I still don't own JP or anything he owns 'cept for Nudge.

This one's in Iggy's POV.

Wow...she'd given me a lot to think about. It was crazy, but understandable. I could connect to her on a whole new level. I knew that feeling of loss and betrayal, like your life isn't what it was cracked up to be.

This should have probably made me want to stay away from her. But it drew me in, somehow. She could understand, more than Max or Fang, more than Gazzy or Angel, and more than Ella or Nudge. If she lived, that was. I flew faster, knowing she kind of was depending on it. It was painful for me to feel the bloody scratches on her side and her purple tee shirt soaked black with blood. She'd clearly cracked a few ribs and at least sprained, if not broken her ankle. I didn't even care about my broken arm. If she was safe, I was fine.

Why was I so worried? She would heal quickly like the rest of us. But at the same time, with her tall form limp in my arms, I sort of realized how fragile life was.

Her story was alarming. I guess the school was creating more hybrids now...more to watch out for. And her sister...at least I never had any siblings that turned evil, unless Angel counts. It's probably how we felt about Jeb, but on a more personal level.

I approached the campsite and landed softly. "You're back," Fang said quietly. I heard Gazzy snoring and Angel and Nudge breathing heavily. They're asleep. I didn't realize it was nighttime.

"Where were you?" he asked.

"She stopped at a cliff overlooking the Pacific and dropped that cat girl in. Told me her life story too," I said.

"Y'know your girlfriend puts up a pretty good fight," Max added, trying to embarrass me. I rolled my eyes.

"She's not my girlfriend," I protested, but I was blushing all the same.

"Yeah, right. I wonder how Ella will react to this...Oh, God Iggs! She's bleeding!"

"She cracked a few ribs and sprained her ankle too. Should we get help? I mean, she'll be fine in a few days, but clearly the school knows where we are,"

"I think we can risk it. Did you feel how bad it was?"

"It's pretty bad but nothing fatal. I didn't really check, though,"

"There's a stream about a mile away due north if you want to go clean her up and have a moment or two alone," Fang said, smirking.

I glared at him and picked her up, making sure not to hurt her. I unfurled my gold flecked wings and launched myself up. Sure enough, within a minute I heard the overly cheerful sound of a brook. I landed gently, washing my hands in the icily cold water.

I laid her out on the riverbank and pulled off her shirt. It was awkward, but less so since I was blind. It was necessary. I began soaking it in the stream water, hoping that she had extra clothes. Now all she was wearing was a pale blue polka-dotted bra and some ripped up skinny jeans. She felt (I couldn't see her, okay!) pretty damn beautiful, aside from the gaping claw wound in her side.

Muttering softly, I took off my jacket and got it wet. I started cleaning out the wound, which was already scabbing over. Thank god for bird kid genes.

I couldn't imagine how she'd managed to keep fighting and to carry that bitch –Henrietta- with a gash like that. There was definitely going to be a hell of a scar. I took some bandages out of my backpack.

I managed to patch her up decently. The scratch didn't feel half as bad now that I'd cleaned it up; but she would have a scar there for the rest of her life. I surveyed her shirt. It was soaked, and the stain hadn't come out, so I took off mine and put it on her.

I leaned down, inhaling her scent, kind of like cinnamon and spearmint. I planted my lips on hers. It was kind of blissful, hearing her heart beating next to mine.

I pulled away, feeling her open her eyes, and stroked her forehead as if nothing had ever happened.