SURPRISE! I'm not dead!

I have a super-duper long list of things I've been busy with, but I'm not going to bore you with that. You have waited long enough!

Quick recap since it has been so long...

IMPORTANT-ISH!

Ella and Dr. Martinez are being held captive by the School - and we just found out Mr. Martinez is alive and being held captive by RAWR. How are they going to save everyone? Our feathery friends are in a bit of a pickle. Max is drugged up from getting her chip removed, and Erasers are speeding toward the flock. GASP! Fang just jumped out the window carrying our beloved sarcastic leader. Max wuvs Fang. Nudge wuvs Wake. Iggy wuvs Ella...

Any of that ring a bell? I recommend re-reading the last chapter if you're a little lost. Heck, I had to go back and reread it, and I'm the one that wrote it!

Sorry again for the wait! Here's the somewhat-short Chapter 14!


Fang POV

"Hurry up! Faster, you hooligans!" Total barked at us, which wasn't helping at all.

South! Angel's voice echoed in our heads. Just as my feathers tilted to take up a southbound direction, Angel's thought interrupted again frantically. No, no, NO! She stopped her lead and shot downward toward a clearing in the forest below us. They're surrounding us. It'd be better if we fought from the ground. This generation is weaker on foot.

I landed harder than I normally would have with the extra weight of carrying Max. She stirred a little and dopily looked up at me. "Don't get up." I whispered to her as I gently laid her on the ground.

She rolled over and started giggling quietly to herself. "Fang, you can't tell me what..." She trailed off and closed her eyes, rolling back over onto her other side.

By the time I turned back around, the others were landing. Nudge was first to speak. "Where's Kazin? Did anybody get her?"

Wake looked to Iggy for an explanation. Judging by the looks on both of their faces, the two guys had already talked. When Iggy just kept pacing and muttering furiously about Ella and Dr. Martinez, Wake explained. "When Iggy went around to wake people up about Jeb coming, Kazin had left a note on her door saying that she was leaving to live with some her other friends. She was mad, and she isn't coming back. She's fine, though."

I nodded in understanding. I could hear the hurt in his voice. I knew what it felt like to have your own flock and family leave you or cast you out. Nudge obviously heard it too. She gave his hand a squeeze and was just about to give him comforting words when Angel drew in a sharp breath. Everyone got quiet.

"They're hear." She whispered, her voice wavering with concern. She crouched and morphed into her "bird-of-paradise" form. Bright blue feathers pushed through her skin along her elbows and around her face. Her eyes became rounder, her sight magnified.

"My favorite!" Total said excitedly.

"With a new upgrade." I added appreciatively, noticing the bird talons sprouting from her fingernails.

Nudge pulled something out of her jacket that flashed in the moonlight. I didn't quite catch what it was, but I was pretty sure it was silverware - forks, to be exact.

Gazzy and Ig looked at each other and simply shrugged off their jackets. Holding onto the sleeves, they shook them, and stick after stick of dynamite poured out in what seemed to be an impossible amount.

"Really?" Wake asked while he brought his fists up in a fighting stance.

Iggy grinned.

I stood next to Angel, and her eyes darted up to me in question. I whispered to her. "What are our chances?"

She glanced up at me, her face calculating the odds and simultaneously reading my mind. "We'll be fine with what we have. There is no need for you to change."

I thanked her silently, and she nodded her reassurance. I didn't have to say aloud the pain she saved me from. I had been wondering if I needed to wolf-out. Although that form was much more effective at fighting, I wanted to avoid the unbearable pain of Turning. The initial change was the worst part, but it would linger throughout my time as an Eraser.

By the time Iggy started lighting the first few explosives, a small wave of Erasers leapt into the clearing. Gazzy threw the dynamite that Iggy handed him. Fifteen Erasers down with the first four thrown.

Total puffed out his chest and yelled, "DIE, you filthy excuses of canines!"

And that was when all heck broke lose. Nudge threw her metal forks and they soared around like reusable missiles. Angel ran at a pack of Erasers, and then I was absorbed into my own battle.

My main focus was to protect Max. I stayed in front of her dancing left and right to take out whoever tried to pass. I lunged at the nearest one, reaching up to pop it's eardrums. It ducked so that my hands clapped the air over it's head. His knee came up to my stomach and I was knocked back. I quickly jumped back at him, connecting a solid fist with his jaw. He fell back with a hard thud and a swarm of Nudge's forks finished him off. I was really beginning to appreciate the fact that kitchen appliances were Nudge's weapon of choice.

I rubbed my middle. I had forgotten how advanced these Erasers were. This generation was quicker and stronger. They actually scared me.

I ran forward, straight at the knees of my next target. I hit him hard, flipping him over my shoulder. He fell to the ground, coming face to face with a very angry looking Scottie. "You disgust me." Total said as he bit the wolf's arm. Iggy teamed up with him and made sure to knock him unconscious.

I glanced around to see how the others were doing. I cracked a smile when my eyes came across Wake. He had one of Nudge's fashion scarfs wrapped around his head to protect up his super sensitive ears from the sounds of battle. Pink and blue sparkles dangled from the edges on frilly strings. I'd make fun of him later.

I was turning back around to see if anything else was going for Max when my breath hitched. She was gone.

Gazzy's voice cut through the clearing. "Max! No!"

I whirled around to see Gasman to busy and surrounded by Erasers while a few others were toying with Max. One tossed her, and another caught her. Like an innocent game of catch in the middle of a battle. One locked it's gaze with me. The panic on my face must have amused the Eraser, because it smiled, tracing the side of her cheek with it's claw. It's nail just broke the skin enough to let the poison enter her body. Max struggled weakly against it's hand, stretching her neck to try to avoid another scratch.

I charged forward with rage, but the run was immediately cut short. Two Erasers rammed into me and pinned me to the ground. I heard one of the bones in my right wing crack under my attackers' weight, and I winced. The dark one continued to hold me down, while the other stood up. I bucked trying to throw him off. He growled when I kneed him in the back. The standing Eraser laughed at it's friend, and I grinned at the scowl the darker one gave me. When the standing one saw my smirk, he jumped on my right wing entirely.

Crack. Crack. CRACK!

"Huh-haaaaaah!" I yelled. My fists clenched in excruciation, and my eyes screwed shut. I yelled again as his weight shifted to step off.

"Birdy can't fly without his wing can he?" The darker one that had me pinned sneered. I spit in his face defiantly, and he roared with anger. "Get his other wing!" He barked out.

I sucked in a fear-stricken gasp and pulled in my wing as far as I could, but that practically did nothing. I couldn't get it under me. The Eraser lifted his foot to break my other wing and I kicked hard with panic.

I squirmed, and yelled in frustration.

Then I heard Max's scream.

... I have never heard Max scream.

My blood froze instantly. No one ever hurts Max enough for her to shriek so helplessly. She was too strong. And I wouldn't allow it.

Instead of yelling when his foot shattered another bone, I growled. Both wolf-men looked at me with confusion.

Suddenly my vision was red as the transformation started. After a moment of pure agony, I snarled and my abusers were on the ground. I was streaking full speed at whoever was holding Max. "DON'T TOUCH HER!" I shouted into the night.

Everything went black.


"Hello? Hellooo?" A voice echoed. I was slapped lightly across the face a few times. "Dude, are you awake?"

My eyes snapped open and I snatched Iggy's hand away from my nose. He yanked his fingers away and yelled out for back up. He roughly pinned my shoulders to the ground. "Please, don't make us knock you out again."

"What?" I blinked in confusion. "Ig, get off of me."

He hesitantly let go. "You're speaking?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Enough with the dark and silent jokes." I brushed my arms off. "I talk just as much as you do."

Angel appeared from the underbrush smiling. "It's alright guys. His mind is sane again."

Nudge peaked out from behind a tree, and Gazzy scooted into view, his hands in his pockets. They seemed almost... frightened? Skeptickal? Worried?

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked standing up. I shook my head clear, remembering something. "Where's Max?"

I looked to Iggy, but his face became uncomfortable. He shied away. "Well... uh... you... you see..."

My throat constricted. "She... she's not dead. Right?"

His eyes widened. "God, no!" He back pedaled fast. "That's not it at all! Heaven all mighty knows that you made sure of that."

"I need to see her." I demanded. "She got scratched." I stepped forward. Wake quickly shoved me back and I growled with frustration. "What the heck is wrong with you guys?"

"You can't see her yet." Iggy spluttered nervously. "You changed in the fight, saved Max, and took out every Eraser like they were stuffed animals. We didn't even really get a chance to fight since you were killing them so fast."

Angel nodded. "As soon as they were all gone, you went back to Max and wouldn't let anyone near. Not even to let us try to help or anything. You just stood over her and didn't allow anybody to get close enough to see her wounds. Your mind was blank. Like you were an animal only acting on instinct. Like you were stuck in combat mode."

"Protecting your 'Mate'." Iggy interrupted helpfully, raising his eyebrows up and down. "Cute, adorable puppy love."

I ignored him.

He didn't get the reaction he wanted, so he added a little, "Woof!"

I shot him a look, and of course it was lost on him.

Gazzy shuffled his feet. "Angel had to use mind control to get you to stay still while Iggy knocked you out. We used your spit to heal everyone. Max is fine now." He gave an apologetic smile. "We just not sure how you'll react when you see her."

I sat there, emotionless on the outside, while my mind fumbled, trying to make sense of everything they had just told me. I had done all of that? I had lost control? Was I becoming an actual blood-thirsty Eraser?

No. I looked up to meet Angel's gaze. Her voice was loud in my head, and it startled me. It's just power that you don't know how to control yet. It's more likely that we can get Ella and Dr. Martinez back now. And her dad, but you have to start training. With great power comes great responsibility. Learn your power.

I laughed aloud. "Alright, alright. Just don't quote Spiderman stuff at me. Okay?"

Wake raised an eyebrow. "Who's this Spiderman guy?" He looked seriously puzzled. "Do you guys know him?"

Iggy cracked up. "Know him!?" He threw his arm over Wake's shoulder and gave him a noogie. "Heck yeah! Him and I are best buds!"

Angel smiled, and Nudge smothered a laugh.

"Let's go, Batman." Iggy continued as he pulled Wake along in the direction of Max. "You and Spiderman totally have so much in common."

Gazzy turned and spoke to me while we followed. "She's still a little loopy." He warned me. "She started freaking out because she couldn't find her bellybutton."

I thought a second, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't imagine Max being anything except her normal, tough leader self. I mean, even though I'd seen her drugged before, I wasn't prepared for what happened when Gazzy pushed aside an exceptionally large leaf.

"FANG! I FOUND IT! I FOUND MY BELLYB-" She had jumped up and launched herself at me, but somehow, she missed by a foot and ended up landing face first into the ground.

I couldn't do anything except stare.

"Faaaaang." She complained while sitting up. "Your twin isn't real!"

After standing a moment in complete surprise, I finally found my voice to whisper, "Twin?" to Iggy.

He shrugged. "She's been seeing double. I guess it's one of the side effects. I suppose somewhere in that brain of hers, she believes her double vision of you is showing your twin."

"Seriously?" I asked. Max suddenly found a blade of grass to be the funniest thing in the world. She held it up for me to see.

"GREEN!" She squealed happily. I blinked, and she shoved it closer to my face.

"Um... thanks?" I said taking it from her. She beamed and cackled with delight. I rubbed at the back of my neck, and caught the rest of the flock sneaking away.

They froze when my glare caught them.

"Babysit her." Wake mouthed.

"Why?" I whispered back, shaking my head and crossing my arms.

You seem to be fine with her, so Iggy and Gazzy are going to re-stalk up on explosives. Angel began. Nudge is getting us new clothes. I'm getting us food-

"Fine," I said, cutting her off, "but how do I... deal with her?"

Angel thought a moment, and then said, "Play patty cake."

"What the heck is that!?" I asked helplessly. She shrugged and flew away with the others, leaving me to deal with Max - who was now currently trying to see how many flowers she could shove up her nose.

Just me... my hallucinating girlfriend... and my nonexistent twin.

... ugh.

Best alone time ever.


So... yay! And the Flock doesn't suck at fighting now, it's just that the upgraded Erasers are super good. Like, Omega good. Can't wait to write chapter 15!

I'm not sure how frequent I will be updating, because I'm writing a book, and I want to get it published! So, I'm kind of focussing on that right now.

And then there's homework. (sigh)

I'm a little rusty with this story, so tell me what you think in a review! Reviews are loved and help me update quicker! :D Much thanks to all of you!

AND PLEASE GIVE ME IDEAS! WRITERS BLOCK SUCKS! ;)