Red, Black, and Silver

Chapter Two

Irritation, Healing, and A Rebellious Soul

"Come on, we're alm-most there," JoJo panted, weary from supporting Storm's weight most of the way home. She had slid out of consiousness twice and collapsed, and awoken to him doing his best to continue the journey. After the second time, she hadn't allowed herself to fall into the darkness again, and berated herself for it the first two times.

"I'm....alright..," she panted, "I'm....fine." In reality she was so worn out from blood loss that she was doing everything in her power to remain on her feet. The slashes on her body had stopped bleeding, but her fur was matted with congealed blood. She refused to let her head drop, determined to not appear weak once they made it to his home. "Your parents...," she said vaguely, "what do you think...they'll..say?"

Taken by surprise, JoJo was silent for a moment then spoke slowly, "I'm not r-really sure. I mean, you-you're covered in b-blood, and I've been g-gone longer than normal. They'll be upset, I'm sure of it." JoJo pulled a grimace, and Storm smiled mildly. Better to be injured and amused than angsty, as Raiu always put it. She crossed her eyes, wondering what would be going on at home. Raiu, K'Jask and Milo would be worried about her, but Rage wouldn't. He'd be the one reasurring them that she could take care of herself, and couldn't possibly be in any danger. Oh no, not her, thank you Mister Prophecy.

"Are you alright?" JoJo asked, hearing her low growl and the sudden change of tempurature around them. Storm narrowed her eyes, consumed by loathing for that damned prophecy, wishing she knew who wrote it so she could destroy them. JoJo sighed, snapping his furry fingers in front of her, "Hey! Speck to...to..umm," he paused, realizing he didn't know her name. "H-Hey! Quit it!" He tried again, and was successful. Storm snapped out of it, and noticed the large, slightly lopsided home that was drawing nearer every slow, painful second.

Storm grinned, showing her bloodstained teeth. "Nice house," she coughed, and spat a glob of blood in the grass. Pushing herself off of him, she swayed dangerously on the spot, eyes closed. He moved to catch her, but she stopped him. "I'm fine, I can walk," she said softly, staggering. "Well, maybe." JoJo still looked unconvinced, but said nothing. Storm held her scythe in one hand, and in one swift movement, transformed it back into it's original staff form. "Don't want to frighten your parents, do I?" she quipped lightly. 'Much.' she thought darkly, 'If the blood doesn't make Ned faint, I'll be impressed.'

JoJo hurried up the steps, bounding up them two at a time. He furiously rapped on the door, aware that he might awake a good number of his sisters. As he expected (and hoped), it only took four seconds for his father to answer the door. Ned looked less like a mayor and more like an insomiac; his eyes had bags under them, and his fur was disheveled. His normal mohawk of hair looked as if it had been trodden on, and his bright blue eyes were vaguely bloodshot.

"JOJO!" the mayor shouted, scooping his son up in a gigantic hug. "I was so worried! Are you alright? Where have you been? I know you've been up in the observatory but that doesn't mean anything. Are you hungry? Thirsty?" He would of kept going, but Sally rescued her son from being smothered in overprotective-ness.

"Honey, put him down, you're choking him sweetie." Ned glanced down to see that he was indeed nearly strangeling him, and with a sheepish grin, lowered his now gasping son to the floor.

"Sorry, J-Man," he apologized, missing the eyeroll JoJo gave him. "D-Don't know my own strength sometimes!" Sally rolled her eyes as well, and knelt down to check over him.

"Your father's right though, where have you been? You are normally home before eleven-thirty, what--" she cut herself off, having discovered the blood that was dried onto JoJo's hands. "JoJo, honey, what did you do?!"

"I-It's alright, it's not my b-blood, it's-"

"Mine."

The three whos turned as one towards the door, eyes widening at Storm as she stood in the doorframe, silouetted by the moonlight above. Overcast in shadow, her eyes glowed brightly, illuminating her facial features. Her staff was clutched in her right hand, inconspicously holding her up. The dried blood gave off a dull burgandy sheen, and her hair moved lightly with the cool, winter breeze. Sally unconsiously hugged JoJo to her, oblivous to his protests. Ned, shaking visibly, slid inbetween them and Storm.

"W-Who are y-you? What d-d-do you w-ant?" he stuttered horribly, but one could see he was trying to be fearless, it just wasn't working. Storm tilted her head to the side, watching him with mild intrest. She wouldn't harm him, and tried to think how to convince him of this.

Turns out, collapsing out cold on the floor can do that rather easily.

JoJo quickly filled his parents in on everything that happened, and convinced them that Storm meant them no harm. Ned, although slightly paranoid, carried her limp form into the living room. There he gently set her on one of the many couches, as Sally went to retrieve the medical supplies.

"So s-she knew who you were? Even th-though you've never met her bef-fore?"

"Yup."

"And this, this m-monster, she k-k-killed it?"

"Uh-huh."

"And saved you?"

"That's it."

"But it makes no sense!!" Ned cried out, jumping up from his postion on the couch. He started rapidly pacing back and forth, "Why would she save you if she doesn't even know you?"

JoJo shrugged; "I don't know."

"And-and where did the m-monster come from? And h-how did she know how to k-kill it?

JoJo rested his head on his arms, thinking. "You could ask Horton if he's ever heard of such a thing." Ned looked at him sadly.

"That won't work either, our annual visit was only three days ago, he won't be back for another month."

JoJo looked away, over to Storm's still unconsious form. He blinked, and hopped up. Walking closer, he noted that she wasn't fully unconsious anymore; her hands were clawing lightly at the fabric beneath her, and her teeth were bared at an invisible adversary. Sweat beads rolled down her forehead, and with a loud cry, she awoke. Her eyes snapped open, pulsating rapidly from blue to green to amber. She leapt to her feet, automatically shifting into a defensive stance.

Alarmed, JoJo grabbed her hand; "Hey! It's alright! It's me, no one's gonna hurt you!" Storm glared at him, snarling for a full minute before her senses kicked in. Her eyes returned to their normal icy blue, and she cut off her growling. JoJo sighed in relief, and turned back to his father. "See? I told you she wouldn't h-hurt us." he winced, aware that he had stammered again, giving away the fact that he'd been just as afraid of her as Ned had.

"Oh, she's awake again. How do you feel, sweetheart?" Sally had returned, bandages and ointments wrapped up in her hands. Dumping these items on another chair, she knelt down in front of Storm. "Goodness, you shouldn't be fighting like this, pretty girl like you, you could of been killed!" she fretted, really looking at the slashes and cuts that littered Storm's body. To her surprise, Storm smirked.

"Not to be rude, but you're not my mother. I don't follow anybody elses rules but my own. And on the subject of being killed, I'll worry about that when the time comes." Sally's eyes widened, and her mouth gaped like a fish. Storm turned her gaze on Ned and JoJo, noting their similar expressions. Shrugging, she jumped off of the couch, but staggered when she landed. Straightening up, she started looking for her staff and backpack, when Sally's voice interupted again.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Sighing, Storm turned back; "As much as I appreciate JoJo bringing me here, and no offence, but I'm better off alone. I have more important things to do then wait around here to 'heal'. I've got a job to do, something that none of you would understand. I apologize, but I must leave."

"I don't think so," Sally said sternly, moving quicker than Storm had anticipated. Clapping a hand firmly on her uninjured shoulder, she halted her from going any farther. "You need to stay here and rest, those wounds aren't going to heal if you go off and do some 'job'. You're staying, and that's final."

Storm narrowed her eyes, glaring coldly at the much taller female. "Thanks, but no thanks. This isn't just a childs game, and I'd elaborate if I could, but it's not something I'm supposed to tell everyone I meet. It'll ruin the balance." Sally shook her head, and gripped her shoulder harder.

"I don't care, you need to stay here and heal."

"Look, Sally-"

"That's another thing! How do you know JoJo's name and Sallys?!" Ned butt in, glaring at her. "Next you'll be telling me that you know my name!"

Rolling her eyes, she released a low growl. "Yes, I know your name too, Ned McDodd." She was mildly satisfied with the OMGWTF look that spread over his face.

Sputtering 'How?' over and over, he sank into a cushy chair, running his hands over his smushed hair. Storm tilted her head to one side, and weighed her options. Option one, she could argue and eventually have to fight her way out of here, but to do what? Return to the forest and hope the warp was still open? The chances were very slim that Stardark had forgotten to close them, so that left option two. Remain here and wait for Legacy to retrieve her. Storm didn't doubt that the powerful guardian would find her, but she couldn't be sure about the length of time that it would take.

Sighing, she stopped pulling away from Sally's grasp. "Fine, I'll stay." Sally smiled, and released her. "As soon as I'm healed though, I'm out of here." she growled cooly.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." Sally said cheerfully, grabbing the bandages from the chair. Storm groaned.

"Enough with the 'sweetheart' and 'honey' junk please."

Sally looked put off, focusing her brown orbs on Storm's blue ones. "Then what am I, or actually, what are we supposed to call you?" Ned and JoJo both looked up expectantly, eager to hear this young, headstrong strangers name at last.

Storm looked back over her shoulder, and said clearly; "My name, is Storm."