Omg, let me start this by saying holy shit I haven't updated in so long. I'm so sorry for that, I last updated BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 2019 AND NOW WE'RE IN JUNE ON 2020!? I have disappointed you all, I'm so sorry. All plans of "Finishing this before _ or _" gone, throw those out of the window because that was a lot of pressure that stopped me from writing.

But that isn't an excuse, especially since, ya know, quarantine began. Wow. Okay. So, a lot has happened in the past 6/7 months. I graduated middle school, went through COVID-19, a lot of at home projects, and recently became an aunt a few days ago. Life's been cray for both myself and others.

I did say that I would not abandon this story and I'm sticking to it. It may be multiple years, but I will finish it. I mean, I started this of June 15th 2018 and now it's June 21 of 2020, so yeah. But anyway, let's get the party started.

My writing has probably changed a lot, I will have to eventually go back and update and fix everything but I will continue. I'm not sure what character I had for Fang, like how OOC or IC he was but I will continue with how I thought it was going?

Again, I am so sorry its been so long, but I am back and this story will not be abandoned! I am to far in for that. So here ya go:

(Also, finally a Fang chapter! Been a while huh?

Chapter 30

I closed my eyes as I took in the fresh air. Mornings weren't my favorite time of day, no I much preferred the evening, but after escaping the school I always have appreciated each and every morning.

Mornings for me were usually spent calming myself after the past nights dreams, which usually were filled of unpleasant memories. That and spending the morning with the flock. I didn't mind that much except for breakfast time. Breakfast time was usually chaotic, I was scaring Max, Iggy was cooking, Nudge talking, Gazzy gassing the room out, and Angel just watching us or doing whatever she does.

I wouldn't trade those crazy mornings for the world, actually I just want them back. I can't wait to rescue Angel and put all this behind us.

I opened my eyes as I exhaled and started to practice what I learned from flying with hawks. This morning I have felt the most… alive? There have been a few moments I felt like this, leaving the school, learning to fly, fighting, playing with the others, and I love it.

The others say I'm so uptight, tense as if waiting for something to go wrong and I have to admit they're right. I'm always waiting for something to happen, like out perfecter, parent free life won't last. I was correct, obviously, but I really should have been more loose about waiting for it.

Now I feel loose, free. In the back of my mind I know that somewhere Angel is suffering because I couldn't save her, that Max is still missing, probably hurt, and that Gazzy and Iggy were probably plotting ways to make our lives miserable once we get back for leaving them behind. But, right now, I can't help but ignore it. I feel so, natural. Like I'm supposed to be here.

Perhaps in the bird in me. The scientist mixed Avian DNA with each of us, but from which bird for each of us we don't know. Maybe I'm part hawk? No, probably not, my wings don't match their's. Maybe it's just that I'm a bird. A bird free to fly with other birds. Yes, that must be it.

I turned around to see that Nudge has woken and hurled herself off the cliff. At first she was a human, sleeping peacefully on the ground. But now she, like myself, is a free bird, flying free like a small brown boat floating, flying in an endless bright blue sea. No restrictions.

I watched as she flew up to me. "Morning," I said to her.

"I'm hungry," she replied.

I nodded, that's to be expected. I'm also hungry I noted. I didn't really notice until she said something. "Town about three minutes away. Follow me." I tilted my body, turning me in the correct direction without having to move my wings. Something I learned from the hawks.

I glanced back for a moment to see Nudge attempting at it, it didn't work as well. She'll get it, it took me a while, I spent most of the morning and part of last night practicing it among other skills. I still think I have room for improvement.

I looked down, staring at the two-lane highway below us. A few businesses and shops cluttered along the sides until eventually the road died off into a desert.

I dipped my head towards a fast-food place. There was a dumpster in the back. I watched as a worker tossed boxes into it, preparing for a new day.

I looked a Nudge and made a circle gesture with my hands, showing her that we would circle for a bit before landing. We went around a few times, making sure that the employee wouldn't come back outside.

I dropped quickly, Nudge followed close behind, tucking my wings tight to my body allowing the air to quickly and effectively fold around my body, allowing for a quick decent. Thirty or so feet above the dumpster I unfurled my wings, breaking the fall and slowing me down. I baked sharply and landed smoothly on the metal edge of the dumpster.

Not exactly silent but yet so much quieter than I expected. "Nirvanna," I said, looking through the still editable, but not quite sellable food. "Burger?" I offered Nudge.

She pondered the thought for moment before declining. "I don't know, after watching the hawks shredding little animals — oh, but look, here's a couple salads! And some apple pies! Bonus!"

I watched for a second, wondering if she was going to go vegetarian or not before tightening my windbreaker around me. We worked fast, stuffing out jackets with food. Anything that would travel. Three minutes later, we took off. Our jackets lumpy and our faces smiling, ready to eat as soon as we got back.

— — —

Nudge sighed and leaned back against the cave entrance, sitting cross-legged. She watched the hawks fly. I looked towards the predators as the swooped and banks in patterns.

"You know, I think the way they swoop and stuff is like a message to the other hawks," I said, wiping my fingers on my jeans. "Like they're telling them where there's game or where they'll be or something. I haven't figured it out yet. But I will."

"Oh." Nudge leaned forwards and sat on her heals. She spread out her wings enjoying the sun. I watched her as I started on my sixth hamburger patty. It was obvious that she was trying to be quiet. Perhaps she wanted to enjoy the silence. No, she was a chatterbox. She was probably trying to stay quiet for me. The Flock knows I prefer to be quiet. I wondered how long before she'd burst.

I started to count in my head, watching how her face changed through each minute of silence. Five minutes. Roughly. Then she looks ready to melt.

"Fang? We've just got to go find Max," She stated. "Or should we go on and try to find Angel?"

I frowned. This has been pressing my mind for a little while. It's been quite a while since we last saw Max. Something must have happened, but what? She would want us to leave her and save Angel. I want to as well, it's bad enough Angel was at that school once and had to endure their testing, but twice? Little Angel didn't deserve that. No, that was a fate no one should have. But if anyone would have to, it should be me, I let her get into their grasp in the first place.

I can't just leave though. I thought about what must have happened to Max to prevent her from coming back. Was she captured? Injured? Ill? I felt fear grasp onto me, my heart rate increased. I haven't this before, not towards Max. Or maybe I have and just not realized it? I must feel this for every flock member. No, I worry for Angel but I'm not reacting to the thought of her being injured like I am for Max.

I turned away from the hawks, having made a split decision. "We're going to circle back, look for Max," I said. "She must have — run into something." There is no way I can make rational decisions and rescue Angel unharmed while feeling this fear for Max.

I saw Nudge nod solemnly. I stood up, looking down calmly at Nudge. I need to be calm for her, for Angel, for myself and most importantly, for Max. "You ready?" I questioned.

Nudge leaped up, brushing sand off her butt. "Absolutely. Um, where do you think we should —" she started, but I had already gone. Snatched by the canyons winds pushing me up into the air.

I turned and looks up at her as Nudge took a running jump off the cliff and into the air, screaming "Tarzan!" Whatever that means.

Haha, so when I first uploaded this I accidentally put last chapter twice, not sure how I made that mistake but I did. Anyway fixed it. Hope my writing hasn't gone to hell since last updating this story.

If anyone has any tips or reminders then I would love to see them. Just PM me or review the story :).

I DO NOT OWN THE BOOK, CHARACTERS, OR ANYTHING SUCH AS POSSIBLE DIALOGUE THAT IS FOUND IN THE BOOK. CREDIT GOES TO THE AUTHOR JAMES PATTERSON!