Chapter thirteen – A Broken Angel

Crunch growled in frustration at himself. He hadn't meant to snap at Coco so brashly, but he couldn't bear to return to the house just yet. He was the most surprised in the reaction he spied in her brother. Crash had always appeared so pleasant and easygoing that Crunch had never suspected he could ever be angered. Yet when he caught his gaze, the icy glare of Crash's narrowed eyes confirmed to Crunch that he was dead wrong in that assumption. Despite his external behavior, Crash understood much more then he cared to show.

Crunch wandered over the path, unyielding to the sharp winds of rain that soaked his burgundy fur. The prickling rain cleared his head, and for that he was grateful. Yet he supposed he should return. Coco would eventually convince her brother that they would have to look for him, and Crash would certainly comply. As Crunch turned to walk back the way he came, he could sense something within the air. He stopped, and his short snout angled toward the sky. It was impossible to catch a scent in the storm, but if he concentrated, he may hear what was causing the commotion.

A crashing though the jungle underbrush echoed within his range of hearing, and he watched carefully to catch a glimpse of the source of the commotion. He strode to scope beyond one of the large capsized idols, his eyes scrunched in confusion. Yet before he took another step, someone had dashed around the corner and smacked right into him. The slender woman bounced off his body and landed hard on the ground. She glanced up at the obstruction in her way, and Crunch was staggered by the measure of fear within her crystal blue eyes. Her blond hair was utterly soaked and drops of rainwater dripped off her pointed orange ears and off her delicate nose. Crunch instinctively reached down to her.

"Are you…?" Crunch's question was cut short as the bandicoot woman slashed at his hand.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed at him, her voice shaking with fear and fury.

She was dressed in nothing more than a silk nightdress, and as the water soaked the fabric, the silk clung to the woman's body in such a way that little was concealed. Crunch had to admit that she was staggeringly beautiful. She leapt to her feet and sprinted past him, bare feet slapping at the mud-covered path hard and fast.

Usually Crunch's aloof behavior restrained him from doing anything unless it benefited him. Yet his concern overpowered his reserve, and he followed her. He couldn't track anything well through the pouring rain and the constant peals of thunder and flashes of lighting, but he was not an amateur. He could hear the sounds of raised voices over the rain.

"Come on darling, quit giving us the runaround. The boss wants to see you right now."

The replying voice was gravelly and cold. "I'm not going back!"

The shriek came from the woman, that much was certain. Crunch forced himself to follow his senses to the exchange.

"Hey boys, what say we have a little fun before we take her back to the boss?"

There was a disgusting uproar of approval, and Crunch growled low in his throat. He had to find her, now.

Tawna felt terror claw its way through her as she found herself completely surrounded. Each shadowy figure materialized out of the rain, and each wore a fiendish smile. As a few of them neared closer, Tawna's panic fueled her desperate attempt to escape. She ran, but she didn't have a chance. She felt one of the rats' loop an arm around her waist and pull her tight against his body. The laughter rang like distant echoes in Tawna's head. She pounded at the rat.

"Let go of me!" She screamed, to no avail.

"Who wants some sugar first?" The rat jeered as he repositioned his grip on his female captive.

Tawna cringed at the repulsive uproar from the group, and tried once again to tear away. The rat grasped her by both arms and tossed her forward. Off balance, Tawna fell into the waiting arms of another potaroo. Warm tears mixed into the rainwater that fell down her face, and as she was tossed about from rat to rat she didn't even have the strength to scream. She was utterly alone, and no one would ever defend her. One of the rats grew tired simply batting her around like a mouse, and threw her hard to the ground. Stars danced as Tawna's head struck the ground, and she could feel a warm substance against her forehead. She didn't get a chance to check if she was bleeding. The same rat who'd tossed her to the ground quickly leapt on top of her. His nose was an inch from hers as he grinned fiendishly.

"Give us a little kiss, baby."

As the rat ran his hands up and down her body, Tawna heard a thundering shout.

"Get off her!"

The group's wolfish howls of seduction were replaced with angry grunts. The rat who had her pinned was suddenly pulled off her. Tawna scrambled to her knees, and her jaw dropped in shock. The large male she had mistook for a gangster had his large hands wrapped around the rat's neck. Another gangster had leapt upon the large bandicoot's back and delivered blows to the side of his head. The latter looked barely affected, and the attack only intensified his fury. He tossed the seductive rat with massive strength, and focused on the annoyance on his back. Four more gangsters attacked, but the burgundy bandicoot fought them all.

One rat with blood pouring out of his nose reached into his jacket and pulled out a long switch blade. Tawna gasped in instant concern. The bandicoot had his hands full, and he didn't even seem to notice the gangster creeping up from behind. The rat lifted his arm high, baring the knife before him.

"No!"

Tawna leapt on the rat, deflecting his initial target. She held his arm as tightly as she could, rapidly figuring out a way to make him drop the weapon. He elbowed her hard in the stomach, and as she doubled over in loss of breath he slashed her across the shoulder with the blade. Tawna heard a roar as she sunk to her knees. The bandicoot leapt on top of the blade-wielding gangster, and Tawna flinched as she heard a wet snap echo throughout the pattering rain.

"Let's get out of here!" One gangster shouted, and the gang complied, assisting their wounded comrades to escape.

The area was silent now save for the sound of sheeting rain. The crimson colored bandicoot glanced down at her, no trace of his former fierceness and his dark green eyes alight with worry. She was still on her knees, one hand wrapped around her opposite arm as she gazed up at him in bewilderment.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly.

Tawna tilted her head as if she didn't understand the question. She was just so confused, and in pain. Before she could say a word, the terror of the night caught up with her. She fainted, falling gently onto her side.

Crunch couldn't believe what he'd done. However, the thought of so easily killing that despicable creature buried itself within Crunch's mind. He stood motionless for a moment as he gazed down at the woman unconscious at his feet. He dropped to one knee, his brows furrowed together in concern. Her clothing, he suspected to be a nightgown, hardly covered her wet and wounded body. Crunch brushed a strand of wet hair from out of her face. She looked so…fragile. Crunch gently took her into his arms and stood up to his feet again. Her body was extensively bruised and battered, and to see a defenseless woman in such a condition curdled Crunch's anger. She moaned, and snuggled into him, shivering. Crunch was snapped out of his trance when he realized that he needed to get her back to the house. She needed warmth and rest to recover.

...

Author's Note:

Ugh...I always get so emotionally attatched to these kinds of scenes and it always takes so much out of me. I deserve a nice cup of hot chocolate. Anyway, hi! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I just realized how complicated I made Tawna's character. The funny thing is I planned to make her just some girly dancer with no personality, and then somehow she evolved into something entirely different. It's a good thing big, strong Crunch is around to help out ;D

I just wanted to send out a quick thank you to those who reviewed. I love to hear your comments, and it always gives me an extra boost to overcome my chronic writer's block and post some more chapters^^. Thanks a lot for reading and I hope you continue on.

~Bandi-cute~