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Southern Utah
Max
Southern Utah really was beautiful. You know, other than the evil scientists running around down there. We were flying low, skimming over the tops of trees and around the rocky outcrops, scanning the ground for my flock hidden somewhere in what I guess is a national forest. Dylan had wisely been very quiet during the flight. I was still considering clobbering him and between that and the adrenaline high I wasn't exactly in a good mood. Nothing mattered until we found the flock.
We had flown through the night, stopping just once to eat when I had nearly fainted and Dylan had to catch me, and now the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. There! A well-hidden flicker of light only my raptor eyes would have noticed. I landed silently and approached the camp, cautious until I could see if it was my flock.
Hands grabbed me from behind. One covered my mouth, the other snaked around my waist, lifting me off the ground. I struggled, jabbing with my elbows and trying to turn enough to get a punch in. My attacker gasped when my elbows connected. "Max?"
Abruptly he let me go. I twirled around and then he was hugging me so tightly, one hand tangled in my hair and the other caressing my back, sending shivers down my spine. "Fang," I breathed, hugging him back just as tightly.
It might have lasted forever, but Dylan landed too and huffed loudly, enough that we awkwardly broke apart. The instant relief had killed my adrenaline buzz and I was suddenly aware that I probably looked like a swamp witch. Fang confirmed this with a slight smirk. "You look awful."
There was real concern underneath the smirk. He smoothed back my hair to examine the cut on my forehead and fingered the bruises littering my arms and shoulders. I shrugged it off, fighting against the hypnotic spell his touch was weaving. Dylan crossed his arms and stomped over in the direction of the camp, maybe hoping I would follow and soothe his anger.
Instead I tentatively reached out and hugged Fang quickly, one more time. "What are you doing here?"
"Iggy and Nudge called me."
"Oh. That was smart of them. But what are you doing here?"
He pulled me closer. "Rescuing you, but it looks like you don't need us."
Fang, you have no freaking idea what I need right now. Out loud I lamely responded, "Yeah, I got out."
"Max!"
We came apart like shrapnel. Dylan must have told the flock because I was instantly buried under three bird kids. Nudge was squealing, Gazzy was beaming, and even Iggy couldn't wipe the grin off his face. Fang stood back, just like he does.
It was so wonderful to be with them all again, but I was also on the verge of collapsing. I suggested we go sit down so they could tell me everything. On the way over Gazzy couldn't wait to tell me about the latest Eraser attack. "And everyone was fighting, but Ig and I dropped the bomb down on them and the explosion was so big!"
I grinned and patted him on the back. "That's great Gaz. I'm so glad you guys are safe."
At the camp, Dylan was already sitting and scowling. He wasn't the only one there, and it dampened my enthusiasm just a little. Maya and one of the others, was it Holden? I definitely couldn't say I was at all happy to see Fang's replacement me, but where were the rest of his group? We had a lot to talk about, obviously.
We all settled ourselves comfortably and I let Nudge and Gazzy, with the occasional help from Iggy, describe what had happened over the last few days. It became very clear Iggy and Nudge made great leaders. They had done everything right, just what I would do, or maybe even a little better. My pride would have stopped me from calling Fang to ask for help. I couldn't help but notice during the story how nice they were to Maya and the looks of disgust going Dylan's way.
They talked until I could barely keep my eyes open. When I jerked involuntarily, Fang, who hadn't really said or done anything other than place a bag of crackers and a bottle of water in my hands earlier, astutely asked, "Have you slept?"
"No." I stifled a yawn and looked closer at Fang's face and the dark circles under his eyes.
"You haven't either," I accused.
He shrugged, but Gazzy piped up, "He does all the watches now," and Fang gave him a look.
Nudge pulled me over to what was obviously her makeshift bed. She hugged me one more time. "I'm so glad you're back," she bubbled.
I still hadn't told them my story yet and it was going to hurt so much, but for now I couldn't even think. It was so good to be loved, to be home with my flock.