My Version of Nevermore

Chapter 2:

Dylan was the only one who noticed Fang and I holding hands as we flew back-and he looked pissed. But I didn't care. All I cared about was my flock.

I saw Nudge and Gazzy still crying, and ran to them and pulled them to me, holding them close, letting them cry into my shoulders.

Nudge calmed down first and pulled away. When she saw Fang, I saw more tears in her eyes as she ran into his arms. He actually hugged her back and even rubbed her back between her wings to calm her down.

Meanwhile, I focused on Gazzy-he was usually my little trooper, but he'd just witnessed and explosion that he thought had killed his little sister. Through his sobs, he kept saying it was his fault.

I let go of him and kneeled down to his level and said, "Gazzy. It's not your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I let her stay with you and Fang."

"But-"

"Besides, Angel is not dead. I heard her a few minutes ago. So did Fang."

With this, fresh tears streamed down his cheecks, but this time, they were tears of joy and he hugged me again.

I rubbed his back and said, "We'll find her Gaz. I promise. He nodded into my shoulder, still crying.

"I don't think you heard her, Max." I heard Dylan say. "You just can't accept that Angel's gone. But she is. Let it go. She's dead, and as devastating as that is, accept it and move on."

Anger made my blood boil as I heard this and remembered that he told Fang to leave me, leave us, and I got even angrier.

Still hugging Gaz, I looked up at Dylan. "I can't let it go, Dylan. She's my baby. And I don't care what you think, Dylan. And you're not my 'perfect other half', no matter what Gunther-Hagen said. My perfect other half wouldn't try to convince me Angel is dead, or make my best friend leave me! Fang told me what you said to him. But now he's back, and he's staying. You need to leave."

As I spoke, I saw him get angrier and angrier. Fang was still holding Nudge, with Iggy standing right next to them.

Suddenly, ran at us, angrier than I'd ever seen him. Fang let go of Nudge and literally threw her into the air while yelling at Ig to get in the air.

Not having time to get Gazzy to get himself in the air, I just picked him up, whipped out my own wings and launched us both into the air. He was a little heavy, but I could manage. Beating my wings to keep us aloft, I looked down and watched Dylan and Fang fight. I knew Fang would want me to stay in the air with the kids and stay out of this particular fight.

None of us in the flock are big on killing, but Dylan was different for us. We didn't want him around if he kept trying to break up our family. Luckily, there was a small pond, deep enough to drown in if you couldn't swim-which Dylan couldn't. He also didn't have mine, Fang and Angels ability to breathe under water.

When he was close enough to the pond, Fang pushed Dylan into the river and flew up to us. After watching Dylan sink and not come up for about five minutes, we all decided it was safe to say that Dylan was no more.

I was still holding Gazzy as we flew down all flew back to the ground. When we landed, Gazzy let go of me and turned to look at Fang.

"Fang?" he said, still sounding upset, "Are you really staying? For good?"

Fang smiled, which he rarely does around the flock, as he said, "Yeah, Gasser. I'm not leaving again. Promise."

Gazzy's face lit up, and he looked happier than he has in a long time as he jumped into Fangs arms, hugging him hard. When he let go, Ig clapped Fang on the back and said "Welcome back, man."

Nudge hugged Fang again, but quickly let go and started talking a mile a minute.

"OMG, Fang, I'm sooo glad you're coming back. We missed you a lot, but mostly Max. She was really sad when you left. She was crying and we went to her mom's after Angel went missing and you left again. But then she ran away and Jeb and Dr. M disappeared and Max was even more upset. But now she's happier and-"

"NUDGE!" We all shouted as Iggy finally covered her mouth.

Finally, I hugged Fang again and kissed him. When we let go of eachother, I gave him a look that said "I'll tell you everything later." I still had a lot to tell him.

"Alright guys, we will find Angel. I promise. I also need to find mom and Ella. I know I said we wouldn't trust adults anymore, but I need my mom. I don't know about Jeb. But first, we need to find a place to rest up for the night. Sound good?

I heard yeahs and yeps from the remainder of my family and Fang squeezed my hand. "Okay, then. U&A guys!"