CHAPTER 2

Max POV

Do you know how annoying it is when you wake up for absolutely no reason whatsoever?

That's what happened to me. My eyes slowly fluttered open, immediately drawn to the barely-lit sky. Out of a force of habit, I jumped right into awareness and did a quick 360 to make sure everyone was still here and accounted for.

After I relaxed a little, I found Fang giving me a strange look. His face quickly softened as he looked back into the growing morning light.

After climbing to my feet, I joined him near the ledge.

"The mornings are always so peaceful," I smiled.

He nodded, saying, "Yea."

I extended my wings out as I stretched, then, relaxed them against my back.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fang do the same thing. I turned my head to see his beautiful wings out-stretched across the width of the cave. He then relaxed them and strode to the edge. He turned his head back to me with a heart-melting smile and said, "Wanna go for a spin?"

The first thing that came to my mind was the incident that followed the last time we took a spin. We never actually talked about it, and, frankly, I still didn't want to. I guess I just have a hard time admitting things that make me feel vulnerable like that.

Fang internally took note of my hesitation and proceeded to go for a morning flight alone. After a bounding leap into the air, he snapped his wings open, and the sight took my breath away.

Stepping closer to the edge, I took a deep breath and dove from the cliff.

Fang POV

"Wanna go for a spin?" I asked Max.

For a moment, she seemed to zone out. Suddenly, I had another weird split-second emotion strike me. I had a hard time labeling it, though. It was kind of like fear and confusion rolled into a ball. But, as I said, it didn't even last a full second.

I assumed she was going to sit this one out. At least, that's what I read in her eyes.

To my surprise, she followed me. I didn't realize it until she came into my peripheral, but she was there nonetheless.

Not that I didn't enjoy her company, but I was slightly confused as to why she did follow. I highly doubted it was because she liked me, past accounts considered. As far as I knew, she didn't need to get away from the flock, and there wasn't danger.

I must have been staring at her because she smiled and said, "Maybe we should find somewhere to pick up some food."

There was my answer. I nodded and slowed down a bit to let her take the lead. It was one of those unspoken actions that we both seemed to understand.

Max POV

A few minutes after I took off after Fang, he caught sight of me and turned his head slightly to see me better. He gave me a confused expression. I knew he was trying to find the reason for my hesitated decision.

The only problem with that: I don't think I even knew the reason. I just did it.

But, I could definitely pull an excuse out of the air. I smiled and said, "Maybe we should find somewhere to pick up some food."

Crap! That didn't sound as definite out loud as it did in my head. It sounded like a lame excuse. Granted, that is what it was, but it wasn't supposed to sound like it.

I guess he accepted that answer because he let me lead the way.

Fifteen minutes later, we landed in a shaded area about a block away from a grocery store. Ten minutes and five bags after that, we headed back to the caves.

Fang POV

"Up and at 'em!" Max yelled as we landed in the cave.

Angel was already up with bright eyes. Nudge blearily opened her eyes and rolled over. The Gasman sat up and yawned before asking, "Is it breakfast time?"

"Once we get Iggy up," Max replied.

"Yo, Ig!" I shouted next to him. "Breakfast!"

A grumble rolled from Iggy's throat and he muttered, "Yea, yea! I'm coming."