dark eyes. Iggy is 14, too, and blind. The scientists at the School tried to "enhance" his vision. Yeah, that worked. Nudge is 11, and cannot stop talking. I love her to bits, but really, she won't shut up! Then there's The Gasman. He's eight and Iggy's best friend. Oh, and try to stand up-wind of him. (There's a reason we call him "The Gasman".)
And the last of the flock is Angel. She's the sweetest and strongest six year old I know. She is like my baby. And honestly, I love her the best.
Suddenly Angel was flying next to me. "It's okay, Max," she said. "Fang can help take care of us. And don't worry. I've always loved you best, too."
I smiled. I guess that's what I get for flying so close to a mind reader.