Epilogue - Destiny

To say that my dreams were restless that night was an understatement. I kept getting images that flashed through my mind, ranging from hell to heaven to my fellow bird-kids flying through the sky alongside me. Part of the problem was that I couldn't tell which dreams were real and which were not, and that part really ate at me. I just wanted some answers, you know? Like why did I have to go through this experience? And why had I been given a second chance? It didn't seem likely that I would be getting answers to these any time soon, even though I would always have to live with these questions in my subconscious.

Next to me, I heard a moan, and my grip tightened immediately. Max was lying beside me, high up in a tree, with Iggy on watch not too far away. After I had come back, it was very difficult for me to leave her side, just as she was extremely reluctant to have me our of her sight. Not that I didn't particularly mind this, but after what we had been through, it was going to take a while for things to get back to normal.

Her dreams seemed just as restless as mine.

I wasn't surprised to see her looking at me, once I turned my head in her direction. "Hey," she whispered, even though I was sure Iggy could hear us anyway.

"Hey," I replied.

Neither of us really knew what to say, but the silence seemed to fill in the blanks. We were glad that I'm back with the flock, we're glad to have each other back, we're glad that I'm not dead...

It was still rather odd wrapping my mind around that one. I was dead. And not only that, but someone's spirit had Possessed my body for some time, too. It made me feel a little uncomfortable in my own skin, especially since I knew the slime had kissed her.

As if to assure myself that I were still here, I leaned over and kissed her. She was a little surprised at first in her grogginess, but the kiss was bringing back a sense of awareness. I don't think either of us wanted to move for a while, but there were still some things that needed to be said between us.

"What was it like?" she finally asked, not quite meeting my eyes. She was tucked into my side nicely, my one arm around her shoulder and the other had the hand intwined with hers.

I knew what she meant. "Weird, but cool in its own way. I had these powers, more than I probably even knew. But I could remember everything, and I didn't want that to be the way I died. I didn't want to have to spend an eternity in a school where I learned how to be dead."

"And how'd you get back? I mean, why did you get a second chance?" Even though her voice was rather subdued, I could hear the urgency in it, as if this was what she really wanted to know. I knew she was glad that I had gotten that opportunity, but this wasn't something that happened on a regular basis. Not anyone could just come back from the dead.

"Zeke said it was because I had died before I was supposed to," I replied, looking out towards the sea of leaves and branches that enveloped us, high up in the sky. "But I don't quite accept that as an answer."

"Maybe there's another reason, some way you are supposed to die in the future, one that will help set the world right." I'm not sure if she was voicing this to herself or towards our conversation, but the statement hung there, pregnant and gripping. Was that it, then? There was something else I'm supposed to fulfill that needs me here? If that's the case, why didn't Zeke just zap me back into my body as soon as I had died?

I didn't know what to say, so I just let the silence fall back between us. I rested my head on hers and tried to go back to sleep before the subject came back up in the night.

I couldn't say how long it was after, but at some point I started to see a white light. Someone was approaching me, but I couldn't tell who it was. I poised myself for attack, but once he got closer, I couldn't help but let down my defenses. "Zeke?"

Shit. That meant I was dead again. So much for Max's idea about me having another purpose.

"Hello there, Fang," he said brightly, in that same white suit that matched this white location we were in.

"Please don't tell me that I'm dead again," I said, feeling my fists clench reflexively.

"Oh, no, you're not dead," he laughed, "I just through I'd come visit you, see how you were doing."

"Don't act like you don't know." But even I was smirking now. This guy had too much zeal to be angry at for long.

"You said you wanted answers, so I'm here with them." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stood before me, not quite as tall as me, but his body was large enough to be a little imposing.

"Was what you said true? About me getting to come back because I died before I was supposed to?"

He laughed. "Yes...and no. It's part of the truth, but not entirely."

I nodded once. "Then what Max said earlier..."

"Ah, yes, about that," he said, his eyes piercing through him. "I know she didn't mean to say it, but lets just say that she's not entirely off. You have your own purpose, Fang, one that you need to fulfill. And the only way that it can happen is if you are alive."

"Then why did I have to go through this whole process? Why did I have to die if I was just going to be brought back to life anyway?"

He shrugged at this point. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the Big Man wanted to see if your will was strong enough to complete your mission. Whether you were ready to accomplish it. I think you proved yourself worthy of whatever is ahead for you. Just don't waste any opportunity, Fang. You're alive, when so many others have to live with their regret. You get to be with the girl you love again. Don't screw this up."

I didn't know what to say at first, but then I choked out, "What is my purpose, then?"

"I still think you need to figure that one out for yourself. It's hardly destiny if I guide you toward that path."

I was shocked awake, gasping as the break of dawn was coming over the tree line. For the next few moments, I tried to catch my breath. So maybe there is some other purpose out there for me, but I wasn't given the answer...now I must know what it feels like to be Max, to have someone in your head who answers your questions in a way that only arouses more. Either way, he made it pretty clear that there is something I need to do, but whatever it is, I will have to figure it out myself.

Max was awake now, on her line of watch after Iggy had went to sleep. She gave me a questioning look, but I shook my head. I couldn't press this issue now, not when I was trying to figure it out for myself.

For now, my purpose is to keep the Flock and Max as close to me as possible.

I'm sorry for the long wait. I literally tried writing this chapter three or four different times, but I never liked the way it would turn out. I'm very satisfied with this epilogue, so I wanted to get it out as soon as possible. I'm also sorry if I left anything out because it's been a while since I looked at the story and I forget which holes needed to be closed.

Any questions as to my whereabouts and recent activity can be sent to me via review or message, and I promise I will give you guys some answers to the best of my ability. For now, I hope you enjoyed this sweet little fluffy chapter.

-biteoutoflife-