Disclaimer before reading: Storm Hawks DOES NOT belong to me. This amazing show belongs to Asaph Fibke and Nerd Corps...bummer
"Ha ha! You did it Piper!" Aerrow whooped as he landed, the bright blue glow fading from his body.
Just then, to the sky knight's horror, the crystal mage collapsed onto the metal floor with a loud thud. His jubilation vanished in a heartbeat, perhaps less.
"Piper?!" he cried out.
His navigator didn't answer; instead, she raised her eyelids a bit. He called her name again and again, each time his voice got more and more panicked and frightened. Then, Piper fainted, but her eyes started to glow a bright violet. Aerrow dashed to her and fell to his knees. The glowing had ceased as soon as he grasped her hand. She was completely limp, like a ragdoll.
"Come on Piper, come on!" Aerrow said. "Please wake up! Please!"
But the navigator wouldn't respond. She simply lay in Aerrow's arms, motionless, lifeless.
"Come on Piper, please." Aerrow begged. "Don't leave me. I need you."
But still the crystal mage didn't react. Aerrow closed his eyes, fighting back an ocean of tears.
"Piper…" he choked out. "Please…Come back to me…I…"
Just then, the navigator bolted up with a long cry of "NO!" She was breathing heavily and trembling from what could only have been fear. Her eyes were wide and frightened, fixed on a point beyond the setting sun. There was such fear and horror within her eyes; it scared Aerrow even more than her unconsciousness. What had she seen? What had she seen that was so terrible that it sent shivers shooting down Aerrow's spine? Had it been caused by the...thing they'd been doing?
'Never mind.' Aerrow thought. 'It can wait. Now, Piper needs me.'
"Piper, what happened?" he asked.