Chapter II

Fweeeeee, here's chapter II!

Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the stuff I didn't own in the last chapter. So there.

Seven pairs of dark, beady eyes stared out at Nylite, in a very unnerving way. "Oh heck, this sucks..." She muttered, under her breath. The Creepers stood completely still, glaring out at her from empty sockets. One of them let out a rasping growl after a few seconds, and advanced a step. Ny jumped back, but one of the ones behind her snarled louder, and she went back to where she had been. Thoughts ran through her head almost faster than she could think them, of what she could do in this situation. Nothing really brilliant came up that didn't involve her having some kind of weapon.

She decided to try and wake Vin, who was fairly good at fighting, and started towards her, but ended up tripping after only a step or so. The Creeper that had been about to pounce on her stopped, and started making a growling-like noise that sounded like laughter. Ny narrowed her eyes, glaring back at it under her arm. She muttered something under her breath, before turning to look at what she had tripped on. It was just a round rock.

She stared at it for a moment, possibly two, and then picked it up. Ny drew back her arm, intending to throw it at one of the Creepers. They all stopped "laughing", and stiffened, staring at her. She brought her arm forward again, and was about to release it, when suddenly the "rock" exploded into bright orange light. The Creepers screeched, jumping back a few feet. Ny brought her arm back and stared at it, startled. She stared at what was now a perfect, shining orange-yellow orb for a few seconds, before a shock went up her arm. "The heck?!" She screeched, holding it away from her.

Her arm shook violently at first, but after a little while it calmed enough for Ny to bring the orb back so she could look at it again. After a second, it registered. "Materia!" She shouted gleefully, now happy that she had tripped over it. The Creepers were closing in again, so Ny decided to take her chances and try using it, even though she wasn't exactly sure how. She stood up shakily, and looked around, until she found the closest one. Then, she closed her eyes and concentrated on it, holding her hand out towards them.

Nothing happened for a long time, and she almost opened her eyes and lowered her arm. But then, suddenly, there was a surge of energy around her, and two simultanious yelps. Her eyes flew open, just in time to see one of the Creepers fading away into shadow, leaving only the desert landscape where it had been. Another one right next to it looked wounded, but it wasn't hurt enough. A few on that side backed away, so Ny turned around, and tried again. Faster this time, she felt the energy. But, instead of a howl, there came a string of curses, and the sound of a cape whipping around.

Ny looked up, just in time to see Vin come over and grab the materia. "Give me that," she growled, snatching it away. Ny took a step back, watching as Vin held the orb over her metallic arm and then let go, as it disappeared. She whirled on the nearest Creepers and, effortlessly, released a huge wave of energy. Instantly, all that had been touched disintigrated. The corner's of her mouth twitched into the hint of a smile, but that was soon whiped away.

"Vin, look out!!!" Ny cried, and Vin spun around. Two Creepers were on top of her, suddenly, pinning her to the ground. She let out another curse or two, just as one knocked her on the head with it's large claws, rendering her unconsious...Again. Ny stood there, looking at the scene around her in horror. Suddenly, many more Creepers were appearing than could be handled by one inexperienced materia user, even if she did still have it. But she didn't. Ny numbly stumbled backwards a few steps, looking around wildly for a way out. Seeing none, she sank to the ground, wrapping her arms around her. One of them lunged forwards at her, and she shut her eyes, waiting for the pain.

But it didn't come.

There was a horribly loud roaring noise, along with frustrated barks, growls, and hisses. There was a faint dissolving sound, as of one of the Creepers dying. After a few more seconds, there was a chorus of yelps, and then hurried footsteps.

"Need a hand?" Ny opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the dust around her, and looked up.

"Cloud," she whispered, almost silently.