Ok, so sorry for. It updating fast! I had a choir performance thing at schooo and it was a train wreck!

Firstly, the stupid curtain thingie fell down on me! Then we all forgot the words! And this girl was supposed to be interpretive dance and she was rolling on the ground, and I thought she was hurt and embarrassed myself with the stupid question of "Are you ok?!". So yah, it was terrible. It was really hot up on stage and now I've chugged five cokes, so I'll be up late. Anyway! Here's the chapper!

A New Foe

Unknown P.O.V.

"Will you do it?" He asked me. My head whipped up as I shot him a grim smirk and leaned back in my chair.

"You give me a reason to fight, to live…you give me wing on my back…and I'll go…" I said, my voice cold as ice.

"That can be arranged," he nodded slowly.

"And what is exactly is my mission?" I questioned warily.

"To make an attack on Maximum Ride, from the ground. We've pinpointed their mansion, not over a hundred mile radius from here. You, and a group of four, will use stealth and speed in order to conquer our foe. You will have to fight dirty, but with our element of surprise and four of the main fighters gone we have a good chance. Don't blow it," the Asian man explained.

"Maximum? As in the most powerful being created?!" I snapped.

He nodded gravely and I threw my hands in the air, beginning to freak out.

"But she isn't in top form. She's carrying a very important piece of technology," he held up a finger. I listened intently.

"A baby? Is that it? You want a baby?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Precisely," he grinned and put his hands in his pockets.

"And about this group…?" I began. He pulled a remote from the pocket of his bleached white coat and pointed it at a white screen. A PowerPoint began.

The first image was of a boy.

"His name is Bigfoot," the guy began.

My eyes scanned the screen. His heart beat, age, weight, height, and even his appearance was listed.

"He's tall and big," I stated, staring at the bulky shoulders and muscled arms. He was six foot eight.

"He's part ape and elephant. He's strong and durable, a great piece in your little puzzle and team."

Piece? I snorted.

"I get one person?" I asked with folded arms, feeling very doubtful of this.

"No," he laughed as he pressed the remote again and a new picture flipped up.

"This is Macto, macto means fight in French, and he's part Eurasian Lynx. He's very good with hunting and tracking."

The boy's hair was brown and his eyes were golden brown. Two fuzzy ears stuck out, each rimmed in black and pointed on the ends.

"Looks cool," I agreed as he showed the next member.

"Palomino, she's very thin, but muscular," he gestured at her. My eyes searched over the picture repeatedly.

Her hair was pure white, not like an old persons, but long and curly. Her skin was tanned and she stared forward with a stare that said 'just try to catch me!'. Her chocolate brown eyes were big and observant, like watching for the next move.

"She's a skittish creature, always speeding away sure footed, never once failing to dance over any surface with elegance."

"Is that it?" I asked.

"No, there's one more, Altsoba, he'a very quiet and silent. He's mixed with all sorts of antelope and deer. He's Native American," the man beamed at me as I stared at the screen.

Altsoba looked a lot like his heritage. Black hair, dark eyes and all the features. The kid looked strong.

"What does it mean?" I asked.

"What?"

"Altsoba, what does it mean?"

"Oh, in Navajo it means 'all war; all are at war'."

"Sweet," I sighed and thought over my new group.

"You shall lead them," he stated.

"What?" I snapped out of my little state of 'I'm so confused'.

"The Herd, you'll lead them," he said again. My eyes met his.

"Me? I'm honored," I breathed.

"You earned it, Ox," he said as he patted my shoulder. That's the first time he didn't call me experiment O-30976-x291.

"Thanks…master," I said humbly.

"Call me Mr. Chu," he smiled. Chu? Alright.

He opened the door and I slowly walked out. I knew it was time to return to my cell. The Erasers guarded every hallway. As I turned my corner I heard someone scream. All the Erasers who had been making sure I made it back sprinted towards the sound, so I followed.

I rounded a corner in time to see a pair of light blue wings snap out and beat down. There came my friend, Jay, over the beasts' heads. I watched in awe as he landed.

"Don't do this Ox! Ride is a friend! She's like us! They're gonna kill her, Ox!" He screamed. What?! Then I heard the Erasers shout and yelp and a gun was raised. Jay stared into my eyes pleadingly. He was an avian, of coarse. Usually us winged experiments stick together, fought for each other, but I had just turned to another path. Maybe it was the cow or oxen in me, maybe that's why I turned the other cheek as I saw my usual enemy, the lupine, pull the trigger. That's why a tear didn't fall when Jay fell to my feet. His bluejay wings falling down limply with him.

"I have power now, Jay. I no longer have to be afraid," I whispered.

"Weak," came his reply as he lost all of his strength and died. Just like that, in a snap, he was gone, dead and gone.

"Says the boy laying on the floor, dead from a single bullet. A pinch of lead," I sneered as I turned my back on him. The Erasers collected his body. We were good friends, everyday of my life I was with him-talking and laughing.

But Jay was something different. I was a survivor. He was merely a boy stuck in loyalty to something that would never come.

Call me cruel, harsh, but who's still breathing?

"There's more to life than just breathing. If you consider living to be a beating heart, then you're just a shell that doesn't go deeper than the skin," a girl's voice echoed. I then noticed that I had been talking out loud. I spun around in a 180 just to see a girl with white hair standing there with her hands on her hips. My lips parted, I was about to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"Are you Palomino?" I questioned.

"Yes, Ox," how did she know my name?

"Back to your cells!" an Eraser ordered. I started running.

"Hey!" Palomino called, it sounded a lot like a whinny. I ignored her and ran harder, the Eraser was still screaming.

"Yes! That's what you eat!" I laughed. Then I heard her heavy footfall beat fast against the title and within seconds she was by my side.

"Can't I get away from you?!" I groaned.

"You're stall is across from mine," she rolled he eyes.

"Just shut up," I ordered as I came to my stall. Yes, stall. It was surrounded in glass, covered in hay, and locked off. I put my hand on the scanner and it beeped, flashing 'Approved'. The door slid open and I stepped in. It closed quickly behind me and I stood there amazed. All of my training had gotten me here. I was now a leader. I looked to my right and there was blood smeared all over the glass, all over the straw. I remembered the kid who used to be there. He was foolish, and a rebel. I looked to my left, the stall was empty. That's where Jay was at once. And in front of me was the horse girl. She looked at me and shook her head and pointed to the stall to my right again. I glanced back over. There was nothing there that didn't make me sick. I looked back at the girl.

She traced her finger on the door, then she lipped out "Message". She had a message? No. I stared in awe to my right, for on the far wall of the dead child's cage was apoem written in crimson.

'I have Courage, this I do,

I have meaning, why not you?

I have dreams of peaceful sleep,

I have things I'd wish to keep.

I have Courage, this I do,

I have a reason, do you?'

Hmm? Maybe? The words would forever be stained in my mind.

My reason?

I glanced back to Palomino. A tear streamed down her cheek.

"Whimp," I chuckled as I leaned back against the back wall.

Killing Ride would give me freedom.

There! That's what I wanted! Freedom…

And yes. That whole chapter was to confuse you, but all will be explained in good time! Now, please review! I'mgap extremely happy to have my 9 favs&follows! Also, the 81 reviews are the best, by far! So, please review and another chapter will be updated quickly!