Fang and the Flock wheeled above the sun-scorched earth that was known as Arizona. Below, he could see the small town where Dr. Martinez, Max's mom, lived. Fang angled his body into a gentle dive, heading for the woods that surrounded the house. The Flock followed without a word.
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Ella Martinez, Max's half sister, was in the backyard when five strangers and a dog stepped out of the woods that surrounded her home. There were two girls, both young than herself, and three boys of varying ages. All of them were in bad condition; torn clothes, dirt streaked faces, blood stained. Ella carefully looked at the one who appeared to be the leader. "Fang?"
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Every fiber in Fang's body was yelling "FLY!", but he stood calmly as the girl examined him. This was probably Max's half-sister Ella.
"Fang?" the girl asked.
"Yes." Fang replied unsteadily. The girl grinned really big and rushed towards him. Fang expected her to pull out a knife or a gun but instead found himself wrapped up in a great big bear hug. He stood ridged until the girl pulled away, taking a good amount of dirt with her.
"Mom!" the girl yelled. "Max's family is here!" Dr. Martinez came out of the house in a matter of seconds. She stood on the porch and grinned at the Flock.
Come on in!" she invited. Then she frowned. "Where's Max?"
"She isn't with us right now. But we are on our way to meet her." Fang lied.
Dr. Martinez didn't seem happy with the explanation, but she didn't prod for more information. Fang was glad that she didn't push the subject. He didn't need to break down right here in someone's backyard.
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I flew through the sky, hauling my heavy body along with my eighteen foot wingspan. I had just passed the border of New Mexico, and I was feeling more hopeful. I'm almost home.
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Fang was more comfortable than he ever had been before. Dr. Martinez had insisted that the entire Flock took showers, change into brand new clothes, and then eat a huge dinner. Now Fang was lying on the bed in 'his' room, pondering over what to do next. He finally decided to stay a night or two at the Martinez's and then head to California. After all, everyone needed to rest. They had just flown across almost the whole United States! Fang slipped under the freshly washed covers of 'his' bed and fell into a troubled sleep.
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I panted as I landed in the backyard of the Martinez's house. I was exhausted, tired, and hungry. I wanted to lie down and sleep for a few years. But I made myself walk up to the back door and knock.
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Fang awoke immediately and silently. He crept to his bedroom window and peered out into the night. What caused the knocking sound? Erasers? Fang's breath caught in his throat. A lone Eraser was standing on the back doorstep in a pool of moonlight. The same one that killed Max. He quietly opened the door and stealthily ran down the hallway.
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I could hear the sound of the door's bolt being drawn back. What if my own mom didn't recognize me? I didn't have any more time to think because the door swung open to reveal Fang's fist, which punched me in the face. What is Fang doing here!? I reeled backwards as Fang planted a boot in my stomach.
I was so tired of this! Why does he have to be everywhere?! Without thinking, I swung my paw out and cuffed his cheek. Blood poured out of the slash marks I had made on his face with my claws.
I was shocked by my own actions. I had just hit my best friend in the face! I paused at looked at him briefly before turning and running away as fast as I could. Fang just stood there in the yard, his own blood dripping down onto his shirt and pooling at his feet as he stared after me.
I ran as fast as I could through the forest, not caring where I was going. Branches whipped my face and roots threaten to trip me, but I continued my flight. Finally, I tripped and fell to the ground. I stayed on the ground and cried until I didn't have any tears left to cry.
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Fang sat in the Martinez's bathroom, pouring antiseptic on the gashes that the Eraser's claws had left. He winced slightly as the liquid entered the wound and burned. Dabbing away the blood on his face with a paper towel, he made his way to the Martinez's computer room. He would check his blog and relax a bit before going back to bed.
Fang booted up the Mac and opened his blog. There were over three hundred messages in his inbox, so he scrolled down the list to see if there was anything important. At the bottom of the list, there was a message marked 'URGENT! FROM MAX!' Fang opened it.
Fang -
I know that this seems kind of unbelievable, but I am still alive. I morphed into an Eraser on the dock in NY and haven't been able to return to my normal, human self. (My ribs still hurt where you kicked me.) I'll see you when I'm better.
- Max
This had to be some type of scam, but Fang couldn't recall putting up a post about visiting New York or any docks there. Suddenly, all the pieces began to come together in his mind. Oh no.
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I stood up from the patch of dirt where I had been sitting. I was tired of being an Eraser, tired of being hunted by my own family, tired of having Fang break his promises! I looked at my arm. Maybe there was human skin somewhere under all of that fur. There was only one way to find out. I opened my mouth and bit down on my arm as hard as I could, tearing away the flesh.
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Fang flew above the forest as fast as he could, looking down into the trees for any sign of life.
"Max!" he yelled loudly. Fang's voice echoed over the treetops. "Max!" Where is she?! Fang spotted a large, hairy object in a clearing below him. He dove towards it. Please be Max and not a bear!
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I had ripped a fairly large chunk of flesh out of my arm on the first bite. Dark red blood poured out of the half-foot gouge in my skin, tinted black in the moonlight. I was starting to feel weak already from the lost of blood. My tongue felt thick and dry in my mouth. Am I going to die? I didn't really care about dying any more. I opened my mouth and took a second bite.
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Fang landed in the clearing. A small brown bear scuttled around in a patch of leaves, looking for food. Fang swore. The bear looked at him in surprise then scurried away into a patch of blackberries. He just had to find Max!
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I was starting to see red spots in front of my eyes. Every breath was painful. I was sitting in enough blood to fill a small pond. Gore floated in the blood like little boats. The moonlight hurt my eyes, so I kept them downcast. I looked at my arm then looked again in shock. The Eraser hair was falling off like dead leaves to reveal smooth, and bloody, human skin beneath. I smiled faintly. I would die human.
Then, thankfully, I slipped away into unconsciousness.