Author's Note: Yes, I know that this chapter may seem a bit random to some people, as will the next chapter that I will post (*cough SPOILER cough*), but trust me, it all leads to something that I'm still in the process of writing, so just be patient and bear with me...please lol. (hey, the awesome bird-kids do need to have a break once in awhile ya' know).

So maybe one or two people will enjoy the next few chapters (once again SPOILER), but I will definitly appreciate reviews (grr, i can never spell that word right...definetly...definitly...definietly...grr w/e lol). Enjoy!

Chapter 19: Hakuna Matata

We had only been flying for 20 minutes and we were a good distance away from the School, but we didn't want to take any chances and kept on flying North-Northwest near a forest. I was following behind the flock, feeling the weight of everything on my body.

The unconscious Melody in my arms, the bag on my back, the feathers on my wings, the skin attached to me.

God, why am I so drained? Oh yeah, maybe it's because I was actually dead for who knows how long, I thought, feeling myself slowly lose altitude.

I guess Fang noticed this because he was suddenly by my side with the tips of our wings touching. "You ok?" he asked and I nodded my head, keeping my eyes focused straight ahead.

I saw him hold out his arms toward me out of the corner of my eye and I knew what he wanted. My grip tightened around Melody and I felt the pain in my chest as I pressed her closer to me.

"I can handle it" I said, but my voice sounded slurred and I suddenly felt lightheaded. My eyes fluttered closed and I felt myself begin to fall. All I could hear was the sound of air rushing past me and Fang yelling to Iggy about something.

Hm, this feels nice. I should keep my eyes closed...Oh God, pain! I suddenly thought as I abruptly came to a stop and felt strong arms holding me up. I struggled to open my eyes just to see a black fabric in front of me.

"Jeesh, you're more trouble than you're worth" I heard Fang say.

"Then stop carrying me. I'm too heavy for you anyways" I murmured, feeling very odd in Fang's arms.

"I don't think I will" he said and the low tenor of his voice rumbled through his chest and sent vibrations in my arm. I thought I had sensed a double meaning to his words and I felt my cheeks become slightly warmer than they should.

I must still have some drugs in my system or else I wouldn't be this tired, I thought as I dismissed the presumption from my mind.

"Where's Melody?" I asked, now aware that I wasn't holding her.

"She's fine. Iggy has her" he responded in a far-off tone, as if he was thinking about something. I was just about to protest against him holding me anymore; I mean, this was way too embarrassing; when Fang called to the rest of the flock. "Let's check this place out" he said and he angled his wings slightly so that we began to descend in a tight spiral.

We eventually landed after examining out what looked like a huge abandoned cabin in the middle of the forest. Fang looked around while still holding me. "Angel, you picking up anything?" he asked.

"No, it's clear" she replied, sounding tired.

"Um...can you put me down now?" I asked. My head felt less muddled, and I was certain that I would be able to walk without any assistance.

"Your wish is my command" he replied as he set me upright on my feet. I rolled my eyes at him and started toward Iggy.

"Just great. I have to get saved by a wannabe knight in tattered black clothes" I mumbled, but I knew he heard it.

"And I had to save the retarded princess who has a knack for trying to get herself killed" he retorted. I scowled at him after taking Melody in my arms and the rest of the flock laughed.

That word brought back things that I didn't want to remember.

We walked toward the cabin, alert as always, and Iggy managed to pick the lock.

As the door swung open, our eyes roved around the scene and took it all in hungrily. The place looked amazing!

In the kitchen, there was a simple stove with pine cabinets hanging near it overhead in a row, a little nook with those chairs that spin around like the ones in bars, and a stainless steel fridge that looked as if it could store three adult Labrador retrievers. The living room was placed smack-dab in the middle of the first floor; in front of it sat a huge fireplace and a comfy looking couch that could easily seat five of us without being cramped. There were four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and another room that had a small TV that wasn't plugged in and several game systems stored neatly in cabinet nearby. Shelves upon shelves of books were found in almost every room, and I could tell how everyone was feeling just by looking at their shocked expressions.

Paradise.

Nudge immediately started raiding the fridge while Gazzy went to play some Gears of War and Iggy started getting used to his new surroundings. I put Melody on the couch gently before dragging my body up the stairs, went into the nearest room; which happened to be the best room, in my opinion, with a beautiful window view of the landscape, a huge closet packed with clothes that looked like they could actually fit me, and two beds of one side by side.

I turned around to close the door so that I could get some sleep when I saw Fang leaning against the banister with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, as if he was about to cause some mischief. He was about to say something when Angel came bounding up the stairs and stood between us with a huge smile on her face.

"Can I sleep with you?" she asked eagerly. I noticed Fang's smirk fall slightly and I glanced at him with a questioning look. But he just shook his head and turned my attention back to Angel.

"Well...I guess it would-" I started.

"That's not fair!" said a voice, and we all looked as Melody rushed up the stairs and came to stand by my side. "I'm gonna sleep with her!" she said as if she owned me.

Wasn't she unconscious a few minutes ago? I thought wearily, just wanting to go to sleep. This soon became a heated battle between Angel and Melody, and I could hear Melody's mind tinkering away on some not so nice ideas. I glanced at Fang with a slight pleading look. He just shrugged, looking like he was having a good old time watching me fail at being able to handle two little girls.

Good for nothing butt head.

I pulled Melody's arm and stood between both of them with my hands on top of their heads. They probably would've started a fist fight if I hadn't intervened.

"Melody, you'll sleep with me" I said. She jumped up and down, stuck out her tongue at Angel, and ran into the room while doing a belly-flop onto the bed nearest the closet. I looked back at Angel, who was pouting with her arms crossed.

She looked like she was about to throw a tantrum; or maybe she was planning on forcing my body to run into another tree.

I sighed and squatted down so that I could look her in the eye. "You can stay in my room and hang out whenever you want" I said wearily.

We were all battered and bruised with scratches, black eyes, cut lips, and so on. So how in the world did these kids find the energy to almost get into an all out brawl over a room. A room!

But despite my thoughts, Angel's face lit up and she hugged me before dashing down the hall; I guess to claim the next best room. I stood up, shot Fang a dirty look, and he just shrugged his shoulders again, his smirk returning back on his face. I rolled my eyes before walking into my room that I apparently now shared with Melody and closed the door behind me.

She was fast asleep on the other bed, and I shook my head and plopped into the bed near the window, letting my body relax as I sank into a peaceful sleep.

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