Max's POV

My internal alarm woke me up around oh, not-night-but-early-morning-gray-sky-coldness time. I yawned and looked around at my flock. Of course I knew where Fang was, Nudge and Angel were huddled together and Iggy was...wait. Iggy's arm was around Emily and she was curled up against his chest. I felt Fang wake and silently I got his attention and pointed to Iggy and Emily. He raised his eyebrows and mouthed 'woah'.

I know! I mouthed back.

I walked over to Iggy and gently shook him awake.

"Huh, waa?" He mumbled and looked up.

"Ok, what's up with you and Emily?" I asked.

He looked down at her then back up at me. "I don't know, it's just...I've never felt this way before."

I opened my mouth to say something when Emily stirred and sat up.

"Mornin'," Iggy said.

"Good morning." Emily smiled at us and went to the back of the cave and disappeared behind a giant rock.

We all looked at each other then followed her. We walked around the boulder to find ourselves in an adjacent smaller cave with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites reaching up from the ground. The walls were alive with sparkling quartz that reflected off the pool of water where Emily was kneeling. There was a tiny waterfall coming from a hole in the wall and a creek running out of the pool. In short the place was gorgeous.

"Woah," Fang said.

"Emily, this place is-"

"Like it?" She asked. "It's my favorite spot to come and relax."

"It's amazing," Iggy said in wonder. I'm sure he was taking the time to look around, now that he could enjoy seeing it.

"You wanna meet my pet?" Emily asked.

"You have a pet?" Fang asked incredulous.

"Of course, brother. I'll call her out."

She whistled a shrill piercing whistle and waited. I wasn't so sure I could deal with another pet. Not after Total. But when I saw what her pet was, my mouth dropped. It was a hawk. A beautiful Red Tailed Hawk. It's feathers were like Nudge's wings, sort of a tawny chocolaty brown but with fawn coloring lower. It's tail was a gorgeous russet color, almost like a fox's pelt. It was the largest Red Tailed Hawk I've ever seen. It was almost as big as a bald eagle!

"A hawk?!" Fang yelled at her.
"What? Ethne's a good hawk. And besides, she's more than any normal hawk. Aren't you, Ethne?"

"If that's what you think then yes," Ethne spoke in a precise and clear voice. A talking hawk. Nothing should surprise me anymore.

By this time Nudge and Angel were in the cave and we were all staring at Ethne in amazement.

"Emily, may I have a word with you, please?" Fang asked in a clipped tone.

"Fine."

Fang's POV

I took her back outside to the bigger cave and raised my eyebrows at her.

"Fang, I know you think that we can't take Ethne with us but honestly, how is she going to be any different than Total? I mean, he's a talking dog so what's wrong with a talking hawk?"

"It's a wild animal!"

"It, I like that. Why don't you just put a hood and jesses on me too while you're at it?" Ehtne tossed her head. Emily gave me a look. I rolled my eyes. This was out of my hands.

"Em, Max has the last say. All right?"

"I'm not leaving her here, Fang. Besides, I'm not your little sister. We're twins! You can't tell me what to do."

"I'm getting Max."

"I know what she's gonna say."

"Save it, Em!"

Max's POV

While Fang was out with Emily saying God knows what, the rest of us were seriously wigging out. I mean, a talking dog is one thing but a talking hawk? What's next; a talking elephant?

They came back in and we turned around. Fang had a stormy air about him an Emily was looking frustrated.

"Max, Ethne's not staying is she?"

"Well, why not? You let Total stay. And Ethne seems to be pretty tame."
"It's not the same!"

"She's staying," I said to Emily. "Now, can we please leave for New York City before something comes after us?"

We took off into the morning sky and headed for New York. A talking hawk. Seriously with a life like mine who needs cafine?