Cpht. 1Falcon
Wind. Air. The sky. Three things I loved because they had to do with flying. The flock and I were soaring through the sky over Texas. Why were we in Texas? Because of Nudge's nonstop chatter and my spur of the moment plans. It started yesterday, when had started to talk to me (though after the first two words, she had completely lost me) when suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head.
"Let's go to Mexico," I suggested.
Fang gave an are-you-crazy? look, while Nudge stood up and started to rant about tacos, pork tacos, chicken tacos, beef tacos, nacos.
Angel stare at me ant asked, "Why?"
The rest of the flock looked at me awaiting my answer. I took a deep breath and answered, "Maybe if we get out of the country, the erasers won't find us."
Dead silence, not even a cricket's chirp.
"I know it's a long shot, but we can try."
"Okay," Fang agreed.
"I want a gorditas when we get there," Gazzy announced.
"Oh, I want to see the Rio Grande," Nudge chirped.
"Can I get a Chihuahua?" Angel asked holding Total in her arms.
"I'll come as long as Angel doesn't get another dog," Iggy informed me.
"So, we are all in agreement," announced. "We'll leave in ten minutes."
And now we were souring above a mass of pine trees. The air here was warm and fresh, and made me feel tranquil. The back of my neck started to prickle and I turned my head toward Fang. He was looking at me, but his expression was strange.
As I tried to understand his expression, I heard Angel scream, "Max, watch out!"
I swerved to the right, but it was too late. A falcon flew right smack into me. It started to peck at me with its beak and scratch me with its talons.
The falcon stopped, and I could feel myself fall.
Flap Max, flap.
I'm trying to, I told my voice.
Max!!!!
"Maaaaaaaaxxxxxx!!!!" Fang yelled to me.
I was falling so fast; my wings were being batted around by nothing but air.
Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted up. I opened my eyes, which I had closed during the fall, and saw Fang's dark eyes looking at me with concern.
"Fang, let my go," I commanded.
"No," he answered.
Fang has a way of ending conversations with one word sentences. "Fine, but at least fine somewhere to land, like maybe in one of those pine trees down there." I had to get out of Fang's grasp, every twitch of his arm muscles made my skin grow warm.
The flock landed in a large tree. Finally, Fang let me down, but he kept one hand on my shoulder. I thought he might burn a hole through my jacket. . I knew I must have scratches on my face, but I had to check on the rest of my flock first.
As it turns out, not one other member was hurt. The falcon had only been interested in me, the girl who wasn't paying attention. What was with that look Fang had given me? What was with me?
Don't think so hard Max, the voice said, the answer is right in front of your face.
Shut up voice, why don't you ever give me a clear answer?
Of course my voice didn't respond.
"Max."
I turned around on my tree limb and faced Fang. He reached his hand out and touched my cheek. My eyes closed involuntarily and my breathing came out in short gasps. Whoa, what was this?
Fang moved his hand away and said, "You have a scratch on your cheek."
"Oh," I gasped reaching up to touch the mark. My cheek was warm, warm from Fang's touch.
"Shall we make camp," he asked.
My head snapped toward the setting sun. "Yeah, go tell the others we're bunking here for the night." Fang shot off his branch and went to tell the others. I watched the last rays glint off his dark wings.
"Fang," I sighed.
