*****

[Ch. 2, Peek-a-boo!]

Few minutes earlier

The creature was blue from what he could tell. He barely dodged its lunge in time to see it leave clean claw marks on the small stone pillars. He had backed up against the very edge that faces the castle when it turned and started walking towards him. That's when his foot met thin air and slipped right from under him and he fell backwards. A scream shot out of Nosedive's beak as his hands shot up and had managed to grab a hold on the edge and saved himself. He didn't even dare to try and pull himself back up the edge without some kind of plan knowing full well what was up there. However, he knew it wouldn't be long before he'd lose his grip. The great beast was still there, looking down at him with those glowing white eyes as if considering what to do next.

All the young duck could do was stare into those sharp glowing eyes as he began to lose his grip as his arms soon started to give out. In a blink, his hand slipped, and he gave out a scream and call out for his brother… He didn't fall. He felt a tight grip on both his forearms and opened his eyes. Someone had grabbed him,… or rather something… something small with slim arms that were well muscled and hands with sharp claws gripping hard on his forearms. There were flaps of some kind attached to the arms and the skin looked like an oily green in the moonlight. Nosedive shifted his gaze upward to the face. The creature was bald, with pointed ears, and large eyes with brows that seem to curve almost like horns across its forehead.

"Hold on, I got you!" Its voice strained with trying to pull the large duck back up. The position it was in wasn't very good for the maneuver.

The young alien confused, frightened and amazed all at the same time by what he was looking at didn't say word. The small goblin-like creature barked out a name and an order to the dog-like creature as if it was a pet and had it grab onto him and pull. The strain on its arms hurt it and forced it to close its eyes. When they opened again they too were glowing like the monster dog. Just as Nosedive felt the edge of wall something from behind suddenly landed on top of him and rapped around his waist.

"I got ya Kid!" cried the familiar voice of his teammate. "Let go of the wall, its okay!"

The blonde duck turned and looked at Duke with wide, wild, confused eyes and looked back only to find that whatever had saved him from falling had disappeared. As if his mind wasn't frantic enough; his grip slipped again and with a shout he clung to the gray mallard like a newborn and held on as they were slowly lowered to the ground.

Lexington had crouched down the moment the gray mallard had appeared. It was bad enough the blonde duck had seen him up close like that and he seriously hopes the older duck didn't see him as well. He heard the gray mallard's voice fading as he tries to comfort the terrified teen. The little gargoyle carefully peered over the edge and watched as the other ducks had gathered around when the two finally reach the floor. The blonde duck practically jumped at the masked mallard and rapped his slim arms around his neck.

"Nosedive!" cried the masked duck when his companion leapt in his arms. "What happened? Are you alright?!"

The bigger duck was embracing as desperately as the smaller one was. Even from way up on the wall Lexington could see the teen trembling and knew he was too shocked to answer. The whole flock seemed beside themselves with worry. The littlest gargoyle and his dog could only watch as the masked leader swept the smaller duck off his feet and carried him back inside the castle. He glided down from the wall to the window to see what they would do.

*****

Inside the poor frighten teenager was laid on the sofa. Duke made everyone else give the two brothers some breathing room. Wildwing was drawn by the sheer look of fear his younger brother's eyes held. They were opened wide and the pupils had shrunk that he was sure Nosedive wasn't even seeing everyone around him at the time; his hard trembling and quick, edgy breathing showed every sign of one going into shock. All the time the younger sibling kept mumbling and stuttering; trying to form words. The iron grip around Wildwing felt on his shoulders made it clear that he had to somehow make Nosedive feel safe again or else his condition might worsen.

"Th-the st-st-stone… i-i-it… s-s-slashed… th-through stone…" managed the blonde duck staring wide-eyed into space. The vision of that creature was clearly printed in his mind still; everything had happened so fast... "Th- those eye!" continued the teen, seemly unable to hear his brother's words. "i-its… eyes were …g-g-glowing!"

"Ssshhhh, its okay Dive. Its okay." the older sibling whispered. "You're safe now. You're going to be alright."

"What the stars is he talking about?" asked a bewildered Mallory

"Ya got me." Duke replied, not taking his eyes off the boy. "Tanya can't ya give'em something ta calm'em down?"

"Um, I could, you know, s-sedate him a little." the blonde scientist suggested. "But, um, I don't think Wildwing w-would…"

"Do it." Everyone turned towards their masked leader. "Dive can't take this for much longer." Explain the older brother. "I'll hold him."

Without another word Tanya rushed towards her emergency medical bag and pull out what she needed. She measured out the précised amount of sedative in the shot and walked over towards the brothers with it and an alcohol pad. Wildwing was talking quietly to Nosedive as Tanya took the teen's arm.

"Sshhh, it alright Dive," Said the older sibling. "Tanya's going to give you something to help you relax. Understand?"

The blonde teenager didn't show any sign that he heard him. All he did was mumbled the same thing about 'glowing eyes'. Wildwing knew he had to calm him down somehow before the shot was given. So he held his brother's trembling form and gently nuzzled Nosedive's temple with his bill, and began to sing a small lullaby their mother had always sung to them before bed. His brother's breathing slowed and he could feel his tensed muscles began to relax. Tanya carefully cleaned the spot on the teen's arm and gave him the shot. Wildwing finished the song. The other ducks watched their leader hum the song until the eyes of their youngest member began to droop. They soon backed away and allowed their leader to pick up the younger duck and carefully charted him off toward their room; still humming. None of them noticed the large pair of eyes watching them from outside the window.

*****

Lexington had been watching the whole time wanting to make sure their duckling was alright. That look he gave him was so desperate and pleading. The little gargoyle could still see the fear they held when the duck thought he was going to fall, and yet at the same time they were full of amazement and curiosity when they locked on to his… They held no fear for him…

"Lexington!" the voice was sharp and had the small clan member nearly falling off his perch. He turned and faced his Second in Command and older Rookery brother. "What just happened?! One minute we're watching our guests in the TV room and the next we find their duckling screaming and you holding him over the wall!"

"First of all, I was keeping him from losing his grip again." Answered the little gargoyle; disgusted with how his brother spoke of the incidence. "And secondly, it was Bronx who scared him into moving too close to the edge. He saw Bronx moving around and went up to…"

"Did he see you?" the tone of the question made Lex a little nervous. "He saw you, didn't he? I heard you telling Bronx to grab on to your belt. That duck was close enough to hear it."

"Uuhhmm, I… well…" Brooklyn's brow rose and his expression slowly changed to disbelief. "yes" answered the small creature.

"Oh… Jalapeña!" cried the brick colored gargoyle. "I thought you were smarter than that Lex!"

"Brooklyn, that's enough." Angela scolded as she glides down. "I'm sure Lexington didn't intend to be seen, but it's done now. There no need for you to yell at him." She walks next to the smaller gargoyle and stands next to him. "It was very fortunate you decided to stay and watch the duckling. Otherwise who knows what could have happened."

"Thanks Angela." Lexington said with a small smile.

"Perhaps, now you'd like to explain what did happened?" They all turned towards the voice and saw Goliath with Hudson and Bronx. Elisa wasn't at home so they came back home and around the time Lex had nearly pulled the young duck to safety.

*****

Inside the Castle

While Lexington was explaining to his clan what had happened the rest of the Mighty Ducks were waiting for their leader's return. Tanya was looking through her medical bag; checking to see if she had everything needed incase something else happens. Mallory was pacing back and forth from the door to the window; Nosedive's reaction after been saved wasn't normal for him and it left her feeling uneasy. Even Grin was worried to the point that he couldn't fully meditate. Duke was once again in the armchair; the fatigue from the sudden adrenalin rush had caught up with him and left him exhausted. Yet, he couldn't even think of sleep; not when he could still feel Nosedive's arms gripping onto him so tightly. Situations like that had happen many times before and the Kid never showed the slightest trace of fear the way he did tonight.

Soon enough David Xanatos walked in through the doors. "Owen had just informed me of what has happened." He explained when they all turned to him. "Is everything alright? Should I have an ambulance come by and…"

"No." answered the gray mallard. "Naw, Tanya here can handle the Kid. I don't think it be the greatest idea if this got out."

"I can assure you this has never happened before." Informed the millionaire. "And I will promise you it won't happen again. That is unless would prefer to find a hotel to…"

"That won't be necessary." They all turned to find Wildwing walking back from the room he shared with his brother. "We appreciate you opening your home for us and we won't insult you by leaving. Drake knows my brother wouldn't have wanted to anyways."

"I see," Nodded the businessman. "However, if you change you mind, I'd be happy to find more comfortable accommodations for you." To this the white mallard politely shook his head. "All right then, I'm sure everyone has had quite the adventure. I'll just let you get some rest." He stops by the door. "If there's anything you need just ask Owen. Pleasant dreams."

Once the rich human was gone all the ducks turned and looked at their masked leader. He was looking at the door, even after the human had left, in deep thought. The others weren't sure whither or not to ask about their youngest member.

"How is he?" Duke finally broke the silence.

Wildwing blinked and faced him. "He's sleeping. …Duke when you swung over to him did you see anyone else with him?"

"Wha… No." answered the formal thief; and bit taken back by the question. "The Kid was alone."

"Are you sure about that?" asked the white mallard.

"As sure as I'm a duck. Why?" asked Duke.

"Because before I left Dive in our room he asked me…" Wildwing paused for a moment. "He asked me to tell you to 'thank the little guy' if you saw him again."

The others were all looking at the ex-thief now. He stared right back at them completely dumbfounded. "What?" he asked once he found his voice. "There wasn't anybody else out there. If there was I da seen'em."

"That's strange." Remarked the masked leader as he rubs his chin. "Nosedive said that there was a small… goblin… thing that kept him from falling until you swung over to them. Said you had to have seen it since it was so close when you arrived." He looks at his grey-feathered friend again. "You're absolutely sure you didn't see anything else?"

Duke replayed the whole incident in his head. "Positive. The Kid was all alone out there. He was clinging to the wall, and trying to climb back up when I got there."

"He had pretty bad scare." Suggested Mallory. "He must've been seeing thing."

"I don't believe so." Said Grin in his clam manner. "I have been sensing some very… unique auras in this place. We are not as alone as we believe."

*****

Outside [a few hours later]

As the ducks continued their discussion about this mysterious being that supposedly help saved their youngest member from a terrible fall; outside the clan had divided into two groups; one stayed at the castle while the other went on their patrols. Lexington had volunteered to stay with Bronx and keep him out of trouble. The little gargoyle and the huge beast of a dog had a long conversation about how it wasn't nice to scare the living heck out of their guests. He figured they made some progress and shook talons on it. That deal being struck the little gargoyle decided to go and visit the flock's 'duckling' and see how he was holding up. He knew he'd be alone and sleeping in bed because he saw the others still up and about, talking. With a small leap off his perch he glides down and clamps onto the stone wall just above the bedroom window. Slowly and as quietly as he could manage, what with his claws digging into solid stone, he climbs down.

He found the young duck was just as he thought he would be. He was on his side facing away from the window. Safely tucked away in bed and sleeping peacefully. 'All for the better' thought Lexington. 'With any luck, he'll think seeing me was all a dream.' Yet though that thought was comforting he still wished for a way to learn more about the strange bird. Even with going online on his lab-top the only thing he knew about these ducks was that they were a great hockey team and that were from another world altogether. Sure their bios told him about their ages, hobbies, likes and dislikes, but it wasn't the same.

According to the bios the duckling was Nosedive Flashblade and he's the younger brother of Wildwing Flashblade, the team captain and goalie. His age was placed around sixteen or seventeen, which made him the youngest player not only in the team but possibly the hockey league. He easily stood at six maybe six foot one, which made him one of the smallest players on his team. Lexington understood that part completely since he was both the youngest and the smallest of his clan. Yet he was never fussed over like that blonde duck was when ever he was injured or frighten; he was trained and trained by the best to endure it and fight back like any other warrior.

Inside Nosedive stirred and opened his eyes. He found himself tuck in a nice warm bed and feeling slightly dazed. Huh, wasn't I outside? Wasn't I falling? Was it all a dream? His eyes began to focus better and looked around. His clothes had been changed for a jersey and short spandex pants. No doubt his older brother's work. His right arm ached a bit at the shoulder, a result of sticking a needle into a tensed muscle, he could tell by the bruising. His forearms also felt bruised. When he looked, there were markings on them as if something had grabbed him; something with a very strong grip. 'It couldn't have been a dream if it left marks.' Not sure what to make of it he stretched out a bit, enjoying the tension as it relieved whatever stress was left over. He turned over on his other side planning to go back to sleep and think about it later. 'Arf, woof, arf!' He blinked and did a doubled take back at the window…

"Bronx shhhh!" whispered Lexington towards his dog as it barked for his attention. "Shhhh! Be quiet! You'll wake up the duck…"

'Duckling' was what he would have said if he hadn't turned his head and found that very duckling prompted on his elbows and looking right at him. They both froze, staring at each other like little children as the barking continued. The next moment Nosedive threw the covers off of his legs and ran towards the window. In a panic, Lexington jumped and had gone out of sight and just underneath the small balcony underneath the window when the balcony doors burst opened.

'Jalapena! How could I have made the same mistake of letting that duck see me twice in one night?!'

"No wait! Come back!" called the blonde duck as he opened the glass doors and step onto the balcony. "Little guy?…" he looks around; there wasn't anyplace where it could hide so soon, even if it could fly. "Hello? Helloooo? Little goblin thingy." That almost had the little gargoyle calling out to say he wasn't a goblin. "Are you out there? Look, I'm not going to hurt you." Called the young alien. Silence, even the barking had stopped but the feeling that he wasn't alone was there. "Look… back there… on the wall… I just… Thank you."

Lexington stood very still beneath the balcony. He wasn't sure if he heard those last words right. He was thanking him? The duck didn't even know him and he was thanking him? Even after he saw what he really was?

"I don't know if you're still there." Continued the duck. "But if ya are, thanks. …You save my neck back there. I owe you one. And don't think I won't return the favor sometime…"

"Nosedive?" another voice asked from inside. "What are you doing up?" It was his older brother coming to check on him. "And who in the world are you talking to?"

"The little guy, Wing!" explained the younger brother, "The little goblin thing from the wall! He was right here at the window! Standing, right there on the ledge!"

"Oh…" replied the elder brother. "You, um, saw him again?" he asked as he carefully raps an arm around the smaller duck's shoulders and steers him away from the balcony.

"Yeah and I got a better look at him too!" Nosedive said excitedly. "He like this tall and had green skin and pointed little ears and these big, huge eyes!" he made gestures with his hands on his body to show his brother. "And he these little fangs that stuck out of his mouth and wings! He had these wings that were attached from his arms to his legs! Like a bat!"

"Okay, baby bro, calm down." Though Wildwing's tone was calm enough, he was really very worried about his brother. "You've had a bit of a scare and should be resting."

"But I want to see if I could spot him again to show you," said the blonde teen trying to get around his larger brother. "You should see him, he's so cool!"

'Cool?' Lexington had carefully scalded the wall during all this and took a better position, closer to the window, and looked in on the two. The white mallard was gently nudging the blond teen back under the covers and tucking him in again. The little gargoyle couldn't tell what the older brother was thinking because of that mask he constantly seems to wear, but the way he moved and the way his eyes were suddenly more rounded than before; it instantly reminded Lex of a father tending to his slightly slow witted son.

"I'm sure he is, Dive, but it's getting late." Wildwing quietly pointed out. "He… probably flew off to sleep for the night, which is exactly what you should be doing."

Since Wildwing's back was turned he didn't see a head peeking through the window nodding in agreement with him. Nor did he see the small creature glide off towards the castle wall. Nosedive let out a small grown and settled down as his brother stripped his own shirt as he walked towards the bathroom. As the teen heard the sound of a toothbrush at work he inspected his arms again.

"Wing?" his brother grunted in acknowledgment. "You're still able to play hockey with bruised arms right?" this time the grunt was in a questioning tone. "See that little guy had one dynamite of a grip and he kinda bruised my forearms. So I just wanted to make sure…"

The white mallard stepped out of the bathroom during this explanation and saw his brother rubbing one his clearly bruised forearms and quickly walks over and checks them. The bruising showed right through the feathers and in a pattern that could only have gotten from someone… or something gripping at them. After scanning the marking with the Mask just to make sure nothing was broken, he contacted Tanya to rap his little brother's arms so they wouldn't bother him later on. Still not sure what to make of it all, he also instructed everyone to lock their doors and windows just to be on the safe side of things. Afterwards he took off the Mask and finally laid himself down next to his brother, but sleep didn't come to him for sometime. Apparently Nosedive wasn't imagining things. Images thought up in fear don't leave physical marks on a body. Whatever his brother saw, there was a good chance it was real, and from the looks of things, it could also be dangerous.

He felt the small form of his brother shifting in his sleep and pressing into his side. Nosedive lazily raps a bandaged arm around his older brother's chest as if he were a giant teddy bear and settles in again. Wildwing watches him for a time. Nosedive didn't seem as affected by the incident as he first thought. In fact, he acted as if nothing had happened. He didn't seem worried about the fact that there might be something lurking around in the dead of the night and spying on them through windows. Then again, Nosedive had always been able to look inside things and people and see how they really like. In fact it's normally very hard for someone to gain his brother's trust, but once it's giving; it was usually right. Though it is sometimes off when it come to pretty girls.

'Maybe…' Wildwing thought as he looked at his brother, smiling in his sleep. 'Maybe I'm just overreacting. Whatever is out there might not be as bad as I'm making it out to be. After all it did safe Dive's life.'