I couldn’t help it—I was gaping.

I gaped at fang blankly, still taking all of what he’d just said. I let it sit for a while, eating me from the inside out. I let myself rot. Maybe I deserved it, maybe all of it was true...

Flashback

“Max, we need to talk.” I was automatically scared of those words, but not for the usual reason. Instead of his eyes being shadowed with veiled questions, they were blazing with anger and suffering.

I am in some deep shit.

We walked into the trees a few yards, leaving the sleeping Flock with Iggy.

I gulped once and then took a breath. I could take this.

...Even if Fang left.

“So, what?”

Fang paused for a second.

“I’m taking over the Flock.”

He said it bluntly, eyes void of emotion. Not like they usually were, but like they were a barren plain, without even tumbleweed to disrupt the empty air.

“Wait—what? What do you mean?” He couldn’t do that. He could leave, he could rip the Flock in half, but—but...

“Exactly what I said. And... And if you don’t comply to step down—I’ll have to kick you out.” He looked away, glaring at the ground.

What am I thinking, anyway? I don’t own the Flock. They’re living beings too, even if we aren’t human. Just because I’m a month or two older, it doesn’t make any difference.

“But why would you do that?” I was bewildered. Fang suddenly looked back up at me, his eyes glazed over with anger again. I hate to admit it, but I was scared. I shrunk back an inch or two.

“We can’t take this anymore Max. We can’t save the world. I know it’s cruel, but life is cruel anyway. We’re kids—with wings. We can’t handle this—this suicide attempt in the making.”

He took a deep breath, glanced down once more, and then looked at me, calm, cool and collected again. “So will you step down?”

“Why should I?! I’ve led this Flock—and you—ever since Jeb left! I’ve taken care of you like you were my own, I saved your butts too many times to count... I... I...” I was at a loss for words. This was the Flock, I had to take care of them. I had nothing else in life. “Why should I?” I repeated in a soft whisper.

Fangs mouth twisted into a grimace. “You aren’t a good leader. You don’t care about us, all you care about is saving the world, getting famous for it, and being welcomed as a hero. You don’t notice the little things, the tiny issues, the insignificant problems. You need to step down.” Fangs voice was hard.

End Flashback