| "Keepers, Keepers!" Elanil's voice rang through the small cabin. "What is it, Elanil?" Astrea asked as she came out of her room. "Something happened! Some of the villagers are trapped in a cave and we need you're help. Hurry!" Elanil said. "Fine. Girls! Get up! We gotta job to do!" Astrea yelled as she quickly banged on each of the others doors. They quickly came out dressed. "What is going on?" Elenor asked. "It seems that some of the villagers are trapped in a cave. We have to get them out. So led the way, Elanil," Astrea said. The fairy zipped out of the cabin and the Keepers followed. They were soon at the cave. "All right. Elenor, stay here and take care of the wounded, Lizzia, Theo, come with me," Astrea said. They quickly went in. The cave was chocked with dust and it was hard to breath, but they made their way through it to the cave-in. Lizzia started to cut through the ruble with a laser blade. It quickly got through the block and they were able to start helping the villagers out. Lizzia helped one of the seriously injured out. Finally Astrea and Theo checked out the cave-in to see if there was anyone else still trapped. They didn't find anyone and were about to leave when the cave shook. "Get out of here, Theo! It�s going to cave-in again!" Astrea yelled. They ran toward the entrance when a large amount of rocks toppled down in front and on top of them. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "Astrea, Theo!" Elenor yelled as she ran toward the cave-in, Lizzia right behind her. "Do something!" she yelled back to Lizzia. "I can't cut through like before! It would cause the whole thing to collapse!" Lizzia exclaimed. "We can send for help," one of the villagers said. "Do that, and hurry," Lizzia said. The man nodded and ran off. "Come on," Elenor said and started to pull the rocks away. The mildly injured villagers and Lizzia pitched in beside her. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Theo coughed in the dark and looked around. *Great, we�re trapped,* she thought to herself. "Astrea?" she called and felt around. She heard a groan nearby and went toward it. "Astry?" she called. "You know I hate it when you call me that," Astrea groaned. "I know, just wanted to see if you were alive. How do you feel?" Theo asked. "My legs are caught under the stones. What about you?" Astrea asked. "A shoulder that might be broken, but nothing else. Do they hurt?" Theo asked. "I can't feel them," Astrea mumbled. "Astrea, stay with me here. You can't feel your legs, that�s bad," Theo said. "Don't I know it. I think I have trouble with rocks. They don't like me much," Astrea said. "What are you talking about?" Theo asked. "Sorry, the pain is clouding my head. I was just thinking. I broke one of my legs before when I fell off a cliff and a rock rolled onto it and now this happens," Astrea said and giggled. "Oh boy, you are going. I need to do something to keep you grounded. Wait. Astrea, you know, I do hate how you lead this group," Theo said. "So you can have it," Astrea said. "Astrea, come on, get angry at me. Let me think. You should be a little less demanding, you know. And what about that hero business, one day you are going to kill us all," Theo growled. "You think I should be less demanding, Theo? If I wasn't, we would be dead all ready. Also, we are in the hero business, so get over it," Astrea snapped. "That�s it, Astrea. Anyways, really? I don't care. I think a ogre could do a better job," Theo said. "Now you think our enemy could do a better job, Theo? Truly, if you think that, why don't you turn us all over to Morphia right now!" Astrea growled. "You would love that, wouldn't you?" Well forget it, oh great Leader," Theo said sarcastically. "I hate it when you get like this, you know that," Astrea said. "Really? Well, I hate it when you get all Leader like," Theo snapped. "Whatever, why are we arguing?" Astrea said, her anger flooding away. "I am trying to keep you grounded, Astrea. I think your losing some blood but I can't see in here," Theo said. "Well, just don't let me fall asleep. I think the air is getting thin in here," Astrea said softly. "Yeah, I think you're right. Maybe we should not talk and I'll just hit you from time to time to keep you awake," Theo said. "Very funny, Theo," Astrea muttered. They were silent for a while. Theo reached out again and found Astrea's shoulder. She pulled herself forward until she was right next to her. "What are you doing?" Astrea asked. "I am trying to see how bad it is. Now shut up," Theo snapped. She felt down Astrea's legs until she came to just below the knee, then her hand hit rock. "Its really crushed in there, Astrea," she said. Astrea didn't say anything. "Astry?" Theo called again. Still no answer. Theo frowned then pulled her good arm back. She then hit Astrea with all she had in the side. Astrea groaned. "Quit it! What happened?" Astrea asked. "You were failing and I had to keep you up," Theo said. "Thanks, I wonder where the others are," Astrea said. "Yeah, I was wondering that too," Theo said. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "How far do you think we have to go?" Elenor asked. "A few more feet, but I think we better be careful, it looks like Astrea is caught under some rocks and I don't like how her legs look, they seem to be crushed," Lizzia said, looking at her computer. "How is Theo?" Elenor asked. "She has a crushed shoulder and there is something else but it won't tell me what," Lizzia said. "OK, we are almost through!" Elenor said. They pulled rocks back slowly. Elenor was about to scramble in when Lizzia stopped her. "Let me see how bad it is first," she said. "All right," Elenor said. Lizzia then climbed into the hole. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "Hey, do you hear that?" Astrea asked. There wasn't an answer. "Theo! Get up before I hit you!" she yelled. "Huh? You don't have to yell, Astrea," Theo muttered. "Just wanted to see if you were up. I think I can see some light," Astrea said. "Where? I can't see it," Theo said. "Astrea! Theo!" Lizzia called. "Down here!" Theo yelled. "My gosh, Theo. Don't worry, we'll get you two out soon," Lizzia said. "What? What is wrong?" Theo asked. Lizzia hurried out of the hole. Astrea took a good look at Theo's face. "She'll be back in a moment, Theo," Astrea said softly. "What is wrong? Astrea, tell me," Theo demanded. "Just wait a minute, all right?" Astrea whispered. The stones were moved and the hole enlarged. Soon the groups of villagers were able to get through. Elenor walked in and held back a gasp. Theo was sitting beside Astrea. She seemed all right, except for her eyes were bleeding and her shoulder was crushed. Astrea on the other hand was pale and her legs were trapped under a large stone. "Theo, move back a little, OK. We need to get this stone off Astrea," Elenor said. Theo scrambled back dread filling her. She couldn't see! Stone grated against stone as they heaved the stone off Astrea. "Oh my gosh, pull it back, quick!" Elenor yelled. "How bad is it?" Astrea asked. "I'll heal it up soon, Astrea, just hold on," Elenor said. "Tell me how bad it is," Astrea snapped. "Sorry, it is bad really bad. But it'll be taken care of soon," Elenor said. The rock fell away and now the torn legs started to spout blood. Elenor quickly got to her side and touched her crystal to the wounds. The blood stopped and the legs sealed back to the rest of the body. Astrea let out a sigh. "Thanks," she said softly. "You're welcome. Theo, I had better get you fixed up," Elenor said. Theo stepped over to where she could hear her voice. Elenor touched Theo's eyes, then her shoulder with her crystal. Both wounds healed up. Astrea stood. "Eyes all clear?" Elenor asked. "Yeah, thanks, Elley," Theo said. "Well, we had better get back to the cabin," Astrea said. "There you go, being bossy again," Theo grumbled. "Shut up, Theo," Astrea muttered. They walked out of the cave. "There they go again," Lizzia and Elenor sighed as they followed them. |
| Cave-In |