Max's POV

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a cookie that was in the 'almost untouched by the fire' cookie jar, and walked out the back door onto the patio. I took a few bites of my cookie and then took a deep breath of fresh air. I realized how much I loved the air here in Colorado, up in the mountains. It was so clear, fresh, and light, the perfect kind of air for flying. Flying, I hadn't done that in a LONG time. I slowly let my wings unfurl and spread out. I took my last bite of cookie, backed up, took a running start and caught an air current that took me up into the sky. I pumped my wings a few times and then just let the wind glide me through the air as I closed my eyes.

I sat there gliding for about five minutes and when I finally opened my eyes and saw that there were two shadows on the ground, and one of them wasn't me. I looked up and saw another bird kid. It was Dylan. I saw him gliding through the air elegantly on his light brown wings.

"What do you want?" I yelled up at him.

"I wanted to make sure you were ok, Max."

I went in to land on a large, tree covered hillside. I hit the dirt running, and grabbed onto a tree to help me stop. I looked back and saw Dylan touch down nice and smoothly on the soft ground. He was so... amazing. Wow. I really was losing my mind.

"Dylan, why won't you back off?" I asked, giving him a shove in the chest.

"Max, I'm worried about you? I feel like I need to take care of you."

"Well you know what Dylan? Before you came along, I took care of myself, along with five others! I'm fine! I always am! If you knew me, you'd know that." Now he was making me mad. Why did he feel this way and why wouldn't he leave me alone?

"Why do you have to be this way, Max?" He had been looking down at the ground, and now he looked up at me with his innocent turquoise eyes that looked a little frustrated now.

"What do you mean?"

"Why do you push everyone away?"

"What? I push everyone away? You know I'm pretty sure it was your fault that Fang left us, Dylan!" I was yelling now, and pretty loud, too.

"He was endangering you and the flock, Max, but he made the choice all on his own to leave."

"So it is your fault?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that."

I broke our gaze and started running and then took off towards the house again. Once I arrived I touched down on the patio and ran through the back door, and half ran, half flew through the house and up the stairs to my room. I slammed my door and locked it, flung myself on my bed and started crying. Again. Would this ever end?

Dylan's POV

Max was over-reacting. I did what I thought was best for the flock, and for her. But apparently she didn't feel the same way. She really did love Fang, but why? What was so great about Fang that I didn't have? I mean, I was MADE for her, damn it! She was so frustrating sometimes! But, other times she was... wonderful. I would always need her, but would Max ever feel the same way about me? Maybe she didn't like me because I hadn't been around long enough, maybe she didn't trust me? I didn't know, but I wanted to find out. I wanted her to love me the way I loved her.