Max POV

After an hour of searching, everyone was together again. We left the burning diner, not saying much, as we headed back to camp. Besides a whole lot of bruises and soot/ash, everyone was fine, with the exception of Nudge. My poor sweetie. Her arm had snapped, not a clean break unfortunately, so Iggy had to break it completely and get to work on healing it. Did I tell you? Iggy picked up a few medical tips from Mom while we stayed at her house. Nudge is braving it out, though. Only grumbling every now and then about how she feels woozy before giggling about how funny the word woozy sounds. She is one interesting kid, if nothing else.

I sighed and gritted my teeth. That bomb…

Fang's wingtip lightly touched mine and I glanced at him. His dark eyes seemed calm and reassuring. I exhaled, still feeling a little shaky. According to logic (who else's but mine?) the bomb was probably a backup. We were supposed to eat the bacon, fall asleep, and become captured. But because Jenny freaked out and ran off, plus the fact my paranoia got the better of me, our murderers decided to blow us up. Huh, too bad we're tougher than we look.

So, what do you think?

I shrugged in response. Don't feel like explaining my theory to Fang right now. Fang looked at me, waiting. Too bad.

Max…

All right! I think the bacon was supposed to make us fall asleep so they could capture us, but because we figured that out, they decided to blow us up.

Fang tilted his head and pondered my theory. A sense of trouble invaded my mind and I slowed, flapping my wings to check around me. A small boy with wings abruptly whizzed past me. Gazzy flapped his wings frantically to come to a halt, but he was off by a bit. Flying back to Fang and I, his urgent expression started to worry me.

"Max! Our camp's been rummaged through," said Gazzy, pointing his finger at the clearing where cans lay tossed around and heavy footprints were evident in the ground. He bit his lip and looked at me with a worried expression.

"Why doesn't anything go according to schedule? Fang and Iggy were supposed to spar today and instead we end up becoming the target of a bomb while eating breakfast!" I muttered.

"Which we never ate," added Iggy, "Man, I really wanted some non-sleeping powder-filled bacon!" Just like him. Always thinking about food. I suppressed a grin though, because he was right. We never did get that bacon we were all pining for. And good thing too.

Fang peered down at the camp and looked at me.

"We have our stuff, most of it at least. What's down there is our sleeping bags and a few empty food cans. Let's just leave that there and keep going. I don't really want to risk going down there," he reasoned quietly. Someone's paranoid…but Fang's right. They, whoever they are, could be waiting. Or there might be another bomb. Either way, flying on seemed like a good idea.

"Well, then, where to now?" asked Iggy.

"Can we go to New York again? I can do some research there and Nudge would have time to heal," offered Angel brightly. Huh, New York. What is it with kids and New York?! Ok, I like New York too, but it's too predictable. I think.

Gazzy whispered something in Iggy's ear and both of them grinned before cackling like maniacs. Hmm..

"New York's good, Max. Angel's right, the library there is pretty good for researching and you know Nudge. Fashion obsessed and, looky here! New York is a big pop culture center. So how 'bout it?" pressed Iggy.

"You two are the worst liars in the world," I noted calmly.

They hesitated, shooting each other looks, before stammering, "Uh, what do you mean?"

I narrowed my eyes and glared at them suspiciously. Oh well, I'll just watch them for now. But in the meantime, breakfast! My stomach growled and I looked at my Flock.

"Anyone up for food? Like, safe food? Made by our wonderful chef, Iggy?" I suggested.

The Flock cheered while Iggy playfully shouted, "Hey! I'm not your slave! I choose whether to make food, not when you guys tell me to!"

Fang patted his shoulder and said, "You're outta luck buddy. Outvoted by five so better get cooking." Fang's face lit up with glee when he saw he had irritated Iggy. But his eyes were incredibly….hostile, competitive, challenging. Just about every adjective that means someone's looking for a fight. Strange…

I groaned as I saw Iggy's eyes light up in response to Fang's unspoken challenge. Men. Violent, angry, competitive. All about the macho and nothing about the brains. No offense, just that really seems stupid, don't ya think?

"All right guys, New York, then Iggy's homemade food. Agreed?" I announced. The Flock nodded. New York isn't too far…a couple states…er….northeast?

Fang, where are we?

Ohio, we need to go northeast to get to New York.

Navigation instincts still working pretty good, apparently. I nodded my thanks to Fang before using my instincts to tilt the proper amount of degrees. My Flock immediately followed my adjusted course. Comes naturally to us. We are, after all, two percent bird.

Fang POV

After arriving in New York, Max got us two adjoining rooms at this three-star hotel. It's pretty good, nicer than camping in the subway tunnel for sure.

When we reached our rooms, Max announced calmly, "Boys in one room, girls in the other. It's easier this way. We'll eat at the hotel's buffet downstairs."

Nudge and Angel exchanged knowing looks before rolling their eyes. Gazzy and Iggy disappeared into their rooms, barely hiding their grins, while Nudge and Angel entered the other room. Max chuckled and followed Nudge and Angel, calling out to me to keep an eye on everybody because she was going to take a shower.

I sighed and went inside to see Gazzy and Iggy holding this gooey yellow stuff in a container. They looked at me and froze.

"Don't blow up the room, don't blow up the hotel, and don't blow up any flock member. If it's a bad guy, go ahead. Got it?" I said.

"What if we blow up the hotel room while we're blowing up the bad guy?" asked Gazzy.

"Even better," I said as I opened the door that led to the girl's room, "Just make sure the bad guy actually is dead, not real pissed off that you burned off his hair."

"The bad guys we fight are usually bald," mumbled Iggy.

"That's because they're metal flyboys! Flyboys are exterminated, and we still have people after us who probably aren't bald," argued Gazzy.

"Whatever, dude. Let's get this liquid in our bomb. Hey! Careful!" Iggy instructed.

I shook my head, hoping I wouldn't hear a crash of glass on the floor. Crash! Oh, joy.

"Clean that up before Max gets out!" I hollered.

"Uh, sure!" came Gazzy's voice.

Nudge and Angel were on the bed, bouncing up and down as they peered out the window.

"Wow, this is so cool!" whispered Angel happily.

"I LOVE that lady's top! It's so stylish and pretty!" screamed Nudge.

I smiled before re-entering the boy's room, where Gazzy and Iggy were crowded around a spot on the floor. There were two beds and one couch/pull-out bed. I collapsed onto the couch and stared at the ceiling.

Old Erasers? Yeah, right. Flyboys? Exterminated by the gov. after they caught the Director. Humans who have a grudge against us? Uh…really doubt it. After all, regular humans don't get their hands on a bomb like that so easily. New, scary things that Itex created to try and destroy us one, last time? Hate to think so, hate to admit it, but the truth is…probably. Great.

Iggy and Gazzy laughed with relief from the corner of the hotel room. Apparently that gooey stuff doesn't stick to carpet, interestingly enough. I'm really hoping they're not gonna try and create a portable bomb that will be more effective and flashy than the one we just experienced. A bomb is fine, but that bomb was really powerful, and I'm surprised it only blew up the diner. But from the looks of it, Max is going to have a hard time stopping them.

Nudge bounced into the room smiling and waving her arms.

"I LOVE New York! Oh my god! I can't believe we're actually here again! Can we see the Empire State Building? Oh please, please, please!" squealed Nudge. This kid is the energizer bunny reincarnated, swear to God. And she has the wonderful power of healing in less than an hour. We discovered that in the middle of our flight, when Nudge promptly declared with a strong voice, "My arm doesn't hurt anymore!"

Max had looked at her and blinked. She went as close as to Nudge as her wings would allow and examined Nudge's arm.

After a second, Max had grinned and said, "You're right. It's healed. I know we heal fast, but you must have a minor power to heal incredibly fast! Thank god."

Nudge had jumped when she realized she had the power to heal.

"Oh, that's is SO awesome!" she yelled.

Anyway, Nudge is completely healthy once again. I groaned and scratched my head.

"You'll have to ask Max if you want to go to the Empire State Building," I told her, "And she'll probably say no."

I sighed. Sometimes Max forgot how young the kids really were…they needed more relaxation, especially with all these tension right now.

"First of all, we're not too young. And second of all, THAT was SO cuute!" exclaimed Nudge, "You always know what Max is thinking! You two are meant to be together, I cannot believe it is taking you this long!"

Angel stood by the doorway of our adjoining rooms, nodding her agreement. I looked away, not wanting to be interrogated by an eleven year old and a six year old.

Angel stared at me, her gaze burning into my head.

Fang, I know you admitted to yourself you like her.

Angel, honey. I would prefer it if you and Nudge would stop meddling with my personal problems.

Ha! You admit it! It's a problem you can't get together with Max.

Nudge! Get out of my head!

But Angel's in it!

Both of you, OUT!

Don't have to scream, that hurts! thought Angel and Nudge at the same time.

I sighed, knowing they were right, but still annoyed they WERE right.

Max entered the room, dressed in jeans and a shirt. Her hair was still wet and I tried not to stare at her wet face and the droplets of water dripping from her jaw. Max sat down next to me and looked at Nudge and Angel with raised eyebrows.

"So what's up?" she said.

"Nudge wants to go to the Empire State Building," I explained. Max nodded with an 'uh-huh' expression on her face. Biting her lip, Max motioned for Nudge to sit on her lap. Nudge plopped herself onto Max, sending her thoughts of 'please! I want to see the Empire State Building!'

Max stroked Nudge's hair and examined her arm again. Completely healed.

"All right, we can go, but promise me you won't buy anything," she said.

Nudge nodded eagerly before asking, "Can we go at night? It looks the best at night!"

Uh-oh. Paranoia kicking in. Night, good because we have the cover of darkness but bad because thugs are everywhere in New York at night. Max seemed to think the same thing because she hesitated.

"Ok," she agreed and I stared at her. She was letting them go at night?!

"Oh, Fang, when do you want to spar Iggy?" she asked, her sharp crystal eyes gazing at me. They were so blue…and deep with emotion. Complex feelings…

I shook my head imperceptibly to clear my thoughts, then looked at Max. She waited patiently for my response.

"Spar Iggy? In New York? Yeah right! We can't fight in the middle of the city!" I told her.

"Actually, I was thinking of flying to an abandoned alley way for you guys to fight. But we'll eat first at the hotel's buffet," she said.

Oh, I hadn't thought of that. And it could work, provided gangsters didn't find us and try to beat us up, only to discover we were beating them up.

I shrugged. Max nodded and went over to notify Iggy. From across the room, I could feel Iggy tense with excitement of challenging my position in the Flock. He wanted to be second-in command. Well, that was too bad, because as long as I'm second-in command, I've got something to say.

Chapter 11, Part 2

Iggy POV

Fight Fang. Second-in command. My goal. I want to beat Fang, prove I'm better than him, and claim second rank. Ella would be impressed. But Fang is also like a brother and we're basically doing this because he needs his power. I groaned inwardly. I want to beat him, but I don't want to hurt him.

As we landed in the empty alley, Fang glanced at me for a second before turning away. I nearly stumbled as I landed. He was ready. He knew I wanted his position, and he was ready to defend it. His gaze felt almost hostile…but why? Oh right. He couldn't lose his position in front of Max. It would hurt his pride.

Max motioned for the rest of the flock to give us more room. They stepped back immediately, each of them sensing this fight was…dangerous. Fang stood across from me, looking sleepy and unobservant. It was a trick. In fact, Fang was very alert, focused, and tensed. I held up my fists.

Max POV

They better not kill each other.

"OK, on the count of five! 5……4……3……2……1….GO!"

Unlike, Gazzy and Angel's fight. Neither of them moved. They were waiting for the other to make the first move.

This is serious.

Suddenly, smoke blew into the air behind Iggy and he backed into it. What?! I said no bombs or weapons or anything like that. Fang looked surprised but he seemed to recover quickly. He launched himself into the air, hovering over the smoke screen. Iggy wasn't coming out. The smoke screen eventually blew away, but Iggy wasn't there.

Fang POV

Iggy's not in the smoke screen. I heard flapping and I whirled around just in time to catch a foot aimed for spine. Without hesitating, Iggy twisted and used his other leg to smack me in the head. I stumbled. Someone grabbed my shirt and punched me in the chest. I spit and coughed. Iggy was near my left…

A second later, a yelp of pain erupted from Iggy as I repeatedly smashed him with my wing. Iggy let go of my shirt and flew a few feet away. I blinked and watched as he charged. At the last second, I grabbed his shirt and twisted, slamming him towards the ground. He tried to fight me, but we crashed back into the alley. Dust filled the air. A foot made contact with my mouth.

Pain is just a message.

Max must be thinking that. She's right. I located Iggy and grabbed his shirt. I slammed him into the wall repeatedly. He grabbed my shoulder and pushed against me, ramming me into the opposite wall. I slammed my knee into his stomach, causing him to curse before snapping a blow to his jaw. He tried to punch me, but I blocked it before sending my fist into his chest. He stumbled back.

We backed away a few feet. I glared at Iggy, watching him carefully. He did the same. Suddenly he leaped forward, flying into the air, foot outstretched. I grabbed his hand (ow, he was coming toward me really fast) and swung him to the ground. He sprung up and ran to the wall, leaped, and used the wall to kick into the air. He spread his wings, flying, until he was two feet away from me. Shooting towards me, Iggy kicked me to the ground before I could react. I coughed and grunted when a foot came in contact with my stomach. I rolled away from him, moving back as he advanced forward.

Iggy launched into a series of punches and kicks while I blocked them fluidly. Finally, I found a weak spot. Iggy had left his chest unprotected while he tried to punch me. I gathered my strength and slammed him hard on the chest. He crashed into the ground. I lifted him up and threw him against the wall. A loud thud rang through the air as body met brick. Looking at me, he threw a small metal ball. Smoke exploded into my face, and I winced, tears coming to my eyes. A fist smacked my jaw, a foot dug into my stomach. Fists rained repeatedly onto my face.

Pain is just a message.

Right, Max's saying. I rolled away and leaped into the air, flying away from the smoke. Iggy followed shortly afterwards. I spun and dealt a roundhouse kick to his ribcage, and a cracking noise met my ears. Probably a few broken ribs, Max won't be happy with me. Iggy hissed and grabbed me. He pummeled me in the stomach five times in rapid succession before I clobbered his jaw and threw him off me. He flapped away, preparing to hit me again. I pulled in my wings, plummeting to the ground. At the last second, I spread them and landed on the roof of a building. Iggy tried to kick me from the air again, like last time, but I rolled away. Jumping up, I sped towards him, veering away at the last second. My wing struck him full on and he yelped as he fell down. I landed, picked him up, and thrashed him in the stomach. He barely suppressed his scream of pain. Another rib broke and he snapped. He grabbed my arm and threw me off the roof. I spread my wings and landed gently in the alley again.

He followed, but as he landed, he stumbled. Iggy was bleeding. But so was I. Blood dripped from my jaw where he had kicked and punched me several times. Iggy threw another smoke screen. I caught it and threw it back at him. Smoke erupted and Iggy coughed. Entering the smoke, I punched him in the jaw, kicked him in the stomach, and slammed him against the wall.

Max POV

This is horrible. They're beating each to the pulp. Both Fang and Iggy have taken several devastating blows. And yet the fight was still incredibly tense, so much so they couldn't even hear me screaming to stop. Fang threw a punch which Iggy blocked. Immediately, Fang jumped and landed a kick into Iggy's stomach. He stumbled back and swiped Fang's legs from under him. Fang rolled back and leaped into the air, twisting, as his foot made contact with Iggy' head. From there, Fang grabbed Iggy, crushed him onto the ground, and began to hit him in the gut repeatedly. Iggy didn't fight back. Fang let got and Iggy lay looking deathly pale and exhausted.

"You win," Iggy barely whispered audibly. Fang knelt down and lifted Iggy up. With Iggy's arm slung across Fang's neck, Fang helped Iggy limp toward us.

Both of them were covered in dust and dirt with blood streaking down their faces. Iggy was bleeding internally because Fang had broken some ribs while Fang appeared incredibly bruised.

I was too worried to scold them. Iggy must have noticed because he let got of Fang and stood up by himself. Whatever he may say, I knew he only had done so so I wouldn't worry. The pale boy with blue eyes and flaming red hair grinned tiredly, worn out but somehow satisfied.

"Wow, guys. I would never want to fight you," said Gazzy.

Nudge and Angel said in union, "No offense, but gross. You guys are all bloody and smelly! You know, Max told you to stop a billion times!"

That piece of information only seemed to make them both grin more widely. Back at the hotel, I made Fang and Iggy take a shower before eating the food I had brought up from the lunch buffet downstairs.

Iggy walked into the room in jeans and a shirt. He looked healthy and uninjured. He looked at me and grinned.

"I can heal in a short time too. Just like Nudge," he said. I blinked and sighed.