11. The New Perspective

After Madi leapt gallantly out the window, trying to impress us all, I was left with a room of birdkids staring at me, some none too nicely. I took a deep breath, then clapped my hands once.

"So… looks like I'm in charge."

Max opened her mouth to protest, but I held a finger up to silence her.

"I'm the same age as you, so don't you dare use that. And don't use the 'I'm tougher than you' thing either. I can tell the future, remember? I know what will happen if you go. And it isn't pretty. So you are going to stay here and listen to me. Got it?"

Fang put his arm around Max as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at me some more. I felt an arm go around my shoulders, and looked up in surprise at Iggy. First, I had no idea he was in here, and second, I thought he'd be on Max's side. Fang and Max's expressions showed they thought the same thing I had. To spite them, and because I wanted to, I reached my hand up to hold onto Iggy's.

"Now," I began in a softer tone. "We're all going to stay here unless Madi needs help. In that case, Dylan and I will go. Not Fang, Max, Nudge, Gazzy, or Iggy. Just me and Dylan. Because that way nothing will happen that has lasting damage. Got it?"

I saw Nudge bob her curly head, Gazzy frantically nod, and felt Iggy nod his head slowly. Max and Fang grudgingly nodded.

"Sounds good." Dylan added. He hovered awkwardly in the corner of the room, looking giant. He was just SO TALL. I used to feel tall, but now I just feel… average. And compared to these Amazonians, I felt short. Five feet six birdkids aren't typical. Unless you're twelve. Then five feet six is perfectly normal, because you'll grow.

"Good. So, now… I guess we just chill." What an articulate and inspiring way to end that speech. I'm so good.

Iggy pulled me over to the couch and sat me down next to him. I turned to face him, looking into his milky eyes covered with strands of blonde hair.

"What… bad things would happen if everyone went to fight?" He asked.

"I can't tell you. It's not going to happen anyways. It doesn't matter," I said sharply, wincing at the tiny frown my tone brought to Iggy's face. "Look, don't worry about it. I'm going to get some coffee."

My head was pounding and my eye lids were drooping as I headed for the tiny kitchen area.

Fang was in the kitchen when I went in. I skirted around him to the percolator.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Fang asked, giving me a funny look. I wasn't even aware I had been looking at him. That's how out of it I was. I must be really tired.

"Like what?"

"You're glaring at me."

"Oh." I dumped milk and sugar into my coffee to hide the bitterness. Fang stood there blocking my way as I tried to leave.

"Do you have something you want to say?"

I turned my gaze up to his eyes.

"You better come back, Fang. That's all I'm saying."

While he stood there looking dumbstruck, I ambled past and back to the couch. I shouldn't have said anything about the future, but that was most likely going to happen no matter what went down. So it shouldn't do much. Except maybe change his mind. Maybe. I doubted it.

I had just settled back next to Iggy with my coffee when Jeb walked in from the terrace.

"Claire? Can I talk to you outside?"

"Can't I get any peace? Please? I'm tired. Leave me the hell alone." Don't blame me for being rude. Caffeine wasn't doing its job. Still, I got up and shuffled to the terrace with Jeb.

"What do you want, asshole?"

I've never liked Jeb.

"I want to know how you and Madi got here."

My eyes widened. Shit.

.C.I.W.

Lol, Claire and I thought you would enjoy a new dynamic. Because… we're awesome like that.

Do comment. I'm getting rather bored with just one person commenting. What happened to the rest of you? :P

Much love, though.