That's one thing I probably should have mentioned about us. You see, my little flock of seven…sorry, six…and I are not your average group of kids. We had been experimented on in a sick, cruel laboratory since before we were even born. And we would still be there, if that girl hadn't come and saved us.
Max. That's what I had heard someone call her. The boy with dark black hair. He was the one that had called out to her and called her Max. I owed everything to her. She and her small flock, who amazingly were just like us, had let us out of our cages. The boy with black hair, Fang I think his name was, had then led us through dark tunnels and into a city.
None of my flock had ever seen a city in their lives. Before being moved to that underground lab, we had been in a different lab called the School in California. That was where my sister had been killed. We hadn't been in the new laboratory for more then a week before Max and her flock came and saved us. If it weren't for her, any other member of my flock could also be dead right now.
We were supposed to go with another girl who was also like us. She had wings as well. But she was taking care of all the other kids from the underground lab. They seemed to know each other well, but didn't seem eager to get to know us. I had my flock to protect, so we left. She didn't seem to mind having less mouths to feed.
"Are we staying here tonight, Lil?" Cedar asked as we landed clumsily in a small clearing in the forest. We had flown quite a ways away from the city and all of us were exhausted.
"Yeah. Settle in, guys. We're camping out here tonight," I told my flock. Apple stumbled a few feet before dropping to her knees and passing out. Cedar laid next to her and began rubbing her back. I smiled. Cedar always took care of his sister.
Willow stumbled over to a tree sat with her back leaned against it. She closed her eyes, breathing hard. None of us were very used to flying, and I knew this trip had taken a toll on the younger ones. Flint stood, looking over our small hide out. He smiled slightly before lying next to Willow and falling asleep.
Ash came over and stood next to me as we watched over the sleeping flock. "You okay?" he asked without looking at me. I glanced up at him. Ash had my back. He always had and always would. I knew that.
But still. I couldn't bear the thought of looking weak in front of any member of my flock. Even Ash. I had to be strong. I had to be a leader, a role model. If I couldn't keep it together, how could I expect them to?
"Yeah. I'm fine. Just…tired," I told him, going to sit down.
"Lillian…you just lost your sister. You don't have to play tough in front of me," he said, looking down at me from where he stood. I looked up at him again, not wanting to get into this discussion. This wasn't the time or place. So I forced a smile.
"Better then them having her alive," I said, my voice cracking unforgivably half way through my sentence. Ash sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulder.
"It's going to be alright, Lil. Just try and get some sleep." So, for once, I allowed myself to be the small, thirteen year old girl I was. I curled up against his shoulder and fell asleep instantly.