hey guys! whats up? Thanks soooo much for reviewing!! You guys make my day!! Seriously :)

anyway, some of you noticed that it cut off early on the first chapter…umm yeah that last two words are "park area."

Lol. thanks!!! enjoy! And to all my awesomely awesome reviewers… I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Thanks soooo much :D

I felt a twinge of sadness after seeing Gazzy, Nudge, and Angel collapse on the ground by the fire Iggy had built, and all snuggle together for warmth. This whole mess wasn't their fault. None of this was. They didn't deserve a life like this. I sighed and hobbled over to their little cuddlefest and gently kissed each on the forehead.

"Aww Max, do I get a kiss, too?" Iggy teased when I stumbled back to the fire. I glanced at Fang, who, even after getting a special deluxe luxury bath (A.K.A. a dunking in the icy river), still had a grey tinge to his skin.

"Well Igs, if you really think that it would make you feel better…no." I smacked him.

"Ouch," he said, in mock-hurt, "I see someone's in a bad mood. Not pointing any fingers or mentioning names, of course, but let's just say SHE has anger management problems, is in need of anxiety counseling, and, oh yeah, almost forgot, wings-"

"Hate to break it to ya, Ig," I yawned. "You can't see."

He grinned at me. "First watch?"

I yawned again. "Naw, I'll take it."

He rolled his eyes. "Suit yourself."

The darkness was thick and heavy, and after Iggy left the small aura of the fire to join the others, I couldn't see anything but the fire, the little circle of illuminated twigs, leaves, and bark, and… Fang. Jeez, he looked horrible. I turned away from his bruised body and gazed out into the darkness…

The next thing I knew, I heard something stirring. The sun was just coming out as I sat up and stretched…wait a second. I squeezed my eyes shut. Oh, crap. I fell asleep on watch. Pleeeease don't let that be Iggy…
Pleee-

As I slowly opened my eyes, trying to delay the inevitable, and saw…Fang trying to get up? My heart gave a little jump and I leaped to my feet, then wincing at the throbbing in my knee. Ouch. "Fang!" I cried, stumbling over to his side. "You're awake! I'm so happy! And if you move a single freaking muscle, I. Will. Kill. You."

He twisted around to look at me, trying not to flinch at the pain. "Oh, really?" He asked hoarsely.

I grinned. "Really. Want something to drink?" He nodded and I poured some water out of a plastic bottle into his mouth, and when he finished it, tossed it back into my backpack.

"Itex?" I asked him, knowing he would know what I meant.

He nodded. "That's what I thought, but I'm not sure. I mean, it's entirely impossible for there to be another evil, blood-sucking company of evil scientists out there to kill us. Although that wouldn't be very good for our health."

"That would suck," I agreed with him.

He nodded and sat up a little.

"So," I studied his profile. "How are you feeling?"

He groaned and flopped down again so he was laying on his back, his head propped up by Iggy's backpack and closed his eyes. His long, dark hair was tousled and messy. I started to reach out to fix it, but then realized what I was doing and jerked my hand back. Let's hear it for birdkid reflexes, folks!

"Ooookaaaay, I'll take that as a 'Max, I feel horrible and I wish that I had never had that stupid idea to land in the first place.'"

He cracked open one eye to look at me suspiciously. "It was Nudge's idea to land, not mine."

I grinned. "That was a test. Congratulations, you passed."

He shut his eye again, a small smile playing at his lips. In the easy silence between us, the sounds of the forest were more defined. The wind blew through the trees, making them shiver and quake. The little chipmunks in the willow next to our little campsite were chattering. Oh yes, that's me, Max the poet. And with that little morning symphony playing around us, Fang and I lay beside each other in companionable silence and watched the sun rise.