~A.N.~
Ok, incredibly long wait, so sorry for that, to make it up this chapter is extra long! A few things, I realized that I hadn't included dates, and such and since I can't find my copy of the first Maximum Ride book, I do not know when this whole thing started. I'm going to say that Max left the day before the flock would have been found, and spent 2 days flying aimlessly. The following day she was brought to camp, the day after was capture the flag. So I'll say that she left the flock on Sunday, was brought to Camp on Wednesday, Capture the flag was Thursday evening, and this chapter starts on Friday.
Thank you to every person who has reviewed, I'm glad you guys like this!
Self beta'd, and I own neither works!
Max woke up early the next morning shortly after the sun had risen. She spotted a large package at the foot of her bed with a tag that read: Maximum Ride.
Max heaved the box up onto her bed and began to open it. Within was a new back pack, some new clothes, and a tin lunch box.
The back pack was as large as a hiker's pack, and came with many things hidden inside like camping gear. The metal lunch box had a lightning bolt surrounded by thirteen other symbols that each represented a god. There were seven shirts, two jackets, a pair of sneakers, a pair of boots, two pairs of shorts, and three pairs of jeans. The shirts were all solid colors, two deep blue, three fire red, and two light brown. The shorts were cargo shorts that reached her knees. The jeans were each different shades of blue, dark, light, and classic. The boots were steel toed, black leather, reached about mid-calf, and zipped up. The sneakers were white and very comfortable. One of the jackets was leather while the other was cotton, only the cotton one had a hood and the leather had a tall collar that could be flipped up. Both were warm brown in color, and had embroidered wings on the back in every color.
At the bottom of the box Max found a letter folded up.
Dear Maximum,
We all watched your triumph last night and are very proud of you. I hope you enjoy my gifts and time in my cabin. All of the clothes are magical, They will stay clean and fresh despite what ever you put them through. They will also resist tearing can absorb minor amounts of damage for you. You can also let your wings out without having to worry about making holes. The jacket with the hood will disguise your face and voice when the hood is up. The backpack is fully equipped for any sort of situation, it also has a limitless pouch in a hidden pocket that is connected with the rest of the backpack as well. To get what you want out of it simply concentrate on the item you want when you reach in. You're lunch tin is to help you with your metabolism, and will remind you who is your godly parent for the month. Simply say or concentrate on a food you want then open the tin and the food will be there. This will not work for alcoholic beverages or things like ambrosia.
Since this is my month as you godly parent and it is already July 12th you and I will spend all of your upcoming weekends together. Other than that, you are still free to spend the rest of this month where and with who you want.
Love,
Your Father,
Zeus.
Max smiled to herself as she folded the letter back up and put it on the small night stand. She then changed into one of the new outfits, a red shirt, light blue jeans, and her steel toed boots. She then put the rest of the clothes into the backpack once she found the hidden pocket on the inside of the main compartment. Next she asked her lunch tin for some beef jerky and an apple before she put that into the backpack as well.
Max then made her way outside and was surprised to hear someone over in the training field already. Making her way over there Max figured she could get some sparing help from whoever it was since they were obviously dedicated.
When Max had a clear view of the training camper she was pleased to see it was Clarisse.
"I won't have pegged you as a morning person." Max called out as she got closer.
Clarisse froze and turned to the fool who had interrupted her morning training. But a slightly cruel and mostly friendly smile came over her face when she saw it was Max. "Yah, well I wouldn't have pegged you as one either." She retorted with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"Eh, I'm a little surprised myself when I got up before the sun today." Max relieved with good humor. "So this is when you practice?" She asked.
"Yah, have to. I'm scheduled for different training classes through out the day, both teaching and learning. Then in the evenings I teach one on one with people from my cabin." She told Max looking more exhausted just talking about her full day of activity.
"Wow, I would not be able to do all of that." Max said wondering how the girl hadn't collapsed yet.
"Yeah, well there's a reason everyone knows I'm short tempered, and a slave driver. Hey, I don't often do this, but I'm going to offer you some one on one training if you think you can take it." Clarisse offered.
Max was a little surprised by her offer but grinned and replied "I'll take all I can get, I got lucky last night and need to get better if I'm going to be able to hold my own next time." She told the cabin councilor with a predatory grin splitting her face.
"You bet your ass you got lucky." Clarisse snorted. "Hey, quick question, what was up with the whole claiming thing your first night?" she then asked looking mildly suspicious.
"Well, it's kind of a personal thing. I'm not ready to share the whole story, but I will tell you that due to some sick scientists, I am the daughter of twelve of the Olympians." Max said now very serious and a little upset.
"Does that include Ares, and are they the same people who did the wing thing?" Clarisse asked understanding that this is all she needs to know right now until Max is ready.
With a small chuckle Max nodded. "Yes, to both parts. And thanks." Max said with a small grateful smile.
"Of course, what are sisters for?" She replied as she began to pick up what she had had out for her morning practice. "We should get going, breakfast should be starting soon." Clarisse said when Max helped pick up the equipment.
With a nod the two headed to the storage closet to put the equipment and then the pair made their way to the relatively empty gazebo.
Max began to stack up on her plate pancakes, toast, fruit, sausages, eggs, and bacon until it was nearly impossible to keep the stacks from swaying precariously. After they sacrificed a portion of their meals Clarisse raised an eyebrow at how much food Max still had on her plate but didn't say anything.
As more people joined them in the hall Chiron approached Max. "Maximum, if you would please join me in my office once you are finished so we can discuss you schedules." He said and then looked at Clarisse . "And if you would show her the way." When the girls nodded their agreement and understanding Chiron nodded as well and walked away to take his seat at the high table.
Clarisse dropped Max off at Chiron's office after breakfast with strict instructions for Max to come find her after dinner.
Max knocked on the office door before walking right in.
Chiron was sitting in his wheelchair behind a large desk. "Ah, Maximum, please come in and take a seat." He said with a small smile gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk.
Sitting down in the middle chair Max looked around the large office that had many trophies and spoils of wars scattered around.
"Now, Mrs. Ride," the centaur began. "My understanding is that this month is your month as Zeus's child. I was also informed that as today is Friday, you will be spending tomorrow and Sunday with him. He should be coming by or sending a ride either this evening, or tomorrow morning." He explained to her.
Max smiled wide at the thought of spending the whole weekend with her kind of Father. But then she realized it will be a whole week soon. A whole week since the flock had kicked her out. Despite how they had turned on her she knew she was only trying to protect them. They were still her family. Max began to worry about how they dealt with the arrival of the erasers, if they did take her Angel. A much more reserved Max looked at Chiron "Thank you, if that's all?" she asked hoping to get out and do some flying. The large office was becoming increasingly small and cage like to her.
Chiron's brow creased with concern at the intense and sudden mood change from Max. "Of course, go have some fun Mrs. Ride." he said as she practically ran out of the room.
Once outside Max launched herself into the air and stayed up there fighting gravity and clearing her mind.
When she finally came down she was almost late for dinner. Piling up two plates she made her sacrifice and moved to sit at the Zeus table when Clarisse grabbed her arm and steered her to the Ares table.
"I don't know what got you into such a mood, but I do know you shouldn't be alone to deal with it. Just don't expect me to hold you if you break down and ball your eyes out." she said as she forced Max to sit down at the table.
With a small snort max smiled a very small smile and said "If you ever catch my 'Balling my eyes out', give me a right hook to the face. And thanks, I was reminded of a painful situation that happened right before I came here." she explained.
Clarisse nodded understanding on some level. "Yah, most of us that are year long members know how that goes. There is a reason we stay here year round instead of going back to our families." She explained knowing how her own family had turned on her.
Seeing that she really did know how Max felt, Max nodded and began to eat her large dinner, she had skipped lunch after all. "So, we still on for that one on one tonight?"
(This is back right after Max was forced from the flock)
"Maaax!" Gassy suddenly screamed. he went racing for the open door and tried to go through it to suddenly be grabbed by Fang and held back. "Let me go, we have to stop her!" He shouted at them.
"No, Gassy, that couldn't have been the real Max." Angel said dejectedly. "Don't you think we are hurt and worried too?" she asked him feeling personally responsible, If only I had spoken up sooner about this imposter, she thought.
"We'll get her back. The real Max, we'll find her, and beat up whoever took her from us." Fang said darkly. Gassy had stopped fighting his hold and was now sobbing uncontrollably into Fang's chest.
"But how could this have even happened?" Iggy asked wisely. "How do we know that they didn't replace others of us, and why would they do that? Why not just take us back to the School when they found us?" he continued.
"It was only Max." Angel said. "Shortly after Jeb dissipated, Max, no the False Max suddenly had a shielded mind. I'm sorry guys, If I had just said something sooner..." She trailed off.
"No, Angel, she was a damn good copy. We couldn't even tell, and we're suppose to be her family." Fang said.
"So what do we do now?" Nudge asked finally finding her voice but not saying much.
"Our home here has clearly been compromised. We need to move out and find somewhere else to hunker down for awhile. Then we get these sickos and take Max back." Fang said as anger and defiance flashed across his eyes.
Solemnly accepting his words everyone began to pack up what they could. They each found a prepacked backpack for them with food, a change of clothes, and a few sentimental items in them. They were clearly packed by the Fake Max, but they couldn't figure out why.
"They might have tracking chips in them or something." Iggy pointed out.
"You're right. we cant take anything that's in these packs." Fang said.
They only found two other backpacks in the house. They then filled it with what little food they could and put in some clothes for everyone.
Fang and Iggy were each holding a pack since they were the oldest. "You going to be okay Ig?" Fang asked worried about the liability his disability might pose.
"I'll be fine, just let me know what's going on, and I'll be fine." Iggy told him, knowing that this will be tough for him.
With that said the now flock of five left their now tainted home to find and save their mother, sister, and friend Maximum Ride.
