Here it is. Finally. I'm sorry it's been so delayed. I've been working on other stories and then there's school. I hope you like this chapter and please review. You guys are the best.

Max's Point of view

I knotted my hands in his pitch black hair. He was breathing hard like we all did after long flights. The moon light illuminated us. I peeked over into the cave and found the flock fast asleep, just as they had been two minutes ago when I'd checked on them.

I then turned back to his dark deep eyes. They showed me how tortured his life had been but how happy he was at this moment. I then leaned in, as he did the same. His lips were soft and firm at the same time. I then leaned back so he lay on top of me. His arms wrapped around me as mine wrapped around him.

"Max," he hissed. "Can I…?" although I already knew what he meant.

"Of course," I whispered. Even in the darkness of the night I could see him smile. Very slowly, calmly he opened his mouth. He then stuck his tongue softly onto mine. Now, before you start jumping to conclusions and all you frenching virgins start telling me how gross it is, well, you've never done it. It actually is very nice. You're not thinking about how you could be contracting diseases and totally letting your guard down. You're thinking about how wonderful that person is.

We both eventually had to breathe so we pulled off each other. His hand cushioned my head against the rock I leaned against. The sun suddenly appeared out of nowhere, illuminating me and the flock. I looked over to see Angel and Nudge sit up together, accidentally kicking Iggy's leg. "Hey," he said, waking Gazzy and Fang. Wait, Fang! I thought looking over at the still drowsy black figure, sitting up and stretching his arms and wings.

If Fang was sleeping who was I kissing? I looked up to see Zuko's scared and unscarred eyes stare into mine. Before I could get up and make sense of what was going on his lips connected with mine once again. Push him off, push him off. What the heck are you doing? Push him off! My mind screamed at me. Why the heck aren't you pushing him off? I thought. However, one simple thought answered that impending question. Because I really like it.

I sat up quickly, breathing hard. "What happened? Did you have a bad dream?" Fang asked his head near mine. I couldn't help but gasp and do a double take to make sure it was actually Fang. I nodded quickly and looked around to find us still in the abandoned office building. "What was it about?" Fang asked. I shook my head, still to overwhelmed by feelings.

It's been three days since Zuko had joined our group. Every since Angel had told me about his thoughts I couldn't help but notice his actions. He'd stare at me intently, watching me. He would also offer to help if I was going out to get food or stuff. He was really sweet but Fang had been with me longer. We had history.

"Oh come on! Tell me!"

"No, it's nothing," I said looking to the flock and Zuko's sleeping figures. I knew it hadn't really been Zuko who'd kissed me but I couldn't help but glare at his sleeping self.

Fang saw it and looked at me. "What happened?" He said his voice full of steel.

I smiled and looked over at him. "Nothing, every things fine," I told him and looked down at my watch. I sighed when I saw it was before six in the morning. "Let's just go back to sleep." Fang looked like he wanted to pry but, like the friend he was, he didn't. I leaned back onto the floor and, as quickly as I woke up, I fell asleep.

However, I wasn't asleep for long. I was shaken awake by Angel. "Angel, what is it?" I asked her. I still wished for a few more hours of sleep but when I saw her face I realized this was important.

"Something's coming," she told me. I jumped up and looked out the window to see a group of large flying objects coming flying toward us.

"Crap," I muttered. "Are they birds or Erasers?" I asked, although I already knew the answer, and was dreading it.

"They're Easers all right," Angel told me. I nodded, and turned to my stirring flock.

"Guys, come on. Erasers are coming, get up!" I called, clapping my hands and putting my stuff back in my backpack. Everyone jumped up, like they'd been trained to do, and began to pack like I did. Zuko barely stirred but finally got up when Fang went over and "lightly" kicked his side. Fang then came over to me and looked at the Easer's approaching figure.

"There's going to be a fight," he said, as calmly as if we were just talking about the weather. I nodded and turned to Zuko, who was still looking sleepy eyed. He wore normal jeans and at t-shirt and his hair stuck out in weird angles. The rest of the flock were all awake and ready to go. "Max," Fang said suddenly, following my gaze and looking at Zuko.

"I know," I said. "He's dangerous. We haven't had enough time to train him and he'll cost us injuries if he messes up." He could cost us someone's life. No, I wouldn't let that happen. "Fang," I began but he cut me off.

"Don't worry. There are only three Easers. I'll fly with Zuko north. You guys can easily take the Easers down and catch up with us. We'll find some mountain or something and train him to fight."

I shook my head. "We can't afford to lose our best fighter."

He smiled and hugged me. "Don't worry you're more than a match for the Easers." Before I could argue he turned and walked over to Zuko and after a few words and a lot of nodding and pointing they jumped out the window. I watched the two black figures fly out the window and downward. That way the Easers wouldn't see them leave. The city was still mostly asleep so no one would spot them. When they were about three miles away from the building, they made an ascent and flew off into the distance. I then turned to see the rest of the flock staring at me, ready for a fight.

"All right guys," I said, slinging my backpack over my shoulder, "let's do this."

As if on cue, a large claw suddenly burst through the window, nearly hitting Angel's face. Following the claw was the rest of the bloodthirsty Easer. He swung his claw at Angel who easily dodged it. I wanted to run over and help her but before I could, another one raked his claw against my arm, leaving angry red lines on my left forearm. I hissed in my breath in pain and swung a kick at the Easer's head. He tried to dodge it but my foot still connected with his ear, causing thick blood to run down his face. As he recovered I saw Angel and Gazzy taking on the one who'd almost hurt Angel. I didn't see the second Easer or Iggy and Nudge, though. The Easer suddenly swung his legs around on the ground, trying to knock my feet out from under me. I easily jumped, unfurling my wings. I soon realized that our hideout definitely wasn't the best place for flight. The end of my wings hit the wall, making me wince. I quickly tucked them in and flew out the window, glad to be out in the open.

I found Nudge and Iggy, battling the second Easer. I spun around to find my Easer shooting towards me. I easily dodged but he turned quickly. They were definitely getting faster. "Where is he?" He asked, throwing a punch at my face, which I deflected with my forearm, wincing as his furry arm ran over my cuts.

"Who?" I asked, swinging a kick at his side.

"Your new…member," the Easer hissed in his silky smooth tone. My eyes widened. I should've realized they would be after Zuko. From what he'd told us, I knew he hadn't been made in a lab. The School would definitely want to get their hands on him; or claws since they sent the Easers after us.

My training stopped me from turning my head to look for Zuko and Fang. I knew if I did it would tip off the Easers off. Since Zuko still wasn't the strongest flyer I knew they would be only ten miles away and the Easers would easily see them. Fly Fang! Fly fast, I thought desperately.

Zuko's Point of View

I didn't want to leave Max behind but Fang told me he needed my fire bending for something. I rolled my eyes. Did they think I was stupid? I could tell from the rest of the bird kids they were doing something else. Probably something they think I'm not ready for. We were heading north, away from the city. When we were roughly ten miles away Fang looked back slightly and his eyes widened.

I turned as well, interested in what surprised him. Max had told me about our raptor vision so I wasn't surprised to find myself seeing the building perfectly, as if I were only a few feet away. I gasped. Big wolf creatures that had wings like us flew around the building. One was fighting Iggy, who was having trouble holding his own, while Nudge lay unconscious on the roof. I couldn't see Angel or the Gasman. Max was fighting one on the side of the building. However she wasn't doing well. One eye was black and she had cuts on her face and arms.

I growled and shot back to the building. I didn't listen to Fang, who told me not to. I needed to save Max. I was nearing the building within minutes and shot a ball of fire at the wolf creature. It fell back, surprised. I flew toward Max. However, before I could reach her, the wolf creature batted a claw at me. I quickly dodged it, and threw a kick at its face. It retreated back and punched Max as it did. She gasped and began to fall down the side of the building. I didn't see where she landed or if she landed because as I looked down the wolf sent a punched me hard in the face. I growled and cracked my knuckles to emphasize my anger. "So you're the new one?" It said. My eyes widened when it did. I didn't know it could talk. "We've been looking for you," it continued. I swung my leg in anger and it connected with his head. "Why are you even trying?" The thing said, shaking his head in annoyance. "Are skin and fur is no match for you simple fire," he said, scratching my leg with his claw. I bit my lip to keep from yelling.

"How about swords?" I cried, remembering my duel blades I had brought with me. I brought them out, and without a second thought, stabbed the great beast right in the gut. He gasped and held his bleeding stomach, falling to the ground.

Before I could recover I found the two other wolf creatures closing in on me. One came from the roof and one came from inside. The one from the roof shoot at me, and I flew to the side dodging him. The other one flew over to Max who was holding her side in pain and trying to fight off the creature without much success. I swung my swords at the one fighting me but they learned quickly. I swung at him with my leg but he dodged it. I drew a ball of fire and it caused him to jump back in alarm. While he was still in shock I quickly plunged the sword into his gut. He too fell. "Two down, one to go," I muttered. I turned and gasped, finding the wolf's fangs inches from my face.

"You were saying?" It growled. It swiftly punched my face and I hissed in pain. Before I could recover, it sent its claws raking over my forearm. I barely reacted because I knew that's what it wanted. I felt the cool blood run down my left arm and it sent shivers down my spine. The wolf creature laughed slightly, and sent a kick at my leg.

I swung down, trying to block it, but while I did this he batted his hand right over my eye; no, not my normal eye, my left one. I couldn't help it. I would've normally put on a brave face and not have reacted but I couldn't help it. I screamed in pain and agony. It sent lightning bolts jabbing through my skull. I held my eye, shaking in horror and anguish. I didn't get it. My eye had always been more sensitive than my right one but I had never felt this much pain. It throbbed, almost as if it had a mind of its own.

I didn't notice until almost too late that my wings were curling in. I was dropping fast. I opened my wings fully, darting above the street, stinging tears flying from my eyes. I looked up to find the wolf chasing me. I zigzagged up down a few blocks and then turned and stopped. The wolf was still coming fast but I didn't budge. I knew what to do. I had to do it. The wolf was inches away when I took out my swords. They swung so fast even I couldn't see them and neither did the creature. He flew right into the blades, ending our fight.

I stood rooted to the ground, breathing hard and evenly. I looked up to find a group of distant birds gathering at the top of a nearby building. I figured Max was up there because if she wasn't they would probably be flying downward to her broken body. I didn't want to join them. I wanted to run, to run far away and forget all the problems I'd caused. However, I knew if I ran, the wolf things would find me and that would be much worse than facing my actions. With that thought, I sighed and jumped into the air.

Fang's POV

I felt my hair shoot backwards as I pushed my wings harder and harder, propelling myself through the air. Damn you Zuko, you're gonna get yourself killed, I thought staring at the black and red wings that flew ahead of me. As this thought ran through my head I shot of hope ran with it. I pushed this thought quickly out of my head, in case Angel could hear me. I didn't need her knowing my feelings for Zuko.

Anyway, I reached the building seconds after Zuko did. He was taking on an Easer. I raked the building with my eyes for Max and the others but I couldn't find them. However, I suddenly saw Max, plummeting to the ground, her body clenched in pain and agony. I shot down like a bullet and grabbed her heavy body. She winced and groaned. I pulled her out of her descent and helped her limp back to the roof.

Once we got there I found everyone else. Nudge lay dazed on the roof, a large gash in her forehead. I ran to her and found her breathing but in a lot of pain. Everyone was around her, all showing off their many bruises and bashes. When they all saw Max however, they started swarming around her. "No," she said, seeing their reactions and struggling to stand. "Nudge needs more care then me." However, Angel still ran up to her and hugged her. I could tell it caused Max pain but she hugged back anyway.

I knelt down next to Nudge. Her gash was bleeding badly. I took off my jacket and put it on the cut to clot the blood. She winced and groaned. "Bad?" I asked her. She barely nodded. I brushed back her hair out of the mess.

All of a sudden, Zuko flew up to the roof. He took in the sight. "Is she okay?" He asked running over to Max. I rolled my eyes and pulled a strip of fabric off my shirt and wrapped it around Nudge's head and slowly helped her sit up.

"Can you fly?" I asked her. She stood up and nodded.

"Yah, just give me a minute," she said, holding her head. I turned around to find Max in much worse shape. She had lost too much blood and her ribs had really taken a beating. Angel and Gazzy were helping Nudge, and Iggy and Zuko knelt over Max. "We need to move her, in case they come back," I said. They both agreed.

"Max," Zuko said in a soft voice, "You're going to be okay." It took all my strength not to push him back. Nudge then wobbled over to us with Gazzy and Angel. We all stood up except for Max, who was too weak.

"We're going to need to help her," I said. With that, Iggy took one arm and I took the other. We pulled Max to her feet but she barely upright in the air for long before she fell back into our arms.

I bit my lip and groaned. "We can't do this. She's too weak. It would take some magic healing power or something."

We were silent for a few seconds before Zuko said quietly, "I think I can help."