Hey, readers! I am so sorry for the long wait for an update. I have been super busy with soccer, school and clubs. It's my first year in high school so I have tons of work and am constantly discovering the difference between middle school and high school. Please, do not give up on me I am NOT abandoning my story. Updates will be coming at a slower pace than usual though. When I have breaks from school, I will write everyday so that I can update chapters regularly. Please be patient and keep reading my story.

IMPORTANT: I am starting a new pole for what my next story should be. Do not worry this story is far from finished but I want a lot of people's opinion on my pole before I start the next story.

On with chapter 8. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. All rights to publish Maximum Ride remain with JP.

My eyes shot open and I jumped up just as fifty Erasers reached the top of the cliff where the entrance to our cave was. The rest of the Flock stormed out of the cave and came to join Iggy and me as we clustered around the cave entrance.

I strained my ears to hear Max giving directions to us so that we could survive our trip to Arizona. "Nudge, Angel, and Gazzy get in the air as fast as you can while the rest of us fight from the ground, Nudge carry Total while we fight and Iggy will take him once we get in the air. Try and push the ugly thugs off the cliff as fast as you can and when most of them are gone we'll U and A to Arizona." My face must have shown how confused I was because Nudge was quick to translate, "Up and away," she whispered from, her place next to me and I could have sworn I saw Max roll her eyes at me.

"Now," Max screamed has she charged at the Erasers followed by Fang, Iggy and me. The cliff was a flurry of hands and feet as we punched and kicked our way through the team of Erasers, sending them over the cliff and down to their deaths.

"Fang, Iggy, Ember U and A, lets go" yelled Max. I pushed off the cliff with my feet and extended my wings soaring hundreds of feet in the air with the Flock. Max gave Fang one of her signature looks and he flew over to fly behind me. Great, I thought, she still thought I was untrustworthy.

With a few days of hard flying, we reached Arizona and touched back down to the ground in a section of thick bushes in what I assumed to be Dr. Martinez's backyard. Max began walking toward the house with the rest of us following close behind. We had only walked about three feet when a women in her thirties burst from the house with a younger girl following close behind.

"You're here," she exclaimed as she pulled Max into a hug. The younger girl hugged Max as well before they gave each member of the Flock their own welcome. I noticed a man about the same age as the women standing on the house steps and I made sure to keep a wary eye on him because from the others description he was Jeb, a former whitecoat.

"Who's this?" asked Dr. Martinez.

Max was of course the one to answer her. "Uh, Mom, Ella this is Ember. Ember this is Dr. Martinez, my mom and Ella my half sister."

"Uh, hi," I stuttered. I felt very uncomfortable.

"Are you like the Flock?" Ella asked me.

"Yeah" I replied trying to show as little emotion as possible.

"Well, welcome to the family," said Dr. Martinez who gave me a hug of my own followed by Ella. My arms hung uselessly by my sides until I awkwardly returned their hugs.

"How old are you?" Ella asked.

"Thirteen"

"Oh my God! You're the same age as me. I'm sure we'll get along just fine."

I looked at her and saw that she truly meant what she was saying ad gave her a small smile.

Jeb walked over and offered me his hand. "I'm Jeb I'm sure the Flock has told you about me so I might as well confirm that I was a whitecoat but I only did it to get information to help the Flock. I have left the business and now live here with Dr. Martinez."

I decided to play nice and warily shook his hand because I was sure I could overpower him in an instant if he did anything funny. Old habits die-hard and I made a mental note to keep a watchful eye on him just in case.

"Why don't we all go sit in the living room and we can discus the current turn of events," said Dr. Martinez flashing one of her warm smiles.

Wee all walked into the house and sat in various places around the living room. The house seemed large and I figured it was so that there was enough rooms for when the Flock stayed overnight.

"Okay, lets get down to business," began Max. "Jeb we found Ember in the woods getting chased by Erasers and we helped her soon after learning that she claims to be Fang's little sister. We decided to believe her based on the obvious resemblances between her and Fang. However, I want valid proof and since you worked at the School I want you to tell me if they are related, so start talking."

"Yes," answered, Jeb, I can confirm that Ember and Fang are full brother and sister like Gazzy and Angel. However, I do not know much more considering I mostly worked with the six of you."

"Okay," said Max turning to face me. "You are welcome to stay with the Flock but as far as I am concerned you are on probation until you earn our trust, understood."

"Yes, mom", I replied sarcastically. Max of course shot me a dirty look but the others were trying not to laugh including Jeb, apparently not many people stood up to Max.

"I guess I was right," I looked over at Jeb to see what he was talking about, "I was in charge of watching you a couple times at the School and from the hard time you gave the scientists I could tell you were going to end up exactly like Max."

I shrugged my shoulders not caring. Besides the fact that she was always on guard for danger and she was very sarcastic I saw nothing alike between the two of us.

"Okay, why doesn't everyone go to their rooms and get a change of clothes. The rooms are the same as always Iggy and Gazzy share a room, Nudge and Angel share a room and Max and Fang get their own rooms. Ember you can share with Ella and wear some of her clothes until we get you some of your own since the two of you look about the same size."

"Yes! Come on Ember, it'll be fun," said an overly excited Ella.

"Um thank you for everything Dr. Martinez but you don't need to spend money on me," I said.

"Nonsense Ember. Your part of the family now don't worry about it and you can call me Dr. M if you prefer it's shorter and less of a mouthful." Before I could say thank you again, Ella was dragging me to her room talking about how she couldn't wait to know more about her new friend.

As you are reading this, I am writing my next chapter. Please review and please do not hate me for the short updating, I explained everything before the chapter began. I promise whenever I have a vacation I will write like crazy and post chapters at regular intervals. Till the next chapter!