Earth Protectors

---Begin Chapter---

Jen walked over to the entrance of the cave as everyone slept near the fire. It was practically a blizzard outside, and it was hard to see three feet in fron t of you. But Jen saw something…someone. She could make out a figure walking towards them, bundled up in a coat with, then she thought she saw another figure as well walking slightly behind the first figure, and it too was bundled up in a coat. Jen didn't leave the cave but got up Arty (who really wasn't asleep on account the she has become an insomniac since staying in Crypto-Earth) and Rain (who wasn't asleep either, he was staring at Lyra, who was lying down, eyes closed though she wasn't really sleeping, just thinking [do I hear wedding bells?]) The three stood at the cave entrance, awaiting for the figures to come towards their fire, as the figures got closer they became more discernable. Finally, two male bundled in what looked like Red Army coats and hats with earflaps came up, and another male dressed in the same out fit came running up after the two. They held up their hand in sign of peace and Artemis, Rain and Jen let them in to sit near the fire. The three newcomers took off their cool hats and coats and gloves as the warmed up near the fire. They were all male.

"So, what's your names?" Jen asked.

"I'm Miguel," one said in a Latin accent. He had black hair, and was about 6 feet tall, with beautiful blue eyes that were like a light in the darkness of the cave.

"I'm Jake Morgans, though you can call me Jay, or Jake," the other said in an African accent. He was a tall African, and wore black shirt and, wore boots. (Can we say perfect boyfriend??)

"I'm Vassilij," the last one said in an English accent. Vassilij was about 5'11" maybe 6'. He had naturally spiky hair and silver eyes.

"How old are you all?" Rain asked giving them some soup that Ava had made earlier that day. They accepted it gratefully.

"I'm 18," Miguel said through a spoonful of soup he slurped.

"I'm 17," Jake said then took another spoon full of soup.

"I'm 16," Vassilij said then he put his bowl to his face and gulped down the soup. Artemis looked at him, not strangely, not exactly strangely, but as if she had seen him before. But she couldn't remember where.

"I-I recognize you," she said to Vassilij. Vassilij looked at her quizzically.

"What?" He asked.

"I- oh, never mind."

"No, what did you say?"

"I said never mind!"

"Okay," he said as he got some more soup.

"Okay, so where are you all from?" Jen asked as she got her own bowl out and got some soup.

"I'm from Italy, though I'm Spanish too," Miguel said as he refilled his bowl. Jake also refilled his.

"I'm from Africa," Jake said.

"I don't know what my roots are. I was adopted, by Russian parents. (If ye read me other stories ie "Road to the Legion" **hint hint!!** **nudge nudge** **wink wink** you would see I reeeeeeally like Russians.) So I've lived in Russia for a while, so that's how I got my name. Then I moved to America for two years. Then I spent the last four years of my life in Scotland," Vassilij said as he put away his bowl.

"uh-huh. That's quite few places to live. Especially since Scotland and America are completely opposite of Russia. Did it take a while to adjust?" Jen asked.

"A little. I learned how to shoot a rifle. I shot wolves and other predators of my family's flock in Russia."

"Oh, that's cool. I like to shoot too, practically everyone in this cave you see here likes to shoot. Especially Artemis here. She took bagfuls of weapons and guns to camp! That brings me to my other question. How did you get here?"

"Er, I was watching the Soccer game on TV when out of the sea came a lightning bolt and it struck me, sending me here. I though it was a dream but it's real alright," Miguel said, as he pinched his arm.

"I was taking a rest in my town after playing with my town's children. I flopped on my bed and looked at the charm that my great-grandfather gave to me as a child before he passed away. He said it was good luck, and would be the key to what I have in me. I never knew what he meant by that. It's still a mystery to me." Jake said, stroking the charm on his necklace.

"Me? Well, I was watching the flock. I was wearing this," Vassilij pulled out an arrowhead neckalce. "And then a wolf came and I shot it, and when I shot I saw a bright light come from under me and grabbed my necklace that I had taken off and then I end up near theses two in the freezing cold with coats on. But that's not all."

"Yes, there were these animals near us," Jake said. "A big white wolf, and a bald eagle. They told us something."

"Yeah! They said that they knew us. That they were our partners and that we were to find a cave with people in it and travel with them. Then they left," Miguel said, as if just remembering. Vassilij nodded.

"I saw a bear on the way here, I was walking in the back, and I heard a grunt. I turned to see what it was and there was this huge bear on all fours behind me, with a wolf standing next to it, and a bald eagle perched on top. It said the same to me as the other animals did to these two. Then he said to keep quiet and it left. Practically vanished like smoke!" Vassilij said.

"Is that not incredible?!" Miguel said, rather enthusiastically. Jen, Arty, and Rain just looked at them normally, after all, they had already gone through that.

"It happened to us," Jen said. The three looked at them quizzically. Jen shrugged, "It's true. The animals left us here on the Frost Mountains for training. We seem to be training to fight for Earth's existence."

"Truthfully?" The three asked unsteadily.

The trio nodded. Later they went to bed, everyone but Artemis and Jen were asleep. They sat by the cave entrance and near the beast that attacked them to keep guard. Though Jen seemed to be the one keeping lookout since Arty was staring a Vassilij's sleeping form. Jen smiled craftily, leaning over she whispered, "If you're going to pretend you're not interested in him, at least don't stare at him. Or you can just go over there and sleep next to him!"

Artemis recoiled, "No! I'm NOT interested in him! Yeesh! No way! Nah uh! I just feel as though I know him from somewhere. I just can't figure out where.."

Jen shrugged, "Who knows? But-" Jen yawned, "I hope you can stay awake, because I'm tired, and I want to sleep."

Arty nodded, "Then get Rain or Nny to help me keep watch."

Jen nodded and got Nny up to keep watch with Artemis. Then she laid down, and nodded off into a slumber, that was anything but peaceful…

----End Chapter----

Jester: Whew! Got that done! I hope you all review! Well, I g2g! TC!

Jester

PS Ava, I am choosing your animal and dragon for you, unless you tell me what it is you want. And I am no longer accepting new ppl's. Ava is the last one! (I can't keep track of you all! I'm writing everything down in a notebook that I'm going to use to keep my story true for the characters and you!! Well! TC!)