Today was Saturday. The sun was shining in to my eyes. I dug deeper into the blankets but it was no use, I was fully awake. I groaned and threw off the blanket off me. I dragged myself like a zombie to the bathroom and opened the cabinet, taking out the toothpaste and toothbrush. I squirted the toothpaste onto the toothbrush and proceeded to brush my teeth. After that, I headed downstairs and went to the kitchen. I opened the fridge, which was pretty much empty except for a few heads of wilted lettuce. I grabbed a milk carton from the fridge. Then I went to the dish storage rack and took a bowl. I opened the cover and emptied the milk but nothing came out. I gently tapped the bottom of the milk carton and chunks of curdled milk poured out. It smelt rancid and absolutely disguising. I flipped the milk carton over but it was still within expiration date. Somebody must have left the milk out for a little too long. I held the carton at arm's length and quickly tossed it into the trashcan as if it was radioactive material.

I looked around for any edible food but there was nothing that can be eaten without being cooked and I'm not in the mood of cooking… not that I can't cook. Sighing, I put on my jumper and headed out to grab something to eat. I took a quick glance around, and once I'm sure the coast was cleared, I snapped out my 14-feet wing and leaped into the air. I inhaled crisp cool air and flapped my wings furiously. I quickly gained altitude and was soon above the clouds where nobody below can see me.

Flying feels great… it makes me feel free and one with the environment. Oh my, I sound like one of those greeting cards.

The sun reflecting off the clouds blinded me temporarily and caused me to crash into a flock of birds. Once I cleared the flock, I resembles like a big chicken. "Oh that's what feather tastes like," I murmured. "Blurg!" I quickly spat out the feathers.

It was disgusting and I can't get the horrible taste out of my mouth. It tasted like mud, dust, and well, feathers. Don't chide me dear readers. Just because I have wings doesn't mean I have tasted it. Plus, I'm sure you wouldn't pluck out your own wing feathers just to have a nibble. Believe me that hurt!

As I passed over a forest, I caught snatches of somebody singing:

"… But I'm lost
I'm so damn lost

Oh I wish it was over,
And I wish you were here
Still I'm hoping that somehow."

I swooped down into the forest to investigate. Just inches from the ground, I closed shut my wings and landed in a crouching position.

I notice something moving in the forest. "Who's there," I called out but there was no reply.

Just then, I saw something big and black descending. I picked up a large rock and hid behind some trees thinking it was an eraser.

"You wouldn't toss the huge rock will you Max," the mysterious figure said. It was Fang. I recognized his voice anywhere. I dropped the rock and walked towards him. He grabbed my waist and gave me a big smooch. I returned the kiss before pushing him away.

"Hush, be quiet," I told Fang. "I heard somebody singing nearby."

I accidentally stepped on a twig and a strange purple hair girl kicked me in the stomach. How rude!

She looked at me, her chartreuse-colored eyes full of anger and rage. Whoa! What did I do to offend her?

"What was that for?" I cried, practically hissing at her. In one fluid motion, I grabbed her hand and twisted it behind her back. She winced in pain. The girl spat at Fang's feet and glared at him. She seemed to have known him from somewhere.

"Whoa, going on here?" I enquired confused. Then I noticed her cat-like ears and tail. I frowned. "Wait, you're part cat?"

She twitched her ears and rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm a cat, You're just as brilliant as he is," she snapped.

"No need to get touchy," I replied and extended my hand. "I'm Maximum Ride, by the way. You can call me Max for short. No need to be scared

"Naniko," she replied staring at my hand. She kept her hands to her side. I awkwardly rescinded my handshake.

Fang looked irked. He grabbed my hand and tried to pull me away from the cat-girl. "Max, let's go," he urged.

Fang knew something about the cat-girl that I don't. "Hey why," I asked Fang, "She seemed alone. Plus, those nasty erasers may be after her as well."

He was about to protest when I ignored him and interrupted him off, "Are you another of the hybrid experiments done by Itex? You seem alone out here."

"I was made in a lab in Japan," she replied, her bright green eyes looked away.

"Oh…," I replied, "You seem a little far away from home."

"Can I go now," the cat-girl replied giving me a dark look. Without waiting for a response, she darted away from me.

"Wait," I call out, grabbing her hand. "What are you doing out here?"

The cat-girl shook off my hand and yanked her arm free. "That's none of your business," she snapped.

"You can come with us. Don't worry, I won't slice and dice you up. I'm like you… well kinda. You see I'm an avian-human hybrid 2% bird 98% human."

I unfurl my wings to show her that I meant her no harm.

"She's a monster!" Fang whispered barely audible.

"Fang!" I hissed, "Don't say that!"

The cat-girl laughed menacingly. "No he's right. I am a monster," she said. Her eyes were dead and cold but tainted with a look of grief.

"A monster, a demon, a murderer!" she laughed coldly, "Stay away from me!"

"Or I'll kill you!" she later added, choking on those words. A tear rolled down her cheek, and when I reached out to wipe it from her cheek, she jerked away. "Don't touch me!" she raged glaring at me.

Her eyes welled with tears and she began to cry.

"There there," I said with motherly tenderness. I gently drew the girl into my arms and wiped the tears away. This girl was living on her own for too long and feared everybody who she met. "You wouldn't kill me… I don't think you could."

"How the hell would you know?!" she screamed and twisted free. She spat to the ground and ran off. I tried to follow her but Fang pulled me back.

My stomach rumbled and I remembered the reason I flew this direction. I silently marked the location in my mind and flew off with Fang. Perhaps I will pay the mysterious girl a little visit again when she's done being moody.