I don't own Maximum Ride.

Flying felt great. The wind moving over his wings, being able to do whatever he felt like. He focused down on the ground hundreds of feet below him. After a minute of careful scrutiny, he found his gang walking down to the small restaurant near the motel. He considered going down to join them, but something kept him up in the sky. He still felt like there were eyes on him, but no one would be able to figure out he was part human at the height he was at. He turned to face the direction Paris was. For a minute, he desperately wanted to leave, go check on Max and the hunt for Angel. He gritted his teeth, thinking about Dylan, and what Gazzy said on the plane, about him and Max.

He shut down that part of his brain and was about to go higher when he saw a streak in the trees. He stopped, staring down at the forest, waiting. He saw it again, right near the clearing he took off in. A brown and green blur. Not stopping to think of what it could be, he dove down, slowing down when he hit the treetops. Dropping under them, he landed softly, looking around quickly. Nothing looked out of place. He waited patiently until he heard a slight breath from behind him. He spun around and advanced forward slowly. He heard it again, and realized it was from behind the think oak tree right in front of him. He walked forward silently, then jumped forward, but the thing behind it turned tail and ran right before he could grab it. It was obviously part human, but he guessed it was a mutant. He chased after it, dodging around trees. He jumped, only to hit his ankle on a branch, sending a wave of pain up his leg and tripping him. He scrambled up quickly, only to realize he had lost it.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of wings being whipped open, and he spun around, ignoring the shooting pain in his ankle. He saw a tall, long haired girl jump, throwing open wings as long as his, and taking to the air. Realizing he wouldn't be able to run, he followed suit, bursting through the trees.

A flash of green zoomed behind him, and he quickly followed it. The girl moved constantly, zooming up, then dropping way down, then switching directions, trying to confuse him. It was a good idea, but it didn't work. After a few minutes she dropped down, skimming the tree tops. He followed immediately; he put on a burst of speed, getting right up behind her. She glanced at him and lost her course, crashing into a high branch. She tumbled, down, tucking in her wings to avoid them getting cut. He followed more gracefully, landing right before her. Careful to not put pressure on his ankle, he watched as she fell out of the tree, watched as she twisted in midair like a cat to get her hands and knees under her. Hitting the ground hard, she rolled over onto her back, gashes all over her legs and cuts all over her hands. He hands and knees were definitely going to bruise.

"Ow," she muttered, pushing herself up. Fang moved quickly, standing in front of her, making sure she couldn't leave, although he doubted she'd even try after her meeting with the ground.

"Don't move," he warned her. She looked up and seemed to see him for the first time. She sat up all the way. He watched her wearily. She ignored his instructions, pulling her backpack off her back.

"Don't move," he told her again, grabbing her backpack out of her hands. She scowled at him, scooting back so that she could lean against a tree. Not taking his eyes off her, he rummaged through her bag. He found nothing suspicious in it, just food, water, a phone.

"Who are you?" he asked, dropping her backpack behind him so that she couldn't reach it.

"Why does it matter? I know who you are." She retorted, crossing her arms. He felt surprise register across his face before he wiped it off. She smirked at him.

"Your blog? Being with the Flock? It pretty much makes you famous." He breathed out, he had forgotten about that.

"Who are you?" he asked again. She acted hurt, but the gleam in her eyes ruined the image.

"Fang, you don't remember me? I really shouldn't be surprised. You always have forgotten what you don't want to remember." she said dismissively. "I guess you could call me an old acquaintance."

He narrowed his eyes at her, she didn't look familiar. "I don't know you."

"Sure you do, Fang. Honestly, you would think you could at least remember where you met me."

"The school, where else would I have met a mutant like you?" he said, racking his brains. He kind of remembered a voice like hers, long ago. But hers was older, not as high pitched as the one he could barely remember.

"I'll give you a hint. You think I'm dead." She informed him, crossing her legs in front of her. He stared at her for a few more seconds. He thought she was dead? Who could that-?

He went rigid. Everything fell into place. The voice, not as childish, but still very similar. The comment on how he thought she was dead. Heck, now staring at her, he could easily imagine her as the young girl he knew.

"No…" he whispered. The smirk on her face melted, giving way to a small, nervous smile. Fang just stared at the girl.

"They killed you, how are you alive Jewel?" The small smile on the brunette's face slipped off.

"They did kill me; they just brought me back to life. You know Ari?" Fang nodded, feeling bad about how he had treated the Eraser. "They brought him back to life too, but they healed me before they healed him." Fang smiled slightly, remembering what he had told Max, 'You just can't kill people like you used too.'

"Where's Max?" Jewel asked. Fang looked away. She stared at him.

"You split up? Why the hell would you do that?" She cried, outraged. Fang silently held out his hand and she took it, using it to pull herself up. Standing, she was only an inch or too shorter than Fang's tall frame.

"Come on, let's introduce you to my new family."