The Flock settled down near a very wide and very deep river. The water was absolutely freezing, as Gazzy found out the hard way (namely, jumping in shirtless and shoeless) so they retreated to line of trees that followed the bank of the river. Fang immediately set off for firewood while Iggy tried to find a dry match and/or a lighter in his pockets. Eventually he found one and set the tinder ablaze, feeding it into the small pile of wood that was to be their campfire. Angel, Nudge, and Gazzy were given the job of clearing away any small sticks or stones within fifteen feet of the fire. The snow fall had lightened considerably, until there were only a few tiny snowflakes gliding lazily down. Max sat near the edge of the river, having a conversation with the Voice.
Okay Voice. Max thought. Now is a really good time for some advice.
You want to know about the two people at the hotel.
Of course I do! Max yelled back in her head. Were they trying to kill us or not?
You will learn the truth when it presents itself.
Great. Real helpful. Max got up angrily and brushed herself off, heading back to the fire to warm her almost numb extremities.
Before long, nightfall overtook the blue sky, scattering the dark blue sky with stars. None of the Flock were asleep, all of them worried about the days events. Angel and Total curled up near a tree, while Nudge and Gazzy played rock paper scissors to prevent boredom. Iggy stared gazelessly into the fire while Max and Fang sat next to each other, watching the forest for intruders.
Iggy felt her coming before the rest saw her. A girl clothed in a black jacket and with red hair crashed into the clearing, her face streaked with tears and her face red.
"Help me! He's going to kill me!" Phoebe exclaimed, as she dodged behind a tree. The Flock all snapped to attention getting to their feet and preparing to face danger.
"Whoa, hold on." Max soothed, coming up behind the frightened girl.
"He's going to kill me." Phoebe wailed, piercing the air with her screams. Max clamped a hand over her mouth to silence her.
"Be quiet Phoebe." Max hissed. "Now tell us quietly who's trying to kill you."
"Karac! He attacked me!" she whispered.
"Your brother?" Fang said. "Why would he try to kill you?"
"I-I-I-I don't know!" Phoebe started to wail again. "He-He- Oh, god this is too good."
Phoebe suddenly dropped character, her face returning to its normal hue. She wiped her face with a sleeve, revealing the tears were fake. The overall transformation unnerved the entire Flock. Phoebe walked away from Max, closer to the fire.
"Phoebe?" Nudge whispered.
"First off, the name's not Phoebe, its Phoenix. Got that, good, now down to business, oh quit it with the stares, I feel like I've got something in my teeth. I don't do I?"
Phoenix ran her tongue over her teeth, and smirked. "I don't good, god that would have been embarrassing, you know, me trying to be all badass and stuff, which I am."
"What are you-?" Max began to speak, but Phoenix interrupted.
"I was just getting to that! Geez, a girl tries to get the spotlight, and…" Phoenix suddenly swung her head towards Angel. "Don't you dare get in my head, or I'll tell all of your friends here your big secret."
Angel's sweet blue eyes grew in shock, and she stopped trying to probe Phoebe, that is Phoenix's mind.
"Good." Phoenix smiled creepily, and she turned back towards Max and Fang. "Now look, I'm not the bad guy. I'm the good guy. It's my job to make sure that genetic experiments like us are delivered to a safe haven. Oh, and I can legally kill whoever I want to, so don't cross me."
Max was starting to get angry, and just before she was about to tackle Phoenix to the ground, the Voice cut in. Don't do anything drastic Max. A mistake here can cost you your life.
"What do you mean genetic experiments 'like us'?" Iggy asked.
"Why, I'm just like you!" Phoenix said mysteriously. "But not really, so I'm not going to tell you. Now, are you going to come peacefully with me, or are you going to try to tackle me?"
Max stared Phoenix down, but she didn't move.
"Great!" Phoenix exclaimed, and she turned her back. In that instant, Max and Fang grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her down to the ground.
"Gazzy get the rope!" Fang said loudly.
"Got it!" Gazzy replied, rummaging through one of their packs until he found a nylon rope and tossed it to Fang, who then tied Phoenix's wrists together, and looped them around her ankles, immobilizing them.
"Okay, Boy Scout, you tied me up." She said to Fang. "Now what are you going to do?"
Fang and the rest of the Flock moved away from her, huddling in a circle to decide her fate. The entire time, Phoenix talked, whispered, yelled, sang, whatever she could do to annoy the crap out of them. Max grew tired of her, and grabbed a handy roll of duct tape, taping her mouth shut.
"Mmmprhmmpmpph." Phoenix's words were muffled, and she finally shut up. "Mmmph."