I haven't updated this in way too stinkin long. That shall change though, I plan to be posting much more often over the next week! :)

Short update today. Sorry... More to come soon though! Thanks soooo much to all my reviewers, keep it up!

I don't own Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys.

Frank rode through the woods, avoiding the valley just barely. He was almost out of danger when the first shot rang out.

Ducking, he barely stayed in the saddle as Bart shied. Frank looked wildly around, trying to spot the source.

Fire exploded in his arm. A cry burst from his lips before he could stop it. Sliding off of Bart, he crouched behind a tree, blood flowing from where the bullet had grazed him. The panicked draft horse took off into the woods.

"Come out!" Kyle's harsh voice yelled. "Show yourself!"

Breathing hard, Frank pressed himself against the rough bark. Had Dave betrayed him after all?

He peered carefully around the corner. Kyle was walking towards his tree, looking around from under his dark Stetson. "It's over, buddy. I win."

As the rustler turned, Frank hurled himself from behind the tree. His feet left the ground and he spun, kicking Kyle in the head – hard.

"I don't think so," Frank smiled grimly as the man fell to the ground, unconscious. Taking the gun, Frank tossed it into the nearby creek. His smile faded at the throbbing pain in his arm, reminding him to wrap it up somehow. Then he needed to hurry. They were probably out of time.

Nancy hoped Joe wouldn't wake up while she was gone. She hadn't been able to wake him up to tell him that she was going to try to find some food and a possible water source.

Part of her desperately wanted to go find Frank, but she couldn't leave Joe. Nancy knew that she wouldn't be able to find him anyway. It would just be a hindrance if she left.

But she could care for herself and Joe to the best of her ability, if she couldn't be a part of the actual rescue. In her exploring, she'd found a pure stream not far down the canyon. Using one of her shoelaces, Nancy had been able to snag a two small trout fish. She didn't have anything to carry water with, though. Well, that could be solved once she got back to the cave.

Oooooooo!

Nancy's blood chilled. It was the howl of a wolf – close.

Her heart pounding wildly, she ran as fast as she could back to the cave.

Feet pounding in rapid succession, Nancy dodged boulders and cleared old stumps, only one thought in the forefront of her mind. Joe.

Finally she rounded the last corner, bursting onto a terrifying scene. About five wolves surrounded Joe, who was half crouched, half lying against the canyon wall. His eyes were wide with fear, but he had grabbed a stick to try and defend himself.

Without stopping to think, Nancy threw herself at the wolves, her eyes wild with fear and anger. "Get!" she screamed, kicking at one. "Get out of here!"

"Nancy!" Joe called. "Watch out!"

Whirling, she barely dodged the teeth of one who had snuck up behind her. Leaping forwards, she kicked it in the neck as hard as she could. The sky was dark with clouds again, and thunder cracked.

Nancy spun, kicking another wolf in the head. Its growl turned into a high-pitched yelp as its head struck a rock's sharp edge. It ran off into the shadows. Three more to go. She took a few moments to breathe, her eyes locked with theirs.

Crack!

An incredible force slammed her into the ground, the flash of light blinding her. Rolling over painfully, Nancy stared in amazement at the scraggly, bare tree close by – on fire.

How on earth did lightning strike such a low target?

Well, it didn't matter. All that mattered now was that she finally had a way out.

Nancy grabbed a burning branch, breaking it off the trunk with a snap. Ten minutes ago she'd been weak and tired. Now fear gave her a newfound strength. Wielding her torch, she ran at the remaining wolves, shouting at the top of her lungs. Swoosh! Sparks flew everywhere as she swung the branch at them like a sword.

And just like that, they cowered and ran.

She just stood there. Staring. The branch hung from her hand, still burning. Nancy didn't drop it until the heat growing next to her hand reminded her it was still on fire.

Dropping to the ground, Nancy sat, panting. Leaning against the canyon wall next to Joe, she closed her eyes, tilting her head back as thunder rumbled again. Her adrenaline rush was definitely gone.

"Way to kick butt, Nan," Joe said softly beside her.

She laughed softly. "Yeah. I think in the process I lost our dinner, though."

"It's okay," he murmured. "I wasn'tâ€Ĥ I'm not hungry anyway."

Fear wrapped its icy hands around Nancy's stomach. Frank, please, hurry.

Merry Christmas! ;)