The Fire Ninja hit the tree with an ominous crack and they fell to the ground, moving slightly before stilling. A wall of ice rushed forward to try and encase Te'poua but it was pushed back with a wave of his hand and a deeply amused laugh. The Ice Ninjas rushed forward and tried attacking him and he brushed aside their attacks with what seemed like barely an effort. Cam and Hunter had taken up positions in front of the downed Senseis. Sensei Palan was still unconscious and Sensei Laglia was badly hurt from where he had tried to attack the warrior. They exchanged concerned glances and then looked at the fighting Ninjas that were being thrown around the clearing like no body's business.

"Time for us to get in this don't you think Cam?"

"Way past time Hunter. Can you get his attention so I can come at him from behind?" Hunter nodded.

"Yes, I have just the trick to do it I think."

"Okay. Be careful." Hunter looked at Cam incredulously.

"So says the guy that's going to attack him from behind. Watch your back Cam." Cam nodded and slipped easily away. Hunter moved forward, his pace as controlled as his expression. He began concentrating, gathering the energy from the surroundings he would need. He stopped and helped a Fire Ninja to their feet, his eyes never leaving Te'poua.

"I need you're help."

"Yes Sensei Bradley?" Hunter gestured to Te'poua as he looked at the Ninja.

"I need you to send blasts of fire towards him when I say go." The Fire Ninjas eyes looked frightened Hunter noted but he nodded, taking his lead from Hunter.

"Yes Sensei." The Fire Ninja began gathering the warmth from the air, a ball of fire slowly forming in his hands. Hunter held his hands out in front of him, concentrating hard and suddenly a large ball of crackling energy appeared between his hands. Gritting his teeth at having to hold this much energy in one spot Hunter managed to glance at the Fire Ninja.

"Ready?" The Fire Ninja nodded. "Go!" With supreme co-ordination, the two of them threw the fire and thunder at Te'poua. Hunter kept his hands in front of him, palms out, but side by side and then suddenly with a sudden gesture he moved his hands apart and then brought them together sharply with a clap and the two balls of energy - fire and thunder - combined into one and hit Te'poua head on. It rocked the warrior slightly, which was the opening that Cam needed to land a spin kick on his back, sending him flying off the pile of dirt he was standing on. Hunter glanced at the Fire Ninja, his expression intense.

"Stay here, see to your fallen. We'll handle this now." Hunter raced forward, energy crackling around his fingers as he prepared to attack again. Te'poua had recovered and turned to face Cam, easily fending off the Samurai's expert attacks. Hunter flung another ball of thunder energy at him and at the last second, Te'poua side stepped out of the way and it hit Cam full on. Cam went flying backwards and Te'poua turned to look at Hunter, who had stopped in his tracks when Cam went down, horror on his face.

"Cam!" Somehow, Te'poua seemed to know that Hunter was the more dangerous enemy of the two at the moment. They locked eyes and Te'poua suddenly spoke. His voice was deep, strongly accented and sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

"Nice try Thunder Ninja. Next time we meet, it will be the last, for one of us." With that, Te'poua raised his hand and suddenly he disappeared in a streak of black light into the wilds. Hunter stared after him a moment and then suddenly shaking himself from his surprise he rushed forward to his friend's side. Skidding to a halt he landed on his knees, eyes roving over Cam's body to see if he was hurt. Worry and panic were warring with each other in his eyes.

"Cam! Are you okay?" Cam groaned and opened his eyes, finally focusing on the worried face of Hunter leaning over him. After a moment his more familiar sarcastic tone came to the fore.

"Ouch. You pack a punch, do you know that?" Hunter managed a tiny smile but his eyes were still worried. Cam's uniform was scorched badly in places.

"Yeah I do. How are you feeling?" Cam reached up and began to run his hands over his chest slowly and carefully. After a moment he answered Hunter.

"Like I've been toasted and served up for breakfast. Where is he?" Hunter gently moved Cam's hands away from his chest and helped his friend to sit up carefully.

"Gone. Not sure where." Hunter began to gently run his hands across Cam's chest, trying to feel if anything was broken, but trying not to hurt him any more than he was.

"Ouch." Hunter had hit a really sore spot, and he withdrew his hands, guilt flashing across his face.

"Sorry Cam. I really am. That was meant for him." Hunter looked away, not wanting to meet Cam's eyes. Wincing slightly as his bruised muscles protested greatly, Cam reached out and turned Hunter's head back to face him, meeting Hunter's eyes. Guilt warred with worry within them and Cam managed a tiny smile.

"Hunter, it was an accident. I'm okay, really. Just a few bruises." Cam winced again as he almost reluctantly it seemed, lowered his hand from Hunter's face. "Lots of bruises. Next time we fight this guy, we morph, okay?" Hunter nodded but the guilt remained.

"Alright. Now, sit here a minute and get your breath back. I'll check on everyone else." Hunter rose to his feet with graceful ease and for a moment Cam admired his friend. One thing he had to give Hunter was that he was definatley good looking. Frowning slightly at where that thought had come from, Cam dragged his mind back to what was happening around him. He watched as Hunter went over to where both Senseis' were and spoke softly to Sensei Laglia. The Fire and Ice Ninjas were helping the wounded and checking the injured. Hunter listened as the head teacher from the Fire Academy delivered his report softly to them. Wondering what was going on he saw Hunter nod in agreement to something that was said and moments later; the Fire Ninja streaked away. Hunter came walking back towards him and Cam could see the frown on his friend's face. The remaining Ice and Fire Ninjas were staying away from them, more concerned with their own for the moment, and Cam admitted that he was thankful for that. Hunter squatted down next to him and looked him over once more.

"You okay?" Cam gave Hunter an exasperated look but could see the concern in his eyes and his exasperation disappeared.

"I'll be okay. How is everyone else?" Hunter's expression saddened.

"Two Ice Ninja and one Fire Ninja are hurt badly; the head Fire teacher's gone for help. The rest are sporting minor injuries except for Sensei Palan who's still unconscious." Cam lowered his head.

"Dam. We should have morphed." Hunter shrugged as he glanced over at the others, sighing softly.

"What was it you that said yesterday Cam, hindsight is a wonderful thing?" Hunter looked back at Cam. "We didn't know he'd be that powerful. We had a parcel of Fire and Ice Ninjas with us, including their Senseis Cam. We thought we could handle it un-morphed. We should really have known better I guess." Cam looked up at him and thought over his words and then sighed.

"You're right Hunter." Hunter gave him a soft snort and looked over as they heard someone arrive in the clearing.

"I'm making a habit of that on this trip. Come on, help's here." A group of Fire and Ice Ninjas arrived to help with the wounded and evacuate them back to their respective academies. Hunter got to his feet and held out his hand to help Cam up. Cam reached up and took Hunter's hand, surprised but somehow not really, at the gentle strength he could feel through Hunter's hand. He was aware that Hunter was strong, but he'd never really noticed it before how gentle his friend was in some things. Cam let him help him to his feet, taking a few unsteady steps before Hunter quickly steadied him, putting his arm around Cam's waist. Cam leaned against him unconsciously, drawing comfort from his friend's presence. He really was feeling like a herd of elephants had stamped on his chest, but he figured he was luckier than some. They watched as the three badly wounded Ninjas and Sensei Palan were taken away on stretchers. They made their way over to Sensei Laglia, Cam leaning on Hunter the entire way. Sensei Laglia looked at them from where he was talking to both head teachers.

"Ah, Sensei Watanabe, are you badly hurt?" Cam shook his head.

"No, not really. Just got in the way of Sensei Bradley's thunder attack by mistake." Sensei Laglia nodded in understanding.

"We are returning to the Fire Academy now, will you join us? We have some planning to do. Until Sensei Palan regains consciousness, that may be all we are able to do." Cam glanced at Hunter who shrugged and then looked at Sensei Laglia.

"We'll return with you Sensei Laglia." Cam glanced at the head teacher for the Ice Academy. "Sensei Peter, can you arrange for our things to be sent to the Fire Academy?" The young Ice Ninja nodded.

"Yes Sensei Watanabe. I'll bring them myself later today."

"Thank you, hopefully by then we'll have come up with a working plan to combat this evil." The Ice Ninja bowed to Sensei Laglia and then streaked off with the remaining Ice Ninjas. Sensei Laglia gestured to the remaining Fire Ninjas to gather around and looked at the two of them.

"We will return to the Academy now." Cam straightened up, reluctantly moving away from Hunter's side. Streaking slightly injured like he was wasn't going to be fun. Hunter looked at him, concern on his face but he kept silent for the moment.

"Okay Sensei Laglia. You lead, we'll follow." The Fire Sensei nodded and moments later he and the couple of Fire Ninjas that weren't injured streaked away. As soon as they were gone Hunter looked at Cam.

"Are you going to be okay streaking?" Cam sighed, one hand holding his injured ribs.

"Yeah, I should be." Hunter's expression became determined.

"As soon as we get to the Fire Academy, you're letting me look you over to make sure you're okay." Cam's eyes meet Hunter's and he gave a small sigh.

"Okay then. But only if I get to check you out as well." Cam had no idea where that remark came from and he felt a blush creep up over his face. The look Hunter gave him was inscrutable but as his eyes held Cam's, Cam thought he saw something in them, what it was, he wasn't sure though. Suddenly, Hunter blushed as well, breaking eye contact.

"God we're a pair. Come on then Cam." Nodding, Cam began to streak and seconds later Hunter fell in beside him.

A couple of hours later they were led to guest quarters at the Fire Academy. They had helped with the injured and then spoke with Sensei Laglia and Sensei Peter from the Ice Academy and had come up with a temporary action plan. The Senseis were going to arrange constant patrols of the areas surrounding the academies so that Te'poua couldn't sneak up on them unprepared, hopefully. It was a thrown together, temporary measure at best, but until Sensei Palan regained consciousness, it was the best they could do. They thanked the Fire Ninja that had brought them to the guest quarters and Hunter slung their bags down onto the bed and looked at Cam, his expression worried. Cam had been looking pale for the last hour or so, but kept working anyway. Hunter pointed to the bed and looked at his friend.

"You, sit and take your top off. I want to check you over." Cam gave a soft snort and moved over to the bed, his hands automatically undoing his top.

"I could take that so many different ways Hunter." Hunter blushed slightly and quickly turned around, fussing with the small first aide kit that he had snagged. He was still feeling guilty that Cam had gotten hurt because of him, and hopefully, he wasn't hurt too badly. Regaining his composure he turned to find Cam shrugging carefully out of his top and he watched his friend a moment. Cam had taken his training top off, leaving just the skin tight black t-shirt on underneath. Cam had always been of a slight build, but he was all muscle underneath his quiet exterior. Hunter walked over and smiled slightly at Cam.

"Want some help getting that off?" Cam grimaced slightly as he tried raising his hands above his head.

"Please. I hate feeling this…" Hunter tugged gently at the t-shirt and gave Cam a grin.

"Helpless?" Cam just looked at him and then winced as the t-shirt was tugged over his head.

"Yeah." Hunter put the t-shirt over to one side and then hissed as he saw Cam's chest. Cam looked down and then looked up at Hunter, a wry smile on his face. "Remind me never to get you angry at me. If you can do this by accident, I'd hate to think what you'd do if you were mad." Cam's chest was red and bruises were beginning to form along one side, where he had landed badly. Hunter winced and looked at him.

"Cam, I'm really sorry..." Cam shook his head and looked at Hunter.

"If you apologize for this accident one more time Hunter, I'll take you over my knee and spank you. And don't think I won't do it." Hunter couldn't help it; he burst out laughing at the mental image that his words bought.

"Alright, I'll stop apologizing." Hunter sat down next to him and reached out, looking up, an unspoken question in his eyes. Cam nodded and Hunter began to gently run his hands along Cam's ribs, checking for any major damage. Cam hissed slightly at the slight pressure Hunter's hands were making. They were soft and gentle, something that someone who didn't know Hunter as well as he did would never credit the Thunder Ninja for. After a moment Hunter removed his hands and looked at Cam.

"Well, nothing's broken thankfully. You're just going to have a few bruises for a couple of days I think. I have some deep heat here for the sore muscles if you want me to put it on?" Cam thought a moment and then nodded.

"Please, I'm glad that there's nothing broken. I didn't really come to New Zealand to get the stuffing knocked out of me." Hunter laughed softly as he dug through the first aide kit.

"Well so far you've had minor burns and now you've been done over by me. This holiday's going really well don't you think."

"Oh it's going really terrific Hunter. I'm so glad you came along." Cam's more familiar sarcastic tone caused the two of them lock eyes and suddenly laugh, the tension of the day easing with the more familiar friendly banter between them. Hunter squirted some cream onto his hand and began to gently rub it into Cam's skin.

"Speaking of burns how's the hand?" Cam lifted it up and studied it a moment.

"It feels okay, should be healed by now." He began to undo the bandage avoiding Hunter's hands and it came off easily. His hand looked fine; you could barely even see where it had been burnt. "Thank heavens for Ranger Powers huh?" Hunter smiled as his hands gently ran over Cam's chest and ribs, spreading in the salve.

"Most definitely. Thanks to those same Ranger Powers you should hopefully only be sore for a day or so." Cam sighed softly as he began relaxing under Hunter's gentle ministrations.

"Hopefully that'll be the case. Thanks Hunter, for doing this, you know." Cam was slightly unsure on how to say what he wanted to say. Hunter gave him a tiny smile as he finished up.

"Not a problem Cam. How does that feel?" The heat from the cream was easing its way into Cam's side and relieving the pain quiet well. Cam wrinkled his nose though as the smell of it hit his nostrils.

"Feels really good, except for the smell." Hunter laughed as he packed the things away in the kit.

"Sorry about that. But it works, that's the main thing." Hunter stood, putting the first aide kit over on the side table and looked at Cam for a moment. He honestly tried not to think about Cam sitting there, no shirt on, chest gleaming slightly in the firelight due to the salve he'd just put on there. "So, need anything else before I turn in? I'm just about bushed." Cam looked up, smiling warmly and shook his head.

"No thanks Hunter. I'm bushed as well. I think I'll take a couple of pain killers and get some sleep." Hunter smiled as he nodded, picking up his pack from the bed.

"Great. I'll see you in the morning then?" Cam nodded, content to stay sitting on the bed for a moment.

"That you will. Wake me for morning meditation?" Hunter was halfway to the door and stopped, frowning.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Hunter, I don't need mothering." Hunter grinned sheepishly.

"Okay, hint taken. See you bright and early." Hunter breezed out of the room and Cam sighed as he pushed himself off the bed, heading for the first aide kit then the bathroom. Hunter was certainly looking after him, which was nice. Swallowing the tablets with a mouthful of water, Cam went over to the bed and began to slowly, carefully, get changed. Sliding under the blanket he squirmed a little bit until he got comfortable. Feeling drowsy with the effects of the tablets and also tired because of the day's trials, he was soon sound asleep.