Author's Note: Hey everyone! I'm back! I know it's been several months, but life really got away from me. I fully intend on continuing this story, even if it takes me a while to update!

This is definitely my longest chapter yet, so I hope the wait was at least somewhat worth it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.

Danny's POV

The waking world danced at the edge of my consciousness, but I resisted.

I didn't want to greet the day. Instead, I chose to slam my mental walls up and retreat back into the comforting, black abyss of sleep.

'Who cares if I miss the bus? I can always fly to school!' I reasoned.

But something was different... wrong even. I suddenly became aware of the fact that someone was squirming beneath me. Slender hands gently prodded my chest, but that quickly evolved into frantic shoving, and I felt panicked gasps against my collarbone.

'What-'

Memories of the day's events returned to me, accompanied by blinding pain.

I took a sharp breath, but quickly realized that wasn't the best idea. My chest felt like it was on fire! My lungs constricted as I coughed violently, but that only made the pain even worse.

I was trapped. Buried beneath a mountain of rubble. I had to get out-

A green ecto-shield materialized around me and expanded outwards, forcing the earth and stones away. I stumbled from where I fell and, still coughing, hunched over to brace my arms against my knees. My vision swam, but I still tried to assess my surroundings. Finally, my gaze settled on the young woman I'd just rescued. Mira.

She staggered to her feet and ran to my side. Despite the ringing in my ears, I realized she was speaking to me.

"-y god. Are you okay!?"

Ever the smartass, I wheezed my reply, "Never better!"

Mira's face twisted incredulously. "Never be- What do you mean never better!? You just took the brunt of us falling over 50 feet, and then acted as a HUMAN SHIELD to what had to be hundreds of pounds of rubble!"

She suddenly swiveled around, noting how said rubble was strewn a dozen feet in every direction.

Her eyes widened as she breathed, "How did you..."

I inwardly cringed. Unsure of how to explain that away, I opted to say nothing. Instead, I tried to exude nonchalance as I further examined the area.

First, I looked up and studied the cliffside. Mira was right. We'd easily fallen at least 6 stories. I'd fallen from much further heights before, but this was the first time I'd done so in human form, and the beating I took from the rockfall thereafter certainly didn't improve the experience.

Then I took a second to study my immediate surroundings. Mira seemed to have entered a state of shock and disbelief. Luckily, she didn't appear to have any new injuries, but she'd sank down to her knees and stared blankly ahead.

'Actually... she's very clearly looking at a certain something,' I realized.

A few paces away laid a large rock, roughly one foot in diameter, with a particularly jagged edge coated in a familiar, dark red liquid.

I immediately became painfully aware of the sharp, throbbing sensation emanating from just behind my left ear. With a grimace, I carefully raised my left arm to prod around the offending area. My hair was matted with what I assume was congealed blood, and, where the pain was most prominent, I had no hair at all.

Hissing softly, I pulled my hand away. As expected, my fingers were coated in a fresh layer of crimson blood.

"That's... not ideal," I muttered quietly.

One brief self-examination later, I'd confirmed a number of other injuries. Several of my ribs were fractured, I had a sizable gash in my left calf, and my right shoulder was fully dislocated.

'Welp, time for a first aid sesh... and then I've gotta get us out of here.'

Mira's POV

'This can't really be happening. This is just one horrible, messed-up dream,' I thought.

I finally had a break from work and was just on a casual stroll. I'd taken a summer job working in the camp's mess hall, and the head 'chef' (if you could even call him that) acted like a drill sergeant straight out of Full Metal Jacket.

...

And now I was here. Stuck at the bottom of a ravine with a heroic young man I'd certainly sentenced to death, staring at a bloodied rock. I knew I shouldn't just sit here, but what could I even do!? The boy had a gash in his head so deep you could see his skull!

Soft muttering turned my attention towards said boy. He was looking himself over, seemingly noticing the extent of his injuries for the first time. But before I could get up to help him, he firmly grabbed his right shoulder. With one swift pull and a sickening crack, he popped his shoulder back into place.

'What... How-'

I sprang to my feet and rushed to his side, tripping all the way. "Wait! Let me-"

'Damn. He's quick.'

He'd already ripped a long strip from his shirt and was halfway through wrapping his head. He paused mid-knot and peered at me inquisitively.

Embarrassed, I stood up straight, composed myself, and started again, "Let me... let me help you. Please."

The boy pondered my request for a moment before giving me a soft smile. Expertly tying off his makeshift head bandage, he replied, "I'm fairly certain I've fractured a few ribs. I could use help binding my chest, if you don't mind."

Several minutes later, we'd managed to tear his shirt into wide strips and wrap it tightly around his mid-section, creating a rib brace of sorts. The tattered remains were similarly fashioned into a makeshift tourniquet and gauze for the gash in his leg. The boy flinched a few times, but no other indication of pain slipped past his calm facade. And given the abundance of scars littering his exposed skin, I had a growing suspicion this likely wasn't the first time he'd been injured like this.

We sat against the ravine's edge in silence. As I stared at the opposing cliffside, my mind jumped back to the worst-case outcomes.

'What if we're never found? What if-'

As if sensing I was spiraling, the raven-haired boy interrupted my thoughts. "Thanks."

I sputtered, "Thanks? There's no need to thank me. It's the least I could do! After all, I'm the reason you're even in this mess in the first place!" My voice trailed to a whisper, "And I don't even know your name..."

Not expecting him to have heard me, I jumped at his response. "It's Danny."

I turned to look into his sapphire blue eyes. Despite all the odds against us, he looked completely calm. His raven locks (now a dark brown from the dirt and grime) fell loosely over his eyebrows and the most genuine, sweet smile graced his lips.

My heart skipped a beat. "I-"

Danny suddenly gasped and jumped to his feet. His eyes darted around as his expression grew dangerous, and a strange blue wisp flew from his mouth.

My eyebrows scrunched in confusion, but I stood to attention at his side.

'Why is he suddenly all riled up? And what's with the blue wisp? It's nowhere near cold enough to-'

I let out an undignified squeak when Danny roughly shoved me behind him and took on a defensive stance. And although it may have been my imagination, I swear I saw an eerie, green light reflect off the tips of Danny's bangs.

There you have it! What do you think?

I was trying really hard to be as descriptive as possible. I hit some serious writer's block once I reached Mira's POV since I wasn't sure how to portray her, but I'm pretty happy with how this chapter turned out!

Thank you to everyone who's favorited, followed, reviewed, and even messaged me! The reviews and messages are especially appreciated. I just love hearing your thoughts! Please keep the interactions coming!