I'm going to die here…blood soaked my shirt as I staggered along in the woods; I was running out of time. The gash in my shoulder only seemed to be getting worse, and each movement brought more warm blood to my fingertips. I knew I needed help soon, and saving Ella was beginning to seem like a very bad idea. "How could I have been so stupid…" I scolded myself always trying to play the hero, and I was going to pay the price. Fang and nudge would already be at lake mead now, waiting for someone that would never get there….I needed to get my priorities in order but it was hard to think strait, I had lost too much blood. "Shelter I told myself, I need shelter" I folded my wings in under my dripping shirt and stumbled onwards.
The rain beat down mercilessly huge gusts of wind flung the freezing rain in sideways sheets. A house appeared through the gloom looming ominously in the rain. A small silhouette materialized in the yard. "Come on magnolia" you don't want to get wet do you? A crack of thunder rumbled in the distance and the figure stood up and turned in my direction, it was Ella. "Max?" is that you? Ella jogged forward, "hey thanks for saving me from those guys, wait is that blood?!" I could barely speak; yea I managed "one of them managed to graze me with a shot…" she sprinted towards me umbrella in hand. "Come on we have to get you inside quick!" she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the house, I could barely walk and struggled to keep up. "Mom this girl needs help!" she screamed when we reached their door. My vision was tilting drunkenly by the time a tall black haired woman had emerged from the kitchen "what is it Ella?" I heard her say before my knees buckled and I collapsed on the floor unconscious.