Chapter 14

"Aren't you on first watch?" Mackenzie asked as they made their way back to where the rest of the Flock was. Iggy put his hands behind his head and leaned back, as if relaxing and replied, "Nah, I'm next. Fang saw you on when you left and woke me up."

Mackenzie let out a yawn and flew into a nearby tree where she could see the rest of the Flock sleeping, Iggy close behind her. As they made themselves comfortable on a thick branch, she made eye contact with Fang who was sitting next to a sleeping Max. They nodded at each other (she had learned to speak with actions from her experience with Suki), before Fang smirked and gestured to the way she and Iggy were sitting together. Mackenzie, deciding to be the more mature of the two, promptly stuck her tongue out at him before turning back to Iggy, who asked, "Is Fang over there teasing us?"

"How'd you know?"

He shrugged, "You tensed up all of a sudden. You and Max both really need to learn how to relax every once in a while."

"I do not," she grumbled childishly, before resting her head on Iggy's shoulder. If he was surprised at her action, he didn't show it.

"So now you want to get close to me," he joked. She made a small mewling sound before murmuring sleepily, "I can't stay forever, might as well make it last."

He gave a small peck on the forehead before ruffling her hair, which had already been mussed up from when he had given her a noogie and said, "Don't say that. We'll discuss it some other time."

By then Mackenzie had already drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Too bad it didn't last.

The nightmares were becoming more intense than ever. She was standing on a tall skyscraper, the smell of smoke and ashes and- Was that the smell of burning corpses in the air also? She felt sick to her stomach as she heard the terrified screams of victims to the blazing fire sound throughout the entire bright sky. The whole scene was wavering back and forth, like a mirage due to the high temperatures and intense heat. Everything was engulfed in orange and yellow flames. A flash of something so bright it blinded her for a moment suddenly appeared and she closed her eyes. By the time she reopened her eyes, a figure in all black stood in front of her, and it wasn't Fang. The figure's face was shrouded and covered by a large cloak, but the person was clearly male. As he opened his mouth to speak, his voice came out as a raspy hiss.

"You've finally arrived, my dear. It's about time we meet."

He stepped towards her and she instinctively tried to back up, only to once again find herself immobilized.

'Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!' she screamed to herself.

The figure in black was standing right in front of her now. He brought his hand up to stroke her cheek and she flinched.

"You look just like you mother," the man croaked. She stared at him in shock. Her mother? She didn't even know who her mother was. Who was this guy? She glared at him, only to have the man laugh at her.

"Trying to be brave, eh? You can't run, my little flame. You can't run from fate."

"But I'll die trying," she snapped. He only shook his head and chuckled.

"And yet here you are. You can't stop these dreams. Your dreams of the world burning. Admit it. You want it. You need it. Even now, your powers grow stronger within you, the fire rushing through your veins."

She fiercely shook her head. "No!" she yelled. "I don't want any of it! I want it to stop! Just stop!"

The dark figure seemed to fade into the background, as if dissolving right in front of her eyes, leaving behind only the sound of his cold, evil laughter. Her body felt like it was being shaken, another voice calling her name, its tone desperate and pleading.

"Mackenzie!"

Her eyes finally snapped open, looking into Iggy's cloudy blue eyes. He was holding her, one arm wrapped around her back and the other holding onto her shoulder. He was the one who had been shaking her, Mackenzie realized. They were on the ground with the Flock surrounding the two of them with worried expressions. Angel seemed to be the first to notice she had woken up and said, "She's awake!"

Iggy's hold on her seemed to tighten as he looked down at her.

"Mackenzie?"

Mackenzie was surprised at the amount of worry in his tone. What had happened during her nightmare that had made him this concerned about her?

"I'm here," she replied softly.

"Dude!" Gazzy crowed, "I bet if she didn't wake up in the next few minutes, Iggy would've ended up making a move and giving her mouth to mouth or something."

"Ohmigosh!" Nudge exclaimed, "That would've been so adorable if that happened!"

Max whacked Gazzy upside the down, emitting an 'Ow!' from the gaseous eleven year old.

"Don't be ridiculous," Max said, "She'd have to have been drowning for that."

Mackenzie rolled her eyes at the useless banter, before turning a light shade of pink after realizing that Iggy was still holding her. Very, very closely. She cleared her throat nervously.

"Uh, Iggy? You, uh, might want to let go of me now?"

Iggy turned pink as well, before slowly helping her back up to her feet, his hands lingering on the small of her back the entire time and making her entire back tingle with warmth, not that she had noticed or anything.

Sure you didn't, Angel's voice popped in, And we're all normal humans.

Angel, you couldn't have chosen a worst time to butt into my thoughts.

I try Mackenzie. I try.

Happy Saturday! Thanks for all the awesome reviews! I'll definitely try out some of your suggestions. Anyone want to guess who the figure in black is?

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. Please review if you have the time. ^_^

Less than three,

PalmerPie