HIVE: Otto's Past: Chapter One
Maximum Ride leaped off the cliff, her Flock in pursuit. The wind blew her annoying curly ginger hair out of her face as she fell, a huge forest was situated beneath her. Max left it until the last minute before she snapped her wings out. They caught the air and she soared upwards, only just skimming the ground. Sunlight warmed her face, and she laughed out loud. Max tilted her left wing and she turned towards her flock.
Fang flew up to her first, as silent as his dark nature and dark hair. Even his wings were the deepest shade of black. Fang was 14 like Max, if only a few months younger. Playing the cool dude, he flew along beside Max, acknowledging her nod.
Iggy came up next with perfect accuracy, considering he was blind. His bright orange hair and wings would stand out anywhere, and even though he was the same age as Max and Fang he was taller then both of them.
"Whoopee!" that was Nudge, Angel and Gazzy (e.g. the Gasman.) You do not want to know why he called himself that! Nudge was eleven, with black hair and dark skin. She was definitely the chattiest person of the group, once that mouth of hers opened, it wouldn't close. Angel and Gazzy were the only true siblings in Max's Flock, you could tell because they both had blonde hair, blue eyes and white wings. Angel was six whereas Gazzy was eight.
Max listened to her Flock chatting happily as they flew over the valley, (especially Nudge,) receding into her own thoughts. A few years ago they'd been held capture at the School, the science lab nightmare where they grew up and were created. They were 98% human, 2% avian. Max shuddered at the thought of the school, the place where they had been injected, kicked and caged. The place where they had tried to enhance Iggy's eyesight but instead had made him blind. Max knew Iggy would never forgive them for that.
Stop thinking about that retched place, she told herself, You're never going to see the School again. Or their guards, the Erasers. Evil beings which were half wolf, half human, and supernaturally strong.
Max and the Flock had escaped from the School a few years ago, and ever since they'd been travelling the world. No limits, no restrictions, and Max was the leader of the group. But being the leader had its costs, she had to play 'Mum', and had to take responsibility when anything happened to them. It was tough, but she could cope. Besides, what's worse than needles and evil scientists?
"Max, focus!" Fang said quietly. Jolted back to the present, she suddenly remembered that they were supposed to be finding a new place to live in Canada. It had gone on like this for a few years. Spending the summer in Canada, and leaving for hot America before the cold winter months came in. Max started flapping her brown-gingery wings, her 14 foot wingspan helped her to rise up so she could see the whole valley. It was thick with dense trees, perfect for cover. Then she spotted a pinprick of a trickling stream in the middle of a small clearing.
"Perfect!" Max declared, "Fresh water and a place to fly from!"
"Yes, we can relax now!" Nudge cried out happily, immediately shooting off toward the clearing.
"Want help with the cooking?" that was Angel, on top of flying she could mind read! Yes please, I thought back to her, I'm a rubbish cook!
"I know," Angel said aloud this time, her perfect white wings glistening angelically.
Now you know why she's called Angel.