Hey readers, hope u like the story so far. I probably should redo the first chappie. I left out too many details. Review and tell me what u think. Same disclaimer as in the 1st chappie.

Chapter 3

(Distress)

As they cleared the forest into sheer desert, Rose and Cody closed their eyes to the dust blowing into their faces. Sensing this, Arana and Lightning flew lower so Cody and Rose could squint to make out the giant rock formations scattered along the outback.

Soon enough they came about the face of a particularly large out-cropping of rocks. Rose and Cody closed their eyes again as Lightning and Arana kicked up a red dust whirlwind as they landed. Both Rose and Cody jumped to the ground. They both stared at the collage of metal that made up the door to McLeach's lair. Rose ran over to Cody, "So what's the plan?" she asked.

Cody thought for a few seconds. "We need to get in there, somehow." He thought aloud.

Rose nodded in agreement.

Suddenly the ground shook and they both watched as the door began to swing upward. Rose and Cody both turned to their partners, and climbed on. As they began to rise into the air they looked down to see the giant machine aiming at them. It fired at Rose and Arana. The shot missed them but as Arana dodged the hit, Rose slid of and began to fall towards the hard red ground. Arana flew down to catch her and barely caught her before flying back up into the air. Except as they rose, another shot was fired. This one contained rope with little balls at the end. They wrapped around Arana's leg and pulled her down.

Cody flew towards them but was stopped when Rose shouted at him. "I got it, don't come closer." He nodded in understanding and flew back to the sky.

Rose jumped down and grabbed the rope with her left hand. With her right hand she drew her pocket knife and began to saw at the rope. At this time the rope began to draw closer to the machine, and Arana strained, trying to fly away. Cody and Lightning looked from afar with worry. Rose grinned when the rope finally cut loose. She held on to the rope that Arana was attached to, and for a moment rose back into the air, until her hand began to slide off the rope. In her worry to get the rope loose her hands hand become sweaty. She tried to grip the rope with her other hand but the rope was slick with sweat already, within seconds she dropped into the cage and heard the door above her slam.

Arana saw what happened and began to fly back. Rose panicked. "No Arana, stay back and save yourself!" she cried. Arana looked helpless and still came closer. "Arana!" she shouted. "Stop! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Go back to Cody and Lightning and wait for the Rescue Aid Society." Tears streamed down her face as she beat the side of the cage.

Arana dropped her head in defeat but she knew what the right choice was. She wheeled around back to Cody and Lightning. Cody heard her screaming and understood. But he couldn't stop the tears either. Suddenly he heard a voice. 'Don't worry, I'll find Marahute and her newborns'

Cody's eyes widened at the realization Rose was talking in his mind, then he smiled sadly. As he relayed back, 'I know you will.'

Rose watched them fly off into the distance while she waited to meet her enemy. She turned her eyes as the door opened and closed and straightened up trying to look fierce even though on the inside she was scared as hell.

He came around to the side of the cage and looked in only to jump back in surprise. "Who the hell are you?" he asked.

Rose got a good look at him. He was a fierce man of maybe 50, Rose guessed. He was slightly balding with brown hair hugging his head, threaded with grey. He wore a long over coat with a Crocodile Dundee hat and patched up pants and a t-shirt. "I should be asking you the same thing!" she shot back.

He smiled, not a warm smile, but a scary, evil, smile. "The name's Alan, Alan McLeach." Brother to the man who used to own this land and now owner." He said smoothly. "Now it's your turn."

Rose tilted her head in agreement. "My name's Rose, what do you want with Marahute?" she asked with fierceness.

Alan's face scrunched in confusion. "Mara..what a? Ahh, you must mean the eagle I caught this morning and her chicks. Yep she put up quite a fight, but in the end she was mine for the taking."

Rose's face darkened with anger. "You heartless man, I should expect this coming from you. Your brother was bad enough." She thought of Cody's stories and cringed.

Alan laughed. "Yes, we were very much alike. Now who was the young man with you?"

"I don't think that's your business!" she responded.

"Oh but it is, cause you're going to tell me where to find them and I'm going to catch them." He started to walk back towards the front of the truck.

Rose threw her fists against the cage. "You stay the hell away from Arana!" she screamed, before sliding down to her knees, tears coming down her cheek. 'Please be safe.' She thought to herself. Her world darkened as the huge machine/truck was moved back into the rock formation and the garage door swung down to cover her in darkness.

Sry this one is soo short. Hope u enjoyed, stay tuned for more.

SailorKMoonie