Hey all,

I am much happier with the polls now (21 people). At the moment, i will be having dawn for a girl and blaze for a boy. If you don't want these names you better vote now.

Enjoy.

Heart of Diamond

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Angel Child

Chapter 9: We have to Find Help.

Max POV

Did Nudge just save Iggy? Yeh, she did, didn't she?

"Fang," I called. He turned around a spotted me. Even from this distance I could see his tense eyes relax. Out of the corner of my eye I watched the Eraser sprint away.

"Max…" He began, but I shock my head.

"Later. Go after the Eraser. Meet us back here," I said quickly. Fang hesitated before nodding and took off. His black wings flew him through the canopies and out of my line of vision.

I ran over to Nudge and Iggy, Gazzy and Angel were both on my heels. Both Iggy and Nudge hadn't moved from there positions, either they were too scared to move or they couldn't move. I prayed that it was the first one.

I knelt beside Nudge. "Nudge, Iggy are you guys ok?"

Iggy nodded, sitting up slightly. Nudge hesitated. "I can't feel my right leg," she whispered tiredly.

I looked down, cold blood rushed though me. Blood. Lots of blood. I ripped of her jeans to reveal a gaping wound in her calf muscle. She had been hit. That dam Eraser…

"Bird," I whispered. I looked up at Iggy. "Help me get her to lie down."

Iggy nodded and gently slid out from underneath her, gently resting her head on the ground. I took of my bag and dug around before pulling out the first aid kit. I pulled out a half a dozen Tissues and covered the wound with them, pressing down gently. Nudge groaned, I could tell she was losing consciousness.

"Stay with me Nudge," I whispered. "Angel, Gaz, find me a white pad and a bandage quick."

Angel and Gazzy both dug into the first aid kit. Angel passed me the white pad and Gazzy passed me the bandage.

But I realized something. The bullet was still in the wound. It had to be deep. There was no way I would be able to get it. I would kill Nudge.

I shock my head. Stop the bleeding first, and then we will worry about the bullet. I thought to myself.

With my bloody hand, I pulled of all the blood soaked tissues and replaced it with the blood pad. Nudge gave a weak cry when I pressed on the wound with the blood pad.

"It's ok, It's ok," I heard Iggy whisper to Nudge comfortingly.

I graved the bandage and began to roll it around her leg tightly. Nudge whimpered every now and then when I had to lift her leg. Iggy was constantly brushing her hair.

I picked up the clip and secured the bandage. I couldn't see any blood any more apart from the dried blood dribbling down her leg and the blood all over my hands. I looked up at Nudge. Her eyes were barely open.

"It's ok Nudge," I whispered to her, gently brushing her hair. "You can sleep now."

I watched her eyes close until she fell limp. I looked at the others. They were all frightened. Worried about Nudge. Worried about the fact that Erasers could still be out there.

There was a sudden rush of wind and we all spun around to face it. Fang landed in a crouch before tucking his wings in and jogging over too us. The first thing he saw was my hands. His eyes widened.

"God, Max what happened? Are you hurt? What's wrong…"

I cut him off. "No… This is Nudge's blood."

Fang went quiet. He walked over beside me and fixed his eyes on Nudge, who was asleep on the ground. Iggy looked up at Fang as he cradled Nudge's head.

I held his hand with my bloody one. "The bullet hit her in the calf. It is still in there. I knew I couldn't get it out of her while she was almost bleeding to death. But we need to get it out soon before the wound heels over."

Fang nodded seriously, glancing over his shoulder. "We need to get out of here first. There could be more Erasers".

He moved to pick up Nudge, but for some observed reason, Iggy stopped him.

"No. I can take Nudge," Iggy whispered.

Fang frowned and the forest became quiet. I sensed that they were talking to each other. Iggy nodded and Fang smirked. I frowned. I hated when people kept secrets from me.

Iggy grinned and began to lift Nudge up bridal style. I narrowed my eyes on Fang until he met my gaze.

Fang smiled. Later.

I nodded.

Angel suddenly burst into giggles and jumped up and down. I gave her a confused look, but she just shook her head.

What was it with people and keeping secrets from me?!

Gazzy suddenly jumped up. "I found a cool empty holiday house. In the end."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Yeh. It's pretty cool."

I shrugged. "Ok, Mister, you lead the way. Don't go above the tree line though. 1 person shot is enough."

Gazzy nodded and we all took off together.

Line Break---------------------------------------

We landed in front of the house. Amazingly, Gazzy picked a good place. It looked quite large. The forest surrounding it was thick. The road to the house was long and rough. It would make it easier for us to hear if we have visitors.

It was a single story house, with heaps of windows. The house was red brick with a front verandah. The verandah was wooden floored and had cream old fashioned iron poles to hold the roof up. The roof was silver tin. It seemed a very well looked after and country style house.

Gazzy managed to unpick the door with Iggy's lock picking kit. I thought I throw that out 2 weeks ago. Maybe it just me.

There was a click and Gazzy opened the cottage door and we all walked down the small hallway. On my left, there was a coat closet and another hallway. We stopped when we reached the lounge room. The lounge room was low ceilinged and had cream colored walls. A red brick fire place sat in one corner of the Lounge room and was surrounded by three cotton matching couches, one was a double. The floor was a well vacuumed cream carpet.

The lounge room also had a back porch and window doors. The sun was setting magnificently over the mountains. There were only patches of clouds and they all shone a beautiful orange color. But we didn't have time to stop and stare at the sunset.

(House floor plan on profile)

I turned around to face everyone. "Iggy, lay Nudge on the couch. Angel and Gazzy take everyone's packs and empty the food on the kitchen table. Fang you should have a look at Nudge's leg," I said to the flock.

We all handed our packs to Angel and Gazzy and they walked off towards the kitchen. Iggy walked over to the double couch and laid Nudge down gently. Fang and I knelt down beside Nudges leg.

Fang gently unwrapped the bandage around Nudge's leg. Nudge groaned in her sleep a couple of times. As the layers of peeled off, I could see the blood had already soaked into the pad and part of the bandage. Finally, Fang took away the blood soaked pad.

The hole was already half sealed. I could see that the calf muscle torn on the inside of her leg. Blood was still rapidly flowing out of the hole and dribbling down her leg.

I felt like vomiting. Fang covered it up with the blood soaked pad again.

Fang looked above the couch. "Angel, first aid kit".

The first aid kit soared across the room. With one hand Fang reached up and snatched it out of the air. He opened it quickly and handed me some tissues.

"Put this under her leg so the blood doesn't go on the couch," He instructed to me. I did as he said gently lifting her leg.

Fang dug around in the first aid kit and pulled out a smaller kit. He opened it on the ground. It had a needle, thread, and a small pair of scissors. I cringed when I thought about what he was going to do. Fang noticed.

"It's the only way to stop the bleeding," He whispered to me. We both looked at Iggy. He was just gazing at Nudge, brushing her hair out of her eyes. I knew he could here us.

"Iggy, go and help Gazzy and Angel cook dinner," Fang whispered. Iggy's blank eyes shot up and looked at the two of us. He didn't move.

"Iggy, go. Nudge will be fine," I whispered softly. I placed my hand on Iggy's shoulder, but he just shrugged it off and walked away.

I looked back at Fang. He watched Iggy leave before saying, "I'll tell you later."

I nodded before the both of us turned our concentrating on Nudge. Fang threaded a small amount of string through the needle and tied it at the bottom. I removed the blood pad.

I couldn't watch Fang thread the needle though Nudge's skin. I had to turn my head away. Fang picked up the scissors and there was a snip before I turned around again. The stitching was pretty neat and the blood wasn't coming out so fast.

Fang took out a bottle and some tissues. Taking off the lid and putting a drop on the tissue, he began to wipe the dried and fresh blood. Once it was clean the wound looked tons better. Fang took out a fresh clean white pad and put it on the wound. I passed him the bandage we had taken off Nudge and he wrapped it around her leg. Once he had secured with the clip, he let out the breath I didn't even realize he was holding.

Fang looked up at me. "That will be enough to stop the bleeding, but the bullet is still in there. We would need a professional to get it out," he whispered.

My eyes widened. "That would mean we have to take her to hospital."

"NUDGE IS NOT GOING TO HOSPITAL!" Iggy shouted storming into the room.

"Iggy…" I began, but Iggy cut me off.

"We are not taking Nudge to hospital!" Iggy said crossing her arms.

Fang looked at Iggy. "Fine. That means were kidnapping a doctor."

I slapped Fang on the back of the head and pointed my finger at him. "We are not kidnapping a doctor, Fang. You of all people should know better."

I stood up. My legs felt sore and weak but I ignored that. "We will find a way. We always do. Iggy, put Nudge in one of the bedrooms."

I began to walk to the kitchen. I desperately needed to wash my hands. They were still covered in dried up blood. But for some reason, my legs couldn't support my body. They crumbled underneath me. I tried to support my fall, but my arms suddenly didn't feel strong enough. My head hit the floor harshly.

"MAX!" Fang's voice echoed though my head before I blanked out.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxox

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