Hello!
Dylan: hi
Me: extremely short chapter this one
Dylan: :(
Me: but I'm also posting it with a new story!
Dylan: :)
Me: are you alright there?
Dylan: ?

Max POV

I grabbed our packs and started filling them with supplies. Fang ran around the apartment searching for clothes that we will need and some loose change. I zipped up the packs and put one on my back and handed the other to Fang.

"Which Itex base are they at?" he asked.

"Angel said lessons, so the one where I was kept in an isolation tank." You see, we have code names for all the different Itex bases: home for the one we were created in; lessons for the one just mentioned; creature for the one in Germany; text books for the one in Washington, you get the picture. I knew that the one where I was in the isolation tank was somewhere north of Florida, so I'll let my internal tracking do the rest.

Fang and I jumped off the balcony, working our wings powerfully to get extra height. Flying didn't feel so bad now that I know that the rest of the flock are alive and I've got Fang with me.

"So where to first?" Fang asked.

"I really need to see my mum, it's been way to long," I said, so we started heading south.

.·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·. .·¨·.

I landed in their backyard, Fang following closely behind. Before I could even take a step, I was gulped into a massive bear hug.

"MAX! Where have you BEEN?" my half-sister yelled.

"Hiding."

"Oh." We started walking inside.

"Are you coming Fang?" I asked, looking straight where Fang should be, and is standing invisible. He turned visible and shrugged. Ella's eyes widened and gave me a you-are-in-so-much-trouble-missy-tell-me-everything look.

I stepped inside the house and the familiar scent of homemade cookies filled my senses. "Mum, you'll never believe who's here!" Ella called.

"Who sweety?" a voice that I missed so much asked from the kitchen. The three of us went into the kitchen.

"Hey mum..." I trailed off. My mother had changed, a lot. Her hair was greyer, her eyes tired, she looked really frail and had the look of someone who was battling a sickness. She smiled apologetically.

"Max! Where have you been! And Fang too? Well, why don't we sit down and you tell your story? I quickly get the cookies out of the oven." Despite her appearance, she hadn't changed a bit.

Fang, Ella and I sat on the couch and my mum sat across from us, with a plate of fresh cookies in her hands. Once she set them down on the table, they were gone within a minute. "So what happened?"

I spent the next hour explaining to mum and Ella what happened, Fang putting in his occasional word to what happened to him during that time. Mum and Ella looked so depressed when I told them the flock was dead; mutinous at the new hunter; and extremely relieved at the fact the flock is still alive.

"So that's why I haven't been in touch," I finished. Ella and mum had tears in their eyes by the end of our thrilling tale.

"My, all this story-telling has worn me out. I might go and lie down for a bit," mum said. I became very worried about her at that. I looked at Ella who gave me a look saying that she'll explain as soon as possible. Mum walked slowly up the stairs and I heard the door snap behind her.

"Mum's been diagnosed with cancer. She's been fighting it for about a year, and doesn't want chemo, so she only has a few months," Ella said sadly. I gasped and leaned into Fang for support. Ella looked at me sadly, with tears in her eyes. "She hasn't got long, so I'm making the last weeks of her life the best weeks she'll ever have. You coming back has definitely raised her spirit."

"Thanks for telling me Ells," I sighed and stood up. "We need to get moving. I want to rescue the flock from that hell hole, the only reason why we stopped by is to let you know we're still alive."

"Ok, thanks so much. It was nice seeing you again, and you too Fang," my half sister hugged us tightly. "Good luck with rescuing the flock. If you need any help, you know how to reach me. Oh! Wait here for a sec!" She raced up to her room to grab something.

A few minutes later, she came back down with seven leather cords in her hand. On closer inspection, I saw that they had charms on them: an eagle in flight. "I made these for the flock years ago. I only just figured out how to put transmitters in them, so-" but she was cut off by me giving her a massive hug.

"Thanks," I whispered to her. I slipped one over my head, handed one to Fang, but I also handed one back to Ella. "You belong in the flock too," I said sternly. She looked surprised but took it and slipped it around her neck.

Fang and I ran into the backyard and stretched our wings and took off. Ella waved to us.

I called to her "Hopefully We'll be back! And if we are, it won't be pretty!"

Me: if any of you can tell me which book that last line comes from, you'll get a virtual party!
Dylan: I know! It's
Me: -clamps hand over Dylan's mouth-
Me: Don't forget- reviews are your friends! :)