wowie wowie

i'm gonna see if i can get an update out for rosaleen channing too!!

things are actually not so bad in this chapter?? 

we meet a couple new ((minor)) characters who i won't be spoiling anything about!!

-ᴍɪɴᴛʏ

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"Well, Arch, I don't want to do this, but..."

The Golden Falcon had returned from her trip to Dawnsbury much earlier than she had wanted to, and had immediately called a formal meeting. She stood in her flashy golden armor, hands placed firmly on her hips while the entirety of the Aurora Wings stared at her expectantly. She was the only one in costume.

"I suppose you're off house arrest. We'll talk about the specifics in private," she added, casting a meaningful glance at him. "We've got to get over to Estherwood to help out. Suit up, gang, there's a lot of work to be done."

Oh, there really was.

The sinkhole had started out real small, just in the middle of the street. You might've mistaken it for a pothole, actually. But over night, it had exploded in size and depth, and currently had consumed at least 2 blocks.

14 dead.

Dozens of others missing, or injured. 

The roads seemed to have cleared out a bit (with most people having successfully fled into the heart of the city), but there was a lot of abandoned cars that were making trouble for police cars and ambulances.

The Golden Falcon set Alley Cat, Nightwave, Stormbringer, and Makeshift on that, while she led the others to search the rubble.

The Golden Falcon quickly approached the police barricade that had been set up to keep the pedestrians safe.

"Oh, Lieutenant Starling!" she chirped politely, upon seeing the woman in uniform that quickly approached.

"The Aurora Wings! Right this way," the lieutenant said, leading them through the barricade. She then turned and walked away.

Lieutenant Starling and the Golden Falcon had struck up an agreement. The Aurora Wings had been granted permission to go basically wherever they pleased, even placed that regular people couldn't. 

It had taken a lot of time, a lot of charisma, and a lot of patience, but Athena Booke never failed.

However, as Timeline followed the Golden Falcon, a sharp (and very familiar) voice quickly caught his attention.

"No, no, no wait! You have to let me through!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but it's far too dangerous. The ground is still unstable and we don't need anyone else getting hurt."

Timeline had to do a double take. He hesitated for a moment, letting himself fall behind a bit to listen further.

Elijah.

Elijah?

What was he doing here? What could he possibly--?

"But--!" Elijah continued to protest.

"If you don't calm down we will have to have you escorted--"

"But my family is out there! I haven't--I haven't heard anything from them since..." Elijah trailed off, seeming to realize he wasn't going to get anywhere. He let out a heavy sigh.

Timeline was certain Elijah didn't even know he was here. He might've heard the lieutenant letting them though, but Timeline doubted it.

"If you find them, could--" Elijah's voice cracked and he stopped to take in a deep breath. "Could you have them contact me?"

To himself, Timeline made a quiet promise to find them.

"Timeline! Hurry it up!" the Golden Falcon hissed, noticing he'd fallen behind. He quickly scuttled to catch up.

"Spread out and search for survivors. If you need help, just use your wrist communicator."

Timeline went a long time without finding anything. He pored over every piece of cracked concrete, searching for any trace of human life. He had heard something at one point, but it had turned out to be only a squirrel.

He was just beginning to doubt there was any survivors when the watch that was wrapped around his wrist began to buzz. 

Hopewing was calling for help! 

And Timeline was also certain he was only calling Timeline for help.

Timeline quickly found himself locked in a game of hot and cold, desperately trying to locate Hopewing. A tracking device was located in the watch, that beeped more often the closer they got to one another.

However, when he approached "lukewarm", he heard them before he could see them. Not-so-carefully picking his way over the debris, he--

"Timeline! Thank God, you're here! She's--She's stuck."

Timeline quickly saw the two girls that were huddled in front of them. One of them couldn't have been older than 8, while the other was in her late teens.

The older was the one that Hopewing had been referring to. The entire lower half of her body was crushed beneath a telephone pole that had fallen on top of her. The electricity had been cut a long time before, but there was, of course, still the matter of the heavy weight still on top of her.

"Her legs are broken, I think. She can't move on her own. I can't get the pole off her and move her out."

The younger of the girls looked up at them, then wiped at the tears streaking her face. Timeline quickly crouched down in front of her.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. We're gonna get her out--"

Timeline wasn't sure of that.

"--and everything's gonna be okay."

He definitely wasn't sure of that.

"What's your name?"

"Leah," the little girl sniffled. 

"Okay, Leah. We're here to help," He turned to the older, "And what's your name?"

"Penny. Pe--" The girl winced as she tried to shift her position, then gave up. "Penny Cruz."

Timeline nodded, taking one last moment to assess the situation.

"Hopewing--"

Grayson hesitated, recalling how Hopewing was often far more gentle that Timeline.

"Hopewing, I'll lift the telephone pole and you move her."

Hopewing nodded, quickly moving into position behind Penny.

Timeline gave Hopewing a look, trying to communicate that it was going to hurt a lot, without alerting Leah. Hopewing nodded, seeming to understand.

"So, are you two sisters?" Hopewing asked.

"Uh-huh," Leah said.

"How long have you lived in Estherwood?" This question was more directed at Penny.

"For as long as--"

An agonized scream burst from Penny's lungs as Timeline very suddenly lifted the telephone pole from her legs.

Hopewing quickly grabbed her by the arms and slid her out of the way. Timeline let the telephone pole drop to the ground now that Penny was free.

The exact moment that Hopewing let go of her, Penny collapsed to the ground as her eyes fluttered shut. Leah scampered to her side. 

"Penny! Penny, are you okay?!"

Penny's eyes opened back up. "Yeah. Everything's okay."

Hopewing leaned over and quietly asked, "How are we gonna get her out of here? She can't walk."

"I'll carry her."

Timeline couldn't exactly explain why he found himself so concerned with getting these two sisters back to safety. Well, it wasn't like he would ever just leave them here, but he found himself... caring a lot more than he usually would.

Maybe it had something to do with seeing Elijah earlier. Maybe there was a mother or a father out there who was begging to be let through to find her two daughters.

"Okay, Penny. I'm gonna carry you and we're gonna take you to an ambulance."

Penny nodded. 

Leah had been crying again, after seeing her sister in pain. Hopewing quickly took to comforting her, and eventually let her sit on his shoulders to carry her.

Timeline hesitate for a moment, trying to decide what would be the best way to carry Penny. He really wasn't very fond of physical contact at all, but sometimes, there wasn't a choice. Personally, he would prefer it if he could throw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour, but he recognized that probably wasn't the best option.

He ended up picking her up bridal style. He asked Penny if it hurt her legs too much, and she said it barely hurt at all. Timeline could tell she was lying, but Penny really did not want to seem hurt in front of Leah.

Timeline could understand that.

It was a pretty long walk back to where the police had stationed themselves. Especially because they couldn't climb OVER the rubble, instead having to find a way around since both Timeline and Hopewing were a bit occupied.

However, they made it soon enough.

Paramedics were quick to load Penny and Leah into an ambulance, and then--sirens blaring--they were gone.

Timeline was about to march back into the chaos to continue his personal search for Elijah's family, but he was stopped by Hopewing skipping up beside him.

"I think we make a good team...!" Hopewing said, looking over at him.

"Yeah, I guess we do."

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it's finally question time!!!

ask if you need me to pm the link to you!!

in the comments right here -->

-ᴍɪɴᴛʏ