Chapter 12
Nudge didn't move. Didn't stir. After all of our vigilant efforts to save her, Nudge still might not make it.
Fang hunched over Nudge's lean skinny form, performed mouth-to-mouth as soon as I lay her on the ground. I stared at her. She was truly beautiful – tall, slender. If she didn't have wings, Nudge could very well be the next Tyra Banks. And that's what she wanted. Well, at least as of late she did. Once she realized that existing as a normal twelve year old – attending school and cheering on the pep squad – was so far out of the realm of our reality, she settled on a new dream. Being a model. A movie star. And the prospect of a movie being created about us. Well – that was one step closer to a new found dream.
But now. Now I wondered if her dream would ever come to fruition. Her gorgeous dark braids were singed and her face took on a lighter shade of mocha. I was seriously going to kill her for venturing back into a burning house for a pair of shoes.
Come on, Nudge. Breathe! You are not allowed to die!
The next three minutes were gut-wrenching. I paced back and forth at Nudge's side. My stomach felt hollow and I was still coughing up a lung from my own smoke inhalation. I looked down at Fang and he was a rock. Mr. Steady. Relentless in his efforts. Just calmly applied round after round of breathing into Nudge's mouth with never a sign of relinquishment. I loved him so much right now. I would never ever run from him again.
A barely audible cough snapped me from my whimsy. Nudge coughed again, then again. And a few more times after that.
"Nudge!" I exclaimed, squatting beside her.
Nudge's eyes slowly opened and she took in my face, then Fang's. Her features were drawn, but she was alive. Alive and safe beside me. I was so happy I wanted to hug the whole flock right now.
"Max, I am so sorry," Nudge said, regaining her breath, regarding the burning house several feet away. "That was so stupid. I don't know what I was thinking. All I could think about was those shoes and how it was the first thing I'd ever truly bought with my own money. And they were just the cutest shoes and…"
I helped her to a seated position and embraced her gingerly.
"S alright," I murmured. "Just don't be stupid again."
Nudge hugged Fang enthusiastically, reminding me instantly of a time when Fang would tease Nudge, she'd squeal, then he'd dangle a chocolate bar in front of her and she'd wrap her arms around him like he was the best big brother in the world. Seemed like a lifetime ago when Nudge was so young and joyful and naïve when in reality, events like that only occurred just months ago. How did she grow up so fast?
"Max!" I heard two bird kids scream. I spun away from Nudge, saw Gazzy and Iggy approaching us quickly.
"Is Nudge… is Nudge okay?" Gazzy asked quietly. His face was as pale as if he'd seen a ghost. Iggy had a similar look of panic on his features.
"I'm fine," Nudge muttered. Fang helped her to her feet. "Except I inhaled a pound of smoke. And I think my wing is broken." She fluttered her right wing. It flopped disjointedly from her shoulder. "Ow. Guess I won't be flying for awhile."
"They look pretty bad," Fang said flatly. "Might just have to detach them permanently." He tugged lightly at her good wing – his face registering total impassivity. However, Nudge's – totally aghast.
"What?" she whimpered, barely squeaking out what was now the shortest question of her life.
"Fang's kidding, Nudge," I said, elbowing his side. He cracked a half-smile, while I strived not too. Although, it did warm my heart slightly to know that Nudge didn't want to lose her wings. Yes, folks – at one time our chocolate Avian-American actually wanted to cut off her wings – all so she could be normal. Not happening. Well- the normal part at least.
Yeah- normal. Normal would involve not being mutant bird freaks or having your safe house blown up every couple of months.
"Come on, guys," I grumbled, moving them back toward the street in front of the house. "Looks like we'll be looking for a new home."
I glanced back at the burning house as we reached the street.
Humph. Wonder if there would ever be a place we could call home.
******************************************************************************************************************************************
A/N: Thanks as always for the reviews. I won't be updating for a while as I am embarking on a whirlwind tour of the eastern seaboard. :D But I will try to write in my absence. Should be posting again in a few weeks.
