"Max?" A soft whisper said into my ear. I moved my arm in response. Couldn't he tell I was sleeping? "We need to get out of here." I stiffened. What? Why? Oh, who cares… I'm tired. My eyelids were droopy and I felt like a wreck. I think I gave too much blood. "Max? C'mon. The nurse won't let us leave during daylight. It's dark out." Oh, for Pete's sake, leave me alone. I moved my arm again. Someone pulled on it. "C'mon, Max. Let's go now." I was vaguely aware of someone's arms sliding under my legs and across my shoulders. Just vaguely. I already told you I was tired. I felt the comfy chair I was sitting on disappear from beneath me and then I was leaning against something hard.

Still half asleep, I opened my eyes a bit. I saw Fang's shirt next to me and I noticed he was holding me. I looked up and he looked down at me, a half-smile on his face. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty." Huh? I hadn't slept that long, had I? Looking past Fang's shoulder, I saw the first few streaks of light across the sky. Oh good. It was only dawn. Fang was still smiling. His wings moved gracefully, up and down. It must be hard carrying me. I'd probably gained a few pounds from all that food I was eating. But hey, a girl's gotta eat!

I shifted my weight uncomfortably in his strong arms. "Um, Fang?" I said to him. "You can put me down now, if you want." He looked at me.

"No, it's okay," he replied.

"Oh. Let me rephrase that. Put me down before I kill you, okay?"

He smiled at me again. "Ok, okay. But you do know we're in the air, right? You just want me to drop you?"

"Yes, of course I know that. Just drop me, okay? On three."

"Ok. One." And he dropped me.

I should've known. Three always means one, but not when I'm sleepy and irritable and unprepared for a sudden drop through the sky. My hair streamed out above me. This was actually kind of nice. I closed my eyes for a second breathed in the refreshing, cool morning air. Then I looked up slightly and saw Fang looking at me, a worried expression on his face. Ha. Serves him right for dropping me. I let myself fall for about ten more seconds, when the ground was in view. I could see tiny people moving around with their everyday ordinary lives. Lucky them. My life was nothing like ordinary.

I spread my wings out wide, letting them catch the air and pull me up. Ahhh, the freedom of flying. I swooped low over a cloud and then flew above it, coasting on the breezy currents. I quickly located my Flock, just tiny points in the sky, and quickly closed the distance between them. I caught up with Fang and shot him a smile. He grinned. Angel turned and smiled at us. It was good to be with my family. Iggy was totally enjoying the whole being-able-to-see-thing, and he was taking in everything and looking at everything. Nudge was going on and on about a store she liked and Gazzy was laughing with Iggy.

"Max! Look!" I looked at Nudge. What was se talking about? "A MALL!" She practically shrieked that last word. Oh no. Not a mall. Not a mall. "Can we go? Please? Please please please??" I looked at Fang.

"Um, I don't think that's such a good idea," I said to her. Her smile vanished. Her eyes got really big and I swear I saw her lip stick out momentarily.

"Please?" Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes formed my biggest weakness – bambi eyes.

"Ugh! Fine! But only for ten minutes! And by ten, I don't mean 60! Ten!" I rolled my eyes as Nudge leaped for joy. If that was even possible when you're already in the air. Fang shot me a sideways glance that totally screamed, "Wow, Max. You're such a pushover." I scowled at him and said something in my defense. "I wasn't the one that let her have a dog, Fang."

By the way, if you're wondering, Total isn't flying with us anymore. Don't worry, he's still perfectly intact and he's as happy as a clam. With wings. A flying clam. Anyway, he decided to take a chance at life with Akila. He was so madly in love with her he practically died whenever we had to leave her. It was so boring with him talking like this was a soap opera and he was "losing the lady of his dreams, if not more". Seriously, he said that. He was so sorry he couldn't stay with us, but hey, I'm not carrying an eighty pound Malamute around! He and Akila finally decided to settle for living with Dr. John Papa. I'd say it was a good decision. John is one of the few people who aren't freaked out about Total's talkativeness. Good for him.

Iggy located a small patch of trees we could safely land in. He kept blabbing about how everything was so wonderful and all the colors and such.

"Everything is so wonderful!" See. My point exactly.

Anyway, we touched down and headed for the mall. One place on Max's List Of Hated Places To Be. Definitely below dog crates and the School, but way above being in an airtight space with the Gasman. Just in case your wondering, Nudge was practically going to explode with excitement. She is such an 11 year old some times! We walked all the way around the huge mall and finally came to the front entrance. Smokers and no doubt people with addictions were sitting by the wall. A tired mom was hauling her little kid on a leash. Poor thing.

"Well, here goes nothing," I sighed. And into the mall we went.