This would be my chapter, you get to meet the flock in this one, and my best friends next chapter, aswell. We really adore Talon. He's based on actor Alex Pettyfer. - Most sexy person ever. My co-author disagrees though... Oh well. =)

Disclaimer: We don't own Max's flock, or any other characters, themes, or ideas in the Maximum Ride seeries.

Claimer: We DO own the other characters in this chapter. We love them.

Track One- Life Starts Now by Three Days Grace,

Track Two- Freak Out by Avril Lavigne

*Ember*

I had that awful, sickening feeling you get when you just

know you're being tracked, and someone, somewhere, knows where you are, and what you're doing. You know what I'm talkin' about? Well…okay, you might now, but after you've been hunted down a couple times, you start to learn how the ropes go.

Rule Number One of Ember's Bird-Kid Survival Guide (Which is rather important, and you need to take note of even the seemingly retarded rules, because they're important at some point of your life and you'll need it.):Stay alert, and don't let them sneak up on you. Because, believe me, they will kill you if they get the chance. How do you solve that? Stay alert. That way, you don't get killed or- better- no one in your flock gets killed. For me that'd be like walking naked through hell soaked in gasoline and a propane tank strapped on my back, and bombs in each hand- but the catch is I can feel all the pain, but it won't kill me. Loosing anyone in the flock would be the worst nightmare I could ever imagine.

How about I introduce you to them? Yeah, I think I will- like it or not. Why? Because I feel like it.

First off, there's Talon. He's our leader, without any disagreement from anyone. He was tall, around 6'6", with slightly curly blonde hair and a shocking yet impressive wingspan of 16 feet. Every time he unfurled those wings, I caught my breath. They were solid white, like angels wings would be but with obvious power and strength. He was rather muscled, but he was lean. He was the strongest out of us all, without a doubt. His blue-grey eyes were seemingly endless, and on occasion appeared to be able to look into your very soul. It was kinda intimidating, in a weird sexy attractive way. I'm not saying he's sexy or attractive though. Well, okay, maybe if you looked at him in the right light...NO. He was the leader, and he was 19. No. That just, no. it wouldn't be proper, it wouldn't be appropriate.

When Talon was seventeen, the government got their hands on him, and sent him to different training to test his limits. He went to Marine Corps boot camp at Paris Island, Navy SEAL training, Green Beret training, Army Ranger training, Delta training, Para-Rescue training, Marine Force Reconnaissance training, and MARSOC (Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command), and any other grueling physical training test you could ever think of. He passed every one of them with flying colors, back to back with hardly a week of rest between the training. He had some sort of special deal with the U.S. government which allowed us to be kept confidential; but if they needed us, or Talon specifically- which was more often than not the case-, we had to do what they asked us to do. He was the most disciplined person I'd ever met, and he was one of the nicest people I'd ever met at the same time. I genuinely respected Talon; he was a phenomenal leader and the strongest- physically and mentally- person- or avian kid- I'd ever met. You couldn't not respect or look up to him; he just had that presence that made you forget to breathe for a minute, and then you're like SHIT air, air, air…aw…look at those eyes..and that smile. Then you just stand there grinning like a dumbass with wings. Or like a dumbass with a Red Bull…. Get it? Red Bull gives you wings? Ha, I crack myself up. But, anyways, back to Talon… Maybe that's just me though; I haven't really noticed anyone else like that. No, no, it couldn't be just me.

Next in command would be my brother, Shadow. He's a character, that boy. He stands around 6'0" with short, cropped black hair that stuck up in random places. He was your typical 18 year old, and your typical protective brother. He took a little while to get to know, but once you did get to know him, he would be one of your favorite people in the world. But then again, that could be because he's one of the only people you know- like in my case. I'm only kidding… halfway. But God, sometimes I wanted to hit him so hard upside the head… you know how you have that little brother, and he's like 5 years old and thinks it's cool to mock you and junk like that? Well, imagine that annoying, times ten, but instead of the immaturity replace it all with immense, thick, venomous sarcasm. Well, maybe that was getting carried away. He couldn't help it, he was mental. In my opinion, that is. He was a sweet guy, when he wanted to be, but that literally was once upon a red moon that it happened.

Then, there was Bel. God, where do I start with that girl? She's the most gorgeous girl I know, and she was my very best friend in the world. She knew what I meant, even when I said the exact opposite. We laughed at the craziest things, to the point where our sanity was questioned by Talon, Shadow, and Ash. Bel loved to tell me how "vertically challenged" I was, but I'd tell her she was just freakishly tall. It worked out pretty well, if you ask me. There is one thing about her, though… Bel was a happy, bubbly, hyper person when it was just me and her. The minute someone else was there, she would change. She'd be shy, quiet, reserved, and apparently everyone was a bit afraid of her. I genuinely didn't understand that, in every sense of the word, she was my sister. I knew Bel wasn't ever 100% happy, and it killed me. I didn't know what to do to help make her happy, Now, Bel wasn't naturally a violent person but if you pissed her off… I hope you wore a bullet-proof body suit the day you piss her off; you'd need that for when she starts throwing punches. She had a bit of a temper, and it was part of what I loved about her. She'd get mad about the silliest thing, and two seconds later get completely sidetracked. It was so funny. She had a light personality, and was just a ball of energy. I loved that girl to death, everything about her.

And last, but not least… there was Ash. She was the most hyperactive little girl I'd ever met in my life. It wasn't the annoying hyper, though. She could always brighten anyone's day, without even trying. She was just so sweet, and hyper, and caring, and adorable. Being mad at her, or being upset with her around… it just didn't work out well. It was like trying to be mad when you see the cutest little brown-eyed puppy you could ever imagine. Sometimes I hated how she always got out of trouble, no matter what. Even Talon and Shadow couldn't say no to her. And, goodness, that child is the best cook ever. If she didn't have wings, I'd make her go work at a high class restaurant, even though she's only thirteen. She could make anything you asked her to. On top of that, she was the smartest person I'd met. She could answer any question you asked, and if she didn't know she simply had to find out or she'd go insane. She was such a lovable teddy bear, it just wasn't fair.

Anyways, back to the present.

I was walking around the little camp we'd set up in the Colorado mountains, and let me tell you… every direction you looked, it was a breathtaking scene- each better than before. It was peaceful, isolated, and beautiful. I loved it, without a doubt. I had a sudden urge to get away for a little while, so, I unfurled my charcoal wings, and right before I took off, I was stopped.

"Now, where do you think you're off to?" asked Talon, and I sighed as I faced him. My wings drooped slightly, and I bowed my head.

"I don't know," I murmured, feeling like a little kid who'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. Talon sighed softly in front of me.

"Ember, that's dangerous. And you know it,"

"But Talon, it's so gorgeous around here, please can I go? I'll be careful, I promise," I pleaded, meeting his striking gaze with my own. He smirked, but faintly. If you blinked, you'd have missed it. I loved that smirk.

"On one condition, Ember…" he began slowly and I groaned. I hated conditions.

"What?"

"You let me come with you. Shadow can watch over Bel and Ash, and we can go wherever you want to in the mountains and I'll be happy knowing you're not lost or hurt." I glared at him, one hand on my hip, and arched an eyebrow.

"Talon, you know I'd never get lost, ever," I said, and he rolled his eyes.

"Ember, please," he sighed and his voice mixed in with that British accent of his pulled on my heart, and I caved. I sighed, looking down.

"Fine, whatever you want," I sighed, failing to hide the small smile that crept onto my lips. Talon chuckled.

"Good," he smiled, unfurling those massive, gorgeous wings of his and flexed them so they were stretched out completely.

"Show off," I muttered, and took a running start before I lifted myself above the ground with one downward stroke of my wings. After flying a good way away from the camp, I slowed my pace, and turned back but I was shocked when I didn't see Talon behind me. I landed on the top of a nearby ledge, and looked around.

"Talon?" I called out, looking frantically. "Talon?"

A minute later, I felt two arms around my waist and lift me up high. I screamed, pushing away from the person with my wings.

"Shit, Ember, chill. It's only me," chuckled Talon, and I growled, sending a fierce glare at him as I flapped a couple times in order to not fall.

"Not funny, you scared me," I said, and took off flying with him right behind me again.

Twenty or so minutes later, I'm not really sure, Talon landed on the top of a high mountain that was so high the only thing you could see from where we were was clouds. It was still amazing, and breathtaking. I landed beside him, staggering slightly as I did so, and he held my arm for a moment.

"Whoa there, tiger… you okay?" he asked and I nodded with a smile.

"This place is so gorgeous, Talon…"

"Yeah, it really is," he agreed softly as he took a few steps toward the edge. For a few minutes, we kept to ourselves as we looked at the scenery… and yes, by "scenery" I mean the mountains and stolen looks at him when he wasn't looking.

"So, Ember… I kind of need to ask you to do something for me…" he sighed, finally turning to face me again. His grey and golden eyes were impossible to read, with so many hidden emotions almost to the surface but not quite.

"Yeah, sure Talon, anything," I replied, curious. He didn't look very happy.

"I need you to go on a mission for me…I need you two go to the School, and get a boy for me… he's thirteen, and his name is Gabriel. And if at all possible…destroy that damned School in the process, burn it down," he said, and I nodded.

"You say the word, and I'm gone,"

His eyes met mine, and he looked at me almost angrily for a moment.

"You're not going alone, there's no way I would ever send you on something that dangerous- I wouldn't send Shadow by himself, either. No one," he said in a low voice, and I nodded. "Bel will accompany you, so it's both of your mission."

"We won't let you down," I vowed, and he smiled almost sadly.

"Just don't get yourself hurt, and watch out for Bel," he said, and again I nodded.

"Of course not,"

"Thank you," he sighed, and I smiled as I shivered.

"It's the least I can do for you,"

" Are you cold?" he asked, and took a few steps towards me. I shrugged, it didn't matter. I was okay, but he wrapped his arms around my small body. Jerk, my nose was against his chest. Stupid shortness.

"Well, I don't want you to think of it like that. I did what I could, but we all take care of each other. You don't owe me a thing," he murmured, his chin on the top of my head. His body was so warm, and I was so cold. I couldn't help but lock my arms around him and snuggle close to his strong, warm body.

Suddenly, I pulled away and looked down, avoiding Talons gaze. That was wrong, Talon was three years older than me, and the Flock leader. It was wrong.

"Um, we should…uh, be getting back," I replied and took off without bothering to look back.