IVE BIRD KID HEADS swiveled toward Angel. Nudge’s mouth had dropped open, and Gazzy’s eyes were big. Iggy’s boyish face creased into wrinkles. My dark, mysterious Fang hardly registered his surprise, as if Angel had just said it was about to rain.

As for me, I felt like Angel had kicked me in the gut. “What exactly do you mean by that?” I finally choked out.

“I’m just saying, Max,” said Angel, still playing with her bone. “You always want everything to stay the same. But it can’t. We’re all getting older. You have a mom. You and Fang are all googly eyed at each other. Nothing stays the same. We can’t last forever. And I happen to know that Fang is going to be the first to die. You’re gonna have to learn to live without him. I’m sorry.”

My eyes narrowed and I stood up. “How do you know that?” I asked tightly. “What makes you say that?” The rest of the flock was watching, wide-eyed. Only Fang didn’t look upset.

“It’s okay, Max,” he said, patting my leg. “Don’t worry about it.”

Angel looked at him sadly and shook her head, and something in me broke loose. I grabbed her shirt and pulled her to her feet. Her mouth opened in surprise.

“What. Do. You. Mean,” I snarled.

Fang jumped up and tried to pry my hands loose. Nudge tried to get between us. I ignored them, focusing on Angel’s face.

“You tell me what you meant,” I said, “or I’m gonna …” I had to think of something almost as bad as killing her but not quite. “I’ll — I’ll cut off all that floofy blond hair of yours while you sleep!”

“Max!” hissed Fang, pulling at me. “Stop it!” But I was still shaking Angel.

“Max, stop,” pleaded Nudge, sounding close to tears.

“Is everything okay?” Patrick’s concerned voice started to filter into my brain as I realized what I was doing. I’d never almost hurt a member of the flock before. Abruptly, I let go of Angel’s shirt. Her face was white.

“Max, gosh,” said Nudge, putting her hand on Angel’s shoulder.

I was breathing hard, and Fang pushed me back gently, moving me away from Angel. How could she say something like that and not explain it?

“Max, come on,” said Fang.

I opened my mouth, but then noticed that two people were approaching our fire. This would have to wait.