It isn't much, but definitely sets up the next installment. Please comment. Thanks to all my reveiwers :)
Helen's voice huffed as she panted, "Amaz-ing. Four months…and now this. You gonna train us too right?" She smiled up at Teresa. Teresa's eyes were trained on the battlefield though. This morning she had asked if anyone wanted to spar. Of course, they all came. What warrior doesn't want a good fight? They all assumed they would test Teresa out, but with a mischievous grin, she stepped back to watch. No one took Clare as a threat. She was just below Miria, but still eventually Helen felt like she could wear woman down.
Oh, with that cocky attitude, five against one. And the one kicked butt! Ok, well, really she just dodged so gracefully that the others wore themselves down. She had decided not to harm them…yet. Miria, of course, was her greatest challenge, but nothing compared to Teresa. "Oh, Helen, you can't call her 47 anymore. She's on par with me now. Do you feel her yoki?" Helen shook her head still catching her breath. "Exactly. With my blood and her determination, she's reached this." Teresa waved her hand in awe at her pupil.
She and Clare had discussed tons of strategies, but really none of them seemed fail-proof. Eventually one of them would die. Teresa noticed that over the few months she got to spend with this Clare, the cold eyes had softened. The woman would smile more…even laugh. She still didn't talk much though. Teresa had to practically prod the past from her Clare.
Little Clare watched the battle with awe. Really, it was five battles in one jumbled up ball. "I'm gonna be that strong. Teresa, I'm gonna be her. That's so weird," her voice sounded so sweet. She rarely talked anymore. With Teresa always gone or busy, she stayed with Ghosts more often. They prodded her for information. They wanted to know about her past like the yoma master and how she met Teresa. She awkwardly told them, but they always seemed stunned by what she revealed. She almost felt like she was betraying herself. It's her secrets too though.
Teresa leapt forward abruptly. She called out dominantly, "Hold! We need to talk!" Everyone except Clare stopped immediately. Yuma and Tabitha collapsed on the ground, prepared to listen and rest. Clare soon stood beside Teresa. She motioned for little Clare to join them. "Clare won't tell me what she has planned. However, soon she will take her leave. I guess this is…"
Clare finished with a guilty tone, "Good bye. Guys I'm sorry for screwing up. I really hope you won't hate me if I don't fix everything. I'm going to try though."
She didn't wait for an answer though. She reached for that tiny device. She didn't even rescue Teresa and Clare. No, she was going back farther than that. She would make it where she never took them there. In reality, that alternate universe didn't exist anymore. She would never kill herself.
She zapped herself to same woods where she made her initial time-leap. She waited…her body jittered with impatience. She saw her body suddenly materialize in the bushes close by. Rapidly she pounced on the other girl. She pinned her down. She…was holding herself down. She whispered soothingly, "This isn't the way. I'm going to fix it. I've already tried this way. I want you to go home. I'm going to fix this. Relax." She didn't let go until Teresa ran back. She could smell the blood from the woman's foot, and she could feel the woman in her arms weeping. Such turmoil and pain. She didn't realize that she held such an aura. Maybe she was cured after her time with Teresa. Once everything in the village turned silent. Clare released her grip. The weaker woman warily looked at her capture. "You're me! Why would you ever stop me! You know how much this means, " she sounded betrayed. So angry and helpless.
"I've done what you planned. It didn't work. Now, I'm going to try another way. Don't worry. I think this plan will work. I'm stronger now. See: I think Teresa needs a little back up. Perhaps she needs a body guard." Clare smiled at herself. A wide, satisfied grin. Then, suddenly she zapped to a new place. Only a few days away from her last position in time.
Finally the idea caught up with her. She sighed when she realized that she would have to regain Teresa's trust again. Oh, well, she knew an adult Teresa better now. Before she only knew the woman as a wise warrior…someone to be admired…a mother-figure. However, now she knew the woman as a friend, a mentor. This could change everything.