Chapter 2
And don't come back!
Max's last words echoed in Fang's head as he flew farther and farther away from the tiny log cabin.
Fine. If she didn't want him to come back, didn't need him, then that was just fine. He sure didn't need her.
But Fang couldn't focus. Max's face kept popping up in his brain—furious, tear- and dirt-streaked, her eyes blazing. And considering what happened the last time he'd stormed off in a rage, he had half a mind to turn around mid-flight and head back. He would apologize, and so would Max, the rest of the flock wouldn't even have to know about their argument, and everything would go back to the way it was before.
Fang snorted. Please.
Max would not apologize. She would order Fang to say sorry, like it was all his fault, then claim to forgive him out of the pure goodness of her heart. That was just who Max was. Her pride wouldn't let her admit to being wrong.
Truthfully, Fang wasn't real big on apologies either. None of them were. Must be an avian-human hybrid thing.
A couple hundred yards ahead, Fang could see a small cave in the face of a cliff. Caves always made good places to sleep.
He landed on the cliff edge at the mouth of the cave. It was dark and damp and gloomy inside, and Fang had no means to light a fire. He was hungry, and had no food, water, or clothing. Regardless of whether he planned on staying with Max or not, he would have to go back for supplies. He would have to go back for his laptop.
But Fang wasn't ready just yet. He was still pretty darn mad at Max.
He knew that Max was just as upset as he was the last time they split up, and she said she had missed him. So she was probably missing him now. At least Fang hoped she was.
Serves her right, he thought.
If he did decide to go back, he would at least wait until morning, give her a little more time to suffer without him.
Fang sat on the damp ground. The stars overhead winked down at him, as if trying to communicate with him, to tell him something important.
2