I hope you like this chapter, please R&R!


Chapter 9: Feeling Flush

"Finally- we're down- the- mountain." I collapsed on a nearby rock out of breath next to Nudge. At least I outdid Iggy. He had to fly down the mountain to Eugene's disapproval and still collapsed after that.

"Come on guys, get up. We're just getting started." Eugene showed us how full of energy he was by running and jumping around. I glared at him.

"Oh just shut up." I pushed myself to stand up and helped Iggy up. Iggy groaned as he slowly stood up. "I think I know what dying feels like." Eugene rolled his eyes.

"Come on Iggy, don't be a wuss. Take me for example. I have plenty of energy to spare, which I will definitely need." Iggy and I glared at Eugene.

"Look who's talking, wuss! Anyway, if you really have tons of energy to spare than you could carry our bags. I sure wouldn't want that valuable endurance of yours to go to waste!" Eugene was about to say something but we stopped him.

We had become better at predicting Eugene and Parfait's know-it-all outbursts. "Let's just go." Eugene pulled out the map that he and Parfait made.

"I think that we should head southwest for about two miles. Then, we could head back if we find the chocolate fountain, which I for one am still skeptical of its existence!" Eugene took the compass out of his bag.

"Follow me, but don't lag too far behind." I wished that Eugene would stop flaunting how he was so much better than us. That was really starting to get annoying.

"Anyone up for some hiking? We could climb that mountain and check the terrain for areas we might have missed on our map. It's not that big of a mountain. Come on you guys." Nudge threw her bag on the floor.

"Listen, if you want to go up there, than do so superman. As a matter of fact, do the map thingy, climb all of the stupid mountains in this forest, and find the fountain yourself. I'm sure that you will be praised enormously and get another prize to add to your many others just to raise you're selfish large ego!" We stared at Nudge.

"Nudge, my sister and I both know that we can't do this alone. We may have the intellectual and corporal advantages over you, but you're needed here, helping us. You and the rest of your Flock. Bob wouldn't have sent you here unless you were absolutely vital to finding the fountain. Trust me, if you didn't have something to do with this than you would be with Bob right now while he does insane tests on you!"

"When you find out how the rest of the Flock is needed let us know. Angel and Gazzy are doing absolutely nothing. I'm not even sure how we're helping you!" Iggy exclaimed. I had to admit, he did have a point there.

"You all are helping me. You're giving me the physiological backing that I so desperately require. You will help me. Together we will find the fountain. I now believe that this fountain is real. You all showed me that when reminding me about Bob's eagerness to find it. We can find this. We can do this, but we all must be willing to settle our differences and collaborate!"

"You're right Eugene. Either we find this thing, or we go back to the lab. I'm with Eugene. Who's with me?" I said. Nudge raised her hand.

"Isn't Bob going to die if we don't find this stupid fountain? So let's say that we don't find it. He'd die soon anyway so it really doesn't matter!" Iggy exclaimed.

"Bob has many close workers of his who will carry out his plans if he dies. If this fountain does cause him to die, we will be treated extremely harsh as revenge. We need to find this chocolate fountain, Iggy. Now, let's climb that mountain."

Eugene darted up the mountain while the rest of us dragged ourselves up. "Come one!" He screamed impatiently. We hurried as fast as we could until we could no longer stand. Eugene rolled his eyes.

"Don't make me drag you." I pulled myself up and forced myself to climb the rest of the way up. I started to feel lightheaded and my sight was slowly declining. I felt a tingling sense in my head and dropped onto the grass.

"Max, Max!" Someone had splashed me with water. I was back at our camp. Parfait, Angel, and Fang were crowding around me.

"Are you okay?" I slowly sat up. My shirt was covered in mud and my wet hair was flying all over the place. Why was I so wet?

"It rained while you were gone. Angel filled up all of the empty bottles with the rain water. Just as she completed that task, Eugene scurried up the mountain carrying you. He, Nudge, and Iggy continued their search and took Iggy with them." Parfait said.

Fang handed me a water bottle. "This is for you." I looked at the sky. The sun was starting to set as hues of pink were scattered in the blue sky.

I took a sip of the water and looked around. There was a large hole in the ground next to a pile of logs and wood. "What's that for?"

"Oh, we're building a permanent structure. Our tent is way too tiny." Parfait went on to explain her brilliant architecture while I drifted off thinking about the fountain and what had happened today.

The sun set, but Iggy, Gazzy, Eugene, and Nudge weren't back yet. Parfait paced nervously. "I'm sure that there are many logical reasons that they're not home. I mean, it's not like they promised that they'd be here by dark. Maybe they're just walking leisurely, or perhaps they're talking or something and are climbing this very mountain at this time." She paced around.

"I'm sure that they're fine." I said not truly believing it.

"Do you think they're lost?" Angel asked.

"I hope not." We remained in silence for about an hour until we heard footsteps thumping towards us. It was N?udge with a look of desperation on her face.

"Help, help us! There- there's a problem – it's Gazzy…"