Chapter nine; Uh-oh!
Present…
Jade
I woke up warm. I soon realised there was a blanket over me, and a body pressed close to mine. Then I heard the snoring…
Marco. Who else?
The next thing I realised that it was early morning. I felt my nose was unbelievably cold, and I could see my own breath forming in front of me. Yep, winter mornings in the Australian bush. Lotsa fun.
Without moving the rest of me, I looked around the camp. Rachel, Amanda and Cassie had fallen asleep in a small pile on the other side of the now small fire, and Jake was to the side, covered in a blanket as well, asleep. I guessed Cassie or Amanda must've done that. The three had another blanket. Robert was leaning against the tree, eyes closed, head lolled back a little. He looked cold.
I didn't see Tobias or Ithiell. For a matter of fact, where was Rtaia and Ax?
I looked around as much as I could, before I felt a stirring from behind me. Then a little groan, and I felt a cool breath against my neck. He moved slightly, and my body jerked at the reaction.
"Jade?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I wake you?"
"I was just going to ask you the same thing" I said in a soft voice. We were keeping our voices low partly because of the others, and partly because if we spoke any louder we would sound like we were croaking.
"What happened, by the way? Did you…"
"No. You were cold, and this was the first thing I could think of that could warm you"
I snickered "Let me guess, you pay attention sometime in class"
"Got that right. Damn its cold here" we sat up, but kept the blanket around us. It was too warm, and too nice, not to.
"Australian winter in the forest. Milk would freeze in your cereal bowl if you had any"
"Ah" he looked at me and smiled, and I couldn't help but put my arms around him and kiss him.
"Thankyou for keeping me warm. It's possibly the nicest thing any guy has done for me"
"Uh… you're welcome? Hey, look!" he suddenly hissed, turning me around to see what he was seeing. I turned…
And saw Ax and Rtaia quietly moving away from the wreckage of a fighter. Both looked a little embarrassed, if you ask me.
"Wonder what they were up to last night" Marco snickered in my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"None of our business. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some havoc to create" I got out away from the blanket, making both of them jump. Then they realised it was just me, and walked towards the fire. I walked away from the camp, and when I was done I walked back, looking up to where Tobias was perched next to a sleeping Ithiell.
"They seem to be… unconscious" Rtaia said softly, suddenly beside me, looking up at the two. I sighed, rolling my eyes at her.
"Well duh. They're asleep. Poor guys"
"Perhaps… we might go for a… fly?" Rtaia looked at me.
"All right, but just a sec, k?"
I left her as she began to shift, back into the camp where I saw Marco was just wrapping the blanket around him again. I guess he had the same idea I did.
"Hey"
"Hey" He opened the blanket so I could climb in, but I shook my head.
"No. I've just come to tell you I'm going for a fly with Rtaia. I think she's a bit worried"
"All right" he wrapped the blanket around him, giving me a quick peck on the lips "Be careful"
"Sorry. That's not a word in my vocab" I said, smiling at him and stepping back and focusing. Within thirty seconds I was a golden eagle, and flapped my wings hard to get up into the cold night air. As I did I saw Jake stir below me.
I soon found Rtaia circling around the tree Tobias and Ithiell were in, a peregrine falcon. It was unusual for her, but I didn't question it.
(I will go northwest)
(Okay. I'll go northeast) I said, peeling off from her. We kept close, but not too close to look suspicious to anyone on the ground. It was hard work, but for once I found I didn't care. It felt good so early in the morning, even though I missed my wakeup cup of tea.
I scanned the area with my amazing eagle eyes, seeing the forest was already alive with activity. Possums and other birds scurried around, and not to mention all the insects…
Okay, so I was hungry too, but can you really blame me?
The sun began its slow climb on the horizon, and it felt good to feel the suns rays on my skin. Even though it wasn't my real skin.
(Jade, I believe I see something, but I cannot be sure. It is closer to you. Can you see it?)
(What? Um… okay. I'll check it out) I adjusted my wings, flapping and gliding and suddenly seeing what Rtaia couldn't see.
(Oh. Crap)
(Jade?)
(The Terinans! Come look for yourself!)
I saw her peel around and come close to me, letting out a few chosen words of her own in Chanaiben.
(How long do you think until they reach our camp!)
(With the direction, and rise and fall of the land, as well as the pace of each individual…)
(Rtaia, just tell me!)
(I believe they will reach our campsite in just under an Earth hour)
I swore. Rtaia asked what the word meant. I told her. After I'd finished swearing of course.
(We have to get them up and moving!)
(I am in agreement with you) she said, and we peeled off in the direction of the camp, already hating this day, and not from the lack of caffeine…
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Past…
Amanda
I watched as Jade paced in front of the destroyed cruiser the next day, kicking it then screaming and saying something in French I couldn't understand. Robert was still no-where to be found.
Since I'd started training harder in the last two months, I decided to get a pair of jeans using my allowance. I was wearing them, along with a plain white t-shirt with a picture of a cute teddy bear on it.
So Jade paced and kicked, and kicked and paced, as Ithiell and Rtaia worked in the damaged cruiser thingy. And, of course, Robert was late again. We had about ten hours, at most, until the Terry-thingys showed up.
"What are we gonna do? We're kids" I said softly.
"Kids yes, but with an amazing power inside us" Robert suddenly popped into view, and I jumped and screamed. Seconds later Ithiell came out, looking terrified.
"What is it? What has happened?" He asked, looking at me.
"Sorry. Robert scared me" I muttered, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.
"Ah. You humans are unusual" He said, and just as he did Rtaia came out and stood beside him.
"I believe I have picked up another signal and-"
"Let me guess, they're not gonna be here in ten hours because, 'oops!' they're here now?" Jade said sarcastically. Rtaia just tilted her head, looking at Jade.
Ithiell said something quickly to her in Chanaiben, and her confused look vanished and she nodded her head.
"I have picked up a coded transmission from a Chanaiben ship, not too far off from us. I believe the small Chanaiben force will be here within an Earth day or so"
"A day or so? A day or so! And what are we sposed to do until then? Blind them with our fancy little flashlights? Hit 'em with books or my skates? Oh, oh, wait, let's just pull funny faces and see if we confuse 'em enough that they leave the freakin' planet!" Okay, Jade was made. I couldn't blame her. I wasn't exactly thrilled about going into battle myself.
"No you idiot. We fight back, that's what we do. And we have the power. If we're lucky, maybe we can hold them off long enough for reinforcements to get here" Robert retorted, glaring at Jade. She glared right back.
"Sure oh great and wise Roberto. YOU go fight them, alone, and tell me how that goes"
"Wimp"
"IDIOT!"
"WHINER!"
"ENOUGH!" I yelled, getting up and standing between them "If we're going to do something about this, we should learn to work together before we face the big bad aliens"
Jade rubbed her forehead and sighed "Robert, we have no idea how to fight these things. We've never been in war, and we don't know how many of these guys there are. There could be thousands for all we know!"
"There is not. From the transmissions I have been picking up every few Earth minutes, I believe there is a maximum of about two hundred"
"Greeat. Just two hundred. We can handle 'em easily!" Jade snapped, throwing her hands up in the air and walking around in a small circle.
"I have also discovered that they will be landing at separate parts of the world. The ones who will land here, in Australia, will be fifty"
"Again, brilliant" Jade sighed, but she was calming down. I honestly hoped she thought I was right.
"All right, so, what do we do?"
"I believe… we take a Jara gun each, and hide, picking them off one at a time. Or… or as many as we can take out at one time" Ithiell said, looking at Rtaia. Rtaia did something with her ears, putting one forward and one back, and Ithiell sighed.
"All right. I believe… we hide in the trees. Terinans do not seem to like climbing trees And… and we get as many as we can"
Rtaia said something to him in Chanaiben, and in seconds he turned on her and sounded like he was ripping into her. She fell silent, and he sighed and turned back to us.
"If something happens… like they manage to get us out of the trees somehow, we can shape-shift into those animals you have been practising. Do you remember the animals?"
We each nodded. Yes, we remembered them.
"Good. If worst comes to worst, we become them"
"What about the others?" I asked "You know, the ones across the planet?"
Ithiell hung his head, sighing heavily.
"One thing at a time Amanda. Please"
"All right, let's do it!"
"We're all crazy" Jade muttered.
I warned you it was gonna get lovey-dovey, didn't I? Sorry, but I'm in that kinda mood. It's all good though. Now review! Or I'll leave you all hanging! Muahahahahahahaaaaa!
