Erin Pembroke; Damian Panzer; Samuel Steele; Scout

Erin walked through her house in the forest, Scout at her heels. The little Corgi wagged his stubby tail as her looked up at his ailing master. It was an ordinary, peaceful day.

Damian sat in the living room, cleaning up after their game of chess. He just got all the pieces back into the box when he heard something outside. Damian knew that it could only be one person. Somebody from Mike's old gang. He walked into the kitchen where Erin was. "Miss Pembroke, you have to get down to the basement." He said calmly just as the door was busted down.

Arin managed to get downstairs in time. Samuel looked at Damian. "where is she?!" He shouted. Damian shook his head. "She went out. Should I tell you that you are looking for her when she comes back?" He replied defiantly.

Scout rushed past Samuel and bounded out the door. He had a mission.

Leo and Summer

A car pulled up and stopped with a skid.A woman and teenage boy got out of the car.Grabbing a shotgun out of the back Summer went up to the door.She pointed her gun at Samual."Why don't you just leave these people along,"she said with a very hard edge to her voice.Summer was no one to play with.Her dark blue eyes flared like lighteing.Lightening that was taunting you.

Leo stayed beside Summer.If all turned bad he could either get help or fight.He had a long curved knife slung in a sling around his shoulder.He sneered at Samual.

Samuel; Damian; Jesse; Shasta

Damian looked at Summer. "Please, just leave this to me. I can handle it." He said coolly.

Samuel turned around to face Summer and Leo, smiling when he saw who arrived after them. Jesse and Shasta soon stood behind Summer and Leo. "Get out of here or I'll shoot Shasta. You wouldn't want that, now would you?" He brought the pistol up to Shasta's head. He wasn't bluffing.

Shasta trembled when she felt the gun against her head. "Just do what they say." She whimpered.

Crystal and others.

Crystal parked the cars a bit away not to make any sound.Getting out they traveled a bit before they heard voices.Nodding her head to the others they came out of the grass silently.Like a snake she walked up behind Jesse.Taking her shot gun she attepted to put it to his back."Let her go,"she said sourly.

Jake came out of the bushes holding his two guns.A shotgun and pistol.He aimed his pistol at Samual and his shotgun at Jesse.

The dogs circled around Crystal and Jake waiting for a command.

The horses came out snorting.

Sparkle leaped up on Crystal's shoulder hissing.

Leo pulled out his snaife quick as a flash.

Summer continued pointing the gun at Samual."Why don't you let us help,"she said to Damian.

Jesse; Damian; Samuel; Shasta

Samuel looked at Crystal and Jake. "Uh, Jesse, enemies behind you." He warned calmly.

Jesse turned around, keeping his aim on Shasta. "No. You know nothing of this situation. Leave." He said dully, his finger on the trigger.

Damian looked at Summer. "Because if there are more people here, they'll kill me, Shasta, and Shasta's mother. I know these people. You don't. Leave this to the people who know what's going on." He explained. "Just lower your weapons. If you want us to live, lower your weapons."

Crystal and others.

Summer listened to Damian silently.Regretfully she lowered her weapon,but held on to it.

Leo put his knife back in the sling,but held on to the top of it to bring it back out.

Crystal lowered her gun silently."Let her go now,"she said.

Jake too lowered his to guns.

The cat sat calmly on Crystals shoulder eyein the strangers.

The dogs watched quietly.

The horses snorted at the men angerly,but stayed back.

Jesse; Damian; Samuel; Shasta

Jesse watched with a blank look on his face. "Now back up. Leave. Shasta doesn't go until our target is apprehended." He said dully, pressing the pistol against Shasta's head.

Shasta was trembling. Her legs wanted to give way, but her mind told her to be strong.

Damian looked around at the group. "Just calm down, everybody. nobody has to die here. Jesse, who is it you are looking for and what do you have against her?" He said calmly.

The boy hit a nerve on Jesse. He really didn't have anything against Lark, nor did he know her. It was their newest member who wanted her dead. "Shut up!" He shouted. Damian's plan was working.

Damian threw a look to the others as if to say 'Don't do anything.'

Crystal and others.

Crystal stayed silent and didn't move.Her eyes narrowed she watched.

Leo still held onto the tip of his knife,but watched silent.

Jake watched ready to attck,but didn't.

Summer watched silently.Ready to attck if needed.

The dogs said nothing.

The horses snorted.

Sparkle stayed on Crystal's shoulder.

Jesse; Shasta; Damian

Jesse had enough. He lowered the gun to Shasta's shoulder and fired, sending a bullet into her flesh. "I said leave!" He shouted.

Shasta fell to her knees. "Now look what you've done! You should have left when he told you to!" She screamed as she went down.

Damian had to have amazing self-control to keep himself from helping Shasta. He knew, however, that if he got any closer, Jesse would be forced to pull the trigger again.

Jesse looked at the group. "What's it going to be. Are you going to stay here and get Shasta killed, or are you going to leave us to our business, thus saving this young woman's life?"

Crystal and others.

Crystal narrowed her eyes.Nodding to her group she turned to leave silently.She walked for a good while before stopping and hiding.She was downwind so no other animal could smell her.She was quiet listeing for screams of pain or help.

The others followed silently.She had Wishstar and the others patrol around them looking and listeing for danger.She wasn't going to leave without trying to help.Maybe she could go get that Lark person she thought.No that would only get her killed.

Jesse; Samuel; Shasta; Damian

Jesse watched as Crystal left, then pulled Shasta to her feet. "Tell us where Volkov is." He ordered. Shasta clenched her fists, partly out of pain and partly out of rage. "No." She replied hatefully. Jesse knocked her out and carelessly let her fall onto the floor.

Samuel and Jesse turned around and walked inside, grabbing Damian and dragging him away.

Shasta lay unconscious just outside the door.

Crystal and others.

Sparkle leaped up on Crystal's shoulder sensing something wrong.

The dogs pelt started to bristle.

Crystal got up and led the way back to the house silently.

Summer spotted Shasta injured and ran to her.She was the best at medical attention.

On the way Leo gave her a first aid silently.

Jake,Crystal,and the animals,except the horses went into the house silently.

Leo followed after giving the first aid to Summer.

Summer attepted to wake up Shasta.

Shasta Wild; Mouse

Shasta eventually woke up, looking at all the people around her. "Who are you? Where's Mikhail?" Her voice was quiet and weak. Yes, the only friend she had in the Valley was the person who hated her. One might say that she even suffered from Stockholm syndrome.

Mouse, a thin, lean Saluki, sat beside his master silently.

Crystal and others.

Summer nodded her head."I'm Summer Crystal's older sister,"she said.Opening the first aid she pulled out a bottle of poroxide.She dabbed some cotton in it then attepted to clean Shasta's bullet wound.If she did that then she put a bandage on it for now.She'll have to wait for further treatment.

The others looked around the house quietly preparing for any attack sielntly.

Shasta Wild

Shasta could hear Summer's words, but it didn't seem so. "Where's Mikhail?" She asked again, still in a daze. She barely flinched when the treatment was applied.

Crystal and others.

Crystal and the others continued looking.Finding no one so far they continued looking.

Summer was confused,but she ignored it."I don't know Mikhail,but i could send someone to get him if you like,"she said trying to keep her happy and not angry.

Shasta Wild

Shasta shook her head. "No, no...he hates people..." She said artlessly and with little emotion.

There wasn't a lot going on down in the basement. Jesse and Samuel were simply making sure that Damian and Erin didn't leave.

Crystal and others.

Summer nodded her head."Okay Crystal and the others are help saving you mom,"she said.

Crystal went down to the basement silently followed by the others.She tried to sneak up on Jesse if their backs were turned to the door.She held her gun up.

Jake did the same thing trying to catch Samual off guard.The dogs came in and circled around the two enemy men gorwling.Sparkle was on Crystal's shoulder hissing.

Leo stayed by the door waiting to see if he was needed.

Jesse; Shasta; Erin; Samuel

Jesse watched as Crystal and the others entered the basement. "I said leave. Leave or Pembroke dies." He said, aiming his gun at Erin.

Erin closed her eyes, feeling that this could be her last moment. She moved her mouth slowly as she said a prayer.

Damian watched Erin. It was hard for even him to hold back the tears to see his good friend in this state.

Shasta sighed, closing her eyes. "They can't be stopped. It's the end." She said sorrowfully.

Crystal and others.

Crystal watched in horror."No,"she shouted.

Leo hearing Crystal ran into the basement and infront of the gun."Your pathetic picjking on some helpless woman like this,"he said with a sneer.Pulling out his knife he looked at the man with angry eyes."Why don't you pick on someone worth more of a challeng,"he said sneering againg.

Jake watched proud of his younger brother.

The dogs continued growling.They attack any second if their owner told them too.

Sparkle yowled at Jesse with fury.

Jesse; Shasta; Erin; Samuel

Erin continued to pray. It was not her life she was praying for. If it was time for her to ascend to Heaven and be with her Savior, there was nothing she could do to stop that. She was praying for her enemies, as Christ told her to.

Jesse lowered his weapon. The old woman's words had moved him somewhat. "Panzer, you can take Pembroke out of here. I don't have any business with you two." The person he needed was Shasta. He turned around and faced Crystal again. "Where is Shasta Wild?" He asked.

Crystal and others.

Crystal narrowed her eyes."I'm not telling you.Don't you think you cause her enough misery,"she said angerly.Her light blue eyes flared fire.She shot out attepting to grab his gun and throw it away.She wasn't trusting anybody at the moment.

Jake narrowed his eyes and watched.

Leo prepared himself with his knife.

The dogs backed up a bit giving room.

Sparkle was quiet.

Summer tried to help Shasta up.She was worried.It had grown deathly silent.

Shasta Wild; Others

Shasta rose to her feet just as Erin and Damian left the house.

Mahala soon arrived, riding on Koki's back and her pack surrounding her.

Both Shasta and Mahala saw Erin and, almost at the same side, exclaimed, "Mom!" The woman and girl stared at each other for the longest time before Shasta finally spoke up. "So you're...holy crap." She was astounded to see Mahala there and wondered if this was the little sister Erin had told her about. "Are you Mahala?" She finally asked. Mahala nodded. "Then you must be...sorry, I forgot your name." The girl replied, wide eyed and stunned. Shasta smiled. "I am Shasta Wild, daughter to Erin Pembroke and James Wild." She put her mother's name first out of respect. Mahala had been told about Shasta, but had no idea how much she had gone through. "I just came here to save my mother. Why are you here?" The girl then asked. Shasta sighed. "I was...kidnapped..." She said shamefully.

Mahala frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that, Shasta. I wish I could stay longer, but I just have to get my-- our mother to a safe place before I...have to go." She didn't know if she could trust Shasta, so didn't say anything about the Haunters.

Mahala looked inside and saw Crystal. The girl who refused to leave. Slightly annoyed now, she entered the house. "YOU!" She shouted at Crystal and Jake.

Crystal and others

Crystal looked up when she heard a shot.A picture flashed through her head.The wild girl."Nice to see you again,"she said.Unknown to Shasta they had met at the ruins.

The dogs looked at her,but wagged their tails.

The horses snorted.

Jake nodded his head to Mahala."Hello,"he said.

Leo was quiet.He didn't know Mahala.

Summer smiled at Mahala."Nice to meet you Mahala i'm Summer,"she said.

Sparkle jumped off Crystal's shoulder and flicked her tail.She padded over to Mahala and stared at her with her big ghatta eyes.

Mahala

Mahala sneered at the group. "I didn't come to say HI!" She shouted. "I came to tell you to get out of my house!" It made her sick to see all these people ignorantly greeting her, when she just came to give them what's coming to them.

Four canines and a secretary bird followed her. The mule stayed outside.

Crystal and others.

Crystal narrowed her eyes."I don't see why your yelling at us when we tried to stop that man from killing your mother and half sister,"she said.

Summer stood up.She wasn't even inside the house."I'd be obliged if you didn't talk to my sister like that.She was only trying to help,"she said to the younger girl.Then she turned to Shasta."Would you like me to take you to the hospitol to get your bullet wound cheched,"she offered.

Jake narrowed his eyes,but said nothing.He came out of the house.

Leo looked at the younger girl.Putting his knife away he followed his older brother.

Sparkle attepted to rub on Mahala's leg purring.If she couldn't then she walked over to Crystal.

The dogs watched silently.

Shasta Wild; Mahala

Shasta entered the house as well. "If I remember, Jesse repeatedly said that he'd shoot me if you didn't leave. You didn't leave, so he shot me. This is all your fault and Mahala has every right to yell at you."

Mahala wanted so badly to punch Crystal, but refrained. "First of all, you invaded my territory at the Ruins. Then you nearly got my half-sister killed. Then you invaded my house. You're the bad guy in my eyes." She shot back.

Shasta pulled her pistol out and looked at Summer. "You're on our property. Mahala can say any damn thing she wants to you and your sister." She said spitefully. "Mind your own business. If you would have kept to yourself in the first place, I wouldn't have a bullet wound. Get out of my house. Now."

Crystal and others.

Crystal angerly left without glancing back.She got on her horse Sunholder and rode off.Sparkle jumped up on Crystal's shoulder following.Cloverleaf and Wishstar followed.Jena and Starshooter stayed to escort Summer home.

Jake simply nodded his head and began to leave.He had nothing to say for he didn't know these people.

Leo followed Jake silently.They got on Wisher and rode home Amy and Zing following.

Summer nodded her head."I'm sorry my sister can have temper problems at any moment.Not to be rude,but i highly sugest you go to a doctor about that bullet wound.I'm not doctor,but if you leave alone it'll get infected,"she said.Then she began to leave silently.She wasn't going to argue.Jena and Starshooter trailed behind Summer.

Shasta Wild; Mahala

Mahala calmed down slightly when the intruders left. Jesse and Samuel followed close behind. They knew that Mahala was strong. Much stronger psychologically, and even quite strong physically.

Mahala, confident that her mother was safe now, turned to Shasta. "I have to go now." She said. Shasta looked down at the girl. "Where can I find you?" The young woman asked. Mahala smiled. "You won't." With that, she jumped onto Koki's back and rode off. Night Eyes, Riverhawk, Sky Dancer, Yareli and Laine followed.