Disclaimer: Listen very carefully: I. Don't. Own it.
AN: Italics are flashbacks.
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Chapter 2: The Battle
"You remember the battle?"
"Yes."
--The battle was taking place near a forested part of the city, deep within the heart of the forest. There were more teenagers then kids, but the KND fought determinedly.
"Teenager to your left!"
"Watch your rear!"
"Take that, ya cruddy teenagers!"
The one thing that was most obvious about the battle was that it took place by a cliff that steeped down into a ravine below. But both the teenagers and the kids ignored this fact.
Despite their fierce rivalry, Numbuh 5 and Cree hadn't met in battle yet, although Cree was close by the teenager her sister was fighting, near the edge of the cliff. Cree was too busy fighting Numbuh 1 to pay much attention to the drop, and Numbuh 5 was too busy fighting Chad to think about her sister's predicament.
Numbuh 5 ducked to avoid a punch to her head. The battle was moving at a whirlwind pace; she couldn't keep track of her friends even if she wanted to. She yelped slightly when Chad smashed into her shoulder, making her stagger. Cree faltered slightly at the sound but plunged back into battle.
"I'm gonna end this," Numbuh 5 muttered. "NOW!"
She smashed into Chad's stomach, knocking him back. Chad stumbled back into Numbuh 1, and Numbuh 1 was knocked into Cree. The momentum of the impact knocked Cree that last few feet that kept her from plunging into thin air, and with a scream that made Numbuh 5's blood run cold and made her whirl around, Cree fell, her hand catching onto the very edge of the cliff.
Fear crashed through Numbuh 5 like lightning. She dropped her weapon, shoving Chad aside and diving for the edge just as Cree's hand gave out. She gripped it with both hands. "Cree!"
Her sister's fear-stricken eyes met her own, and Numbuh 5 slid forward slightly, Cree's weight dragging her closer to the edge, but she ignored it. "Cree, hold on!"
"You have to let go! I'll drag you down!"
"But then you'll fall!"
"At least you won't go with me!"
Numbuh 5 shook her head violently, trying to pull Cree back to safety and failing. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes.
"Abby!" Cree pleaded.
"Forget it, Cree! I'm not letting you die!"
Gritting her teeth, Numbuh 5 pulled harder, and to her delight Cree was pulled a few inches back up. "Cree, can you grab the edge with your other hand?" she called down.
Cree frowned, narrowing her eyes with concentration, and her other hand reached up to grip the rock. She tried to pull herself up a little, tried to help Numbuh 5. She dug her elbow into the earth and her feet raked at the wall, finding a firm foothold.
"I've got ya, Cree. You're almost there," Numbuh 5 grunted, focusing on her sister, the sounds of battle fading into a dark back round. So focused was she that she didn't notice the cracks beginning to weave across the rock she was stretched out on; it couldn't hold her weight, or Cree's, much longer.
Cree crawled farther; she was almost up. Only then did she see the cracks beginning to web along the rocky surface. "Abby," she gasped.
Numbuh 5 froze at a loud crack, and the rock lurched slightly beneath her. "Uh oh."
"Abby, let go!"
Numbuh 5 shook her head; Cree's upper body was on the rock. All that remained dangling was most of her bottom half and her legs. "You're almost there," she snapped. "I'm not lettin' ya go now."
"Darn it, Abby! Use your head!"
"I AM!"
The rock lurched again. Without thinking, Numbuh 5 lunged forward, gripping Cree's shoulders, and with all the strength in her body she threw her sister onto the rock and aside to safety. At that moment the rock gave out and crumbled beneath her, and with a gasp she fell. Cree fell forward, making a desperate grab for her sister. Briefly she caught Numbuh 5's hand, but it was to late; her hand slipped through Cree's fingers, and Cree grasped only air.
"ABBY!"—
Numbuh 5 shrugged helplessly. "Numbuh 5 remembers falling, but nothing after that."
Numbuh 1 nodded, standing to pace. "Of course you would," Numbuh 1 muttered, more to himself then to her. "You were unconscious when Cree got down there… you probably hit your head…"
"Whoa, whoa, WHAT about Cree?"
Numbuh 1 sighed.
"Cree's the part you don't remember…"
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Does anyone have any idea how old Cree is? I always thought she was at least fourteen or fifteen, but according to forums she's sixteen...
Hopefully this answered some questions... and look, Ma! It's longer!
... Wonder what Cree did after Abby fell...