And into the battlefield.
Right. Head in the game, just walk in there head held high like you always do. Nothing has changed remember? Nothing. Fan- HE, changes nothing.
I had gone for a long flight the night before, to clear my head I guess, rid my mind from the memories constantly trying to flood their way back inside. Air time usually helps with this kind of thing; somehow being twenty thousand meters above the ground gives you an entirely different perspective – who knew? It's a refreshing feeling in the cool night sky; the beauty of it allows you to think more clearly. When I say beauty, I'm referring to the views of the land, certainly not the smeared, tear stained face of yours truly! Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
Fang had stayed in the motel with the Flock, probably just on the couch or the floor, to be honest I couldn't care less if he slept outside on the ground. As for me I stayed in a tree not too far away, not enough time had passed in the night for me to be able to stand sleeping in the same facility as Fang. But today was a new day, and I'd rather face Fang head on sooner, rather than later – wimping out of things wasn't my style... if only I could say the same thing for Fang!
Barley two meters away from the front door of the motel cabin I stopped. Well actually my heart stopped inside my chest just long enough to give me a mini panic attack. Breath Max, nothing has changed remember. YOU are still in charge, and the Flock would choose you over him any day of the week, so what are you worried about! I didn't know if it was the voice or just my subconscious that was making me feel reassured in some way, enough at least to knock on the door in the pattern known only to the Flock – security reasons and all that! Of course however, as cruel irony would have it, who would answer the door but the one person, I was trying to avoid. You guessed it.
"Good morning..."
"Is it?" I smiled the best I could, but even I knew that the gesture looked bitter. Before he could say anything else to make the situation super awkward I pushed passed him and headed towards the kitchen where Iggy was cooking, even as I walked I could feel Fangs eyes on me. Better get down to business!
"Alright everyone" I said in my commanding officer voice, pointing at each member of the Flock around the table, take a guess at who I deliberately missed out!
"Maaaaax" Came a whiny voice from the youngest member of the family, looking grumpy from an obvious lack of sleep the night before.
"And since when did my name have ten syllables in it?" I teased, hands on my hips. "Time to go, packed and ready to fly in twenty. I want to make our arrival in Kansas short, sharp and shinny." I turned and headed towards the direction of my room to grab my one and only bag of belongings (skip the sob story) when suddenly a firm immoveable object met my face in a hard crash.
'Jesus Fang, What the hell are you doing standing right behind me! Ever heard of personal space? Seriously, who just stands inches behind someone all creepy like anyway?" I had walked barley three steps away when a strong hand caught my elbow.
"Don't you touch me." Although that was supposed to be an aggressive intimidation technique, it came out as barley a whisper.
"I need to talk to you" He said, a firm grip still on my elbow.
"And what are we doing right now dear Fang...?"
"Alone." His eyes looked up from mine, examining the faces of the four pairs of wide eyes staring back at us... well except Iggy actually, his wide eyes were more focused on our chins, but none the less as alarmed. I turned back to Fang, reluctantly. "Fine." I nodded towards my room before turning back to the Flock, "Twenty minutes guys, we wait for no one."
Before my body was barley inside the bedroom, Fang closed the door and turned on me swiftly.
"So, Kansas, why are we going there?"
"I don't really see how that is any of your business. The FLOCK, and I are going there so I needn't think you should bother gathering up your little gang for the road trip. Better leave this for the professionals."
"You didn't answer my question-
"Well there's a shocker there, since when do you ever answer any of mine?" Instead of taking the bait and unleashing World War Fang, he decided to just let it slide. Our little Fang is learning! "Why Kansas Max?"
"I was told there's something in the Western side we'd need the checkout"
"Let me guess, Dylan?"
"No, but he's meeting us there" Just at the very sound of his name Fangs muscles tensed slightly, and his jaw set tight. I couldn't help but smirk slightly, I knew sooner or later I would hear the 'Dylan is bad for you" speech, or perhaps Fang would favour the "He's a danger to you all" rant?
He simply looked at me, waiting on an answer. "...It was...the voice..." For some reason admitting that to Fang felt sort of embarrassing. It's not that I was trying not to tell him or anything, but I knew Fang thought of the voice as an intruder, something not to be trusted... kind of like him in a way.
"It say anything else?"
Why yes Fang, it also mentioned the best place to buy a taco, and the weather forcast for the next two weeks!
"What do you think, it was as helpful as always..." Our voices began to trail away as the conversation went on, as if we were both caught in some other thought, or reminiscing about a forgotten memory.
"Kansas then?"
I thought about it for a moment. One part of me was ready to say "Anywhere with you Fang!" and leap into his arms... but the other, the other side of me was now broken, tentative, worried if I could really trust this boy enough to try and let him back inside. But there were things to think about now, things I never needed to worry about before. Messy things, like feelings and memories. And we were going to meet with Dylan, it's an understatement to say that those two rub shoulders, what if we came back with one of them in a body bag! I wonder which one would bein the body bag?
"Rules." Fang nodded.
"Number one, Max is always right" He smirked but let me continue.
"Number two, a violation of rule number one will result in a serious ass whooping!" This time I swear I actually saw Fang smile, for real smile.
"...and number three." I took a dramatic pause for effect, also letting Fang know that this was the rule he was not going to like.
"Number three. Never challenge the ranking order. That's me, then kids, then Dylan... then Total, then you, got it. Breaking rule number three will a violation of rule number one and will result in rule number two!"
I gave him a minute or so to register the fact that at present, I chose Dylan over him. He seemed to digest it without looking like he had a dagger in his chest.
"Ok. So, to Kansas?"
I smiled and nodded.
"To Kansas".