The morning sun cracked the sky like an egg, purples mixing with pinks as the waves sparkled with the golden light of a new day. The surf hissed in soft contentment, quietly lapping at the pristine sand as off in the distance, the shouting of five bedraggled teenagers cut through the air.
"Come on, everyone, we're almost there," Crimson's face was hardened in desperate determination. The young jaeger staggered through the sea foam, spec-ops pants hanging around his limber frame in tatters as he fought to make it to shore, with Striker Eureka limply clinging to his shoulders. Gipsy and Cherno dragged behind him, supporting Coyote Tango between them.
The second his feet hit dry sand he collapsed, grunting irritably as his Aussie friend fell on top of him. Eyes closed, he could hear the rest of his friends' legs give out as they joined him in becoming one with the beach. For a few minutes there was nothing but the rasping of dry throats and heaving chests as they all sought to catch their breath.
"Oh sweet merciful land," Gipsy's faint voice finally broke the silence, " I can die now for all I care and still be happy because we're back on DRY LAND!"
"Not drowned…not drowned…" Cherno cracked a small smile, his blonde hair plastered against his face. He had lost his hat in the bay, but at the moment he was too alive to care. Rolling over, he opened his crystal blue eyes. " Coyote comrade, we made it!...Comrade?"
Sand was kicked into the air as immediately they clustered around the frail jaeger. His face was an unusual pallid color, eyes white underneath half closed lids. The blood that seeped from his nose was scarier than any kaiju any of the jaegers had faced.
"We need to haul it off this beach and get him to the doctor, fast," Striker muttered, body tensed. All cockiness had been washed off in the waves. In its place was a very scared boy.
" How is time travel going to solve all this?"
"Not THAT doctor, Gipsy! A real one that does medical stuff!"
"Right," Cherno resumed his role as the heavy lifter and picked up Coyote. "Where to from here?"
"look!" Gipsy pointed over to where a white shape glistened over the grassy dunes. "That looks like our house!"
"Thank the author for putting us somewhere close to help," Crimson praised before looking back at his friends. Seeing them now, a spark lit in his chest. "Are you sure you are all ready to move? If not, you can stay behind till you get your strength back. We've been swimming all night and I don't blame any of you-"
"Crimsy," Striker grabbed his shoulder, a little bit of fire back in his eyes, "don't worry. Let's just go."
With a nod and a grin, the jaegers began to run.
TO BE CONTINUED! next week shall be the grand finale! Please review and tell me what you think, also thank you to all who reviewed last chapter. This is for you.