Sorry, I haven't been on for a while! I was at my grandfather's house for Passover and forgot my computer at home! I'll try to post soon. 

Ok, I am still here people! Just absolutely swamped with homework right now. :P I'll post when I can, but don't wait for me! Please post if you have time! Keep it up, everyone! You are amazing.

Thanks to whoever topped this. I don't think I can post because I posted last, but please keep this alive! 

Sorry, sorry, I know I haven't posted in a really long time, but I am trying to keep up. I'm still here and I've been checking this thread, but I haven't had the time or concentration, especially with the highly stressful end of eighth grade coming up. So I guess what I'm saying is... I haven't forgotten this (I would never!) and I'm waiting for the weekend and for the end of this week's stress and three Ultimate Frisbee games.

We should probably finish this fight soon. Everyone’s pretty beaten up by now and I don’t think anyone would be able to keep going after that much.

Saana~

The first thing I am aware of when I flicker back to consciousness is an agonizing throbbing in my head. I'm going to survive - I have to, for Andy's sake at least if not for mine, but that doesn't change the fact that being shot is pain beyond anything I've ever imagined. It would be easy, so, so easy, to just let go, to allow the darkness in my mind to take over, to welcome the gentle peace that comes with death...

No. This is not the worst pain I've ever felt. This is nothing compared to losing my family. This is nothing compared to having my life go to pieces. This is nothing compared to the horrid wrenching in my stomach that I felt when I thought Andy had died. Maybe this hurts, but it will not kill me, not if I could help it.

With a massive effort, I force open my eyes to see what’s going on. Andy is backed up into a corner, facing Shaia. He looks exhausted, favouring one leg over the other, face splotched with blood. Shaia is on the attack, though she is weakened from when Andy slashed at her. The snakes lie dead on the ground. Andy is defending, letting Shaia wear herself out. Eventually some of us are going to have to give out - even with this much training, we’re only human, and there’s only so much we can take. The past few weeks have been brutal, bloody, and intense, without much time to reflect or succumb to shock or tend to injuries.

The fight is going downhill. Zandi is thrown to the ground by Skylar. Gem’s mother, who seems to have one arm dangling limply by her side, still seems able to be able to pin her daughter against the wall with terrifying strength. And Shaia, I realize with a jolt of fear, is pressing in slowly on Andy, fury and adrenaline giving her strength. My eyes blur with tears, desperate tears, the hope that we could win somehow slowly slipping away.

I close my eyes. Red lights are flashing in my head, and a high pitched wailing sound like a siren blocks out my thoughts. I squeeze my eyes shut even harder, trying to get rid of them, when I realize that they aren’t coming from inside my head. My eyes blink open. For the first time in years, I am glad to see the police.