Moe: Thank u so much for the reviews! U have no idea how happy it made me ^.^
Angel: She got a lil teary eyed.
Moe: Did not!
Max: yeah, ya kinda did..
Moe: Someone just do the damn disclaimer!
Nudge: Moe does not own Maximum ride or any of its characters.. which is probably a good thing cuz then the original story probably wouldn't be as good or be totally different and then we wouldn't be having this conversation becuz it probably wouldn't be that good or even-
Moe: That's enough! Plz enjoy the story! Oh and by the way! Max, fang, Dylan, and Iggy are all 17, Nudge is 14, Gazzy is 11, Angel is 9, and Dove is 16. This story doesn't take place anywhere particular in the book. The erasers are still alive(max and them don't know it though) and Dylan is part of the picture..so idk.
..xXxXxx..
(Max's POV!- mite actually switch POV's a lot..)
The sky was amazingly clear today; hardly any clouds littered the sky. I closed my eyes and breathed in the warm summer air. It was the middle of summer and the flock decided it would be a nice time to take a small vacation at my mom's. Whether deciding means they saw the look of hope in my eyes, or did it on their own accord, doesn't matter because we were here now.
"Dylan is watching you again." Fang muttered as he swooped in next to me. His voice didn't sound jealous, just warningly.
I looked down to meet Dylan's turquoise eyes from where he stood on the ground. Ella stood next to him watching impressed as the rest of the flock practiced turns and dives. I was wary of their closeness. Though Dylan had been with us for a few years, I still was very caution around him and not very trusting.
"Now you're starring." Fang noted. I glanced away quickly to replace my view with his darker eyes. They were emotionless as usual. He smiled slightly and dived before I could return it.
"Hey, Max!" Nudge yelled from above, pointing in front of her. "Look at that! It looks like a huge bird!"
My eyes followed her finger. A darkened figure flew off in the distance, seeming to head in our direction. My mom would tell us of the different types of birds of prey living in Arizona, but I doubted any were that big. As the figure got bigger I could definitely tell it was headed in our direction.
"Angel," I called. "Can you hear its thoughts?"
She shook her head. "Not yet…"
"Alright." I clapped. "Everyone land now. Stay on guard and keep your eyes on the sky."
The flocked listened, lowering themselves to the backyard and raising their heads to keep a look out, except Iggy. My eyes never left the object as my feet touched down on the dying grass. Dylan walked to stand closer to me, placing a hand on my shoulder which I shook off.
"What do you think it is?" He asked.
"Hopefully a big bird... A very big bird." I answered.
Suddenly the object began to lower itself to the ground about six blocks away. It disappeared behind the roofs of the neighboring houses and was gone. I looked around the flock, but none seemed very worried at all. Gazzy and Iggy just shrugged it off and Nudge began talking to Ella as if nothing happened. Fang, however, met my eyes curiously.
I shrugged my shoulders. At that moment, a strong and wonderful scent hit my nose. My mouth began to water uncontrollably and my mom stuck her head out the door. Her eyes met mine and I smiled with a knowing look.
"Cookies are done." She called and with those words the shadowed figure was forgotten.
..xXxxxX..Later that day
My mom was overly excited about her heroin act on a poor stray cat that had been stuck in the sewer earlier that week. Jeb called for a celebration on her last minute ditch effort at a risky surgery that the feline had survived.
"That's not really necessary. I was just doing my job." She blushed, cleaning off the used cooking pan.
"Nonsense, of course it is!" Jeb declared, assisting her with the clean up.
The flock and Ella nodded in agreement, wiping cookie crumbs from our mouths. After little debate she finally gave into our whims and pleads, but only after she made us all promise to bathe thoroughly, giving Gazzy a stern look. He averted his eyes and mumbled a promise.
"Where are we going?" Nudge asked eagerly.
"Well there's a new fancy Mexican restaurant that just opened a few blocks away." Jeb suggested, drying the wet dishes that he was handed.
"I like Mexican." Gazzy grinned evilly. Everyone groaned, except Jeb who chuckled.
"Mexican it is."
..xxxXxxx.. (Dove's POV)
I knew right away I was in the correct place when I spotted the various silhouetted figures flying in the sky. The heat here was welcomed, especially compared to the cold weather of Russia. The day was clear and the sun rested high up in the sky. I had never experienced weather conditions like this, it was a nice start.
As I got closer, realization started to hit. I was already an overly caution mutant and here was a group of them with much more than just themselves to protect. I was a fool if I believed I could just fly up to them and be willingly accepted. I frowned at my stupidity.
"Think, Dove." I scolded myself. My wings lowered me to the streets of the small town and sat myself on a bus bench to consider my next moves.
It was quant and a big difference from the flat, icy lands of Beringovsky, a small mining town closer to America then it is to Moscow. I pulled my wings in quickly, looking around for any witnesses. None. I took the coat from around my waist and pulled it over my stolen shirt to hide the slits.
I had stopped in Oregon earlier that day to replace my tattered clothes with ones found in the loading dock of a charity store. I prided myself on the findings of nice dark fitting jeans and plain black shirt with a white under top. A few blocks away from the store was a fancy gym. I snuck into the back and indulged myself with a hot shower. I didn't think of it as stealing, or tried not to at least. I never felt guilty taking from the dreadful humans, especially after what they had me endure.
I scoffed bitterly, spitting shamefully in the street. "I won't let the humans get to me."
"Excuse me, young lady." A figure blocked out my sun. I looked up to meet the eyes of a man. "Have you seen a group of teenagers around here? I'm supposed to be meeting them for dinner."
His smile was kind, but I still searched for any signs that would resemble an eraser. His hair was short and brown and his eyes were an intelligent blue. Just by his eyes I knew he wasn't an eraser, they were far from smart.
"Teenagers?" I asked in my broken English. "I saws none."
"Well that is quite an accent, miss. Russian?" He asked, chuckling to himself.
Before I could answer, a chorus of laughs broke through from around the corner. I turned my head to see seven thin and tall teens walking over to us.
"You're late." The older gentleman noted.
"Gazzy wanted to chase the ice cream truck." A blond haired, brown eyed girl laughed. She stood ahead of the rest, almost like leading them.
"Aw, yes, well here you are now. Shall we?" And with that, I was forgotten.
The grouped pasted me, going into the door way of a store behind me. I watched, hoping that my presence would become apparent. Only one boy faltered at the door. His face turned to look at me.
"There's someone on the bench." He said softly. His eyes were a bright blue, but seemed oddly clouded like mine.
A dark skinned girl looked over her shoulder at the strawberry blonde boy then at me. She smiled and waved, but continued into the restaurant. The boy stood a moment longer.
"Hi." I said, but a moment too late. He left.
I sat alone on the bench alone once more. I kicked myself for not speaking up. I knew that they were the people I was searching for. I had not missed the cuts running down the backs of each of their shirts. They were very attractive, but it a gruff type of way.
The three older boys were each unique in their own ways. One with blue eyes which never left the oldest girl, he was butcher then the rest of them. Then another with such a dark aura and darkened features, his eyes also never left the same girl. The last was the strawberry blonde, there seemed to be something different about him. Maybe it was the way that he didn't directly meet my eyes, but seemed to hope he was. The last boy was much younger than them. He was blonde and blued eyed, like a typical innocent child would be portrayed.
The girls' differenced matched those of the boys. The youngest girl looked so angelic like the younger boy. The darker skinned girl had big eyes, but not as big as mine. She seemed very friendly, which is the opposite I'd say for the oldest girl. She looked cold and protective, yet warm to her surrounding friends. The whole grouped seemed to look to her for guidance, almost idolizing her.
I got up and went to the mirrored like window to compare my own appearance. Dark, long black hair fanned out behind me, unlike her lighter, shorter hair. Two large, clouded white eyes took up most of my face and born into my skull in an almost unhealthy look, whereas hers looked healthy and welcoming. My ears had a slight point to them; hers did not. My mouth and nose were little like a bird's would be; hers would be of a model's. My frame was thinned like a starving child who desperately needed food. She filled out hers perfectly.
I hadn't realized how long I had stood there till a bell protested the opening of the eatery door. I caught sight of the bird children's group. The sun had long disappeared and the street only lit by the tall street lights. I coughed embarrassed and averted my eyes to a help wanted sign, acting interested.
"Meet you at home." A woman called as the group passed behind me.
"Okay mom!" The name caught me off guard. Mom? They knew their moms?
Envy surged through my veins. I coughed again, hiding a growl. Americans always did seem to get everything, I thought angrily. The thoughts disappeared when I realized my chance of meeting them was slipping away. They had already left the street and turned the corner.
I sighed and stepped away from the window. Butterflies were swarming my insides and I had to place a hand on my stomach just to keep it all in. I pulled my hood on and followed behind where the group had gone. The ally way they disappeared into seemed empty. My brows furrowed together and I went farther in, I knew I hadn't seen them take to the sky yet. A wall blocked the ally's end and I placed my hand on it.
"Missed 'em." I growled to myself.
"Why are you following us?" A voice demanded from behind me.
I turned to meet the shadowed faces of seven figures. The first girl had her hands placed on her hips, glaring at me. I took a step away, backing into the wall. My hands were shaking as I pulled the hood off my head.
"Hey that's the girl from the bus bench." The African American girl said.
"Why are you following us?" The leader asked again, more commanding.
"This wasn't how it was supposed to happen!" I reasoned, talking more to myself than them.
"What is she saying?" The little blonde boy asked.
"Her thoughts aren't in English." The youngest blonde girl said. They all looked up to the eldest girl.
"Does she not understand me?" She asked the group, but her eyes didn't leave mine.
"I understand." I answered. "You are bird children of America."
"Well that's all good and everything, but that doesn't tell us who the hell you are." The girl was getting angry.
"I am bird kid too." I started to pull off my hood, but stopped as they all shifted into defensive positions. "No, I not harm you."
I placed my hands up in a surrendered composure, and then slowly lowered my jacket off my shoulders to the ground. I stretched my shoulders before pushing my wings out. Their white feathers looked translucent in the moon light. I saw the awe in their eyes, but their faces refused to show it.
"Angel, what is she thinking?"
"I don't speak her language." I could hear the disappointment in her voice.
"Russian." I said. "I speak Russian. I come from School in Russia to America to find my kind."
"Us?" The dark older boy asked, practically disappearing into the shadows.
"Yes." I nodded, pulling my wings back in. "You on news and eraser say I'd never make it. I had to prove them wrong."
"Eraser?" The group gave each other worried glances. The oldest girl looked back at me with serious curiosity. "All the Erasers are gone. They all died out a few years back."
"Het, they live." I shook my head. "Many in Russia. They through bad experiments."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Her eyes narrowed.
"I never hurt my own." I looked down. "There is no one else. I can help. "
"How?" The bulkier blue eyed boy asked.
"I strong fighter. Tiger willed." I clenched my fist in determination. "Alik told me I have undiscovered powers."
"Who's Alik?" He questioned.
"White coat. Who are you?" I challenged.
"Whoa wait." The girl held up her hand. "You don't know our names?"
"Het."
"I speak English." She rolled her eyes.
"No." I answered, rolling my eyes as well.
She turned and looked at her group. They had a low conversation before turning back to me and looking me over.
"Okay. What's your name, kid?"
"Dove." I smiled proudly.
She smirked. "How appropriate."
"Your names?"
"Maximum." She pointed to each as she called their names. "Dylan, Fang, Gazzy, Nudge, Angel, and Iggy." Each gave a slight wave. "Just cause we tell you our names doesn't mean we trust you, got it?"
"I understand." Blinking at the harshness of her words.
"We want to try something, see if you're really lying, okay?"
I shrugged. The tall strawberry blonde boy walked forward, pushing his way through the others. She had called him Iggy.
"Since your thoughts aren't English, he's the only one whose gonna be able to tell if your lying." Max said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Give me your hand." Iggy said in a low, soft voice.
I raised my hand without hesitation. He stood unmoving. I waited, looking around trying to avoid the awkwardness of the moment. Still he stood in the same position.
"He can't see your hand." Nudge said. "He is blind."
"Oh, sorry." I said quickly, pushing my hand forward.
As soon as my hand connected with his, he screamed. His other hand flew to his eyes and he sank to the ground. I had no time to react before a foot connected with my jaw and sent me face planting the wall then the ground. I groaned and tried to clear the dots spotting my vision.
"What did you do!" A scream echoed in my ear.
"Noth.. Nothing." I spat blood.
"The whiteness, it burned." Iggy's voice moaned from nearby.
"What the hell did you do to him!" A kick connected with my ribs, taking my air away.
I gasped, hands clawing the dirt trying to breathe. I turned my head to see the ciaos around me. Everyone kneeled in a circle around the other fallen body. Their attention was momentarily gone from me and I took it as my chance to escape. Through the pain I jumped to my feet and pushed my wings out. I kicked up from the ground hard, as I had done in my escape from the erasers. It was so unexpected that it was their time not to be able to react.
"Damn the American Bird children!" I spat out, clearing my mouth of blood as I flew away.
(Iggy's POV [like a fast recap])
The evening had ended great. The flock had gotten their fill of Mexican food. My mind still wondered back to the girl just outside, she was still there. I could feel it. Her heart rate was not the normal for a human, which worried me. The feelings got even worse when I heard her light footsteps following behind us as we turned into the alleyway.
"Max, we are being followed." Angel and I said at the same time.
I felt a few taps on my hand from Nudge. I nodded in understanding. They wanted us to get to the roof and do an ambush. Better than bombing the whole street, like I would have found suitable. We were soundless as we made our move to the tops of the buildings.
Our plan worked when I heard the light footsteps falter, yet they continued into the alleyway. Another tapping on my hand, this time from Gazzy. Max wanted us to go and I was about to kick off into the night air, but Gazzy tapped again. Someone else wanted us to talk to her.
'Dylan' I thought. Now-a-days he seemed to be able to change Max's mind. No plan was ever simple anymore.
So under new orders, we went down into the ally and confronted the frightened girl. She spoke in a weird language, but the way she said it made it seem beautiful. Her English made her seem like a cute little girl who was still innocent to the world's cruelties'.
Max pulled us into a huddle. "What do we do?"
"I can't tell anything that's going on with her." Angel said sadly.
"Can't Iggy tell if she's lying?" Nudge asked.
"I have to touch her." I answered.
"Then let's do that. If she hurts you than she'll have us to deal with." Max said.
I knew it was a bad idea and as soon as she placed her hand in mine, it confirmed my thoughts. A bright, white light broke through my normal darkness. It was … blinding. I cried out, falling to the cold ground. It only hurt my eyes, but the effect was so great it surged through my body. I tried to blink it away, but it didn't leave till her hand was taken from mine. Again I was in complete darkness.
I mumbled something incoherent to my own ears. I could feel the furry pouring out of Max and the worry coming from the rest. But the confusion and hurt from Dove was the most noticeable. Whatever she had done to me was just as surprising to her as it had been to the rest of us.
"Dove. Come. Back." I croaked.
..xXxX..
Moe: Tada!
Gazzy: I wasn't in there very much.
Total: Neither was i!
Moe: o-o plz review!