Chapter four

Fang passed out food, and the experiments fell on it.

As they ate, he talked, "I chose to leave the others, to protect them-as long as I was with them they'd be harmed. I had to recue you guys-there has to be more then one flock at the final battle, to finally save the world, once and for all. I can't make you guys stay with me, and make a flock-thats your choice" He fell silent. They starred at him.

Then Starling spoke up, "i'm staying with you Fang. I may only be young, but I know what you say is what we have to do. I can feel it. And I always trust my feelings. Besides, I think you're cool"

Mystery nodded, "We can do a lot of good together.

Tiger growled. Fang closed his eyes-he'd talk with Mystery later "Im in" Tiger said " I wouldn't miss it for the world"

"I want to do good" Sparks said softly, "I think I can, if follow this path.

"Alright" Fang said, and stuck out his fist. One by one, they tapped his.

***

I put clothes aside for everyone, some food-the stuff that would rot by the time we got back, water, money in each pack, just in case.

"hey" Iggy said, leaning against the door, "You know, I'm here. I'm probably not as close to you, as he was but we're still best friends, right?"

"Course. But your my brother too" I said, "I...can't just mope around-I've decided i'm not giving up. Ig, on saving the world. Protecting the flock...on...on anything"

"Okay, but don't bottle things up Max" He said, taking his pack, "You'll blow up one day"

I nudged him in the shoulder, smiling for real for the first time in days.

As we flew to mums, I thought that mum would see the spark back in me, and I'd get to see Ella again. Maybe for the last time.

I shifted Akila in my arms, and the white dog looked up and licked me, "I know, I know, I love you too" I said to her, she gave me a doggie smile, and her big round eyes were full of love for all of us. Another reason to fight.

Family, Friends, animals...love. I was fighting for the love of my flock, including this dog. I was fighting for twenty years time, where i'd get to face him and say 'why?'

I knocked on the door, Akila next to me, my flock behind me.

"Els? Can you get that? My hands are full" Just hearing my mum's voice made me feel better.

Ella opened the door, a chocolate chip cookie in her hand. Then she was hugging me.

"um? Ella?" I said after a moment or two "I missed you the smell of cookie is distracting me" She laughed

She hugged everyone, even Dylan.

The great thing about my mum is, she doesn't ask questions. She could see that I was ok, and didn't want to talk

"We have to go" I said, looking at the time, "If we want to get there, for opening time tomorrow, that way we can have the whole day for fun" I hugged mum, then Ella. I knelt and hugged Akila, who licked my face, and total, "Stay out of trouble, ok you little furball" He licked my face too, "course" He said, "Miss you guys"

So we headed off to the land of fun.