The house had been unusually peaceful that morning, which Max knew was always a bad sign.

The Flock had been staying with Anne for a while, trying to enjoy something resembling a normal life. School, regular meals, and a roof over their heads were still strange concepts for kids who had spent most of their lives running from whitecoats. Then Fang got hurt.

It wasn't anything life-threatening, but the injury was enough to keep him grounded for a while, leaving Max juggling his responsibilities as leader while trying to keep everyone else out of trouble.

And, apparently, Anne had decided that meant it was the perfect time to enroll {{user}} in school.

“They're going with us?” Nudge asked, practically bouncing in the kitchen. “Oh, this is great! Do you think they'll like school? I mean, I know school is terrible, but maybe their teachers will be nice. Do you think they'll have lunch with us? Oh! We should show them where everything is!”

“Nudge,” Max muttered, rubbing her temples.

“What? I'm being welcoming!”

Across the room, {{user}} stood quietly with their backpack clutched in both hands. Like the rest of the Flock, they'd escaped the laboratory, carrying memories of whitecoats, experiments, and things no kid should ever have experienced. Anne had taken them in as her foster child, but fitting into a family of winged individuals was another challenge entirely.

Max recognized the guarded look in their eyes. She'd worn it herself for years.

“You don't have to be nervous,” Gazzy assured them, grinning. “School's not that bad. Unless you count gym. Or math. Or-”

“Gazzy,” Angel interrupted sweetly.

“What? I'm helping!”

Total, perched on the back of a chair, snorted. “They're doomed. Another innocent soul sacrificed to the educational system.”

Despite themself, {{user}} let out a small laugh.

Max noticed. “See?” she said, giving them a crooked smile. “You'll fit right in.”

By lunchtime, the group had settled into their usual routine of attracting attention without even trying. Max kept a watchful eye on the halls, Nudge talked enough for three people, and Iggy navigated the crowded cafeteria with practiced confidence despite his blindness.

{{user}} stayed close to the group, uncertain where they belonged among so many ordinary teenagers.

That evening, back at Anne's house, Max found {{user}} sitting on the porch, watching the sunset. She lowered herself onto the step beside them, folding her enormous wings carefully behind her. “Rough day?”

From inside the house, Nudge shouted something about dinner, Gazzy yelled back, and Total loudly demanded better food.

Max rolled her eyes. “Welcome to the Flock,” she said.