Majid, or Max as he goes by these days, is a Beaked secretary bird who was born in the Black Pine Mountains into a tribe of mix-matched refugee avians from all over the world. The second of two children and a full 14 years younger than his older brother, Karim, Majid was not close with his sibling who left the tribe when the younger brother turned 6. Early life was easy enough for Majid. He was able to experience a multitude of cultures and while he was wilder than most were used to, he was considered 'innocent' and the child of the entire tribe even as he began to grow up.

At the age of 14, Majid was captured by a group of Skin eagles who attacked his tribe, claiming territory that had previously belonged to the Beaked avians. The secretary bird was kept as a pet for a bit before being sold off to a gambler who put him to work as a fighter in The Pit (a fighting ring set 20 feet down in a hole). The young slave was rebellious and threatened to kill his new owner who merely laughed and told him to keep up the spirit. Since he refused to give his name, the owner decided to name Majid "Maxwell 'Max' Aveza".

The bird spent years fighting, earning a reputation as a brutal, silent opponent who used his long legs to kick and slash his opponent into submission or death. It was a matter of personal survival, so the avian did not question the morality of such actions. He did, however, have a sympathetic ear to listen to his internal stuggles in the form of another slave, a little mousemaid named Megan.

Ten years after starting his fighting career, Max met his brother again as an opponent. Karim acknowledged his brother briefly, then proceeded to trounce him, nearly clawing the younger secretary bird's right eye out. After this incident, Max did not fight in The Pit for several months. But a healthy body was against him as his scars healed and he was sent back for another 20-some-odd years.

The chance for escape came when his owner was assassinated by a rival and Megan came to release him with the keys she'd stolen. The pair made off, both a bit disappointed that they hadn't been the ones to kill their master.