Chapter Three- Where Down Hill Starts

A/N: Urg, I want to puke all over these early chapters. Currently I am writing chapters in the 120's, but since these are set in stone, I can't exactly change their plots. Even in the slightest bit. So, My early chapters will suck, and everybody will just have to keep on reading until You get to the good stuff, around chapter 40 (and even that is crap for a while).

"Angel, Nudge, Fly away! Get out of here!" Max screamed to them, and I tapped Iggy's nose. He tensed up and his knuckles turned white, he was ready to fight. I looked around to the remaining flock members, and noticed Gazzy being taken away by the Pussbuckets (We named them that, fits huh?).

Fang sprang into action, mauling the two holding Gazzy, while Max fended off the ones heading after them. Right then I heard Iggy let out a gasp, shortly before I received a hard blow to my kidney. I started to crumple, but Iggy pulled me up and fended off a right punch headed right for my face. How he does that? I will never know.

I blinked hard, and managed to block a hard swing left. I ducked before a kick hit my head, and caught myself with my palms open. I then kicked my legs out at the Pussbucket in front of me, using the momentum of the impact to swing myself into and standing position. Iggy clapped and I pretended to curtsied, right before punching a new enemy in the face. I was careful to avoid their eyes,a and made sure Iggy didn't aim for their faces.

But soon the tides changed. Suddenly, one of them managed to grab onto my arm, pulling me down the ground. I kicked and thrashed, calling out for Iggy to help me as two more appeared to help their "brother". I heard him call to me, right before he let out a moan and hit the ground. A Pussbuckets had hit him in the side of the head with the butt of a gun. Soon we were all down one way or another. I quickly looked to asses the damage, not knowing if Max was conscious to do it herself.

Iggy's lip was broken open, my leg had a rather ugly gash in it, Fang's brow was bleeding heavily, and Max had three large cuts down her face. And that was just the major stuff. Besides that we had many cuts and scrapes that would leave scars, but Gazzy's black eyes concerned me the most. If I was close enough, I'd have gotten Max to help him, but she was in a different grouping. We all were bound up, our mouths taped, and wings pulled back painfully. The kept us there in separate groups, where I was placed with Fang. I could see Max and Gazzy. But Iggy I couldn't see.

Fang looked at me with wild eyes, and I nodded to let him know Max was okay. His eyes went back to the blank state he keeps them in, and he started messing with his ropes. At some point some of the Pussbuckets flew in with Angel and Nudge, and they were roped and gagged as well. Angel looked so young, roped and bound like an animal, but her face remained strong. She was placed in our group, where Fang and I instantly shifted a bit to protect her small form.

'What's going on?' She thought to all of us. I was too tired to reply, and my leg hurt badly. I shook my head at her, and she seemed to understand.

'Max said that we should all head for the east opening when we get a chance.' Angel thought to me, and most likely Fang.

'Okay,' I thought back. 'Tell Max that Fang is worried about her, maybe send some thoughts?' I knew they needed it. Max and fang had been together for awhile now, and they were really close.

'Okay Frenna. Oh, and Iggy wants to know if your okay.' She replied. Angel was such a good kid now. She had gotten over her phase of wanting to be the leader, which was a relief.

'Tell him I'm fine. He's alright?' I asked, some panic in my thoughts.

'Ya he didn't get beat up to badly, I was listening to Max replay the fight in her head, you and Iggy did good.' She said with a mental smile.

'Good, and thanks.' I thought to her. If we had fought so great how come we were tied up? Whatever. I just wanted to see Iggy. I needed to know he was okay.

"Well children, you fought well. Now, Maximum. About those options of yours? They have been revised. How about we just kill the dark haired one?" The voice said, and Fang growled. A Pussbucket then came and kicked him in the ribs. Fang's breathing flared, and he kicked back. I guess Pussbuckets can feel pain, because it staggered back, then rage overtook it's face and it pulled out a gun.

Max's eyes were haunted by fear. She looked at me helplessly, something she only did when she really, really needed my help. Max was the leader, the strong one, she was like a mother to me. Even though we were the same age, she had protected me all my life. I considered it my obligation to protect her and everything she held dear, which was basically the flock.

"Now, about your options. I never gave you the second one. You may die in his place. Choose, but be fast, or you may not get to choose." He said, pleasure at the thought of death dripping from his words. I shuddered, and the Pussbucket cocked his gun.

And this is when I sprang into action.