Chapter Eighteen: In the woods; Hunted
Normal POV
We are let out of the cage and lead out into the hallway, where Erasers are waiting for us. They make a circle around us and lead us into another room. When we get in there, everyone leaves the room.
I look around and see a room that looks like a cell because there is absolutely nothing in it. No windows, no furniture, no nothing. It's completely empty. It's so weird that we all just keep looking around the room with Gazzy telling Iggy that there is nothing in here at all.
Suddenly, holes open in the walls of the room and start shooting tranquilizer darts at us. We all duck and one look at these things tells me that they don't have tracking devices in them this time. That's a plus, but they are still being fired!
Without any warning the darts start to move down towards the ground, right where all of us are. There must me guns in those holes that the stupid white coats are controlling. We all just up and wings open up so that we can hover. That's when I hear Gazzy, Angel, Iggy, and Nudge all call out quietly, but loud enough for me to hear.
I spin around and see darts in their legs and realize where they had come from. The ceiling has a special gun in it! Fang saw it too and we both start to fly all over the place, but the gun quickly hits both of us…
Older Max's POV
The door opens again and this time a group of Erasers and scientists come in. A scientist opens the cage and then Erasers grab all of us by the arms. Then a scientist walks up to each of us with a tranquilizer dart for each of us. We all start to squirm, but the Erasers hold on tightly.
One-by-one my Flock is knocked out cold by the darts. Then it's only me still awake. They stick a dart in me and I only stay awake for a few seconds before I black out like the rest of my Flock…
No POV
Both Flocks wake up at their end of the woods the Director had ordered Omega to place them in. They all sit up at almost the exact same time and start looking around. After taking in their surroundings, both Maxes check on their Flock to make sure no one is hurt.
Fang is the first to realize what them being in the forest means and tells his Flock, "This is what the Director meant. I think it means we will have Erasers on us soon and that we have to find the other Flock somewhere in these woods."
On the other side of the woods, Icarus had just said almost the exact same thing. Both Flocks nod and follow their Max into the woods and both lead their Flocks, trying to find the other one.
Normal POV
I lead my Flock to the west because that is the direct opposite side of these woods. I completely agree to what Fang just said because it makes absolute sense. The Director had said that we could escape the challenge, but that would mean leaving Max's Flock behind without a meeting place. We just can't do that!
We trudge on through the woods, passing hundreds of trees, without a path in sight to lead us. This has got to be like finding a needle in a haystack. We can keep looking in here for hours and we won't be able to find them. This forest is too dang big!
Another problem is that we have no food or water. We are going to be moving on pure adrenaline without any way to regain energy. We haven't eaten in hours, so our energy supply is limited already.
I don't know how we are going to do this! I also have a sneaking suspicion that Erasers are going to be let into this forest with us to chase us down while we are looking for Max's Flock, which would explain the running part of what the Director said.
I must admit that I'm amazed at how quiet my Flock is, and I look around to check on them. They look fine, but all are concentrating on what we are doing as well as thinking like I am. I think they all know that there is no plan and that we can't leave Max's Flock behind.
I suddenly hear something from above us, in the air. We all look up but the branches are blocking our view. We all go to the trees, fly up, land on a branch that is still hidden from the sky but can see the sky, and see what's going on.
Erasers are flying above us in a formation as if they are waiting for something. Then it hits me, or some bird-kids. If we fly up there, they will attack on sight. They only way to defeat them is to find Max's Flock and team up again.
We all rush back down towards the ground and this time start flying low to find our friends.
Older Max's POV
We are all just walking along at a fast pace and waiting for the sounds of either Max's Flock or Erasers. We all hope the first sound is Max's Flock, but we can't be sure.
That's when Icarus calls out, "Something is flying just above the trees."
We all look up and see in the gaps between branches that Erasers are flying up there in some sort of formation… OH! They are waiting for us or Max's Flock to fly up out of the trees to attack us! This isn't good…
"Guys," I whisper, "they are waiting for us or Max's Flock to fly up there so that they can attack us on sight. The only way we can defeat them is if we find the other Flock and team up. Let's get going!"
They all nod and then we are all running towards the west and, hopefully, our friends.
Random Scientist's POV
I look at my watch and see that the hour is finally over. Time to let these crazy Erasers go in and hunt.
"Hour is up! Go find them!" I blow a whistle that only the Erasers can hear and they all charge into the woods at fast as they can.
Let's watch those experiments get together with Erasers on their tails.
Both Maxes' POV
I hear Erasers running through the woods towards us. We all start to move faster, just to not get caught.
I look back at my Flock and see that the younger ones are starting to tire. I have to do something, but what?! We can't keep going like this forever.
If I don't find a way to find the other Flock, then both of the Flocks are dead!
There has to be a way to save all of us, but what is it!? WHAT IS IT?!?!
I'm sorry that this chapter was kind of short, but chapter 19 will have the second part of the woods. If any of you are confused, just ask me in a review and I'll try my best to answer.
I'm in a bit of a bad mood because I just lost my Internet two days in a row for the entire afternoon. I didn't even get it back last night. It's really not fun. On the plus side, I wrote a couple of chapters. On the bad side, it's put me in a bad mood. Try to make me feel better?
Now, I have a sort of deal to offer (which is really nice since I'm in a bad mood). I have a certain number of reviews I want, if I get them before the day I plan to update on anyway, you all get chapter 19. So if I get it by tomorrow morning, you all get the next chapter tomorrow! I will be doing the same thing with chapter 20, but a different number. The only thing is, I'm not telling you the number. I plan to tell a specific few when they review, but that's all. So... This is your cue to REVIEW! Just click the button below and you get chapter 19 sooner! In fact, if I don't lose my Internet again, I'll post chapter 19 today if my reviews are enough! Just REVIEW!!!
Edited: 10/10/09