This Chapter: A wardrobe change, a mysterious online chat, and a promise of help? Can this mysterious source be trusted? Please read and review. Then read lizziestar's stories! They are awesome!

Bree

The city was big. H-U-G-E. Like…so many buildings! So many stores! We had never been able to explore towns or cities on our missions, so this was our first time in anything close to public. Max had to spend a little time scolding us because we forgot to fold our wings in before walking around.

Fortunately, no one saw them, so we averted that crisis. After we all had our wings well hidden, we practically charged into a clothing shop and spent hours upon hours trying different clothes on.

Of course, because boys somehow know exactly what they want to wear, they had picked out new complete outfits before us girls had even had a chance to try any on.

Demi got himself black cargos and a baggy navy-blue t-shirt. Basic Demi for you. He wore almost the same thing every day anyway, so I guess that helped cut down picking time.

Talon chose an outfit of washed-out black jeans and a white t-shirt with a black wolf on it. He usually picks something with a cat on it for himself—but maybe he picked a wolf because of Terra. I then saw him put on a black short-sleeved button-down shirt with small grey lines running vertically that gave him a "sophisticated but dangerous" look. He also picked out a camoflauge, hooded sweatshirt that had a hood big enough to hide all of his color-changing hair.

After he paid for his clothes and started heading out to meet Demi waiting outside, I saw his right arm spasm violently and probably painfully. The spasms stopped quickly, but I was worried about my little brother. Talon's latest nerve attack that started at the School was still going on, but he kept lying it was slowly getting better.

The only reason I hadn't freaked out and called him out for his lying was because at least he was still able to function somewhat. I trust Talon with my life, but I was really nervous about his lying, because this nerve attack was lasting longer than the first one by a full two hours.

But going back to clothes, I got myself a neon pink halter with a black, frilly, layered mini-skirt with some electric blue bangles for my wrists. Juli snagged herself a long, billowy shirt and a pair of normal jeans. She had originally picked out a beautiful sundress, but Max said no, due to practicality in our "on the run" situation; Juli was disappointed, but she still picked out an outfit that matched her perfectly.

Zell got a smaller version of Juli's shirt in a light orange hue with a pair of light-blue jeans, and Lexis had a blue-and-gold skirt combo, a blue shirt and a gold skirt-complete with leggings and a wraparound sash that she adored like who knows what.

Terra chose a denim mini-skirt with black leggings underneath. Her long-sleeved shirt was black with a gold trimming to match her eye. She got herself a plain, black silk choker for her neck to hide the marred skin that the spiked collar caused, and It looked like it would work well. A few haircuts and new sunglasses for Demi later, we were on our way to meet Max's flock at the library.

Well…we found them there, but not in the way we'd expect it. We found them on the computer farthest away from the doorway, but closest to the window. Once again, I shall simultaneously applaud and face-palm at how thorough Max and her flock are with security and escape.

They all had bewildered looks on their faces, which got me curious. Max must have heard the library doors open, because she turned to look at us, and quickly proceeded to signal us over to the computer quickly.

Terra

Max called us over when we entered, pointing at the computer screen. Nudge was just sitting there, looking confused. On the regular, desk-top monitor was Fang's blog, more specifically, his inbox for the blog. I was getting curious at the thought of what was being said on the message that would baffle all of them so much. I looked at the screen and only saw one message.

"Hello Fang, if you are reading this, let me tell you we know where you are at this exact moment in time, your current situation, and that I can offer proper first aid and shelter for all of you. We know who you are. We can help. We read your blog. We are active on wanting to help."

Now I was jerking my head around, looking for an ambush waiting to happen, when another message appeared.

"Don't worry, I'm not from the School, I'm on your side."

Fang started to type a message back.

"Prove it. Prove to me you're not on their side."

The mystery messenger didn't reply for a minute, which made me think he was coming up with a lie. But when the message did show up, I knew he had just taken the time to choose his words carefully.

Unknown: "I wish that everyone involved in Itex or the School would burn in hell a thousand times over for what they did to you and the Neo-Flock."

Fang: "How do you know about the Neo-Flock, they didn't even go into public areas, so there're no pictures of them."

Unknown: "I have some skill as a computer hacker, so for the past few months I've been tracking both Flock's situations from the School's databases. You'd be surprised how easy it was for me to get in."

While the online conversation was going on, Max and I were in a heated discussion of our own, over whether or not to trust this guy.

"We can't trust anyone outside the flocks for help except my mother!" Max argued, "He's just another School cronie looking to get us captured."

"Max," I pleaded, "be realistic. We're in North Carolina and your mom's in Arizona! You look ready to collapse as it is, so do you honestly expect me to believe you'll survive long enough to get there?"

"But-" Max started.

"I agree with Terra, Max," Fang said firmly, "we don't have any other option than to take whatever this guy can give us."

Max would have argued longer, but she was overcome with a dizzy spell and had to sit down. She was breathing very heavily and her brand-new clothes were being soaked in her cold sweat.

"Tell him we trust him," I told Fang, who was already typing the reply, "but see if we can get a name from him at least."

Fang: "All right, I trust you, but I need to know your name."

Unknown: "I can't tell you my last name, in case The School is trying to trace this chat, but my first name is Walter. P.S. Max's bullet wound should be fine until you get to me if you keep it clean and keep a cloth tied slightly tight around it as a bandage. If you want our assistance, press Enter to learn where to go. If not, press Backspace and this entire chat will be erased. Hope to see ya soon."

"Last chance to turn back, do we want his help?" I asked, holding Ari in my arms again—at least this library allowed pets on leashes. And we did buy the two canines collars and leashes just so we could get them in. Ari had a spike collar ("I'm tough!" he childishly retorted at the sight of it) and a black leash and Total had a red collar with a matching leash. After a unanimous silent decision, Fang hit the 'enter' button. Another message appeared on screen.

Enloenc. Three days 7:00 pm. Look for a short girl with a backpack. Ask her what would it be like if you had wings and could fly. If she answers with "you would know, wouldn't you?' She'll direct you to me. Don't be late.

Enloenc? What's Enloenc? I thought to myself. Fang quickly closed down the message screen and turned to look at us.

"Alright. We have a good situation ahead of us. We have food, shelter, and first aid waiting for us, if only we knew where to go." He started, sarcasm in his voice. Talon was on another computer, looking up what "Enloenc" could mean.

"It's a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina." He replied, looking back at us, "the 'nc' meant it's in North Carolina."

"…What the heck, man. I can see where we are and where Raleigh is, and there's quite a bit of distance there. Can Max make it all the way there?" I asked, worried.

I looked over at my friends, and they looked at me, then looked at Max to judge whether she could in fact make it.

"Exactly how far is it from here?" I asked Talon, who quickly made guesstimate in his head.

"About a three and a half hour flight from here." Talon said, "if we didn't stop, we'd get there tonight. I don't know why he put the meeting so far ahead."

"Alright then," Max said, recovered from her dizzy spell, "Let's go already."

As we took off at the edge of town, I noticed that Max looked very pale and very weak. I then realized why "Walter" had given us three days, because we'd need that long so Max could rest. I prayed that this "Walter" person could help us. If not, I don't think Max will last much

Talon

Three days later, we were flying over downtown Raleigh at about 6:50. The reason we were so late getting there was that Max's condition had gotten much worse, with the skin around the bullet hole turning green and reeking to high heaven, so Fang had to fly while carrying her. I was worried. I'm no doctor, but the fact that dark lines of skin, that weren't veins, were spreading on Max's leg was a bad sign.

My own pain seemed pathetic in comparison. I was still recovering from my 'nerve attack', so I could barely fly on my own, but I sucked it up so Demi could help Bree fly. We flew around looked a while for Enloe before finding it nestled in some suburban forested area.

We landed behind some trees and surveyed the area. There was only one person in the parking lot of the school. A short girl with long blonde hair that looked in her mid-twenties was looking around impatiently while glancing at her watch.

"All right Talon," Iggy whispered, "go ask her the question to see if she's our guide."

"Why do I have to do it?" I said, "I'm recovering right now. YOU should do it."

Terra interrupted our squabble before it escalated.

"Just shut up and go Taly," she said, "I don't want to hear any whining from you."

"Fine," I said, "but you all owe me for this if she isn't our guide and I royally embarrass myself."

I silently walked up behind the short girl, trying not to give away where everyone was hiding. When I got close enough, I prepared to ask her the question, but she spun around and cut me off.

"Who are you," she asked harshly, obviously she was not happy to be standing in a parking lot at night.

"Oh, I'm just looking for someone," I said out of instinct.

"Really, I'm supposed to be waiting for somebody," she replied, "But if they don't show soon, I'm bolting."

After we stood there silently for a few minutes, I decided to just get it over with and be prepared to run for my life if she wasn't our person.

"Wouldn't it be great if had wings and could fly?" I asked.

I swear, her eyes got as big as dinner plates.

"You would know, wouldn't you?" she squealed in delight; it took all I had not to clutch my ears in pain, because sensitive ears + hypersonic squeal= not good, "I thought my boyfriend was just pulling my leg about the whole 'the Flocks are coming here' thing."

I signaled everyone to come out from behind the trees, and her eyes swelled from dinner plates to beach-ball size. I could see she was holding back from squealing as loud as she could again, a restraint I was very grateful for.

"I'm Jessica, Walter is my boyfriend, but just call me Jessie," she said, "I'm a big supporter of the Flock. I've kept track of the Old Flock ever since they appeared on the news a few months ag-"

"Yeah, yeah," Max said rudely, "can we cut the 'biggest fan' crap and go see this Walter guy already?"

I noticed Max looked was white as a sheet, and was drenched with a cold sweat. Overall, she looked like complete and total crap. Jessie obviously didn't care about that though.

"Don't get pissy with me when it's you who obviously needs our help right now!" Jessica countered with the sharp-edged wit of a master.

Max would have made a sarcastic and insulting retort to that, but she had passed out.

"I can take her in my car if you don't mind." Jessie offered.

"…Okay," Fang said hesitantly, "that'll make it easier to fly,"

"Alright," Jessie said after loading Max into her car, "just follow my car to the neighborhood, then just land in the yard of the blue house."

We took off and had a short flight south to a quiet neighborhood in the peaceful countryside. The three-story blue home stood out like a sore thumb in the tan and brown of nearly every other house in the neighborhood. We saw Jessie pulling Max out of her car and carrying her into the house.

Next Chapter: Meeting Walter