'Sup? I'm finally back! After way a HORRIBLE case of writers block (no fun, let me tell you), I am finally continuing on with my Maximum Ride fanfiction, Paths Crossed.

Big thanks to AAA1007, who I totally borrowed the Flock's speaking lines from (THANKS). Even though its been over three months, you still inspired me to keep the story going. The underlined portions are stuff I borrowed from AAA1007.

BIG THANKS!

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don't own, you don't sue.

Digital Milk and Cookies and Ice Cream and Sugar Cubes for anyone who reviews this. (oh great, know I want sugar and food)


Chapter 6: Trying to Understand

by diversity-is-possibility

(Fang's P.O.V.)

After hearing her story, her almost attacking Nudge wasn't that surprising to me anymore. The kept making jokes about how we smelt like food. I was kinda freaking us out. Their claws were kinda freaky too.

When they had all finished telling us their story, Max turned and snapped at us, "Your turn."

I didn't really know where to start. While I was contemplating what to say, Angel told me, Fang, I can't get anything from them. No thoughts. No nothing. It's like they aren't there.

That was slightly disturbing. I asked back, Did you sense anything when you first got here?

Barely. When I told you I was here, they just disappeared. Maybe they know how to throw up barriers. That would be something they know that we don't.

Maybe. I took a deep breath. Here goes. "I'm Fang. Fourteen. I can turn invisible." I said briefly.

We were all silent for a few seconds, before Iggy stated, "I'm Iggy. I'm fourteen too. I can feel colors and control sound. And I'm blind and gay…nah, just kidding." Normal Iggy.

Nudge, oh god Nudge, had to turn a simple introduction in to one of her normal spiels. "HI! I'm Nudge, ooh, that rhymes with fudge. Fudge is soo yummy don'tcha think so? It's soooo chocolately and god…" Nudge suddenly stopped, and then seemed to get back on track. "OH! Right. I'm eleven and I can sense emotions control metal and hack computers." Max glared at Zephyr, who shrugged at her. Odd, I thought.

Gazzy stepped up next. "I'm the Gasman (don't ask). I'm eight and I can mimic voices and well the name explains it all." He gave a cheeky grin.

Angel, sweet Angel, said in her six-year-old girl voice. "I'm Angel. I'm six and I can read and control minds and talk to animals. On, and breathe underwater. But…why can't I read your minds?"

Angel was putting on the Bambi eyes pretty heavily. Max looked at her and closed her eyes, before turning and whispering something to Zephyr. They were talking and Zara said something that made both of them stop and looked puzzled. Evidently Zara took that as a free reign to tell us whatever she wanted to say and told us, "It's because we have learned how to put up mind shields. Some Erasers have the mind-reading mutation and it has almost gotten us out-fought and killed before."

I had a feeling there was something more to that story, but I had just met them, so I didn't pry. An uncomfortable silence fell over the eight of us.

"How did you escape?"

I was slightly startled. "Excuse me?"

"I asked how did you escape, goth boy." Max told me, rolling her chocolate brown eyes.

"Um… a whitecoat, Jeb, helped us. He came to our cages, unlocked us, and-" I was cut off by Max's reaction.

It was scary. Her hands started to smoke, and a touch of red entered her eyes. "Did you say Jeb?" she asked in a low, deadly sounding voice.

"Yeah. Why?"

Max began cursing. Loudly. "No good, son of a… damn it, he just left and…"

"Whoa, Max. Chill. Out." Zara told her, blasting her with a stream of air. She shook out of her trance.

"What was that about?" Nudge asked.

"Nothing." Max quickly denied.

I rolled my eyes. Right, nothing. Because everyone just starts cursing at nothing."

"Whatever."

Angel asked in her sweetest voice, that I recognized as her mind controlling one, "Please tell us what that was about? Pretty please?"

Zephyr all of a sudden looked pissed off. Max put a hand on his shoulder and he calmed down. "Ugh, fine." She said. "Jeb is my father. Four years ago, he helped me and the terrible twosome here," she casually avoided the twins simultaneous swats, "escape and just left us less than a mile from The School. He didn't even try to get us helped or anything. Didn't even try to stop the Erasers from following us. Did he do that to you?"

I was hesitant to answer her. I wanted to be honest, but I also didn't want to facet her wrath. It seemed pretty scary so far. "That means no."

"He brought us here and raised us for two years. He taught us how to live, how to fight. Then he disappeared. We thought he died."

Max looked kindly shocked at that, but I could see something else in her eyes- hurt. And betrayal. I guess I sort of understood her. Her own father abandons her, his daughter, to help other kids. Other kids who get a somewhat normal life. I think I would be kind of bitter too.

Max took a shaky breath, before mumbling something to Zara. Zara responded. They seemed to get into a heated, whispered argument that I couldn't catch, even with my enhanced hearing. Max said something, and I guess it ended of the conversation because Zara stopped talking and crossed her arms.

"We need to leave." Max announced.

"Why are you leaving? You could stay here with us, be a part of our family. I mean…" Nudge continued to babble, but Max said,

"I do not want to endanger you all. It is too dangerous for us, for me, to linger anyway too long." She seemed to subconsciously rub her left forearm.

I shook my head and told her, "Then we will endanger ourselves. At least stay the night, and let us give you a meal and a good night's rest." Wow. I think that's the most I've said all year.

The others, Angel, Gazzy, Iggy and Nudge, stared, jaws dropped at me. The three new kids all looked around at each other, before Max said, "Thanks for the offer, but if we did that, the Erasers would know where your house was. We have the experience to defeat them, but you guys… no offence, but you may know fighting, but you lack the gut instinct you need to fight the Erasers. That comes with practice. And with more of us, they will send more Erasers, too many for the three of us to fight."

"That is not fair! We can fight!" Gazzy exclaimed.

"How will they know where you are?" Nudge asked.

Max looked at Zephyr, who glanced at Zara, who sent a just tell them glare at Max. Max then rolled up her left sleeve to reveal… a mess of scars.

"Because of this."


Dun, dun, dun… cliffhanger. However, I think all of you know what is in her arm, am I right?

Any-who, peace out,

diversity