Been so long since we actually had an action scene I think I forgot how to write them. Oops.
Yeah the story is way more "exposition-y" than I intended but I like to think it's still enjoyable! I'm having a blast anyways!
Ive also accepted my Crosshair is verging into ooc and all I can say to that is "it is what it is" :D

THAT ASIDE
I hope you enjoy the chapter! It was super fun to write, tho fuck them Clickers. And the log. And Crosshair's pistol.

Content Warnings: Language, suggestive material, mild descriptions of violence (so... the usual).

This day really was a clusterfuck of bad luck.

Aching all over from my Skywalker-esque landing, I relished the steady stroke of Wrecker's hand down my neck. For a big guy, he was really gentle when he wanted. No small wonder I fell for him.

I could have laid there with my eyes closed, soaking up his affection, but there were bigger issues at hand.

"What do you mean you're out?" Hunter demanded, pulling his helmet off to stare at me. "How can you be out?!"

I mean what I said! "I just zapped my magic with that shift. No more shifting and no elemental for the day. At least if I want to retain my healing rate." My frown deepened. "And my consciousness."

"Why didn't you shift into a different species?!"

My ears pinned. I was a bit preoccupied! "You try thinkin' straight when you're free fallin' at terminal velocity!"

"So you can't shift or control Earth at all?" he exclaimed.

"I can, especially if I get fired up enough, but I risk passing out for an unknown amount of time."

I'm more concerned with why my own damn worldbuilding changed while I'm in this self insert. Consistency? Don't know her.

I swore Icespitters were False dragons!

"Don't act like it's the end of the world, Sarge," I muttered. With great reluctance, I removed my head from Wrecker's lap and pushed myself to my paws.

Tech protested, "Shadow, I didn't finish scanning-"

"Finish when I'm in my Beta form," I grumbled, gritting my teeth as I used the last remaining magic to shift back into my Beta form. The effort cost me greatly, and I staggered back into Wrecker who quickly caught me.

His arm curled around my waist. "I'll carry ya, Squeak-"

"No, no no. Just gimme a minute," I sighed. "I'm weak, not an invalid." Once I was steady, I took two tentative steps and thankfully remained standing. Turning to Hunter, I assured him, "I'm not helpless without my Alphian powers, ya know. I still have my blades and telekinesis."

"So you still have some form of self defense," Hunter asked, relief evident in his tone as he slipped his helmet back on.

"I took you four on without my blades, guns, powers, and with only minimal help from telekinesis when I got cornered," I reminded him. That chase seemed almost a year away now. "So yes, I'm still lethal. Magic can't take four and a half years of martial arts and twice as much shooting experience from me."

Crosshair hissed, "Still shouldn't have shifted into that form."

We were just getting along, Twiggs... "You want an impromptu flyin' lesson, Charlie?"

His head rocked back slightly. "Charlie?"

I shrugged. "You look like a Charlie."

"Let's get moving before that piece of rankweed comes back," Hunter said.

"Agreed."

"What do I look like, Squeaky?" Wrecker asked, sticking close to my side as we started towards the bridge.

I glanced back at him and frowned thoughtfully. "Mmm..." A name flashed across my mind and I couldn't help but smile. "Actually... you remind me of a favorite character of mine from when I was younger."

He gasped. "I do?! Who? What's their name? What were they like?"

"They were an anthro cartoon cat named Tigger. He was always so happy and energetic, and loved to bounce. Big sweetheart."

"Aw, thanks!" Wrecker exclaimed, bouncing slightly as he walked. "I do love to bounce!"

Tech appeared on my other side. "What age were you when you had this character?"

"'Bout to psychoanalyze me, nerd?" I asked, tone slightly teasing. My anger at being yeeted had slightly subsided and besides... who could stay mad at Techie?

His brows furrowed beneath his helmet, but judging by the scrunch of his eyes there was a smile too. "Perhaps."

"I was like... five? Six?" I said, trying to recall the exact age before giving up. "He's still one of my favorites."

"Just like I'm your favorite Batcher!" Wrecker laughed, patting my head.

"I have multiple favorites," I chuckled. Then I froze.

The bridge was the perfect adventure bridge; made of rope and wood many many meters above the canyon floor.

Fuck.

"Shadow?" Hunter asked, reaching for his pistol.

"Qué es?"

"What?"

"What is it?" I repeated.

"Why'd you stop?"

"I... uh... " I swallowed and took a step away from the canyon, ears back. "Got a problem with gravity."

"Just fell from the sky, and you're worried about a bridge?" Crosshair asked.

"I don't know why I am the way that I am!" I protested.

I received a shake of the head as the sniper pushed past me. "Get used to facin' your fears."

Helpful Henry...

Hunter rested his hand on my shoulder. "Hold onto me and close your eyes. I'll lead you across."

"What about Wrecker?" I asked before I could stop myself. "He's scared of heights too."

The sergeant went still. "How... did you know he's scared of heights?"

UH.

My excuse was hella weak. "I smell fear."

Brilliant.

"I'm not scared o' nothin'!" Wrecker proclaimed, smacking his chest with his fist.

"Yes, you are," Crosshair snorted from ahead.

"Wreck, hang on to my shoulders," I said as I grabbed Hunter's shoulder pads. I traced the skull insignia then drummed my fingers. "Sarge, why these so broad? It's like you're a puffed up owl or somethin'."

"Intimidation," he chuckled, heading towards the bridge.

"Dramatic fucker," I snorted as Wrecker's hands found my shoulders.

"Don't poke your guide with a stick," he playfully warned.

"I'm your guide, dingbat," I retorted. "We just goin' through a role reversal."

"You like roleplay, Icy?"

"Don't wake the dog if you ain't ready to hunt. Get walkin'."

Hunter laughed, but then in a gentler tone said, "At the bridge."

"Thanks for the warnin', Shaggy."

"Anytime, Ice."

Hands gripping the shoulder pads, claws no doubt leaving scrapes in the paint, I tried breathing steadily and focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

One foot in front of the other... and soon you'll be walking across the floor... just put one foot in front of the other... and soon you'll be walking out the door!

Or something like that. I swear that claymation christmas movie was a collective feverdream we'd all had with Old Man Winter and... what was that grumpy bastard's name? Burgermeister Meisterburger? The one with the broken funny bone.

A sharp clench of hands on my shoulder jolted my out of my mental ramblings.

"Uh oh, I looked!" Wrecker exclaimed in panic.

"Almost there, Wrecker!" Hunter called back.

Cue the nerd eyeroll.

"Just keep walkin', Wreck!" I said, trying to calm the big guy before he accidentally crushed my collarbone.

It was already fucked up enough as is.

"Few more steps," Hunter assured us.

"You said that a few steps ago," I grumbled through gritted teeth.

The moment my feet touched grass I dropped to my hands and knees and crawled away before hugging the dirt.

"Oh, sweet ground. To think I hated you minutes ago..."

"Of all things, heights are your weakness?" Tech asked in disbelief as Wrecker knelt beside me gulping air.

"Also claustrophobic," I muttered around some grass and clovers, tail flicking back and forth.

"You were ok in the Fireman's Tunnels and the Anthill," Hunter said, kneeling beside me with a hand on my back.

Hearing about them again was jarring. Out of place. It really did feel like forever ago.

With as long as this fic and chapters are, it probably has been a while. Definitely would be if I was writing, I'm slow as shit.

"I knew I could get out if needed. I wasn't trapped," I pointed out, letting out a breath as I opened my eyes and slowly got to my feet.

Before me, immense trees stretched towards the sky with thick branches burdened by ivy. Lush undergrowth concealed the jungle beyond the treeline and deep within the immense trunks I could hear birdsong and even water gurgling.

As for what lay within the shadowy and dense realm... it was anyone's guess.

Hunter made good points. No earth and no shifting could spell disaster. Especially if we ran into droids. At least I wasn't a true Alphian and was used to fighting without those powers.

Not that I was used to combat though. At least I wouldn't have a social factor so my anxiety shouldn't get too bad.

"What should we expect in there, Ice?" Hunter asked, removing his hand from my back.

"Yes," was my answer. An honest answer too.

He tilted his head. "Can we try for something more informative?"

"Yes, we can expect surprises."

The bird song stopped.

A false and painful smile stretching across my face, I clapped my hands together. "Don't like that! I bid thee, good day." I turned back to the bridge.

Tech frowned at me. "Wait, you can't cross without-"

"My nope is stronger than my fear."

Bonk.

I reeled back then placed my hands against the sudden invisible barrier. "What is this? Why am I a mime now?" I took a step back and tried to shoulder slam it, only to bounce off into Wrecker. "What is going on?!"

"I got this, Squeak!" Wrecker laughed, only to have the same result. "Huh?!"

"Wait, lemme try again," I said, marching back to the bridge. Inhaling deeply, I shoved my palms towards it and declared, "Open Sesame!"

Nothing, of course, happened.

"Well, I've done all I can do," I said with a shrug, resigned to my fate in the tropical equivalent of Sandy's Treedome. Who's gonna be Dirty Dan and Pinhead Larry?

"What was that supposed to accomplish?" Crosshair asked.

"Didn't see you tryin' anything," I retorted.

"Why would the magic trap us in here?" Hunter demanded as Tech scurried over to investigate.

A low rumble tickled my inner ear fur and sent electricity through my body.

Drums.

No.

Fucking.

Way.

When the Batchers also reacted to the noise, I knew we were in deep shit.

"Please don't tell me you hear that too..." I groaned.

"Those drums?" Tech asked.

"Mate what part of don't don't you understand?!"

The damn Jumanji Drums. This day was delightful.

Still better than quarantine.

"Hunter?" I asked, looking at him. "Don't suppose you got one of y'all's plans in mind?"

"Men, form up. Plan 36, X Marks the Spot," Hunter ordered as they moved away from the bridge towards the treeline. "Shadow, between me and Cross."

As they all stood back to back to back to back, each facing a different direction, I pulled the sabers from my belt and backed towards the gap between Hunter and Crosshair. "No hidin'?" I asked, ready to ignite my blades.

"You want to prove yourself? Here's your chance, cyar'ika," Hunter said, not looking away from his direction.

A rush of excitement shot through my veins as I chuckled. "Guess it's true that plans never survive first contact with the enemy, Hunt," I replied, ears straining to catch any noise that might alert us to the whereabouts of our first real threat.

"Especially when we're involved," he replied.

I nudged him then rolled my shoulders. "Now if only the enemy would so kindly introduce themselves. I hate suspense."

Unless I'm the one writing it.

"Any pulses?" Crosshair asked Hunter, passing me his pistol without a word which I readily accepted in place of my melee defense. I'd ponder the significance of his gesture later.

Hunter shook his head. "Only distant ones in the jungle."

"Maybe the drums are just preliminary?" I offered, searching for the safety and clicking it off when I found it.

A shriek from the chasm in front of me nixed that.

A nervous chuckle slipped past my lips. "What was that?"

"Men, get ready to fire. Pick your targets. Make 'em count," Hunter said, voice low and even, utterly calm and steady.

"Copy that," Crosshair replied, voice also deadly calm.

"Ready to go, Sarge!"

"Waiting on a visual."

"Lock and load in tactic mode," I mumbled under my breath, gripping Crosshair's pistol as the first shriek was accompanied by many, many more.

What in the fresh hell were those things gonna look like?

The first one shot up from the chasm, revealing a truly horrifying cross of iguana, vampire bat, and rat. With zero eyes to speak of.

I really could have gone my entire life without seeing that.

"That's not right!" Wrecker exclaimed in disgust, opening fire on the first creature as more rose from the depths.

Clickers, an information flash told me. Blind, unable to see and completely reliant on echolocation to pinpoint their prey. Saliva full of nasty bacteria that could rival a Komodo dragon, it was imperative to not get bitten.

I yelled as much to the Batch, not that they had any worries. Aside from Tech, armor covered them from head to toe. I was the one at risk of getting bit by these Clickers.

Just gotta down the ugly bastards before they down me!

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

Vibrant blue bolts streaked towards the Clickers and bodies plummeted, littering the ground around us. Dozens turned to scores in seconds, a black cloud emerging from the chasm and bearing down on us with ruthless intent.

Many fell, but more still took their place.

Was there a damn Minecraft spawner in that pit?!

Anybody got any torches?!

The swarm drew closer, some Clickers getting through the hailstorm of bright blue bolts cutting their brethren down. One got too close, the bolt from Crosshair's pistol hitting it too late.

The force of the damn thing knocked me off my feet and sent Crosshair's gun out of my hands.

He trusted me with that gun.

I was not losing it!

Diving after it, tucking into a shoulder roll, coming up just too short.

Black metal against the green grass.

Meters away.

Out of reach.

Shrieks and blaster fire.

Rapidly approaching clicks and wingbeats.

Sabers!

Igniting the blades, I snarled and swung out in a wide arc.

Plasma cleaved flesh and bone, splitting one Clicker in half and slicing the wing of another.

A quick stab ended its life.

Alright, Mary Sue, I thought as I leapt to my feet, sabers in reverse grip and teeth bared. See if you can use what Trevor taught you!

Another dive and I'd have the pistol, but not yet.

Not now.

Two more Clickers.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

All towards me.

Claws out.

Teeth bared.

Shrieks piercing the air.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Swing!

Six became five.

Five became four.

Four became three.

Three became two.

Two became one.

One was too much.

Weight slamming into me.

Back hitting the ground.

Claws tearing my arm.

Teeth snapping at my face.

A snarl ripping from my throat.

Panic surging through my veins.

A blaster bolt.

Blood.

Deadweight.

A hand pulling me to my feet.

A familiar sniper rifle.

A yell.

A command.

The pistol. Get it. He'd buy me time.

Snatching it off the ground after shoving the blades back on my belt, I covered Crosshair and he covered me as we fought our way back to the others.

"Ice!" Hunter yelled, taking down one Clicker with his vibroblade and yet another with a blast from his pistol. "You alright?!"

"I'm fine! Cross got me!"

Looks like I owe a Batcher my life.

And I was ok with that.

"Then keep blastin'!" Hunter ordered, stabbing yet another Clicker.

"Aye aye, sir!" I called over the madness, getting back to back with Crosshair.

Where the hell were they all coming from!?

We'd downed at least fifty, yet they continued to swarm from the canyon.

This wasn't going to work.

"We need a new plan!" I yelled, narrowing avoiding another Clicker corpse to the chest.

"Here's the plan! Take that!" Wrecker yelled, throwing a thermal detonator at a Clicker. The resulting blast showered me with different fluids, some red and some not, that I really did not care to name or even think about.

The shock wave and noise from the explosion not only scattered the Clickers, but caused them to waver mid-flight and flutter in confusion before zeroing in on us again.

Of course! Sound disrupts their sonar!

With hoards still emerging from the depths like a vengeful eldritch cloud of death, we needed to get to the trees. The dense jungle offered some cover, for the vines and moss would alter their sonar enough for us to escape.

Improvise, adapt, overcome!

"Wrecker! Throw another one! Then everyone make for the trees!"

"We don't retreat!" Wrecker yelled.

"It's a tactical withdrawal!" I shot back, blasting another one. "They can't echolocate as easily in there!"

"They would still be able to detect us!" Tech protested.

"You got a better idea, nerd?" I snapped, taking down a Clicker just before it reached me and kicking it away as it crashed by my feet. "Suck laser, ugly-ass fucker!"

"I do have a better idea!"

"Any day, Tech!" Hunter barked.

"Sound deters them! I have a sonic detonator or two, cover me!"

"Sonics?!" I yelped. With both me and Hunter sensitive to things like that?!

"Wrecker, Crosshair! Cover Tech! Shadow, with me!" Hunter ordered. "Tech, throw them and then fallback to the treeline! We'll shoot from there!"

"Copy that, Sarge!" I called over the Clickers, shifting to Hunter's side. "Give the word!"

"Ready... wait... now!"

Hunter and I raced towards the treeline and dove to the ground behind the bushes as the first sonic grenade detonated. My ears rang painfully, but I pushed myself up to fire at some more of the Clickers. I took down far less now at this greater range, but a majority of my shots still hit their mark.

Throwing more grenades and taking down what they could, the other three fell back to our position. Fist full of sonics, Wrecker yelled, "Get down!"

"Dive!" Hunter yelled over the madness and we threw ourselves to the dirt again. "C'mon!" He grabbed my wrist and yanked me deeper into the jungle.

Scrambling to my feet after the commando, branching whipping across my face, my legs burned with the effort of keeping up through the dense undergrowth. Ahead a gap in the undergrowth revealed a large, hardy vine spiralling down over the ledge that marked the boundary of the true jungle.

A quick glance behind me revealed the others following close behind.

We got this!

Throat hoarse, I yelled for them to follow me as I pulled ahead of Hunter and ran towards the descending vine.

"Right behind you!"

Sliding down the branch, I realized this was about to get extremely complicated. I'd just entered what looked like a hardcore parkour training feild of branches and vines twisted and tangled together like suspended spaghetti. Water flowed a few meters below my feet. One slip and it was down to the depths. Making it across to the crater floor without falling would be key.

I nearly shoved Crosshair's pistol into my waistband to free both hands, then quickly thought better of it. I did not need to burn myself with the smoking barrel.

Never easy, is it?!

Good thing I had it though, for a rogue Clicker swooped down towards my head.

"Bitch, you thought!" I snarled, shooting it down.

"Shadow! Behind you!"

Hunter's call came a second too late, but the sergeant had launched himself at the Clicker in time to keep it off me. His act of bravery turned sour as he slid down the vine and off the side.

Only a quick stab of the vibroblade kept him from plummeting to the waters below.

"Hang on, Hunt!" Apologizing to my future-self, I shoved the still hot pistol into my waistband and raced to the sergeant. Reaching down, I took hold of his forearm and hauled him back up in the branch.

"Thanks!" he panted.

Tell that to the blossoming burn on my waist!

We couldn't keep this up for much longer. I could hear the swarm gearing up again, ready to slash through the trees to reach us.

We needed a hiding spot.

Somewhere.

Anywhere!

There!

At the peak of an incline, the openings shrouded in vines, perched an immense hollow log.

Perfect.

Heat seared my stomach from the pistol, but I couldn't risk dropping it or losing my footing. I'd deal with it later. Right now we needed to get to that log!

"Everyone!" I yelled as the remaining batchers, led by Tech, caught up. "In the log!"

"We don't hide!" Wrecker shouted back.

"Follow Shadow!" Hunter ordered, right on my heels as I raced across the vines as fast as I could.

"Aw!" Wrecker groaned, but followed Tech and Crosshair as they ran after us.

Reaching the log, I dove straight in. Luck gave me a break and I didn't come face to face with a snake or other territorial resident.

Hunter rushed in after me, shoulder pad slamming painfully into my hip as he dove as well. Wrecker decided to, for some reason, run around and let himself in on the other side. Crosshair followed him and Tech followed Hunter, squishing me in the middle of the four.

How we all managed to fit, I have no idea. Yet we did, and the hollowed trunk echoed with the harsh sounded of filtered breaths. Sweat and lingering ozone filled the confined space, burning the inside of my nose and already raw throat.

Coughing, I tried to catch my breath. Stuck between Hunter and Wrecker, my tail trailed up behind me and fell to rest on Hunter's shoulder as my leg lay Wrecker's lap. I leaned my head back against the wood and groaned. "Is... is everyone here?"

"Check in," Hunter ordered breathlessly.

When all three other Batchers answered, I sighed in relief. "Looks like we're out of the woods for now." A creak and the shifting of the log caused a deep frown to set in. "This is what I get for saying things."

The log continued to roll forward, much to the dismay of everyone inside.

"Brace! We're goin' down!" I yelped, yanking my tail close and quickly moving my leg off Wrecker's so he didn't accidentally crush me.

"Get out!"

"Too late!"

Like a runaway tire, the log picked up speed as it raced downhill, spinning us like laundry in a washer.

Or something.

Couldn't really tell what it was like, other than disorienting. And painful.

Bark bit into my back, dirt pelted me in the face, a rock nicked my forehead, and the pistol scalded my poor waist.

Down and down we tumbled, deeper into the crater, before finally the ground leveled out and we slowly rolled to a stop.

With the lightest of taps against a boulder, the hollow log collapsed on itself, leaving us scattered in various positions on the jungle floor.

Sprawled across Wrecker's arm with Hunter's head on my stomach and my leg on Crosshair's foot, I coughed and spat out dirt.

"Welcome to Ju-fuckin'-manji."