Thanks, once more for the reviews, I know I always say this but they do make me happy and they do mean a lot to me. Haha, plea for the reviews is now over. A lot of you want to know whether Phoeno is good or bad, and what I have in response to that question is that you will all find out later. Thanks for you time!

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. Quelle Surprise!

x.

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The next day an ugly looking bruise had formed where Ari's clone had punched my kidneys. I had to lift my shirt up for Iggy to check out the damage. Once he'd finished I caught Fang staring and he moved towards me to see if I was okay. I snapped my shirt down and turned away from him to Gazzy, trying to rouse him from his sleep mode by rubbing his back between his wings. I might have been better myself if I'd had a pillow to sleep on. Jerk.

"You okay Gaz? Floor wasn't too hard for you was it?" I smiled at him; I wasn't about to take out my anger on the little kids was I?

He turned his head to face me, his deep blue eyes half closed, still not fully awake yet. "Yeah was okay, my arm hurts from where I slept on it funny though" He mumbled. I ruffled his hair and ran my hand down the arm he'd pointed to.

"It'll wear off soon, once you've loosened up a bit" I smiled reassuringly. He grinned and ran towards Iggy, who was in the middle of lacing up his boots. Angel was sitting curled up next to Iggy and as soon as he finished lacing up his boots, she rested her head on his chest and he put one arm round her. I'm not sure if she slept so well last night. Her eyes looked tired and dark, it seemed Iggy could sense it as he manoeuvred himself into a position where she would be most comfortable and remained as still as possible. He was more caring for the young kids than I realised. Note to self: Thank him. Nudge was lying with her belly on the floor, propped up by her elbows with her hands cupping the sides of her face, talking non stop to Phoeno, who looked a bit awkward and practically scared. Although Nudge wasn't freaking her out on purpose, pride and love swelled up in my chest for that girl. Meet the Nudge Channel Phoeno, I thought, have fun during your stay. Fang kept trying to catch my eye, but my gaze remained focused elsewhere in the cave, I wasn't going to forgte last night so easily.

After checking Angel was fast asleep, Iggy began the conversation I'd been dreading "So, I guess you're part of the flock now. Uhm…welcome to our paradise" He gestured towards the cave and laughed. So did the others, including Phoeno. Yeah, I thought, soo funny. Not.

"I'm so glad you guys let me stay. You're all so cool!" She grinned. Damn it she was too pretty. I returned the smile, physically stopping myself from making retching noises. She ruffled Gazzy's hair. Okay. That was too far. Miss Nice Max has left the cave!

"Guessing you've heard of Erasers then?" I quizzed, snapping everyone back to harsh reality.

"You what now?" She replied looking mucho confused.

"Wolf-like creatures. Predators. Here to kill. Mainly us" I said bluntly. Her eyes widened. Oh come on, she grew up in the school she must have seen Erasers.

"You've been taught to fight, right? I said patronisingly.

"Uhm…" Was her idea of a response. That wasn't what I had been expecting. Great. She was a liability and apparently I wasn't the only one thinking so. Finally.

"You don't know how to fight?!" Gazzy asked alarmed.

"Well, punch and kicking, right? But, like, I've never been taught," She admitted. I caught Fang sending me a look like "What the hell?", but I ignored him. Not the kind of girl to hold a grudge right?

"Well if you're staying with us, you might need to learn," I said. Maybe it came out bitchier than I'd intended in front of the flock. Oh well.

Afterwards Fang suggested we might need to train her. Great. Like I have nothing better to do. What was she a dog? Whatever. We paired her with Fang. Fang was being an Eraser for the moment, the very idea of which made me want to crack up. But I was mega pissed with him, still, so it weren't going to happen. Anyways he wasn't trying to hurt her, but give an idea of what they're like to fight with. That was a shame. I shouted out instructions to her. And let me tell you this: she was hopeless! Plus a real wimp. But like us she was stronger than the average human. She learned quickly and by the end of the session she knew the basics. Fang was really worn out and hot and sweaty. Not an attractive look for the average human. But it suited Fang. He took off his shirt to cool down and reveal a seriously toned body. Yum. Oh crap. That word did not just enter my brain. Throw it out. Lock it out Maximum.

Turns out I didn't need to. I got distracted, Fang had turned to chuck his shirt to the side of the cave when Phoeno turned and walked straight into him. Both caught off guard they fell onto the floor, with her lying on top of his chest. "Woops" Phoeno smiled sweetly up at him and they both burst out laughing.

I went to walk away when I heard Total singing quietly "It must be love, love, love doo doo!"

That did it. I turned ran and jumped. Snapping out my wings to take me away.

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