Raze looked at Zilla. Though young, she displayed an increadible capacity for responsibility and determination, just like her brother. He smiled, a rare action that his facial muscles rarely performed in full view of others. As he flew on, keeping a careful eye on Liya as she struggled in her flight, he contemplated what the future would hold in store for them. It was likely that they would be chased by the school forever, probably to the ends of the earth. Sure, they could hide again, but what kind of life was that. So far, Raze had continued keeping his resolve by focusing on the issue of surviving into the next day. Now, though, he had to consider what came after. just as his mind began to wander, he heard a shout from below. Cursing, he cried,

"Liya! Get down!"

He angled sharply towards the young girl, grabbing her arm and pulling her down just as a net flew through the air. Amazingly, a small group of erasers had caught up to them and were now using nets to slow them down until the rest of them could arrive. The helicopter wouldn't be far behind.

"Zilla, we have to hide!!" He hissed.

----

Ember let herself be pulled along by the wind, only using her wings every now and then to give her a little extra prupulsion. As she flew, she imagined herself soaring over orange and pink tintend clouds, painted by the rising sun. her hair would be flying out behind her, giving her a fiery halo as it caught in the sun's strengthening light. Her white wings would be stretched to thier fullest length, carrying her effortlessly higher into the heavens, away from the confining laws of the world, the ones that disallowed her from existing normally. Realising that she was daydreaming, she snapped out of it, but not before she caught sight of a dark cloud, marring the perfect beauty of her dream. It dampened her spirits, but confirmed what she already knew.

There would never be a paradise of clouds, so detached form the world, no perfect haven for her to retreat to. She looked around at the flock, seeming so small now that they were split in half. Things looked so dire for them, and yet they clung to hope, which was probably the only thing keepin gthem going, Ember reckoned. She looked at Zatch as he drew closer again. it was normal for her heart to beat faster whenever he came near, but this time it pounded painfully in her chest as something occured to her: What if she lost him? The idea was too much to bear and she started trembling again. Her wound had stopped bleeding put she opened it again, using her nails. she gritted her teeth against the pain, but accepted it nonetheless. She could not bear to lose Zatch, not when she was so close to confessing the feelings she had been bearing for him even before they had escaped. she would not allow it... not now...