We followed Phoenix through the air. My wings still weren't big enough to carry me on such a long trip, so once again I was held against Fang's chest. His heart rate was unusually fast, even for an Avian.

Phoenix was quick as a fox. And she was easy to spot on the forest floor, a bright dash of fiery orange in the sea of green.

I still couldn't help but think in amazement at the fact that Phoenix had shifted into an actual fox. Apparently the royal family members of each cross-species had the ability to do that.

Phoenix had showed up and had urgently told us that she had found something. She still didn't clarify what exactly, but I guessed that it should have been something pretty big.

We had left Grayson alone with two friends of Nudge: Raccoons. The world of the cross-species seemed to grow bigger and bigger right before my eyes.

When Phoenix had finally stopped, we landed. I watched as she took on the human/fox form that I had first met her in.

"So it's over here," Phoenix said, motioning us to follow her.

When we arrived at our actual destination, I still couldn't see what she meant.

"They have a whole other housing section, completely separated from the main one. I can hear some noises from inside, and not all of them seem like they're Wolves," Phoenix quickly explained, heading over to a pile of rocks. What was with these Wolves and rocks?

"You mean like... Other cross species?" Iggy asked.

"Yup. Could be, but I'm not sure. I wanted you guys to check it out with me," Phoenix shrugged.

We followed her inside yet another dirt tunnel. I glanced back and Nudge and silently chuckled at her terrified eyes, which locked on each little bug on the walls.

This tunnel went on for ages and ages. "How much longer?" I moaned.

"I don't know, this is my first time in here too," Phoenix whispered from the front.

"These guys really need to boost up their security... Anyone can come in and out," Fang mumbled from behind me.

When we finally arrived at the end of the tunnel, I saw one gigantic room. Made out of dirt. And sparsely lit up by torches. Nowhere near as elegant as the main section.

But what I saw pretty much made me vomit. Stuck, in actual cages, were children. Lots of children. Children of cross-species. Children with bushy tails and claws and glowing eyes. But terrified children all the same.

"Oh. My. Gosh." Nudge whispered quietly, so quiet that I could barely hear her.

My mouth just hung open. I felt Fang grow tense and stiff behind me. Still too close to my behind for my comfort.

I looked around and suddenly noticed the numerous Wolves staring down at us from platforms, half shifted. They truly looked like the mythical werewolves in the storybooks.

"Uhh... Guys..." I squeaked, looking up at the Wolves. Everyone else (but Iggy, of course) looked up too and noticed what I saw. I glanced back at Fang, who now had a look of determination splattered across his face.

"Angel is in here," I whispered, suddenly realizing the obvious fact.

There had to be about 5 Wolves in the room or so, and 5 of us other cross-breeds. It wouldn't be an easy battle.

But I had to do it.

I shoved to the front of my group, and lunged at the nearest Wolf. I used all my strength and fury to harm the beast as best as I could.

The Wolf growled end and practically flicked me off. I was super light now, because of my hatching (which caused my bones to hallow out). The Wolf looked down at me and gave me a lopsided grin that made my stomach curl.

Out of the blue, Fang flew in and elbowed the giant creature right smack in the temple as he landed. The Wolf stumbled a little bit, clutching his head, before falling to the ground unconscious.

Nudge, Phoenix, and Iggy seemed to be attacking the other 4 Wolves on their own, and didn't seem to be doing so well. Fang and I glanced at each other before running to their aid.

Fang kept repeating his process of knocking them out while I distracted them. With a quick punch here and a powerful kick there, they came down one by one. I barely did any of the work, but we worked as a group.

By the time that all the Wolves lay unconscious, I was wheezing and gasping for breath. I saw Nudge tilt her head back to stop a bleeding nose, and Iggy cup a blackened eye. But none of us looked seriously injured.

Gaining my strength back a little, I started to drag one of the 300 pound beasts towards an empty cage. The others looked at me with confusion.

"They'll wake up again," I explained in as few words as possible. The others understood what I meant, and came to help me lock up the dead-weight Wolves.

"Now for Angel," I said out loud and clear. As I looked at the trapped children, I noticed their terrified faces. They didn't know that we meant them good.

"Hello," I whispered, walking over to what must have been some sort of Rabbit child. The little girl looked up at me with horrified eyes.

"Hi," the girl barely squeaked.

"We're here to help you guys get out," I told her, while motioning back to Fang, Iggy, Phoenix, and Nudge. She nodded, and I used a card that I had picked up off a Wolf to unlock her cage. She crawled out, and immediately hugged me before starting to cry.

"Shh, it's ok," I reassured her, while patting down her matted hair.
"You can stay with Nudge here, I have to help your friends get out," I told the Rabbit, guiding her towards Nudge who beckoned her gently. Fang, Iggy, and Phoenix went off with their stolen keys to unlock more cages.

I walked through the maze of cages, looking for Angel. None of the children even closely resembled the little bird of mine.

In the back ground, I heard Phoenix exclaim happily at what must have been her found brother. I continued my search for Angel.

After 5 minutes of walking around, I noticed a isolated cage in a corner. In it was a white lump. I walked over cautiously to it.

"Angel?" I whispered, begging the skies that this was not Angel.

The child sat up and looked me in the eyes. The blonde and bouncy hair now hung limp and pale. The sparking blue eyes looked dead to me. The broken expression on the child's face broke my own heart.

It WAS Angel.

"Oh my gosh, Angel!" I cried out, quickly unlocking the cage and gathering the whimpering girl into my arms. She hugged me back, weakly.

I looked down at her, and noticed that her wings remained out in the open.

But they were no longer the perfect shining white wings that I remember.

The joints seemed to hang at impossible angles, and the feathers remained ragged and dirty. I even spotted marks of dried blood.

The bastards had crippled her wings.

Thanks for the reviews! I post AN's at the end because I know that you guys are more likely to read it. ;D

So I said that I'd post on Friday, but I didn't know that I would be going to a basketball game in DC that night. It was then further delayed when my father forgot where he parked the car and we spent 3 hours in the cold looking for it...

I shall be starting another story as well, soon. Be sure to follow it!

Last thing: I need a beta for this story. Badly. If anyone out there is willing and capable, send me a PM!