A Measure of Strength:

Prequel to "Wrath of the Enemy"

Part 1: Frustration

The air was silent save for a soft rustle of leaves and the far off cries of gulls. A gaze was focused within the underbrush. With soft and careful strides the prowler moved gracefully over the ground. Some branches snapped at her movement, but her quarry was still motionless, which was unsurprising.

Coco Bandicoot brushed back a stray strand of blond hair from out of bright emerald eyes, and focused on the figure not eight strides away. She leapt through the bushes and pressed her back against a tree, holding her breath in hopes such an effort would cloak her progress. She took a brief look behind the tree, and sighed in relief. Her target still hadn't moved. He was still fast asleep, with no idea that she was sneaking up on him. She darted from one tree to the next, in a circular pattern, until finally she made it to the very trunk her quarry was resting under. With a deep triumphant breath, Coco jumped out of her concealment and landed flat-footed in the open.

"Hah!"

But the spot was empty. There was not a trace of the figure who had been laying there not ten seconds previous.

"Looking for something?"

The voice came from behind her, and before Coco could even turn around she felt a shove at her back. She flipped around and landed flat on her backside. She glared up at the casual face of her brother, Crash Bandicoot.

"If you're going to be sneaking around like that Sis, you better keep on your toes."

Coco got to her feet angrily and brushed off the knees of her overalls.

"What I don't understand is how you could possibly figure it out. I could run a bulldozer through here and you wouldn't even open an eyelid."

Crash crossed his arms with a hearty grin. "Well, maybe the way to sneak up on me is by making as much noise as possible. It's those little cracks and rustles in the background that really tickles my ears."

Coco leaned against the shady tree in digestion. "I realized when we were fighting side by side to save the world, that I wasn't really that prepared."

"Don't sell yourself short kiddo, you were plenty prepared." Crash moved beside her and slowly sat back down, resting his back on the trunk. "That kick you drove into Cortex was pretty damn sweet."

Coco couldn't help smiling in remembrance. "Well, that's what I want to learn. I want to be able to fight any enemy, at any time. I'm small, and I'm a girl, and I don't like stereotypes, but most of all I can't stand it when they turn out to be true."

"Don't worry about it Coco. You've still got some time to get really tough, and it won't be difficult since you're already pretty feisty. Anyway, I'm still hoping we never have to save the world again."

There was a moment of silence.

"Could you teach me how to fight Crash, just in case?" She eagerly beseeched her brother.

Crash tilted his head so he was looking up at her, and then his mouth bent into a small regretful smile.

"No can do Coco. I'm not a fighter, not by a long shot. Sure I know how to run and spin and stuff like that, but the basis of my game plan is to run away. I don't think I'm even close to qualified to teaching you what you want to learn."

Coco huffed in disappointment, but she didn't press her brother. He was right, in a sense. Crash wasn't a fighter. He fought enemies who threatened his home because he had to, and his fighting style was crazy and unorthodox. Coco was still unsure how her clumsy brother remained undefeated in every battle he went into, but she wasn't about to question that now. If ever the world was threatened again she wanted to be of more use then she had been on their previous mission. She got up off the tree and shoved her hands in her pockets. As she wandered down the jungle path Crash called out.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Coco didn't turn around.

"For a walk."