I am SOOOOO sorry! Blame BadAtPuppyDogEyes, it was her chapter to write! BTW, it was damaged beyond repair when I tried to read it, so, don't blame me! laughs (I hate lol…)
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!
Fang POV
Iggy wolf-whistled. I wondered why, it was just a hug! Not that I didn't want to kiss Max…I just…I didn't want to risk it.
Nudge was just looking at us, an enthusiastic smile on her lips. She was about to talk (a lot) but Iggy put his hand on her mouth. He was getting better at timing.
"Nudge, let's let the 2 lovebirds…" he took his hand off her mouth.
"Oooooh!!" Nudge cooed is if they'd planned it.
"…to their business." Iggy winked one blind eye at us before turning away with Nudge, who was still smiling.
I shook my head, but I couldn't keep the smile off my lips.
Gazzy stood still the whole time. Eventually, he raised an eyebrow. Then he just smiled understandingly and followed Iggy and Nudge, as carefree as I'd ever seen him.
Total sighed dramatically. "Ah, young love." He looked across at Akila and nodded toward the direction of the rest of the flock. They trotted away, looking just as happy as we were. So, that was everyone. Except…
Angel was looking a little tentatively at us both. I could see Max and Angel having a mind conversation, probably about me, I thought glumly. Then, in one huge moment of confidence, I strode up to Angel, held her up in my arms and hugged her. I was glad to feel her small hands wrapped around my neck, hugging me back. Then Max joined us. I only heard the cheering for a second before we were swamped by hugs from the rest of the flock too.
Ok, I'm not one of those teenagers with 'BFFS' or one of those people who say like as every second word or keep saying "Oh my god! This is the happiest day of my life!" But I swear it was. The flock around me, laughing, safe, and Max still pressed against me in the big group hug. A day I'd actually dreamed of, maybe minus the flock, but I'm not picky. Right here and now, nothing and no-one at all could be happier.
And then Jeb showed up.
I think I actually heard Max growl as we parted grudgingly. If I hated Jeb, Max was ready to kill him every time we saw him.
"What now Jeb?!" she almost yelled at him. There was dead silence in the clearing. All eyes were on Jeb, most of them absolutely filled to the brim with loathe.
"Max," Jeb said in a reassuring voice, "I know you and Fang…like each other." She stiffened but held her ground. This was so much better than having her run away. Again. "But there are things we must attend to."
"Like what?" I asked. I sent him a death glare that would've been fair competition against Max's one.
"Let's not forget Fang, there are some dietary issues to sort out."
"Actually, I think we're happy to forget all about it and just move on," My voice sounded dangerously calm, even to me. I almost admired Jeb's ability to stand it out. Almost being the key word right there. But he flinched, I couldn't blame him.
Max gently, and a bit reluctantly, squirmed out of my hands. "No Fang," she took a deep breath through clenched teeth and said the next sentence with a face full of frustration, "He's right."
My eyes widened. "What? No Max, I can control it now. You don't have to worry about me."
"Fang, if," she paused, "blood is the only thing that you're going to want to drink; we need to sort something out. And don't give me all that cr… don't tell me you can handle it. You're going to starve."
I couldn't speak. Mostly because Max was right. I was so thirsty…
Jeb cleared his throat. Bad move, we all stared at him again.
"Well," he started, "as I've said before, Fang's DNA was fused with that of the hairy-legged vampire bat."
Even in this situation, I could hear several giggles around me. Even Max was biting her lip to hide a smile. I just had to be part hairy-legged vampire bat, didn't I? Jeb ignored us and continued, as always the scientist. "This particular species only drinks the blood of birds, which is why I believe he attacked you, Max. The bird in your blood was appetising to him." She didn't flinch, or shiver, or anything. Why though? I actually drank her blood. I attacked her and drank her blood. Shouldn't she hate me?
"So, you're saying that as long as Fang catches and eats a pigeon every so often, he'll be fine?" Max said it as if she were stating Oprah had only needed to cut down on junk food to lose weight.
"Well, it's not as simple as that. There's always that possibility he'll attack one of you again. We should probably –"
Max cut him off. "No, it's not a possibility. Fang's better than that."
"Aah, but is that bat in him better than that?"
I remembered the way I'd tackled Max, climbed on top of her and sucked at the vein in her neck. And how it felt so good…NO!! This was Max. It should NOT feel good to drink her blood. But it did.
Jeb was right. We did have a problem.
"What do we have to do Jeb?"
The whole flock turned to me in surprise. They'd never known me to give up so easily. I could see it in their horrified eyes that they weren't sure what to think of me anymore.
"Relax. I'm not agreeing to anything. But when I – when I…well, I didn't have control over myself. Hell, I wasn't myself. I don't want to hurt any of you, got that? So," and I said this a bit reluctantly, "Let's hear Jeb out.
Jeb gave me a friendly smile. I didn't return it.
"Well, I think it would be a good idea if we took Fang back to It –" before he even finished his sentence, Jeb took one of Max's infamous roundhouse kicks to his left arm.
"ARGH!!" he cried and clutched his arm, falling to his knees. Max's breathing didn't even falter.
"Jeb, you just proved to me you are double the traitor you were when you first left us. There is no way - do you hear me? – NO way I am letting Fang into the hands of Itex. None, now get out of here!" she threw her arm towards the direction of the thickest part of the forest. She mumbled something under her breath, only I was close enough to hear. "I hope wolves tear you to shreds."
Jeb looked pained. "Max, I only want what's best for you and your flock." He said your flock. It was obvious Max was the favourite here. "Just let me help!"
The Gasman couldn't resist. "How about noyou crazy Dutch bastard!" he said in a Dr. Evil voice. (A/N: This is one of me and my friends' favourite quotes)
We all cracked up. "Gazzy, language," Max managed to get out in between laughing.
Jeb didn't laugh. He stood stony-faced. "Max," he said in a voice that didn't sound like him. It wasn't male or female, young nor old. It was just, a voice. The Voice. Max gasped. "This is no time for fun and games, Maximum. Your flock is in danger." Max looked doubtful for a second.
I stepped around and in front of her. "Jeb, I'll bet Max gave you an arm fracture. Would you like some broken ribs to go with that?" I glared at him.
Max stepped up behind me. So did Iggy, sliding into a fighting position. Angel stayed in the middle, crossing her arms and looking more dangerous than any six-year-old should. Gazzy and Nudge took up the rear. The strategic position we'd been practising now filled the clearing. I prepared my muscles for fighting. I flexed them, and then let my natural fighting ability take over. The skills this man had taught me. Talk about the student over-passing the teacher.
Then, Iggy cocked his head towards the bushes. "Ig, what is it?" Max asked. Just then, Dr. Martinez stepped out of the bushes.
"Mum? What are you doing here?" Max questioned, her voice full of concern. Dr. M just smiled. It wasn't a motherly smile, it was sly and triumphant.
I heard Angel gasp. I spun around to find her face twisted in horror. "MAX! Run!" she yelled.
As soon as she finished, there were darts flying at us. They flew from the trees and lodged themselves in the dirt, barely missing us.
"Guys, split! U & A if you can!" The flock sprinted into the wood in all different directions. Not me. I ran with Max. I had gone through way too much with her to leave her alone now.
"Fang! We'll have more of a chance if we split up! Run!" she hissed urgently at me, her eyes wide and wild.
"No," I said firmly. She nodded in understanding. Max knew I wouldn't leave. I felt too guilty to let anything happen to her ever since…the incident.
We crashed through trees, twigs scratching our ankles, bugs staining our shirts. The wind howled past us, whistling a toneless tune. Our legs found a beat we both ran at and we sped through earth and shrubs as if we'd done nothing else our whole lives.
But wasn't that our life story? Fighting and running? Danger and worry? It was all we'd ever done. Even ole yee-haw Texas can't change that.
A dart shot past us and missed by half an inch.
"Faster," I whispered. We couldn't afford to lose breath shouting. There was no need to say anything though. We both upped our pace by almost double, our last reserves of energy pushing us along. I felt a sharp pang of pain hit my shoulder.
Just another stick, please. It's just another stick. But I was slowing down already. My limbs turned to mush and my vision blurred.
"Fang?" Max called. She was crouched down beside me, her dirty blonde hair lying gently on my face. Must. Protect. Max.
"Go," I mumbled.
"Fang, you're the one who came with me. I'm not gonna leave you now. You should know that." Her voice was hard with determination.
She couldn't stay. She was practically ordering me to let her get killed.
"Who…save…the flock?" I forced through lazy lips. Max couldn't get captured. No.
She hesitated for a moment, considering her options. We didn't have a moment though. I pushed her away with as much force as I could manage, which was very little thanks to the dart.
Then, Max's voice was in my ear. "I'll be back for you. I promise." I let my eyes drop. Max was going to be alright. The sedative in the dart took over my system, taking me down into unconsciousness. Just before it did, I thought I felt something soft brush against my lips. It was too warm to be a leaf, too solid to be a bug. Though, I might have just imagined it.
The footsteps closed in as I fell unconscious.
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