Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

Cattle rancher

Medical personnel

Life coach

So this would be a good time to examine your career goals.

Last time I checked, more than 28 million people had hit this blog. Way to go, people. Save yourselves. Save your brothers and sisters. Don't let the whitecoats get you.

And if you see any flying kids, keep your mouth shut.

- Fang, from somewhere in America

I was shaking after Fang and I fought. It's not that we never fought-we did all the time. But not like this. This was the maddest I'd ever seen him. After he took off, I stayed outside a minute, until I could paste a fake smile on my face. No sense in worrying the others.

When I went back inside, the flock and Ari and Total were all sprawled on the furniture or floor. They had that glazed look that comes from getting all the food you want, for once. I examined Ari. He was in a chair by himself. None of the others were anywhere near him. His clothes were still covered in blood.

I raided a closet and threw a flannel shirt at him. He looked up in surprise. "Thanks."

"Okay, who wants first watch?" I said.

"Where's Fang?" Gazzy asked.

"He went out for a while. He'll be back," I said shortly. Of course he would be back.

"I'll take first watch," Ari said.

I made an executive decision. "No, that's okay. I'll do it. The rest of you get some sleep." I didn't meet Ari's eyes.

While the others slept, I went through the fridge and pantry and took everything that wouldn't spoil and wasn't too heavy. I repacked all of our packs and set them close to the door. I walked around silently, turning off lights, then went outside and flew up onto the snow-covered roof.

I perched by the brick chimney, which radiated heat.

Everything was quiet.

Ages later, Fang returned. I tried not to breathe a sigh of relief. I hadn't been that worried, anyway. He flew up, saw me, and landed, flapping his wings for balance as he tried to find a place on the roof.

None of us are real big with the apologies, the heartfelt hugs. I glanced at him, then went back to keeping watch, doing regular 360 scans, listening, waiting.

"Twenty-eight million people have clicked on the blog," he said.

Good Lord. "Huh."

"I'm putting everything I know about what's going on out there," he went on. "Maybe if enough people get a heads-up, they can stop whatever's happening."

Stopping it is your job, Max.

"I thought we were supposed to stop it," I said.

"What, with one hand tied behind your back?" Fang scoffed. "You don't have to save the world, Max, no matter what they tell you."

For some reason that stung-like he didn't think I could do it. I'd always thought he'd be on board for anything I had to do.

"So now you and your blog are going to do it? I can go to bed and sleep in?" The words came out more caustic than I intended.

Fang shot me a sideways glance, his eyes unreadable. He shrugged and looked away.

Okay, now I was mad all over again. I hated it when Fang and I fought, but I hated even more him thinking that I-you know, wasn't able to save the world by myself.

I'm sure a lot of you girls out there worry about the same thing, huh?

"Next you'll be telling me you've got a Voice in your head," I said sarcastically, standing up. I balanced on the roof, holding my wings out for help. Like a squirrel does with its tail. Only thirteen feet across.

"Maybe," he said coolly, not looking at me.

I was speechless. Which is, as you know, very rare.

"Fine. You're on second watch," I muttered, and jumped down from the roof. I landed in the soft snow and went around to the porch.

Inside, Ari had not ripped everyone's throats out while they slept. It occurred to me that Angel was telepathic, and she would have picked up on any evil intent that Ari had.

I was pretty sure, anyway.

I made the rounds, checked on the sleeping flock, then positioned myself in an armchair right next to where Ari slept heavily on the floor. That way, if he moved, he'd wake me up.

I was burning up over Fang. I couldn't believe how full of himself he was. Him and his blog. Fine! Let him save the world! I still had my mission.

You both have hard decisions to make, Max. Decisions that will affect the whole world, your future. Everyone's future.

Oh, good, so no pressure, I thought. I punched the cushion of the armchair into a better shape and closed my eyes.

I wasn't going to sleep a wink.