Back to Basics

Reverting back to the original lifestyle of being on the run isn't that hard to get back into, it's just depressing to. I woke up early morning, past my shift which angered me that Fang chose to wake Iggy up instead of me, and began instantly planning what we were going to do next. Of course, when I need help and running on an empty fuel tank, the Voice can't pop in and give me advice. I stretched and Iggy nodded his head, a bit too tired I suppose.

"Any troubles?" I asked while wiping the crusts out of my eyes. Yes- even bird kids get them. I noticed the fire was still going well enough to give a small glow.

"Nope," Iggy replied before yawning. "You all right Max?" I stared at him and rolled my eyes. I half-expected a joke to come out from him. "Seriously, I mean, I may be a jerk sometimes but now is not a good time for that."

"Iggy, seriously, I'd rather not talk about it," I muttered. I went for where I recalled I had placed my bag only to realize that Fang was right there, next to the spot I had been sleeping on. I heard Iggy's chuckle at my realization. He had been facing me while lying on his side. I tried remembering exactly how close to him I had woken up. From where I sat, we must've been lying pretty close.

I stood up and stepped over Fang in order to reach my bag without having to lean over him. I went through to find a box of cereal that would be good enough since we had to start rationing what we ate. We're broke for the most part…although my mom gave us a few dollars when I told her it was safer if we left.

"Max, I'm hungry," Nudge sat up. I was surprised at how early she was awake. Her loud voice stirred up everyone, including Fang who rolled over to his back only to hit my legs. He grumbled and stared up at me. Enough said, he had read the paper, he knew what I knew. Gently, his hand rested on the back of my leg as he sat up.

I turned my attention to the flock. Gazzy and Angel were stretching out their wings and then standing up. Everyone was crowding towards me, waiting for me to pass out some food for all of us. I had been smart to pack some paper bowls and I poured out cereal for everyone. The flock gathered around on the logs we had placed by the camp. I sat next to Fang eating from the box while trying to restrain myself from eating all of it. Chances are everyone would be wanted seconds…which wouldn't work with this measly box.

First, we had to do some flying, anywhere away from where we had been living. I'd figure out a location once it came to mind. Then, we had to talk about what had happened with Ella. I wouldn't give them the full story…just Nudge and Fang knowing was more than enough.

We'll get through this Max, Angel whispered. I sent her a look as she read my thoughts. I know I'm not supposed to read your thoughts. You just looked sad! I wanted to cheer you up. Fang is worried too Max. Would you like to hear? I raised an eyebrow and before I could give Angel an answer, suddenly, I was hearing another voice.

Max must be hurting…oh geez, what can I do? Leave her be or help her? What would Max want? Fang's eyes darted up to me and he attempted to smile when he saw me staring at him. Had I really just heard his thoughts? Was Angel now showing off another new ability? Eventually, I think she'd explode from all of the gifts she had. "Max?" Fang asked. He placed his empty paper bowl on the ground and stared at me, "Want to talk?"

"Yes," I replied, reaching for his hand. "Guys, finish this up but nothing else. We have to be careful with how much we eat." I passed the box to Nudge who began pouring the very large seconds. Then, I was pulling Fang into the forest behind me. When we were a good enough distance away I turned to face him, "Angel has a new power?"

Instead of speaking which we all know he loves to do so much, Fang raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. I sighed and kept going, "She let me listen in on your thoughts." For a second I could see how nervous he was. He gave me a look that said and? "I need you to help me," I whispered, "Come on Fang, you're my right-hand man. If I didn't need your help…well, I'd be stubborn."

"You are stubborn," he muttered as a response. He placed two large hands on my cheeks in order to hold my face to look up at him.

"Hey! Not fair! You're stubborn too." He kissed my forehead and backed away, giving me this "cool" bird-like shrug. "You're the one who refused to tell me how you felt forever and made fun of me for being on Valium…which makes bird-kids lose complete control might I add."

"I told you first, without the help of Valium." He replied smirking. He rolled his eyes. "We should go." I had to admit, I was getting a lot more sentences out of him than I use too. Maybe it was the new power of "gab" that he now had. It'd be nice to not have to guess what he was thinking. Although, technically, I could just ask Angel. But that would be wrong and I have to set examples as the leader. Darn it.

When we walked to camp, Iggy and Nudge were sitting on a log holding hands like they had accidently been glues together (although I did not rule out that possibility). Angel was fixing the torn hem of Celeste's tutu while Total complained about his "injured" paw. Gazzy was actually picking his nose from what I saw. "Eww, Gasman, what are you doing?"

He turned to look at me, he was in fact rubbing the side of his nose from an itch. He gave me a smile, "Nothing, geez Max, I'm not that disgusting am I?"

"By definition, as a ten-year-old boy, you're supposed to be gross. I was just making a comment about it." He dropped his hand by his side and rolled his eyes. I went over to him, muffled his hair and his forehead. To my surprise, he instantly wiped it off. I supposed it was because he was getting older or what not.

"Where to Max?" Angel asked while placing Celeste into her favorite pink backpack that she got to use for about two weeks of actual school. Now it was her survival bag. "Somewhere fun, like the island idea Fang had."

I shrugged, "We'll see when we get there." We all began to pick up camp, putting the paper bowls back in my bag as usual. We couldn't afford to litter while being the mascots of preventing global warming.

"For now, let's just fly for the sake of flying."

Which wasn't a complete lie.