A/N: And here's the next one! This makes three out of six, along with my Change in Profession story and the AU stuff I've begun posting on tumblr (which I highly recommend you guys go look at, by the way, since there's more along the lines of the art now being used as a cover for this and the other stories). I have a query for you guys, though: I've only seen one 'next generation' scenario for Voltron so far, and would like to know if any of you dear readers would be interested in a story I'm thinking up that presents the children of the paladins.

But, thoughts on that can wait until you read this chapter. Enjoy!

-Triscribe

Chapter 1

"SCATTER!"

Shiro's shout came just as a rocket launcher arched down towards their group, causing Allura and the paladins to break away in all directions. Both Pidge and the princess wound up heading for the same shallow cave in the nearby cliffside, with the vague idea of regrouping in order to plan a counter attack. Lance and Hunk retreated back down the path they'd been following, while Shiro and Keith darted towards the treeline opposite the cliffs.

"So much for this planet being peaceful," Pidge muttered as she reached the cave, bayard humming to life in her hand. Allura arrived a split second after her, brushing a stray hair back into alignment.

"Can you see where they're positioned?" The princess asked.

"No, not y- wait. There!" Pidge pointed towards a small pile of boulders further ahead of them on the path, behind which she'd just spotted movement. Unfortunately, gesturing with her bright green bayard proved to be a bit of a mistake, as the next rocket the mystery attackers fired came straight towards them.

"Back!" Allura shouted, grasping Pidge's arm and hauling the smaller girl after her into the cave. The rocket struck the ground just a couple yards away from the cliff, though the curved nature of the cave walls kept out the flames and shrapnel.

*Pidge, Allura, don't move until we draw their fire.* Shiro ordered over the comm system. *Keith, get around these guys, try to ambush them from behind. Hunk, move up through the trees to join my position, and Lance, time to try out those sniper skills of yours.* Affirmative noises came from the rest of the boys, while Pidge grumbled to herself about picking better places of cover in future.

Then a third rocket was launched.

It hit the cliffside just above the little cave.

And an avalanche buried Pidge and Allura inside.

-Y-

As soon as they'd taken down their attackers and destroyed the rocket launcher, Shiro ordered the others to start digging. None of them had been able to get a response from either of their female members on the comm frequency, which was worrying the man more than he wanted to let on.

It was as they were just beginning to pull away the rocks, though, that a few weak coughs came through.

"Pidge? Is that you? Hold up, guys," Shiro gestured for the others to stop so they could listen to the comm line more intently. "Pidge?"

*...present,* the girl groaned back. *Ow...*

"What's your status? Can you see Allura?"

*Buried... C-can't move much... Or s-see... But, I've got, a hand, on her shoulder.*

"Okay. Okay, that's fine. Just stay put, we're coming to get you."

"Just hang in there, half-pint." Keith said as well.

*D-don't, call me that.*

"Lightweight?"

*No, Keith.*

"What about, Tiny Terror?"

*NO.*

"Well, if you don't like those, guess I have to stick with Pip-Pidge." Everyone chuckled at the green paladin's growl, as Shiro sent Keith a thumbs up for distracting their youngest member from her predicament.

Distractions would only go so far, though, as they all fell silent again in order to continue digging.