(Annabelle's P.O.V.) -About the same time-

I groaned silently as I rubbed my head gingerly for I obviously hit something, and I opened my eyes, widening them in shock. Before me, was a green, woodsy jungle, and I could hear sounds in the distance. I got up slowly, checking to make sure that I wasn't hurt despite the slowly forming bruises around my neck. I was so relieved that I wasn't dead, figuring that I was saved somehow, and brought here.

I saw that I had my dog whistle still, and I blew it, hoping that Clark would hear me, but only screeches of creatures out there were briefly louder at the moment, and I bit my lip, wanting to know where I am exactly. I then climbed up a tree with plenty of limbs to grab into, and once I burst through the top, I saw the red sun, and far ahead of me was miles of jungle, and mountains in the distance.

I then realized that I must have been sent to the future, the one with Vandal Savage, as I clearly see the planet with the broken rings; Saturn. I sighed silently, acknowledging that Clark and Mom would have been sent here too. I looked back behind me, and saw more jungle, frowning mightily as I knew I had to head to Metropolis. I just hope Vandal Savage doesn't mind having a kid in his home.

I climbed down, looking for a puddle so I can find where I can go with the help of a handmade compass. I was grateful that Daddy taught me that trick. After some moments, I finally knew where to go. I grabbed a sturdy, tough stick for defense, wishing I had a knife or something, but it's better than nothing.

I learned how to trail after the mutated cockroaches quietly, and hide/dodge from the mutated panthers in the trees. Food was more plentiful here in the jungle compared to the desert. Water was easy to find, through I had to rough-make a wood-like bowl to boil water very closely to any scrap campfire I could make upon several evenings.

I knew there were mutant wasps and Savage's mutated dragonflies somewhere near Metropolis as I presumed from the episode. As time passed, my clothes went ragged, and soon, I had noticed that the nights were getting cooler, so I took to make a leaf nest frequently. Unfortunately, good things eventually has to end with the bad things coming in to make it sorta unfair.

It wasn't even a month later when I was in a fight with a couple of panthers over some meat I scavenged from the cockroaches. Now the mutant panthers were a whole different species from the familiar kind I knew back home, as there are apparent differences between the two kinds. The panthers here were impossibly strawberry blond or blood red, with neon yellow eyes or blue-silver eyes, and they are large as a tiger, and their teeth are freaking sabers!

The panthers I was battling were simply adolescents, probably being tested out by their folks to find prey, and they found me. Luckily, I had updated my staff a few days ago, sharpened with a old saber tooth, thanks to a long-dead panther I found in a cave. Unfortunately, I couldn't scream for help, and I cursed my disability for the millionth time.

It wasn't hard to imagine that two panthers would win against a human, but not if I fight back. But as I had realized that those panthers were well-advanced with stamina, I couldn't keep up my strength, and I got nasty wounds. Last thing I remembered before I blacked out, thanks to blood loss and overexertion of strength and determination, was numerous shots, and a yell accompanying the pained screeches of the cats.

I didn't know if it was evening or the next morning, but when I came to, I was bandaged up, and Vandal Savage was actually wetting my forehead when he noticed that I was waking up. "Ah, I was wondering when you'd wake up. You were having a quite rough fever. Those panthers nearly had you done for.". I blinked, tilted my head softly.

"You are in my home. I brought you here to heal up from those nasty wounds, through you'd end up with a couple of scars, I have to admit.". Vandal continued, and I looked around, and sure enough, I recognized the walls, through I was in a bedroom, resting in the most comfortable bed I ever felt. I smiled softly, and Vandal sighed, "You're certainly a strong child. If I may ask, are you Annabelle?".

I nodded firmly, and Vandal smiled, "Good. Superman and your mother has been talking about you on the radio, through I couldn't dare to reply back. Superman may have a grudge about me yet it has been thousands of years.".

I frowned, signing, "You saved my life. Superman loves and cares for me as he does for my mom, and he won't be angry at you, maybe wary, but he isn't one to hold a grudge.".

Vandal stoically nodded, "I suppose you're right. Now, how are you feeling?". I shrugged, signing, "A bit hungry. A bit tired.". Vandal chuckled, "You have fought those panthers well. You must be indeed hungry and tired after all that fighting.".

I ducked my head sheepishly, smiling shyly. Vandal then got up from his chair, smiling softly with a hint of amusement. "How about some stew?". I nodded brightly, and Vandal smiled widely, "Perfect. And oh, here's a couple of books for you while waiting. I am afraid to admit that I don't know what children read these days, but it's the best I could.".

He pulled two books from a nearby dresser, gave them to me, and I grinned as I recognized the first one, through the other one, I hadn't seen before. I gestured with a shoo gesture, and Vandal laughed softly, "Been a while since I had made lunch for a guest, but hey, my cooking skills are supreme. I shall be back in a bit, Annabelle.". I nodded before opening the recognized book to the first page, proceeding to read, hearing distinct footsteps.

Two months had passed with updates of my mom and Superman's journey on the radio in the Watchtower which Vandal and I visited every other day, seeing where they're coming from on the map that Vandal made. My friendship with Vandal was strangely good as I knew he was a criminal, having fought the Justice League many times, yet he is sort of funny, eccentric, very smart, and a wicked awesome cook as well.

I helped him with his hobbies, learning things from him, teaching him to play games with me. In return, he taught me how to ride one of his dragonfly mounts, reading out loud a story sometimes, and surprisingly, he supervised over me casually while I drove the tractor in the backyard.

Finally, the day came with Vandal approaching me in the evening after a dragonfly ride to the Watchtower. I was picking off the vegetables in the garden, and bringing them to the stocked fridge. "Annabelle, I just received news from Superman. He and your mother's in the vicinity surrounding Metropolis. They will be here tomorrow. And of course, you must be missing them very much.".

I skipped happily, grinning as I signed, "Thank you so much, Vandal! I really missed them. I am so going with you. I have to see them!". Vandal chuckled, "It's no trouble, Annabelle. It's the first time I would ever see a child reunite with a family.".

I blinked at the sad tone when he said 'family', and I realized that he must have really missed his family so much. I mean, thousands of years, immortal. I couldn't handle that! Then I tilted my head as I realized something. In this timeline, Vandal had been so good to me, yet I knew that when I and the others head back to the past, there wouldn't be no eccentric, redemptive Vandal as Superman would stop it before happening.

I hugged Vandal, startling him greatly, "Annabelle, what is wrong?". I signed gingerly after I let go, "You didn't have family for a long, long time. You've been so lonely until I came. You're a good man now, and I am shocked to realize that you have been a uncle to me.".

Vandal blinked in bewilderment, open-mouthed for a few moments before speaking, "You'd say that? Me, a uncle of sorts to you?". I nodded, smiling, and Vandal smiled warmly, hugging me back, "That makes me happy, dear Annabelle. Now, shall we eat? I am rather hungry after the trip.". I nodded, and the night passed quite peacefully, and morning came, and I walked with Vandal to the Watchtower, waiting.