I know I haven't been updating fast. Forgive me. I'm upset that I'm starting school again so which means it'll take time for me to update again. Anyways I love you all for reading my story and reviewing, it makes me so happy that everybody loves it.

Chapter 12: Friend or Foe

Nightwing woke up an hour before the "sun" rise; he decided to travel in the trees. For some strange reason it reminded him of Gotham and Bludhaven. He enjoyed the breeze touching his face as he went branch to branch. Nightwing decided to head the same direction Shadow went, although she could be anywhere. But Nightwing wasn't going to give up. He started to remember what Shadow said:

"It's a 16 inch Frust blood Rambo Hibben III; it's great when I'm hunting and when I leave my marks."

"Marks?"

"In the woods, I make marks on the trees so I would always know where I'm at or just leave messages."

"Why would you leave messages?"

"I don't know I guess to see if anybody can decode it."

"Has anybody ever had?"

"No."

"What kind of marks do you make?"

"Marks that represents someone or something than I make a message. Like if I carve the symbol for my name than an eye; it means that I want to be found."

'Her marks, of course Shadow leaves marks so she'll know where she is,' thought Nightwing. 'Once I get to where we departed, I'll go back to the ground and look for her marks.'

Nightwing stopped and saw the cliff where Shadow pushed him across. He jump off the tree branch, did a flip, and landed in a crouch. Nightwing took out his grappling gun and shot it at a tree branch, he made sure the line was secure and swung across. He landed, retracted the grappling hook, and started to walk. Nightwing studied his surroundings, but it was all the same.

'Batman always told me to study the little things and triple check everything. Now I need to think like Shadow. Let's see… she's definitely a hunter, so she knows how to track, attack, protect, and leave a trail without anybody noticing. She's a very clever girl, but also beautiful. But I can't sidetrack, even though it's true.'

Nightwing heard a snap. He quickly hid behind a tree. He peeked his head out and saw a bulky figure. He reached for his Eskrima sticks and watched the figure. Nightwing notices the figure has a buzz cut.

'Buzz,' thought Nightwing. 'I better keep my distance. He could be dangerous.'

Buzz was heading towards Nightwing, but then they heard a scream. Buzz smile and started to run to find the source of that scream.

'Yep, he's dangerous and I better go help that person.' At that last thought Nightwing followed Buzz but kept his distance. 'Maybe the person screaming is Shadow. No it can't be her, she won't scream even if she's in danger.' Another scream echoed in the forest, Nightwing could tell it was a woman.

Then he heard, "Buzz! Help me! Please!"

Nightwing saw Buzz has stopped so he climb a tree and went to a branch where he can see. He saw Kindle in quick sand; the sand was up to her waist. Buzz was standing above her.

"Buzz please help me!" said Kindle as tears where falling down her cheek.

"Now why would I do that?" asked Buzz.

"Please Buzz, I have a little sister at home. She's only six and she's blind," sobbed Kindle.

"And?"

"And my parents are barely home to take care of her. I'm all she's got."

"Your story is so touching. But Kindle, I'm here to win the Death Games."

"Buzz, please, I can help you," said Kindle sounding desperate.

"You're no use to me, besides, you can die a painless death," said Buzz with an evil smirk and started to walk away.

"NO! BUZZ DON'T LEAVE ME!" Kindle saw Buzz disappear and she started to move around. "HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE!"

"Kindle don't move!" yelled Nightwing.

"Wh-who said that?"

"It's me, Nightwing."

"Where are you?"

"Above you." Kindle looked up and saw him on a tree branch, a smile of hope appear on her face. "Don't worry, I'll get you out. Don't move or you'll sink faster."

Nightwing took out his grappling hook and put the hook on the branch. He made sure it was secure on the branch and his belt. Then he jumped off the branch and he stopped about two to three feet above her. The sand was above her stomach.

"Can you reach?"

Kindle raised her arms at Nightwing but she could barely reach him. "No, I can't." Kindle said as fear came back to her voice.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out. I promise." Nightwing then hung upside done and wrap his legs around the line. "Ok, try now."

Kindle's finger tips were touching Nightwing's finger tips. Nightwing rose up to his belt and pulled the line out. The line extended and Nightwing tried again for her, this time Kindle could touch his hands. With all his strength Nightwing pulled Kindle out of the quicksand. Her head was touching his stomach.

"Kindle, I need you to push the button on my grappling hook," said Nightwing as he kept her from falling.

"Where is it?"

"It's on my belt."

"I see it."

"Good, now push it and it'll take us up to the tree."

"Ok," she said than she pushed the button.

They went up; Kindle had a tight grip on Nightwing. Once they reach the tree Kindle grabs the branch and hoisted herself up. Kindle helps Nightwing up too and they sit on the branch.

"Are you ok?" asked Nightwing as he places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks to you," said Kindle with a smile, but it turns into a frown when she sees her outfit is cover in wet quicksand. "Oh no, my outfit is ruin."

"Don't worry, there's a stream nearby. We can get your cloths washed there," said Nightwing.

"We?" asked Kindle as she gave him a puzzled look.

"Yeah, unless you just want to go by yourself."

"No, no, no, come on let's go."

Nightwing and Kindle got down from the tree and headed towards the stream. Once they arrive, Nightwing gives Kindle his blanket because she lost all of her stuff in the quicksand. Kindle quickly washes her clothes while Nightwing makes a clothes line and gets out some bread for him and her. So… they sit by the stream eating bread and waiting for Kindle's clothes to dry.

"So how did you get in that quicksand anyways?" asked Nightwing.

"Well, I was walking and then all the sudden. I fell," said Kindle.

"You fell like it appeared out of nowhere?"

"Yes, you know we called that invisible quicksand on Zvirtrus."

"You have them on your home planet?"

"Yeah, I never thought I would see any here." Nightwing nodded. "Nightwing, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How come you saved me?"

"Because it's what I do."

"Oh, right, you're a superhero."

"Yeah, except I don't have any superpowers."

"But you're still a hero. Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome."

"So where does it leave us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are we going to separate our ways or do you want to team up?"

Nightwing was surprise at what she said and he started to think. 'Maybe she can help me find Shadow.'

"Nightwing, I know we barely know each other, but I can be useful to you."

"Really?"

"Yes, I may not look like it but I'm good at cooking."

'She reminds me of M'gann,' thought Nightwing. "Kindle, you're a nice girl and all, but I'm looking for Shadow."

"Oh, you like her don't you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Well, I'll help you," said Kindle as she pets his back.

"Really?"

"Yeah, consider it a payment for you saving me."

Nightwing smiles, "Alright Kindle, but do you swear you won't kill me?"

"I swear, do you swear you won't kill me?"

"I swear. I'm a hero, it's against the rules."

Then Nightwing and Kindle shook hands.

"So what do we do know?" asked Kindle.

"We wait till your clothes dry, and then we're going to look for Shadow."

"How do we do that?"

"By looking for Shadow's marks."

Hope you enjoyed! And thank you to Stronger123 for Kindle. I also want to thank 3DPhantom for being my beta reader for this story. You're doing a great job :) I'm still open for ideas for who should join Nightwing and Kindle, who should die, Justice League and Young Justice teams drama, or Shadow and Nightwing love stuff. Thanks for reading.