This is not going to be very peaceful, I can tell you that right now.

Chapter Nine

-

About two hours later, they all met up again.

"Okay, I searched the woods," Sierra said, deliberately leaving out the fact that she used her rocket shoes. "She's not there."

"She ain't back at my place, neither," Huck said.

"I found a stick. It's really pretty, too!" Lily chirped. After being given strange looks from everyone, she added, "But, no Huck."

"Okay, so, where could she be?" Robin asked.

They exchanged a look as they all assumed the worst. Suddenly, a knife flew from the woods, plunging into a tree millimeters from Huck's head. They all looked with hopeful glances. "Huck?" Wilbur asked.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Injun Joe sprung out of the foliage, knocking Huck down. "Ha! Found you!"

Lily shrieked. Robin fell backward. Tom flew into Wilbur. Sierra, however, instinctively kicked Injun Joe. The force of the attack knocked him backwards. Huck rolled away, clutching at his throat.

That's when Injun Joe attacked. He flung his knife at Sierra. With quick reflexes, Sierra twisted away. The knife shot past, grazing her upper arm. Sierra's hand flew to her arm as she sickeningly realized where that knife would have landed if she had not moved.

Lily quickly scooped up the knife and threw it at Injun Joe. Unfortunately, her aim was slightly off. The knife flew past Injun Joe and embedded itself in the ground. This enabled Injun Joe to pick it up. He smiled menacingly as he punched Lily across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. "Lily!" Sierra yelled, rushing to her side.

Robin pulled out one of her inventions—a laser gun. But as she was aiming, Injun Joe pushed her aside. He was heading towards Wilbur.

Wilbur, realizing Tom had fainted, pushed him off. He jumped to the side as Injun Joe's foot came down, smashing into Tom's arm. He moaned faintly, but did not wake up. Injun Joe glared at Wilbur, but decided to approach Huck with his knife. By then, Huck's throat was bleeding from a cut. Wilbur looked around. He realized he was the only one still standing.

Huck was obviously in a situation. Sierra, who had a cut in her arm, was trying her best to support Lily, who had a bruise on her cheek. It was quickly becoming darker. Robin was grasping her side. He noticed her shirt was ripped, and there were a couple shallow cuts. Tom's arm was bent at an awkward angle.

As he saw Injun Joe approaching Huck with his knife raised, Wilbur knew that it was up to him. He sprang up and threw himself between Injun Joe and Huck.

"You!" Injun Joe hissed. "Do I hafta get ridda you, too?"

Despite his fear, Wilbur replied, "You're not hurting them anymore!"

The look on Injun Joe's face terrified him. He picked Wilbur up by his shirt and threw him into a tree. Wilbur fell to his knees. His head was spinning, and he saw stars. He felt himself being lifted from the ground, coming face-to-face with Injun Joe.

Out of his peripheral vision, Wilbur saw Sierra staring, wide-eyed. Robin was supporting herself against a tree. Tom still hadn't moved. Huck, slightly to his pleasure, looked rather pathetic. Unfortunately, there was no time. Injun Joe snarled and brought his knife back. Wilbur squeezed his eyes shut.

Suddenly, he felt himself being dropped. He heard a rush of air, followed by a loud thud and a light, barely audible one. He heard gasps from all around him. Finally, he heard the voice, "Excuse me, but I don't think you are going to do anything to him!"

He opened his eyes. He couldn't believe them, but it was true. In front of him, standing, was Huck. His sister. But she looked different. Her hair was combed and parted differently. It was significantly shorter—it barely reached her shoulders. She wore gray tennis shoes and clothes that fit. Army green cargo capris, a printed white top…the brown rags were gone. Not only that, but she was speaking properly, of all things!

"Kilbur!" he whispered, forgetting that she had changed her name. But, to his surprise, she turned to him and said, "I know. That's me."

Injun Joe narrowed his eyes. "You!" he snarled.

"Me!" she chirped with a smug note in her voice.

"You're Blueberry's friend."

"It's Huckleberry, you incompetent fool," she replied.

That's when Injun Joe brought his knife down. He wasn't aiming at her…he was aiming at Wilbur. He leapt over her, knife raised, when a black blade deflected the knife.

Kilbur stood there, holding a black katana. The knife was gone. Instead, she held a ninja sword which was almost four feet long.

She lifted the blade high above her head and brought it down in a clean arc. Injun Joe ducked out of the way, simultaneously swinging the knife backwards. Kilbur jumped backwards and lunged out with her foot, hitting Injun Joe squarely in the nose.

He fell with a thud, clutching his nose. It was only moments before he got up and ran away, yelling curses behind him.

Kilbur watched with a smug look, returning the blade to her pocket of wonders.

Wilbur got up, along with the others. "You're back!" he said breathlessly.

"Wilbur," she turned with a grin, "I never left."

Isn't that wonderful? I enjoyed writing this chapter very much. Although, I will admit, it makes Kilbur sound like a creeper.