So here's the 12th chapter, I hope you like it! And I apologize for the point-of-view changes.
Max's POV
I stared at Fang, waiting for him to elaborate, but knowing that he wouldn't. This was Fang. He didn't ever say more than he needed to. I almost let him get away with saying just that, but my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to know why his eyes had gone through so many emotions. Why those emotions? Why so many of them? Fang never showed emotion, so this sparked my interest.
"What about them?" I asked, studying Fang's expression. He looked at me blankly, but there was a strain in the way he held himself, the way he was clenching his jaw. I knew this subject pained him, but he needed to talk about it sometime.
Fang's POV
I thought back, a few days before, when I had awaken from the first night after finding Demon and Pity. I had never felt such betrayal, even when I found out about Jeb. He was like my father, but these people were my family. Blood relatives, my brother and sister. And I had forgotten everything that I'd ever learned, don't trust anybody, always stay on guard; and I'd gone with them, simply because they were my family. How idiotic was that? How could I be so stupid, so ignorant? I hadn't even questioned why they wanted to leave. All that I knew was that I belonged with them, so I had to follow.
"Fang?" Max wondered, waiting for my reply. I didn't know how to answer. What was I thinking about them, she wanted to know? How they betrayed me, how they had taken what little hope that I had that I might have a loving family and smashed it into pieces. That was what I was thinking. But I couldn't tell Max that. I was Fang, not someone who needed comforting, like Gazzy or Angel. I was the one who comforted her. Not the other way around. And Max definitely didn't need any more stress than she already had. I didn't want to add to her load.
Max's POV
"Nothing," Fang mumbled softly, turning away from me. But Fang had piqued my interest. I wanted to know what he was thinking. I silently wished for Angel's power. The mind reading one, not the one that allows her to talk to fish. I glanced over at her, sleeping soundly, curled up into a ball leaning against her brother. I felt a tug at my heart, wishing that I could give these kids a normal, happy life. But that couldn't happen for us bird kids. No, we had crazy scientists and erasers after us. I turned my attention back to Fang.
"No, really." I persisted, but Fang wouldn't meet my eyes.
"It's no big deal, never mind." I watched carefully as he examined my face. "You're tired, go to bed." My brow furrowed, and as I was about to protest, a yawn came over me. I tried to stifle it, but Fang noticed and smirked in that annoying way that he had.
"You do sound tired, Max. Go to sleep; I'll talk first watch." I had almost forgotten about Iggy, but when he spoke I felt indignation rise in my chest. How could they think that they knew what was best for me? I was about to say something, but Fang read my expression and chuckled. Did I mention how annoying Fang could be?
"Max, sleep." I made a sound of frustration, but then, realizing how tired I actually was, walked back into the cave and lay down next to Nudge. She looked so peaceful when she slept; almost the exact opposite of how she was when she was awake. I laughed lightly, before I drifted into a deep, much-needed sleep.
Fang POV
I watched Max until I was sure that she was asleep, her breaths becoming slow and even. I breathed a sigh of relief. Max looked like she needed to rest. I didn't know what had happened while I was gone, but I was guessing that it didn't involve Max getting very much sleep. I rustling of twigs to my right let me know that Iggy was still there. I turned toward him, waiting.
"So, I guess we're both in the same boat, huh?" He said a bitter smile on his face. I didn't understand what he was saying. We're both in the same boat? He understood my silence, and continued. "Neither of our families turned out to be so great. I totally understand the whole betrayal feeling. It sucks, and it sucks that you have to go through that. I hope no one else in the flock has to." Iggy's head was turned toward the ground as he said this. I was no longer confused about his words, but instead they made me feel grief. Iggy knew what this felt like. Iggy had been in pain like this. I suddenly felt protective of my best friend, my brother, only two months younger than me.
"I'm sorry." I stated, looking straight into his cloudy, unseeing eyes. It was quiet for a moment. It was a good quiet, one that made me feel closer to Iggy. Even though I hated what had happened, it made me feel more connected to Iggy, like he understood me. However, the silence was definitely not comfortable. The harsh expression on Iggy's face almost made me question his sanity. After a few more seconds, Iggy took a deep breath and his face smoothed out. He seemed calmer now.
"It's not your fault. It's not my fault. I don't know whose fault it is, but that doesn't really matter right now. It might later, when I'm in the mood for revenge and have just finished my latest bomb," Iggy grinned maliciously, and I found myself suppressing a shudder. Who knew that fun, playful Iggy had such a side to him? I realized that Iggy was partly joking, but only partly. "But it doesn't matter now. What matters is that we're all together, the flock. We're each other's family. Who needs anyone else?"
Iggy seemed determined with this statement, speaking clearly and with no room for doubt. I knew that it was true, that the flock was my family, that they would be there for anything. But I couldn't help the little voice inside of me that said,
I do.
Wow, I just wrote that really quick. That was fun; I forgot how much I enjoyed writing. I'm really sorry that I haven't updated in forever, but I've been kinda busy with everything. but it's summer now, so hopefull that will give me more time to write this, and figure out where the story's even going. I'll do that later, figure everything out. This chapter's still pretty short... But it is longer compared to other chapters. I think I'm getting the hang of the write-longer-chapters think. Before you know it, they'll be the length of everyone elses! So I've been reading some of the fanfictions around here, and I'm not feeling so great about this one. There are pieces on this site that are so much better than this. But I'm going to try to make this better. Now, this note is getting really long. Ok, please review and tell me what you think! I really like to hear your thoughts!