Alex: So what is next for us on your new post?

Me: Well, you get some bad news and one of you cries.

Max and Alex: What?

Me: Just read it.

Max POV

The Nikes were coming from every direction. They were hairy and gross, much worse than erasers. The first one hit Alex and knocked her over, the second went for Fang, and the next six went after whoever was closest to them.

The one that came after me must not have been warned. I slammed a right kick into his face and he stumbled back a step.

"Don't kill them!" Alex shouted. I glanced and saw her standing over an unconscious Nike and moving to help Angel, who I now noticed was in trouble. The Nike swiped at her and I saw the blood ooze from her arm. She clenched her teeth and kept fighting, maybe she wasn't so bad.

Then I was brought back to my own fight when I got punched in the face. I spun around and slammed my fist into the so-called face of the Nike. He roared but before he had time to do anything I jumped up and kicked him hard under the chin, not enough to kill but enough to put his lights out for a while.

It was over quickly. I guess they didn't realize that there would be more than just Alex and Dax. Once all the Nikes were taking dirt naps we did a quick up and away, and started our trip to meet my mom, Ella, and Jeb.

***

We were only an hour away from Colorado, Jeb, mom, and the CSM had pitched in to rebuild our totally awesome house--in a different place of course. It looked exactly the same but yet it was so different.

Alex and Dax were easily adapting to their wings. Alex was spinning in circles up high above the rest of us, but within the "loosing breath" limits. I watched her wings, ones not that different from mine, as she swooped and soared and suddenly came zooming to the ground in a tight nose dive. It amazed me that the injury in her arm didn't stop her from enjoying the sky.

Alex seemed to love flying but she never showed it. I could since she was happy but never saw her smile. Dax was the same way; he kept watching Alex to make sure her injury didn't cause any problems. The two of them were so alike it was insane. As much as I hate to admit it, they were more together than me and Fang. It was very intimidating.

Soon I called to Alex and Dax to start their landing. I won't go in to detail but we will just say that they're landing was a little less than graceful.

Alex stood up and wiped the dirt off her shirt. "Why didn't you tell me landing was hard?" She had a hand clamped on her forearm, but didn't acknowledge it in any other way, and never once complained.

"Because I didn't think it was." I told her smugly.

She glared at me for a second but then she turned her attention to Dax, who was examining her while she glared and rolled her eyes. I wonder what the story was with them, only I knew she was too smart to tell me. I wondered briefly where she came from and why Jeb had never mentioned her before, and then I dismissed the thought and went inside.

"Yo, Mom!" I shouted. "We got an injured bird-cat-kid here!"

Mom appeared at the top of the stairs. "What?"

Alex shot me an annoyed look and then she stared at my mom. "I'm fine, really."

Mom stared at the two of us; something told me that she knew that there was something going on. But she wasn't one to put her own curiosity in front of another's pain. "Come with me, I'll fix you up."

Alex glanced at me; I could easily tell she was nervous. "I could come with you if you want." I offered.

She looked at my mom. Is she nice?, I heard Alex ask in my mind. A mother you're proud of?

I nodded. "Come on." I put my arm around her shoulder and led her into the I.R. (it's like a doctor's office, but within the comfort of our own home.)

Alex still froze at the sight of the steal table. "What the hell is this?" she snapped.

"It's okay," I assured her. "Mom is a vet." That forced a small smile on her face.

"You know, you guys weren't expected back for another few days." Mom said as she led Alex to the table. "My office is having a party for a man who is retiring. I assumed you would be gone so I offered the house as a place to have it."

Mom began cleaning Alex's wound. "You don't have to cancel the party on our account." Alex told her.

Mom smiled at her. "I normally wouldn't think of it, but there was going to be drinking and I wouldn't want you children around that."

"Don't you trust your kids?" I asked. I was trying to slyly introduce the "Alex and I being sisters" situation easily.

Mom smiled weakly and glanced at Alex before answering. "Of course I do. You and the flock have earned my trust more than anyone." She then winked at Alex and added, "And I'm not opposed to others earning my trust either."

Alex smiled and then got a look on her face that I clearly recognized: Protection. "You should be carful with who you trust, not all people are trustworthy."

My mom glanced at me and then turned back to Alex. "You sound like Max, always trying to protect me." She laughed slightly.

"That's because she is Max." came a voice from behind us.

Jeb! Alex screamed in my mind.

So tell me what you think! I also need some ideas because I really have no clue where this is going. REVIEW PLEASE!