I sighed. Abby and I had been training for 5 hours, and she could jump a little farther than me now. I've taught her all my moves, so she can fight against a strong enemy. The only differences between us (physically) were I was a boy, not a girl, and she was lighter. I'm looking over the fact that I'm a fire god, she's not. She's just a normal kid, but I don't mind. I've known her since we were real little. I remember when I had first saw that
beautiful African-American face.

*FLASHBACK*

I was six-years-old and in my shadow form (I looked like a 3-D shadow of
myself) when I saw her. An older girl was picking on her, kicking her around and hurting her.(I learned later that that girl was Cree.) I don't
know even now what that feeling was, but I suddenly wanted to hurt the bully -badly. I came up slowly, and neither saw me till' I kicked the older girl myself-in the face. I used my firepower, and blew her half across the street. She almost got run over by a truck. I liked this girl, this girl I
had rescued, and I wanted to help her, know her name. The older girl's voice screeched to the frightened child, "What was that? Abby, why you.I'm gonna.!" 'Abby, huh?' I thought to myself, and once again, I beat off the mean girl. Abby's eyes were very wide. "Oh! An angel's lookin' aftah Abby!"
Abby squealed in delight as I beat up her older for the third time. I glanced at her and flashed her my best smile. Her eyes got wide. She was only six, too. After the older girl left her in my care, I turned and asked
her if she was all right. She threw herself upon me and squealed, "Oh, Thank ya! Ya sooo nice! Are ya Abby's guardian angel?" I laughed. I thought it was the cutest thing I'd seen anyone do, and I still think so. "I guess
so," I answered, giving her an assured smile. Her eyes were big and adorable, a light chocolate in color. "I'm.Shadow." I told her, knowing it wouldn't be safe for me to tell her my name. Besides, Shadow sounds a lot cooler than Tommy, don't you think? "Aww, can' ya stay he-ya fo' a while? Abby's lonely. Can ya stay ova-night? Pleeze?" The next word that came out
of my mouth was unavoidable. "Sure." Next thing I knew, I was getting dragged up the stairs to her house, her chatting happily away about all the fun things we'd do. We sat in her room and talked for 4 hours and played
video games, and to my surprise, the wins came out 50/50. "Dang, you're good." I mumbled as she whooped my butt at a game of 'Warrior Destruction' She giggled sweetly, and answered, "Wow, Thank ya! Buht, ya way betah then
Abby." I grinned at her, suddenly feeling shy. She cocked her head and
looked at me strangely, as though I had sprouted tentacles. I blinked. "What are you looking at me that way for?" I asked. She put a hand to my forehead, answering, "You look real red 'round da cheeks. Ya gotta fevah,
or som'thin'?" At that moment, I realized I was blushing. 'This girl's gonna be the death of me. Is she my weak spot?' I wondered as she kissed my forehead and I got even redder. She looked worried. "Are ya ok? Abby don' wan' ya to be sick." I realized that her hand was on mine. I felt my face flush the color of a tomato. "Y-Yea, o' course I'm fine. I'm a warrior!" I held my head high. "I am a great fighter! Not like a little thing like this could stop me! Don't worry." She smiled weakly and kissed my cheek. Now I knew that my cheeks were as red as a ripe Washington apples. I had to get outta there! I nuzzled her gently, lovingly, and gave her a gold whistle. "Whenever you need me, just blow this whistle!" I told her. "Wherever I am,
I'll be able to hear you. Okay?" She nodded solemnly, stringing it on a
chain she found on a drawer and putting it on. "Bye." She said sadly, lowering her head. Then her head jolted up, and she asked, "Can Abby call
ya even when she isn't in trouble?" She questioned hopefully. I nodded,
spreading my bat wings and flying off.

*END FLASHBACK*

Even when she made friends, she would call for me every other Saturday, me always there, no matter what. We would sit the whole night, playing games, training, or just talking on her bed. When she was older, and got into the KND, we still kept up our little tradition. No matter what, I was there for
her, and when she had a bad day, we would sit for hours on her bed, me cuddling her in my lap and nuzzling her. Once Numbuh 1 had become angry and tried to slap her. I broke his arm, his leg, and gave him a head fracture. He never went at Abby again. He's scared of what 'Her blood-sucking demon' might do. When he called me a blood-sucker, it took all my self-control not
to laugh. The best thing was, Abby knew virtually nothing about me. She
never sees my face. She couldn't give a description if she wanted to! I like that. When in my shadow form, she can see my silhouette, my mouth, and my brown eyes. I'm so lucky. I was snapped out of my thoughts by a pretty
voice. Abby was singing. I shut my eyes and listened. This is what she
sang:

The raven sings a pretty song,
Hidden by briars and gloom,
It sing to the purple Lilac,
Until the flower blooms.

I smiled, my eyes half shut. "Mmm, Abby, what are you singing? That's pretty." I mumbled, pulling her closer to me, so she was leaning her head on my shoulder. I could feel her smile upon me. "It's a song Cree taught Abby. Abby heard her singing it, and Abby followed her around until Abby
had it memorized." I smiled. "Clever." I sat up, looking around at the flowering field, then at the setting sun. Abby sat up too, leaning on me.
Then I looked at my watch, and swore a blue streak. Abby blinked at me. I've known her for 4, almost 5 years, and she still hasn't gotten used to the swearing I do. "Abby, we gotta get back! It's 8:00! @$&#% my internal
clock!" I snarled, pulling her up into my arms, and jumping demon style over buildings and cars, heading for the tree house. She made no move to stop me till we got to the tree house. I dropped her on her window sill,
and was about to go when she grabbed my wrist tightly. I looked questioningly at her. "Can Abby ask ya a fayvah? A BIG fayvah?" I smiled at her accent, it always sounded like music to me. "Sure, anything, Abby. I'd
do anything for you." Abby smiled, and the thought that this scene was
pretty romantic, us just standing under a full moon, staring into each
other's eyes, passed through my head.

"Can Abby see yo' face?"

Ha! Cliffie! Will Tommy listen to her and show her his face, or will he run off screaming like a sissy? Let's find out! Next time!