*For those of you who are wondering why the heck my chapters are (lets face it) TINY, here it is- I'm kinda trying to mimic the scatterbrain effect of someone who's had multiple genetic upgrades as well as mysterious blackouts every once and a while by the making the chapters short, kind of like how long she can stay focused and sane.

*FYI that was just a really awesome excuse (I should use that) but really, they just look a lot longer on Google Drive...I'm working on making them longer, thanks for waiting!

"And if she started getting them when she was ten, she'd have almost seven upgrades." Max said quietly (which was unusual for her), and Fang grunted.

"Yeah...but what if she's being upgraded against her will? You know, kidnapped and drugged and then released again?" Iggy snorted, and Fang grumbled, "It's possible!" You'd think I'd know if I was being kidnapped, drugged, and then released again.

"Well, its obvious we can't trust her, we just have to get back as quick as possible. Ask Jeb, and go. We need to know the truth about her."

"And if we're wrong? She could've kidnapped Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge, or worse." Iggy persisted, and Max groaned.

"Well, we can't ask them! Its not like they're right over that ridge or anything." I dropped into their cozy little group and cleared my throat.

"Actually, yes they are." Iggy 'looked' at me in confusion, Max made a sound like a strangled cat, and Fang raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you the little dramatic." He commented, and Max demanded,

"How much did you here? How long where you up there? Where are Angel, Gazzy, and Nudge?" I held up my hands in surrender,

"Whoa, slow down. I heard everything, do you think I carry a watch, and, like I just said, right over that ridge. Honestly, you really should pay more attention." Max glared at me, and Fang whistled.

"How long have you been following us again?" I shrugged.

"Since about ten minutes after you left."

"And who's watching the house?" Max asked faintly.

"Total."

"Nooo, my cooking supplies! I just got a new egg beater!" Iggy moaned, and Max glared at me.

"Is it true?" I laughed scornfully.

"Of course not!"

"You would say that." Iggy grumbled, and Fang pulled me to my feet.

"Where are they again?"

"Over there. Follow me." I took off, black wings flapping in synch with Fang's, as Max fumed behind with Iggy in tow.

"Angel! Gazzy! Nudge!" Max hollered, and they all flew up sheepishly from behind a stunted tree.

"Hey Max…" Gazzy said, and Nudge waved.

"Sorry." Angel was silent, but Max smiled tightly,

"I know Angel. Now, let me deal with this Gen 97." She turned to me, and I was gone, gone, gone.

"Where is she!" Max roared, and I looked down.

"Oh my god, Max- she's falling!"

"She has wings, idiot, of course she's not!"

"What's happening?" Iggy spun in a panicked circle, looking for all the world like a deranged ballerina.

"Its okay, Ig." I said calmly, and plummeted down after Jay.

"Fang! What are you doing?" Max screamed at me, just as she followed me down. Side by side we streaked down, following the black smear that was Jay. We caught her arms, and hauled her up. We shot up, nearly flipping over.

"Dang, she is light." Max muttered, and I nodded. She could barely weigh fifty pounds. I mean, I know us bird kids are usually really thin, because of our lightweight bones and crap, but this girl was stick thin.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked, trying to stay calm. And failing. A note of hysteria crept into my voice as I saw her normal shocking blue eyes dim and gray. "Jay?" I shook her shoulder, and she moaned. I looked up at Max with terror in my eyes, and she promptly said,

"I think she's dead."