The Renegade

Chapter 15

"So, Angel, you picking up anything from her?" I asked from mid-air.

"Not much, I think she could still be keeping a secret from us, though." Angel said calmly, her pure white wings beating to keep rhythm with Nudge and I. I looked at her seriously.

"Any idea what it involves?" I asked somewhat impatient with how unconcerned Angel seemed.

"I don't know… she seems really sad about it though."

Truence…I thought. I sort of knew how she felt about him; I was finding she was a lot like me. Stubborn, fights till I can't any longer…we are a lot alike. I almost smiled at the thought but then remembered the shaky situation we were in. We didn't even know who or where this Truence guy was. I was shocked to find myself uncomfortable with thinking about him like that.

Truence and Aven were like Fang and me…no one knows each other better and our lives would end if we were ever separated…I felt my stomach turn at the thought… God, what would I do without Fang? We arrived back at the cave before any further questions came to my mind. Iggy had a fire going and was putting the sticks Gazzy brought him in a meticulous pattern in the fire. Fang was slouched by the edge of the cave wall overseeing their work and snacking on the trail mix. I still felt slightly guilty about Aven's questions about him before. I couldn't believe I never even asked if he was okay… Angel and Nudge went and started finding sticks with Iggy, swooping down and coming back up with armfuls of dead branches.

"You left her alone?" Fang's voice asked from next to me.

"Yeah, she doesn't seem too threatening, she looked like she was in a lot of pain flying out to the bathrooms." I said watching Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel fly gracefully up and down, dive-bombing the twigs below them. "You seem kind of out of it; you all right after yesterday?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little stiff; she's just about as strong as you." Somehow that comment didn't sit well with me, but what a surprise: Fang was remaining mysterious yet again. He really needs to break this strong, silent type regime. Fang must have noticed my silence because he continued, "I said 'just about' not 'as strong as'. She hasn't been taught to fight very well. I'm pretty sure she just improvises the whole thing."

"Well she hasn't said anything about fighting erasers like we do, she just has less people to fight." Wait a minute… was I just defending her? I am going crazy aren't I? "She said she'd show us how she gets food out here once she got back. Do we want to know?" I asked, changing the subject.

"That is a good question." He said standing upright. Iggy called to the kids to get sticks to cook the hotdogs on and they all returned within seconds with long sticks and Fang started handing out hotdogs.

"Here Max." Angel said handing me a stick, Gazzy brought one for Iggy, and Nudge brought one for Fang. We sat cooking our hotdogs; I stretched my wings out into the bright afternoon sun, my mind buzzing with all the unanswered questions and possibilities of the day. After continuous thought I had made my decision.

"Okay, guys, Aven has offered to show us how she survives out here but I'm not sure I want all of us to go just in case something were to happen." The entire flock knew exactly what I meant. Only Fang and I could go and Iggy would be in charge while we were gone. The Gasman immediately began to pout and Nudge crossed her arms over her chest as Iggy rolled his eyes at me, Angel did nothing but I could see sadness in her big blue eyes. "I'm sorry guys but it's a lot easier hiding three people rather than seven. I just don't want anything to happen to any of you. Besides, then maybe we can get some more food." As I expected none of them argued but I could tell Iggy sure wanted to. The only reason he never got to go on any of these trips was because of the whitecoats blinding him, and we needed someone to look after the younger kids while we were gone.

"We'll leave when she gets back, and we shouldn't be gone too long." I said and got up and went back into the cave tapping the back of Fang's hand as I did, he was in charge for a while. I had barely slept at all the night before. I kept a very close eye on Aven incase she tried anything in the middle of the night. Everyone else, including Aven, had slept like rocks. I laid down in the shade and let my eyes flutter shut knowing I would never fall asleep with all the thought running in my mind. I swear, if I ever had a normal day, I'd probably freak out.

Author's Note: Yes, that last line is property of James Patterson. Hope you like this chapter the next ones are coming up very soon.