I finally got my ass together for another chapter!! YAY!!

And after a couple of reviewer requests a Starling/Finn oneshot should be up soon, but I'm starting school on Wednesday and dreading it, so I might not be able to update soon.

Anyway, please read on and enjoy.

Thanks to you for your reviews!!


Finn pulled himself up, though his stomach churned. Feeling a little disorientated Finn stumbled slightly, whipping his mouth with the back of his hand. He pulled himself up, and kept his eyes locked onto the form of his peg legged father hurrying into view. Squatting down his father cradled the young Merbs head, so her slim frame rested on his leg, and half on the wooden one. There was no movement under her eyelids, though it seemed like a miracle that her chest was expanding and decreasing shallowly. So shallowly that it looked like she was barely breathing at all.

Her face wasn't the sight that had made Finn's stomach loose all its contents – including the little that he'd had the night before – it was the large gash in her left arm. It ran down from her shoulder to the elbow, slicing across her belly, the worrying thing was that it was still seeping blood.

The Merb's short fur was a light blue shade, around the same colour as Stork's. Finn realised that she had the same piercing as Stork had, as the sliver metal glinted in the morning sunlight. There were also numerous scars littered across her face. The most dominate was the one that slipped across her right eye. Finn thought that she had been some veteran of some war, but his fathers face showed a different story. He took a odd sea green flask out of his pocket and tilted the Merb's head up so she could swallow. Gently he stroked it down her throat, but still didn't touch the Merb's skin.

The Healer gently pushed the females hair out of her face, still not touching her skin. There were bruises across her temple and cheeks, though some were faded. The dark blue was a startling contrast to the pale sky blue of the rest of her skin. More blood seeped out from a cut on her forehead, though the startling thing was that it had already healed. The Healer guessed that it had reopened on impact.

The Merb started to stir as Starling staggered over. Finn realised she looked dreadfully pale, and that she had thrown up, but he kept his mouth shut. Starling squatted down, wanting to reach out, but not having the courage. The blue female groaned, almost instantly taken over by panic. Her breathing quickened and she started to shake.

"Who –" she shut her eyes as pain suddenly swept through her.

"It's alright," Starlings strong accented voice calmed her a little. "Just look at me," she commanded. The merb opened her eyes, they were a deep purple, and not so wide and crazed-looking as Storks. She relaxed even more, seeing as there was another female presence near her, but her ears were still flat against her head. Carefully – as not to hurt her – Starling placed her hands gently on her shoulders "What's your name?"

"F-Flow," the merb stuttered, Starling could tell she was trying to be strong.

"Where were you flying to?"

The merb ashamedly ducked her head, willing the tears not to cascade down her cheeks. "If y-y-you really want to know. I was running, and trying to find my real mate."

"Real mate?" Finn inquired. Starling kicked him to stay quiet.

"We could help you," she ignored the raised eyebrows from father and son. "Who's your real mate. We'd be able to find him,"

She shied away ignoring the excruciating pain, and whispered. "It's Stork. Stork Starravia."

888

The Healer saw the pair almost recoil in shock, and saw neither could speak in the fear that they would say something stupid. To him the merb in his arms felt unhealthily light.

"My bag," she hissed in pain. "Get my bag."

"Finn," the Healer didn't mean to snap at his son, but he was tense.

Obediently Finn scrambled up from his squatting position and stepped over to the battered ride. Digging through the wreckage he found what he was looking for. It was a hand made duffle bag. He noticed the detailed patterns lining the outside, woven beautifully into the leather. The Healer saw that his son was intrigued by the bag, and was quickly loosing his impatience.

"Finn!" he called. "Get over here!" his son snapped out of his stupor, and picked over the wreckage, holding the duffel bag like it might explode. He saw Starling roll her sea green eyes.

Finn gave it to Starling, taking it Starling waiting further.

"It's in the main compartment," the merb wheezed, the shock finally setting in. "You have to press the blue crystal for it to open," she fumbled as she reached in her pocket. "Give this to Stork," she lifted her uninjured arm and pressed the tube-like object into Finn's hand. "You seem to know him well," And then passed out.

Starling was surprised as Finn was, but it was Finn who immediately leapt into action. "We've gotta get the Condor here!" he exclaimed. Starling still couldn't wrench herself away from the merb, and she felt oddly overprotective of her.

"Can you contact the Condor?" his dad asked. Finn nodded.

"We don't have time!" Starling snapped, as she pulled her eyes away from the merb.

Finn turned towards her. "It's not safe to take her back on the skimmers –"

"So we sit here like sitting ducks?" Starling's anger was coming out on Finn.

"Have you got a better idea?" replied harshly, his voice rising.

"It's better than yours!" It was a childish reply but it was the only one that Starling could be bothered to waist her breath with, especially with Finn.

"Right!" Finns dad looked at them both. "I don't honestly care about what happened last night between the both of you. But it hasn't put me in a very good mood," Finn and Starling both looked at the floor, suddenly finding the charred earth very interesting. "We're calling the Condor, I've got a feeling this Flow is more than she appears." Both nodded, and Finn was very tempted to stick his tongue out at Starling.

Darting over to his skimmer Finn pressed down on the radio receiver.

"Aerrow, Stork… Junko?? Anybody?"

Through a fitz of static a screech was heard, and he realised it was Radarr, he sighed. "Radarr – "

He was cut off as Aerrow's voice was heard over the intercom. "Aerrow here,"

"We've found a merb, she's badly injured, and we need to get the Condor here. Now."

"Right, I'll pick up the co-ordinates of your skimmer."

"See ya later,"

"Over and out,"

888

"Stork!" The male merb jumped slightly as his squadron leader spoke. "I need you to get to these co-ordinates, and quickly. The guys have found a badly injured merb. She's pretty badly battered."

"Merb?" Storks eye twitched. "Do they know her name?"

Aerrow shrugged. "All I know is the gender and the place, it shouldn't take long,"

"Right,"

"Put the pedal to the metal and let's fly!"

Stork rolled his eyes. "Yes captain," he murmured, sarcastically, though there was still a digging feeling in his gut, this was going to be more than it was cracked up to be.


So surprised, confused, helpless? Tell me!!

All your reviews and alerts + faves make this worthwild!!

Hopefully I'll get a Piper/Aerrow oneshot (that is nothing to do with this) up over the next couple of days to (kinda) celebrate the end of summer and start of skwl… lol.

As normal thanks for your support.

Thanks.

LostLyra.