Kim awoke with a start, gasping for breath and pulse pounding. It took several minutes for her to calm down. A dream ... but not a nightmare. She hadn't had a dream like this in months--since she left Angel Grove. It had been so real ... so intense.... Part of her was surprised that she hadn't had one sooner, considering the torture her hormones had undergone. Those wild dreams thrilled and terrified her; the feelings they stirred within her were unbelievable, and she wanted more. That was the scary part. The emotions churning within her were too powerful; she couldn't control them. She was afraid of giving in to them. That was why she and Tommy had never been intimate; she had been too scared of what she felt to let herself go. Just as frightening was the fact that no other guy had ever made her feel so out of control like that. Only Tommy....

Shivering, Kim looked up at the sky. The black faded into purple, which would give way to the pinks, then blues of the dawn. It was difficult to know if the sun hadn't risen yet or if the light just hadn't penetrated the jungle. Kim ran a hand through her damp hair. It had been an absolutely wretched night--a night more suited to bad dreams than wet dreams. The rain they had been expecting since the afternoon didn't hit until after everyone had settled down for the evening. The cloudburst drowned their fire and sent them scurrying for whatever shelter they could find. Kim had taken cover by a tree, but the others had wound up clustered about the meager lean-to. Although the rain only lasted an hour or so, things were so wet that it was impossible to start another fire; it made for a cold, miserable night.

As she stood and stretched, Kim noticed that the campsite was a shambles. Amid the debris of what was supposed to have been their breakfast were small paw prints. Apparently, they had had a little visitor last night. Kim sighed as she kicked at the discarded shells and rinds and upended water containers; why hadn't the watch shooed the little buggers away? Then, she remembered: Rocky was supposed to have had the midnight-to-dawn shift. Although the salve had eased the burn (among other things--oh, the look on Rocky's face when he discovered his bottom was baby smooth!) he was still pretty nauseous; he had been in no shape to keep watch. Tommy should have delegated a replacement. Well, there was nothing to be done about that now. Since she was up, she decided that she might as well straighten things up then find some more food.

With that task complete, Kim tiptoed over to the lean-to to get the pouch they used for food gathering and carrying their meager supplies. She paused a moment to look at her sleeping companions. She observed that her remark to Tommy about the sleeping arrangements had come to pass. The desire for warmth outweighed the need for privacy. The six lay pressed closely together, arms and legs entangled. It was a curious thing to see them like that--so open and unguarded. Adam and Tanya flanked Rocky--Adam was practically all over him! Tommy was spooned in next to Tanya with Billy up against his back, and somehow Kat had wound up in Billy's arms. Kim bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing; she hoped that none of them would wake up before she got back. There would be some interesting moments when the others woke up, and she didn't want to miss it!

Billy woke first. The rock he had been laying on had finally proven to be too much to ignore. He groaned softly; when he tried to sit up, he felt something weighing him down. Sleep heavy eyes flickered open reluctantly, and Billy found himself gazing into Kat's peaceful features. Uttering a soft gasp of surprise, the now fully awake scientist found himself compromisingly intertwined with his teammate's girlfriend. He tried to back away, but bumped into another body. His frantic glance caught a glimpse of a fall of mahogany colored hair. Tommy. With extreme care not to disturb his sleeping companions, Billy managed to extricate himself from Kat's embrace. As he carefully stepped away from the pair, he became aware of a noise behind him. Turning, he spotted Kimberly sitting nearly the base of a tree. She was biting down on a knuckle, trying to stifle her laughter.

"Oh, that was great!" Kim snickered.

"Well ... hm...." Billy fumbled, trying to regain his composure, and Kim nearly lost it.

"You should have seen your face!" she tittered. "That was priceless."

Billy tried to offer an explanation for his compromising position but found he had none.

"Don't worry about it, Billy; you were just cold and in search of warmth," Kim said, finally able to control herself. "You all were, but I can't wait to hear Rocky and Adam try explaining themselves."

Billy glanced over to see what she was talking about and grinned hugely.

"Don't they look sweet?" Kim cooed.

"This ought to be good," he agreed. He wandered over to the clearing they had made for the fire. "I suppose everything's too wet to start a fire."

"You guessed it." Kim emptied the contents of her pouch: some oddly shaped melons and seven baseball sized pods.

"What are these?" Billy queried as Kim tossed him a pod.

"They're from the plant with the hair-removing blossoms. The storm damaged nearly all the flowers, but I discovered that the pods are full of the salve. I thought you guys might like to shave; you're all looking pretty ratty."

"Gee, thanks. Why'd you bring so many?"

"I got enough for everyone," Kim replied as she claimed a pod and squirted a liberal handful of cream into her hands.

"Why would you need to...?"

"You don't think I'm walking around with legs that look like yours any longer than I absolutely have to, do you?"

Wake-up call proved to be as entertaining as Kimberly had hoped. Rocky moved pretty quickly for someone whose back resembled a slab of meat, and Tommy blushed more deeply than Adam as he tried to explain to Kat what he was doing wrapped around Tanya. Breakfast was hastily consumed; the seven broke camp and resumed their trek. They followed the river for as long as possible, but it began to curve away from their eastward direction. By midday when they stopped to rest and have lunch, it was well out of sight, and Billy had to concede the usefulness of Kim's waterbags.

"Is it just me, or does anyone else think that it's too quiet out here?" Kim queried as she munched on her share of melon.

"I've noticed it, too," Tanya said. "No birdsong, no insects chirping, no wind through the trees...."

"It's like the calm before a storm," Kat added.

"Maybe we should get moving," Adam suggested, feeling a little unnerved by the unnatural stillness.

"I think you're right," Tommy agreed. The seven collected their meager belongings and got to their feet. Just as they did, the ground began trembling.

"What is it--an earthquake?" Rocky gasped.

"Is it the volcano?" Kat wondered. The shaking continued to intensify; as the tremors grew, so did the rumbling sound that accompanied them. Then, the jungle came to life. Birds took to the sky, and the smaller animals passed surprisingly close by the septet in their exodus. The air was suddenly filled with the cries of frightened animals.

"It's a stampede!" Tanya gasped, finally recognizing the signs. "Under cover or into the trees!"

The warning barely crossed her lips before a cloud of dust rolled into view. The Rangers were directly in the path of the fear-maddened beasts.

"Move!" Tommy shouted. As there was no ground cover, the seven dove off the path and scrambled for safety. Rocky and Billy made it to the lower branches of a massive tree and helped haul Tanya up. Tommy boosted Kimberly up before clambering up himself. All five climbed to higher branches as the heads of the beasts grazed the lowest ones.

It was difficult to see what sort of animals they were, but they appeared to have roundish bodies, long necks and tails, two long, powerful legs, and stubby forearms. They squalled and bleated, making a high pitched keening which grated on the ears. In the distance came a thunderous roar--and it wasn't the rumble of hundreds of pairs of feet.?

"Man, I'd hate to see whatever caused this mess," Rocky murmured. One of the bipeds crashed into the trunk; however, the impact did little more than shake things up.

"Has anyone seen Kat and Adam?" Tommy queried, realizing that they were short two Rangers.

"Over there!" Kim reported, pointing to a tree across the way. The tree in which the duo had taken shelter was quite slender in comparison to their more solid perch.

"That tree won't hold up long if any of the creatures run into it," Billy observed.

"Adam! Kat!" Rocky shouted. The tree just suffered its first blow, and the five watched, horrified, as their friends were nearly shaken loose.

"Is there any way we can get them across?" Tanya queried. "Could they jump?"

"The span isn't wide, but the footing is too uncertain," Billy analyzed.

"Too bad we don't have a rope," Tommy remarked.

"Yeah, we could throw it over, fasten it off, and they could come across hand over hand," Rocky said.

"What about those vines?" Kim suggested, gesturing to a neighboring tree laden with thick, rope-like foliage.

"It's close enough for one of us to jump over," Billy said.

"I'll go," Tommy volunteered.

Kim rummaged through the carry-all and handed Tommy the talon-knife. "Be careful," she advised.

Tommy nodded and worked his way around the bole of the tree until he reached a likely position to make the jump.

"Uh oh," Rocky muttered. Another biped hit the smaller tree. Adam nearly lost his balance, and Kat screamed, clinging more tightly to the trunk.

"Tommy, hurry up with those vines!" Kim shouted.

"Jump for it!" Rocky encouraged.

In the branches of the endangered tree, Adam fought to regain his hold on the branch and pull himself up. If only they'd jumped to the right instead of to the left. He looked to Kat. She was deathly pale; her eyes appeared glassy, and she trembled so violently that he feared she'd lose her grip. He didn't know why, but his teammate was too terrified to move.

"Kat, you gotta let go," Adam urged. "We can't stay here; those things are going to knock this tree over. We have to jump across." Even as he made the suggestion he heard Rocky's cry.

"I know, but I can't," Kat sobbed. She closed her eyes and buried her face against the rough bark.

"You have to try," Adam insisted. He tried prying her arms loose, but Kat wasn't budging. "Please, Kat!"

"No!" She shook her head in fierce denial.

"I'll help; don't worry," he assured her.

Another hit shook the tree, causing it to list alarmingly. Kat screamed again.

"It's all right, Kat; just calm down and...." A body slammed into the trunk, sending it leaning in a new direction. Adam hadn't been prepared and lost his grip. He plummeted to the lower, more dangerous branches and caught himself at the last moment.

"Adam!" Kat shrieked.

"Adam!" Tanya screamed.

"Tommy...!" Kim called out frantically.

"Here," he replied breathlessly as he returned. "I didn't know if one would be long enough, so I hacked down two."

"Let's get them tied together."

While Billy and Tommy worked on the knots, Tanya, Kim and Rocky kept watch on the situation across the swarm of bodies. Adam had regained the branch, but it was in danger of snapping off. Another good hit, and he was a goner. He had no choice but to jump for it. Realizing this, Tanya and Rocky quickly climbed down to where they could grab for Adam if he fell short.

"All right. Let's do it. Kat, catch!" Tommy called out as he tossed the rope out. Kat continued to cling to the tree trunk, and the vine fell short. Tommy and Billy quickly hauled it back in.

"What's wrong? Why won't she try for the rope?" Tommy wondered.

"She can't, Tommy," Adam said, gasping for breath. His escape had been a near thing. "I don't know why, but she's so scared she can't move."

"Why? We've faced worse things than this, and she's never frozen up before," Rocky wondered.

"The why can wait; right now, we've got to get her out of that tree," Tanya insisted.

"Too bad Kim's arrows weren't ready, then we could shoot the rope across," Rocky said.

"It would do no good. The rope wouldn't be anchored tightly enough," Billy countered. "One of us is going to have to jump over with the vine and tie it off."

"I'll go," Kim spoke up.

"No, I'll...." Tommy began.

"Look, I'm the one who won a stupid gold medal for being able to walk across a narrow piece of wood. I can do this, Tommy."

Tommy considered her words and read the determination in her eyes. He nodded once. "All right. We'll tie off this end. If you misjudge, we'll use the vine to pull you back. Good luck."

"Thanks."

Kim turned her bow over to Billy but retained the supply pouch. There was no telling what she might need. Then, shouldering the coil of vine, she stepped out onto a branch directly across from Kat. She gauged how much runway she needed and estimated her landing space and the open air between the two trees. Taking a deep breath, she backed up to the trunk then ran as hard as she could. As she launched herself into her flip, she closed her eyes and said a prayer.

The other five held their breath as Kim twisted about in the air. As she landed, Kim realized that she was further out on the limb than she had anticipated; the branch started to give. She quickly executed a second flip and achieved a more secure landing. As she crouched low to steady herself, the others cheered. Flashing them a quick thumbs up, she got on with her mission.

"Kat? Kat, it's me, Kimberly. I'm here to help you," Kim said as she scooted over to the terrified girl's side. She started uncoiling the rope. "You're going to have to let go...."

"No!" Kat whimpered, clutching the trunk even tighter. "I'll fall!"

"No, you won't...."

"Adam fell, and now he's...."

"... across the way with the others. He's okay, Kat; he didn't get trampled. This tree isn't going to last much longer, and if you don't want to be squashed, we've got to get you out of here."

"I can't!" Kat repeated over and over again, sobbing uncontrollably.

Another blow to the already weakened tree caused Kim's patience to snap.

"Damn it, Kat, that's enough!" Kim barked; without thinking, she slapped her terrified companion. "You can, and you will!"

Kat blinked several times, and Kim was relieved to see the stare fade and comprehension flicker in Kat's eyes.

"K-Kim? How...? I'm sorry ... I don't know why I'm so...."

"Listen, Kat. I'm scared, too," Kim said softly. She gently touched the red mark on Kat's cheek. "It's going to be okay. Tommy's waiting for you on the other side; I'll help you get over to him, but you have to help me here. I'm going to tie this rope off, then you and I are going to cross hand over hand...."

"Kim, I don't think I can--really!"

Kim noticed how violently Kat's hands quaked, and she was inclined to agree. Time was running out. There had to be another way.

"All right, I have another idea." Working quickly, Kim dug in the pouch and pulled out a measure of the cocoon thread. She folded it over and over until she had a cord about jump-rope width. She tied one end around Kat's right wrist, and after prying Kat's arms off the trunk, she tied the other around Kat's left wrist.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to thread the vine through your arms like this...." Kim began pulling the coil of natural rope through so that the cord between Kat's wrists lay against it. "Then, I'm going to climb higher and pull the rope taut." Kim glanced over to the others and shouted instructions. "Take it lower! Tie it off lower!" She was rewarded to see that Billy understood, and the others began working to comply. Turning back to Kat, she continued, "When I give the word, jump. You'll slide down on the cord tied around your wrists, and Tommy will catch you. See, he's waiting." Kat still looked reluctant. "Come on, Kat. The sooner you get across, the sooner I can, too. Okay?"

"O-okay."

Kim offered Kat a reassuring hug and made sure she was set before starting her climb. She tried winding the vine around the branch a couple of times, but there just wasn't enough tension. However, she knew how to remedy that.

"Jump, Kat!" she shouted. Kat hesitated a moment then leaped. As Kat sprang up, Kim fell back off the branch, exerting the full force of her one hundred five pounds on the vine. Kat began sliding, screaming and wriggling the whole way down. In short order, Tommy was gathering Kat into his arms.

"Get out of there, Kim!" Billy shouted.

Kim was trying to regain her purchase when the tree lurched again, and it was her turn to fall to the lower, more perilous branches. It was now or never. With a deep breath, she charged forward; as she launched herself into the air, the tree gave way.

"That a girl, Kat; come on!" Tommy encouraged as Kat descended along the tough vine; he had to admit that Kim's plan had been inspired.

"Tommy!" Kat choked out as he drew her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed as he tugged at the bindings on her wrist. The slender cord had bit into her flesh cruelly, but it was a small price to pay for being alive.

"It's all right now. It's over. You're safe," he said soothingly. He turned to find Adam and Tanya hovering nearby, relief evident on their faces.

"Thank God," Tanya murmured.

Then, Billy's warning caught their ears. Tommy turned back to see Kim take her running jump, and just as she took off, the tree crashed out from under her, altering her trajectory.

"She isn't going to make it," Tanya gasped quietly.

"Oh, yes she is," Tommy declared. "Adam, take Kat." He thrust the still-quivering blonde at Adam and dropped down to the lowest of the branches. Though fairly sturdy, it gave slightly under his weight; it had taken one too many hits.

While airborne, Kim thought she heard someone scream, but she wasn't sure if it was one of her friends or herself. Although it was over in a heartbeat, it seem to Kim as if the world was moving in slow motion. A leap ... then flight ... she could see the others shouting encouragement, but the sound never reached her ears. She saw the branch. She reached for it, but her fingers fell short. They grazed the branch as she continued to fall past. There was a moment of absolute terror as she realized that she had missed, and then she felt something grab her wrist, jarring her arm and the world back to normal time.

"Don't worry, Kim; I have you," Tommy said through clenched teeth as he strained to hold on to her. His hand was locked tightly about her slender wrist; he was not about to let go.

Kim smiled up at him with relief; however, the feeling was fleeting as she caught sight of the crack in the branch.

"Back off!"

"What?"

"Back off the branch! It can't hold both of us; you gotta let me go or we'll both fall!"

"I'm not letting you go!"

"Tommy...."

It was too late. A bawling biped slammed into the tree, snapping the branch off and toppling the pair over.

"Tommy!" Kat shrieked as the two plummeted into the thundering mass of bodies.

"Easy does it, Kat," Adam said as he fought to keep her from lunging forward.

"They're okay, Kat; I see them," Tanya assured her. She pointed to where Tommy was struggling to keep his seat on the back of one of the frightened creatures, and he was pulling Kim up behind him.

"What do we do now?" Adam wondered.

"Let's get our own rides," Rocky proposed.

"Are you nuts?" Tanya gasped.

"Actually, it's a sound idea," Billy said. "The bipeds are traveling in an easterly direction, and there's no telling how far they'll run. Staying with the herd is our best hope of catching up to Tommy and Kimberly."

Rocky watched the racing animals carefully; when the opportunity presented itself, he dropped down and caught a ride.

"Yee-ha! Ride 'em, cowboy!" he crowed as the animal sped off, even more terrified to find an unexpected rider on its back.

"We'd better not let him get too far away," Tanya sighed as she followed suit.

"Kat?" Billy queried. She was still cowering in Adam's arms.

"Oh, God, Billy, I don't think I can do it," she began uncertainly.

"Don't worry, Kat; I'll help you out. We can share a ride," Adam offered. It was the least he could do after he had failed her earlier.

Billy dropped down next.

"I'm still really scared, Adam," Kat murmured as she held his hand tightly.

"It'll be okay. On three. Ready? One ... two ... three!"

In the thick of the frightened herd, Tommy clung to the leathery neck of the animal he landed on for dear life. He was too busy trying to keep his seat to pay much attention to the fact that it was really uncomfortable; the creature--a cross between a lizard and an ostrich which reminded him of a Jurassic Park reject--had an incredibly bony back. His backside was going to be sore for a month of Sundays! However, Tommy knew that as bad as the jostling was for him, he at least was braced against the neck; poor Kimberly was being bounced around even more than he was.

"Hang on back there!" he called over his shoulders. He felt her arms tighten around his waist.

"I'm hangin'; I'm hangin'!" she shouted back.

Kimberly held on to Tommy as tightly as she could; with every step, their ride threatened to bounce her off its back. Oh, those spinal ridges were murder! Yet, as terrifying as the wild ride was, she was loving every minute of it. She had thought that she and Tommy were done for when they were knocked off the branch; surprisingly, never once during their mad tumble did Tommy release her wrist. It was probably the only reason she didn't wind up being a greasy spot on the jungle floor. Impossibly, Tommy had landed across the back of one of the creatures and hauled her up with him. After that, all they could do was hold on and wait until the ride was over.

Kim was glad Tommy couldn't see her face; it was virtually impossible to wipe the wistful smile from her features. It felt wonderful to have her arms around Tommy again. It reminded her of the time they had borrowed Jason's motorcycle and had gone for a ride. She recalled how the wind whipped Tommy's hair about and how she snuggled close to him, her cheek pressed against his back. She sighed as she did the same now; mm, he felt so warm and strong.... She knew she probably shouldn't do it; it would only hurt her in the long run to let her guard down, but she couldn't help herself. It just felt too good ... too right.

The bipeds careened through the trees and came to an open tract of land; the grassy area was practically devoid of trees. The leaders of the pack were starting to lose their head of steam.

"They're slowing down; we should be able to jump off soon," Tommy observed. However, their dismount was taken out of their hands. The animals reached a trench--a dried out riverbed. Instead of stopping, the beasts leaped across. When Tommy and Kim's animal made the jump, the landing jarred them loose. The two tumbled pell mell into the gully; they scrambled to the lee of the ditch to avoid the possibility of being landed on. Huddling together, they kept their heads covered as dirt clods pelted them, and they waited for the herd to pass.

"Are you okay?" Tommy queried, wincing as a fairly large ball of clay plonked down on his head. He shielded Kim from the mini avalanche with his body.

"Outside of a bruised behind, I'm fine," Kim replied, resisting the urge to rub the sore spot. The two traded grins. "By the way, thanks for the save. I can't believe I misjudged the distance."

"You didn't misjudge, the tree shifted, knocking you off target."

"How long do you think the stampede will last?"

"Depends on the size of the herd, I guess."

"I wonder how the others are doing? You think they'll find us?"

"As long as it doesn't rain, they should be able to follow the herd's trail ... ow!" Tommy rubbed his head again. Kim smiled up at him. "Let's move down the gully a bit and see if we can get out of these things' path."

The two inched down the western wall of the ditch until they reached a section unmolested by frightened bipeds. Tommy stood up and looked around.

"I don't think we're too far off course," he murmured. "Without the river, I can't tell. The volcano appears to be a lot closer, though."

"They were heading in the same direction we had been, and the sun was directly overhead when we stopped...." Kim glanced at the shadows put off by the wall of dirt. "It looks like we're still on track. It'll take the others hours to find us."

"Unless they hopped rides, too," Tommy mused. "We shouldn't wander too far from the main trail. We can just hang out here until the others show up."

"Sounds good to me, I ... ow!" Kim yelped as she felt a stabbing pain in her foot. Kneeling down, she took a look at what she had stepped on. The object was small and white; its sharp point pierced her instep. It broadened at the base then narrowed at the root.

"Is that an arrowhead?" Tommy wondered.

"I think it's a tooth, but you're right. It would make an excellent arrowhead," Kim agreed. She gingerly ran her fingers through the dirt and grass, searching. "If I could find a few more, I could finish the arrows tonight." She wandered further down the hollow.

"Don't go too far," Tommy cautioned her. "I'll keep watch for the others." Kim waved back and continued her hunt, and Tommy took a seat on the edge of the bank. It was a lot easier to observe the herd from a distance than from the middle of it. He could tell that the beasts were slowing, and the herd was thinning out. As he watched them make the jump, he absently massaged his aching posterior. His butt would never be the same. He turned his attention eastward, following the direction of the fleeing creatures. The treeline wasn't far, but the beasts veered off before they reached the thick foliage.

"Any sign of them, Rocky?"

"Not yet?"

Tanya? Rocky? Tommy quickly jumped to his feet and spied a biped with a rider. To his astonishment and delight, it was Rocky. Tanya followed hard on his heels.

"Hey guys, over here!" he hollered out, waving. Rocky spotted him and waved back.

"Whoa, boy--er--girl--whatever! Whoa! Halt! Stop!" Rocky commanded uselessly as the creature paid him no mind. Finally, Rocky slung his leg over the spinal ridge. "Abandon ship!" He leaped and rolled clear, tumbling down the incline. Tanya did likewise.

"Man, am I glad to see you two," Tommy said brightly as he came over to help them up. "Where are the others?"

"They'll be along any minute," Rocky assured him.

"Where's Kim?" Tanya wondered.

"Upstream looking for teeth."

"Huh?" Rocky muttered. Just then, Billy rode into view; behind him were Adam and Kat. The three of them had a much easier time of dismounting. Kat's pale face lit up as she spied Tommy, and she rushed to his arms eagerly.

"Are you all right?" she gushed.

"I'm fine. So's Kim," he answered.

"Kat, what made you freeze up like that?" Tanya queried. There had been no time to ask the one question on everybody's mind.

"I don't know why, but I've always been terrified of stampedes," she admitted self-consciously. "I can remember when I was a little girl; I had been watching a nature show with my mum. They showed a stampede--I can't even remember what sort of animals they were, but the herd leveled a village ... just everything in its path.... One of the babies--a cub or colt or something--fell and was mangled.... I had nightmares about it forever it seemed like. I couldn't get that tiny, twisted body out of my mind." Kat leaned in closer to Tommy and shivered.

"No wonder you could never watch Lion King when we'd babysit the Thompson kids," Tanya murmured, patting Kat's shoulder and stroking her hair comfortingly.

"When you said 'stampede,' I just froze up inside," Kat continued. "I couldn't move or think or anything ... if Kim hadn't slapped me, I wouldn't have ... she saved my life."

"Where's Kimberly?" Adam queried.

Before Tommy could answer, the six heard a familiar squeal and a disgusted, "Ew, gross!" They wandered down the ditch until they found Kim. She was kneeling in a slimy patch of mud next to an enormous skull. The ground all around her was littered with the bones of animals.

"Kim, are you okay?" Billy called out.

"Billy!" she shouted happily. She turned to face her friends. "This place is like some kind of elephant graveyard."

"Tell us something we don't know," Rocky muttered playfully.

"What are you doing?" Tanya wondered as Kim returned to her task. They were stunned when she hefted an enormous femur and smashed the skull with it. Kim picked through the shattered bone until she found her prize.

"What do you want with a canine tooth?" Billy asked, eyeing the enormous bone-like structure.

"Wouldn't this make a great spear head?" Kim asked buoyantly. She dug into her pouch and pulled out a handful of smaller teeth. "Arrowheads!"

"All right, Kim," Rocky congratulated her. "We'll be armed and dangerous by morning."

"So, what now?" Adam wondered.

"There's still plenty of light; we should probably continue with our trek," Billy recommended.

Tommy glanced down at Kat; she regarded him with tired eyes. He looked to Kim next; in spite of her jubilation, she, too, looked worn out, and he didn't feel much better. "I don't know about anyone else, but I've had enough excitement for one day. Let's make for the trees and call it a day."

There were no arguments.

"That's the last of the water," Billy announced as he finished his share of the rations. It had been days since the stampede had carried them away from the river.

"I hope we find the river again soon," Tanya murmured as she poked at the fire. It was still early in the evening, but tempers had been frayed as well as bodies. The concerns about water had been pressing on them heavily.

"It's too bad that stream we passed was all dried up," Rocky sighed.

"There was still a trickle in there," Adam pointed out.

"For all the good that does; we could leave the water skins there all night and not collect a cup full," Rocky returned.

"Hey, where are Kat and Tommy?" Kim queried as she returned to the fireside and sat down.

"They claimed some private time and went for a walk," Tanya answered.

"Oh." Kim fixed her gaze on the fire and plucked idly at the grass.

"What if we were to follow that trickle back to its source? It has to be coming from some place. Maybe a beaver has it dammed up or something," Adam suggested.

"Perhaps if there was more light...." Billy began.

"Sounds good to me," Kim said suddenly, getting to her feet again. "It sure beats sitting around here doing nothing, and besides, we need the water."

"It'll be dark soon, Kim," Billy cautioned.

"I'm a big girl, Billy; I can take care of myself."

"We're not supposed to wander off by ourselves, especially after dark," Tanya reminded her.

"Kim's right. We need the water. If you don't mind, I'd like to go with you," Adam volunteered. He couldn't stand the thought of sitting around and wondering....

"Grab a waterbag, and let's go," Kim declared. The two retrieved the skins and were quickly about their business.

"What was that all about?" Rocky wondered. Privately, both Billy and Tanya had their suspicions.

"There it is, I think," Adam said as he and Kim sought out the tiny trickle of water.

"Why don't we walk in the mud so we can feel the water even if we can't see it," Kim suggested.

For a while, the two walked in silence, each one lost in his or her own thoughts.

"How are you holding up, Adam?" Kim queried at last. "You've been awful quiet these last couple of days."

"I'm all right, I guess."

"Is something bothering you?"

"Not really."

"Come on, Adam; you can tell me. It does the team no good for you to keep things bottled up inside. We have no one else to turn to but each other."

Adam let out a slow breath. "I guess I'm still thinking about the stampede and how close we came to losing Kat."

"What's troubling you about it?"

"I feel like I let Kat--that I let everybody--down. I mean, I was there in the tree with her, and I couldn't do a thing to help her," Adam confessed.

"You didn't let anyone down, Adam," Kim said gently. "You did all that you could do; Kat's fear was just too great."

"Still, I left her over there all by herself."

"You had no choice; you had to jump, or we would have lost you."

"I guess I just feel like I abandoned her. I don't even want to know what she thought of me for doing that."

"Actually, at the time, she thought you had fallen and gotten squished," Kim assured him, but Adam didn't look reassured. "Maybe you didn't exactly do anything heroic, but you did something just as important--if not more important."

"What's that?"

"You were there for her when she really needed someone. She didn't have to face her fear alone, and afterwards, when Tommy and I fell, you were there for her then. Sometimes, just having a friend around--even if he really doesn't do anything--is a help in and of itself."

"You really think so?" he asked hopefully.

"I know so." What she wouldn't have given to have had that same gift five months ago. Kim cuffed Adam's arm gently when he continued to stare at the ground. "Hey, perk up."

"I'll try."

"Good." The conversation had gotten a little too heavy--and a little too close to her own problems; Kim decided it was time to change the subject. "I know ... I've been meaning to ask one of you guys, but I keep forgetting. How in the world did you, Rocky and Billy manage to catch that huge fish way back at the beginning of our adventure?"

"Oh, God," Adam groaned. Kim eyed him questioningly. "Do I have to be the one to tell? It's really rather embarrassing."

"Now you've done it. Talk!" Kim fixed him with her most insistent glare, and Adam knew there'd be no getting around it.

"I was by the river ... um, first thing in the morning ... you know...." he began awkwardly, hoping Kim caught the implication.

"Answering the call of nature?" she responded with a teasing grin. Adam returned it sheepishly.

"Anyway, I wasn't watching where I was walking, and apparently something else had already been out there for the same reason. I ... stepped in something and slipped into the river. Billy and Rocky heard me go in, and when they arrived to help me out, they didn't exactly pay attention either. They slipped in, too, and somehow while we were trying to get out of the water, we wound up wrestling this big fish and...."

Kim was laughing so hard she was doubled over. "Oh, how I wish I could have seen that!" she declared when she could breathe again.

Adam felt the heat in his cheeks, but he didn't mind too much. Kim's laughter had been a rare thing on their adventure thus far; it was good to hear it.

"Hm, it looks like we've reached a dead end," he said suddenly as the two of them came across a wall of rock. There were moisture stains where the water had trickled down the face of the wall.

"I don't remember this ridge," Kim ventured as she tilted her head back to take a look.

"Well, we came in from the east; this stream has wandered northward," Adam noted.

"Is there any way up there?" Kim wondered.

It took a bit of searching, but the pair managed to find a sloping trail. Upon gaining the plateau, the two discovered what had become of the small stream. The shallow bed was clogged with rocks, and the water was backing up away from the edge.

"Let's see if we can clear the stream; we may have need of this later down the road," Kim recommended, and together they set the tiny river back on its course. With that accomplished, the two worked on filling their waterbags. Then, Kim knelt down and began splashing water on her arms and legs, trying to wash away the dust and grime from their travels. "That feels so good! How about you, Adam? Adam?" Kim looked up and found that Adam had wandered off a little ways. He was studiously staring back the way they had come. Kim smiled as she realized that he was trying to let her bathe in private; they hadn't ventured into public bathing, as it were. Kim walked over to him and rested a hand on his arm. "I'm done, if you'd like a chance to clean up."

"Thanks."

Kim propped her foot up on a rock and rested her folded arms on her knee. "Nice view," she murmured. The sky was lit with the blazing colors of sunset. The forest below her was awash in the evening shadows. However, she could make out a faint flicker of light off to the east.

"Is that our campfire?" Adam asked, also noticing the light.

"I think so. If it is, that's not too good," Kim said soberly, "if we can see it, who knows who else can." It was a disturbing thought.

"Tommy, look! Water!"

Kim and Adam glanced towards the base of the ridge and saw the arrival of their teammates. They watched as Kat hurried towards the now trickling brook with Tommy in tow. She dropped to her knees and scooped up a handful.

"Mm, that's wonderful."

"We should get back to camp and get the waterbags," Tommy suggested, also pausing to take a drink.

"Oh, do we have to? We're on private time, remember?" Kat splashed him playfully.

"Hey!"

Kim let out a deep breath as she ducked her head, unable to watch the two at play. What were they doing all the way out here? She had left the camp so she wouldn't have to see.... Then, she noticed Adam's expression. It was at once hopeful and pained, and Kimberly understood.

"It's not easy--loving someone who loves someone else--is it?"

"It hurts like hell," Adam said with uncharacteristic bitterness.

I know; God, how I know! "Come on; let's get the water back to camp." Kim pushed off the rock she was propped up against, and suddenly, the rock--and the ground underneath her feet--gave way. "Adam!" she screamed as she careened over the edge of the ridge.

"Kim, no!" Adam cried, trying to grab one of her flailing hands and missing. Kim's pale body was swiftly lost in the shadows and the avalanche of mud and rock. He had to back away lest he go over too. He ran for the trail they had used to gain the top of the ridge.

"Tommy! Kim's caught in the landslide!" Adam shouted to his friends who had backed away from the stream at the first rumble of the moving rocks; however, they couldn't even get close to the base of the wall for all the sliding dirt. By the time Adam reached the bottom of the small cliff, the rocks had settled. Tommy and Kat had begun shifting through the mound.

"Can you see her?" he gasped as he joined the others at the imposing pile of earth.

"No ... Kat, go get the others. Adam and I will start digging," Tommy directed, and Kat dashed off. To Adam, he asked, "What happened?"

"I don't know. We weren't doing anything but standing there after filling the waterbags, and the ground just crumbled out from underneath her."

"Kim! Kim! Can you hear me!" Tommy shouted as he began tossing rocks aside.

"Come on, Kim!" Adam chimed in as he helped dig. "God, Tommy, I hope she's all right under there."

"So do I, Adam, but man, I don't see how."

I am not claustrophobic; I am not claustrophobic ... I'm not--I'm not--I'M NOT! Kim chanted the words to herself over and over like a mantra. I just don't like really tight places. Hell, nobody would like being buried under a ton of dirt!

She had managed to survive the fall, and had landed hard at the base of the ridge. She barely had a moment to draw a breath before the wall of earth collapsed on her. She rolled, pressing up against the rock wall in her efforts to avoid being flattened, and she had backed herself into a small burrow. That was probably the only thing that had saved her; now, however, she was trapped inside that tiny haven. It was dark. It was tight, and she didn't have a lot of air.

Stay calm. You gotta stay calm. If you panic, you'll breathe faster and use up all your air. Yet, it was so hard to fight back the rising tide of fear. She wrapped her arms tighter around her legs, which were pressed close to her chest. She was trembling violently. Oh God, she didn't like this. Buried ... unable to move ... couldn't see ... just like when she was little.... Don't think about it!

Alone....

But I'm not alone. Adam is out there. Tommy and Kat are there. They'll find me; they'll get me out ... they're my friends!

The voice of memory, however, would not be silent. Jimmy, Katie and Kenny were your friends, and they left you all alone.

These guys are different--they won't leave me. Billy said so. I've known Billy forever; he wouldn't lie to me. He told me I was still part of the team--I'm still a Ranger, and Rangers stick together. Kim wanted to believe that--she had to! If she didn't hold on to the thought that her friends wouldn't abandon her, she was going to lose it, and she couldn't afford to lose it. Her friends were out there trying to find her, but there was an awful lot of dirt and rocks. If she wanted to be found before she ran out of air, she was going to have to help somehow.

Keep it together ... don't be afraid ... for the team ... the team needs you to not be afraid.... Concentrating on the needs of the team instead of her own had gotten her through other times when she had been scared; it had to get her through this, too. Even so, tears streamed down her face, wetting her quivering lips. They had to find her soon--they just had to!

Clinging to that desperate thought, Kim pried her arm from where it gripped her knees, and she began pushing it through the rock and soil covering her.

"Any idea where Kim landed?" Billy queried as he and the others swiftly joined in the excavation efforts. They had brought torches from the fire to light the site.

"No. I lost sight of her pretty quickly...." Adam said ruefully.

"... and I didn't know she was even in that mess until it was pretty thick," Tommy finished.

"Have you tried calling to her?" Tanya wondered.

"Yes, but no answer."

"She could be unconscious or...." Kat began fearfully.

"Don't even think it," Rocky chided. "I know you're in there, Kim! Come on and give us a clue!"

The six continued to dig frantically through the debris from the landslide, each one trying not to think that they might have lost Kim. Adam was sick with the thought that he had failed Kimberly too, but he kept shoving the thought aside. He couldn't waste time on his personal concerns; Kim had to be alive under all this mess, and she was counting on them to find her. He tossed another couple of stones aside and, finding a layer of dirt, started sifting through it. His fingers brushed against something small, soft, and mobile. It was probably just a worm or something, but....

"Someone bring a torch over here," he requested.

"What is it?" Tommy asked anxiously.

"I don't know yet." Adam continued digging. As Kat brought the light closer, he realized that what he had felt was a finger. He dug faster. More fingers poked through the dirt, and they seemed to be searching for something, too. "I've found her--well, at least her hand."

"Great job, Adam," Tommy beamed, and all cheered with relief.

"Kim, can you hear us?" Billy called out. "Adam, can you get a grip on her hand?"

"There's too much stuff here for him to pull her out," Rocky objected.

"That's not what Billy wants," Tanya chided gently.

"Yeah, there's enough unburied for me to...." Adam winced as Kim's fingers closed around his own. She was awfully strong for being so small!

"If you can hear me, squeeze Adam's hand once," Billy directed. He looked up to Adam. "Anything?"

"No, but she has a heck of a grip," he muttered.

"You just keep a hold of her," Tommy said. "The rest of us will start working around her arm."

Being able to concentrate their efforts in one locale enable the four Rangers and Billy to clear the debris away more effectively. It was difficult for Adam to stay out of their way, but he was not letting go of Kim's hand for anything. Her grasp on his hand remained vice-like; occasionally he detected a tremor in her--the only sign of what she must be going through. Adam was scared for her. However, slowly, Kim's hold on him began to lessen. That concerned Adam even more.

"Guys, we gotta hurry. I think she's getting weaker."

"Try tugging on her arm; see if you can budge her," Tommy recommended.

Adam did so. Kim gave just a little but not much. "Not yet." However, the experimental tug seemed to have sparked something in Kimberly for her grip became more solid, and Adam detected more movement on her part. Then, a second hand worked its way up through the dirt.

"Tommy!" Adam yelped.

"Got her. You guys keep digging, and we'll start pulling," Tommy directed. They had to be extremely careful so they didn't hurt Kimberly; however, they could feel her trying to help them. "Atta girl, Kim. Keep it up."

Adam was the only one who could hear Tommy's soft words of encouragement, and he wondered about them. As he and Tommy pulled, more of Kimberly's arms came free. However, their efforts had undermined the position of some of the rocks still atop the pile; dirt began trickling back down into the hole they had made.

"Adam, take both arms. Rocky, help me shore up these rocks so they don't bury Kim again." Tommy surrendered his hold on Kim.

Billy, Kat and Tanya continued to work at digging while Rocky helped Tommy brace the boulders. Adam worked at pulling Kim free. He could feel more movement on her part.

"That's it, Kim ... come on ... just a little more...." With his next pull, Adam felt something give. He pulled hard, and Kimberly burst through the layer of dirt as if she had been pushing off for a jump. She all but flew into Adam's arm, and the two tumbled backwards. "God, Kim, are you all right?"

For a moment, she could do nothing but gasp for air. Then, she glanced up at Adam. "Yeah. I'm okay now. Thanks."

Her brave words belied the tear streaked face and terror stricken eyes that Adam found himself looking into. Then, Kim seemed to master her emotions, and all traces of her fear were gone--except for residual trembling. It was as if she didn't want anyone to know how bad it had been, but Adam had seen, if only for a moment. He said nothing and simply held her tighter.

"I'm here for you if you need me," he whispered, recalling their earlier conversation.

"Thanks," she murmured and hugged him gratefully.

"Are you okay?" Tommy queried, placing a hand on Kim's shoulder.

She looked back and found all her friends looking at her concernedly. They didn't abandon me, she reflected, but the thought brought her little comfort--not because of the present but because of the past. No, she wouldn't think of it now. Think of the team not yourself....

"I'm all right," she answered Tommy between coughing fits. "What about the stream? Did the landslide dam it up?"

"The stream? You were just buried alive, and you're worried about the stream?" Kat gasped in disbelief.

"We're going to need the water," Kim said weakly.

"Well what do you know," Rocky said with amazement as he scrambled over the rocks to where the brook was supposed to be. He hadn't needed the look Tanya flashed him to know that Kim wasn't going to settle down and go back to camp until she had her answer about the water. "The stream's fine, Kim. Not even so much as a dirt clod hit it."

"Good."

"Can you make it back to camp?" Billy queried.

"I'm a big girl, Billy," she responded as she disentangled herself from Adam. Still, her knees were a little wobbly as she stood up. "I'll manage."

Adam exchanged worried glances with Billy. Then, he hit on an idea.

"Kim, I was wondering...."

"What?"

"I haven't exactly been a lot of help--I couldn't even keep you from falling...." He put on his most sheepish expression and looked at Kim with hopeful eyes.

"Adam, you're a horrible actor, but you're a sweetie," Kim murmured, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Adam grinned and shrugged; it had been worth a shot.

"However, if it'll make you feel any better ... I accept." Actually, if she wanted to be honest with herself, her legs did feel none too steady. "Rocky, can you run up and get the waterbags?"

"Sure, Kim."

Only then, when the team was taken care of, did Kim allow herself to be helped.

Billy leaned against the trunk of the tree and watched the by-play in the center of camp, specifically between Tommy and Kim. He shook his head. Kim hadn't been as unaffected by her recent ordeal as she wanted them to think. As long as she was able to focus on the team she was all right, but when it came to interpersonal interaction ... especially between her and Tommy.... He had thought the two had talked, that they had resolved the issue of their break-up. Things had seemed okay between them, especially after their ordeal during the stampede. The camaraderie that had been established by that had been undone.

There was an undercurrent of tension between the two. It wasn't blatant; it evidenced itself in their clipped conversations, the way they moved around each other--the quick glances, aborted touches ... they themselves probably weren't conscious of it. Something had to be done. Tommy and Kimberly were their leaders; if they were unable to function together, it would affect the whole team. They couldn't afford even the slightest dissention among themselves. They had been fortunate thus far on their adventure, but that couldn't last.

"What's wrong, Billy?" Tanya queried as she came to stand by him. She noted that he was scrutinizing Tommy and Kim. She, too, had observed the pair's strained relationship; she hated seeing two people who obviously still cared about each other hurting as they were. She couldn't understand how the two of them could not recognize what was going on.

"You've seen it, too," Billy remarked.

"You can almost feel the tension, and it keeps growing," Tanya mused.

"Especially from Kimberly's corner. She and Tommy have to be able to work together outside of emergency situations. Something needs to be done to ease the tension between them and remind them that before they were romantically involved, they were friends--and still are deep down."

"It sounds like you have a plan," Tanya said.

"I think so. I have it on good authority that Kim has extremely ticklish feet."

"Tommy?"

"No, Kim's brother." Well, her brother and first-hand experience. That was just one of those little things Billy had picked up during that bizarre twenty-four hours.

"Ticklish feet, huh? Just what do you have in mind?"

"I haven't finished formulating my plan. I should have it in place by tomorrow."

Later that same evening, Billy put the first phase of his scheme in motion. Following dinner, he pulled Tommy aside.

"I'm really worried about Kim," Billy began.

"Why? She seems all right," Tommy answered looking over to where Kim had settled by a tree trunk, away from the fire--and the others.

"She seems to be deliberately isolating herself," Billy pointed out. "That isn't like her. She hasn't been quite the same since getting buried."

"I thought she came through that pretty well."

"I don't know; I've been watching her for a couple of days now. I think she's close to losing it."

"Losing it?"

"On the verge of a breakdown."

"Are you sure?"

"She hides it well, but you can seen the tension in her shoulders, the set of her jaw ... occasionally in the eyes ... can't you tell?"

Tommy didn't answer, and he couldn't meet Billy's gaze. Once upon a time, he knew her as well as he knew himself.

"I think it's because she's been out of Ranger mode for so long; she isn't used to the stress and the unusual circumstances like she used to be. Plus, she's been helping you shoulder the burden of leading the team...."

"Yeah, Kat and Tanya have been really turning to her a lot," Tommy agreed.

It was such a narrow, chauvinistic statement that Billy almost lost his temper. It completely obliterated the fact that all of them had been turning to Kim for the intangibles--strength, spirit, determination--as much as for co-leadership. However, Billy let it go. After all, he was deliberately painting Kimberly's situation as more serious than it was. "Tomorrow, I want to take Kim out to that watering hole Rocky and Adam discovered in order to try and talk to her and get her to relax, but I need a believable excuse."

"She seems to be really into watching the animals with Tanya," Tommy mused. "You could probably tell her that you saw a really interesting one there and want to show it to her."

"That'd be perfect; thanks. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like you to tag along."

"Me? What for?"

"If we're deep into a discussion, we won't be watching our backs, and considering we'll be by a watering hole, there's the potential for danger from the other visitors. I want you there as a precautionary measure," Billy explained. "Besides, I think Kim might feel a little uncomfortable having the others know how vulnerable she is right now, since they do look up to her so much. I think she'll be all right with the two of us."

"If I can help out, I'd be glad to," Tommy agreed. Whatever else Kim might have been to him, she was a friend, and he hated to see a friend hurting.

"Thanks. I figure we'll head out after breakfast."

Tommy moved off, and Billy leaned back with a satisfied smile on his face. It paid to be thought of as merely intelligent and not particularly devious.

"What sort of animal is it?" Kim asked as she, Billy and Tommy started off for the water hole. Kim had agreed readily enough when Billy put the proposition to her. She didn't even seem to mind that Tommy was tagging along. It had rained the night before (the seven had spent a perfectly miserable night getting soaked), so the trails were a bit muddy.

"I'm not really certain; I didn't get a good look at it, but from what I observed of its behavior, I thought you might want to have a look," Billy fibbed.

"Maybe it'll lead you to more hair remover," Tommy joked.

"Next time, if you're not careful, I'll try my discovery out on you," Kim teased.

"I'll take a rain check on that," Tommy demurred, and Kim laughed.

Billy took the light-hearted banter as a good beginning. Actually, he was in fairly high spirits himself. This was what they had been needing: a morning away from their responsibilities.

The three were in such a good mood that they weren't particularly concerned with what was going on behind them.

Their teammates were following them. Tanya had made the mistake of mentioning Kimberly's tension and Billy's comment about her ticklish feet. Rocky latched onto that and was determined to catch the performance--whatever it may be. He started after the trio, keeping a safe distance between them, and it was decided that the rest of them should tag along to keep Rocky from interfering.

When the three arrived at the watering hole, they found it a muddy mess. Undeterred, Billy and Kimberly inched their way through the wet grass to the edge of the small pond, hanging back somewhat from the muddy rim. Tommy stayed close to the trees, both to give his friends a little privacy and to better watch their backs. As Kim lay on the ground, she propped herself up on her elbows and crossed her ankles. Occasionally, she'd bend her legs at the knees. Tommy was pretty sure she wasn't paying much attention to what she was doing, and she probably had forgotten that he was there; she did tend to become absorbed when watching the animals. From where he stood, he had an excellent view of her cute little behind.

In spite of himself, Tommy found himself staring and reflecting on his comment to Billy

and the other guys about liking Kim's legs. When he had made the comment, he hadn't had the opportunity to fully scope out her posterior. He did now, and he really liked what he saw. Kim's behind was firm and nicely proportioned, rounding into her thighs beautifully. The way she was laying, her body formed a pleasing line--the way her spine curved, the swell of the supple globes, and the way her legs lay slightly parted, teasing Tommy with an elusive glimpse of what lay between them. It was such an exquisite view that Tommy had the urge to reach out and run his hands over her bottom to see if it was as soft and smooth as it looked. Her cheeks looked as if they would fit his hands perfectly, and he longed to kiss that little 'v' at the base of her spine where her cheeks met.

Tommy's sigh of longing brought him to his senses. He realized that his pulse was racing, and his anatomy was almost at full stand. He tried to regain control of his hormones. What was he thinking? This was his ex-girlfriend. He hadn't been asked here to ogle her rear; he'd been asked to guard her back. He was here because Kim needed emotional help ... and what would Kat say if she caught him staring--again? Why did Kim have such an effect on him still? He tried to shake off his thoughts and concentrate on sentry duty ... but damn, Kim had a great ass!

"How long do you think we'll have to wait?" Kim asked in hushed tones.

"It shouldn't be long now," Billy assured her, keeping his voice low also. "Actually, I brought you out here to talk. How are you holding up? I've noticed you've been pretty tense lately."

"I'm doing okay I guess," she answered evasively.

"Kim...." Billy said in a tone that seemed to say, 'bullshit.' "What's up between you and Tommy? It's almost as if you're afraid of each other. Have you talked to him about what happened?"

"We talked a little bit that first night. I said I was sorry. He asked why. I told him that I had gotten lonely. I asked if he was happy with Kat; he asked if I was happy with Todd. I ... fibbed," she answered curtly.

"Kim, why didn't you tell him the truth? By not telling him everything, you're taking the entire blame for the break-up, and it wasn't all your fault. He needs to know that."

"Why? I know Tommy, Billy; he'd start blaming himself then, and what good would that do? It would only make both of us miserable."

"At least you could have told him that Todd hadn't worked out."

"Again, what good would that do? Tommy's happy with Kat. Even if he did forgive me and wanted to get back together, it would mean he'd have to hurt Kat, and Tommy won't do that. I know how it feels now to be betrayed by someone you care for, and I won't do that to another person either. It's just going to take a little time for me to put all the old feelings to rest."

Billy was tempted to pursue the matter, but Kim's tone was such that he knew she had said all she was going to say on the subject. He would let it go--for the moment, but he knew that it was going to take more than time to heal things between the two. It was time to get the ball rolling.

"What do you have all over your foot?" Billy queried as he sat up. He glanced quickly in Tommy's direction. Tommy, who had been in a semi daze, now looked confused. Billy winked and grinned.

"What?" Kim asked, trying to twist around and see.

"It appears that you stepped in something ... unpleasant." Billy's tone eloquently conveyed the exact nature of the unpleasantness.

"Ew, gross!" Kim complained.

"You keep your eye on the pond; I'll take some of this grass and clean it off." Billy rustled the grass a bit, pretending to be gathering a handful. Then, he stood up, and, pinning her right foot between his legs, started tickling gently.

"Billy, what are you doing? Stop tickling me!" Kim squealed as she started wiggling. Her entreaties only made Billy's fingers work harder. She thrashed around, laughing and gasping for air. Her fists pounded the ground, and her left leg kicked out as she tried to escape.

"I thought you needed to unwind a little," Billy responded nonchalantly. He looked up at Tommy who was watching with interest. He followed his friend's gaze and realized that Tommy had an interesting view of Kim's wriggling behind. Billy hadn't considered the possible indignity of Kimberly's position.

Tommy had really believed that Billy was going to have a heart-to-heart talk with Kimberly, so he wasn't expecting the question about Kim's dirty feet. Besides, how could he tell what she had on her foot with all the mud? Then, Billy flashed him that sly wink. When Billy began tickling Kim's feet, Tommy couldn't keep an impish grin from playing across his lips. Oh, this was priceless! Kim was utterly helpless as she wiggled and kicked and screamed at Billy. He had the most overpowering urge to join in the fun; however, even as he abandoned his post, Tommy was brought up short by something more than mischief.

The way Kim was wriggling--he had never seen her move like that ... the way the muscles in her cheeks rippled, the way her hips thrust against the ground as she kicked and bucked in her efforts to break free.... Tommy felt his throat go dry as he glimpsed the occasional flash of pink between her legs. It was almost too much for his poor hormones to handle.

Tommy wasn't the only one treated to the exquisite sight of Kim's wriggling behind.

"Oh, my...!" Kat gasped, her cheeks dusted with a blush.

"Oh, man...." Adam moaned, sporting a blush of his own.

"I think I've died and gone to Heaven," Rocky sighed. "Who knew Kim could move her ass like that!"

"We should have brought the waterbag with us," Tanya muttered, rolling her eyes. "Who knew we were going to need to hose these guys down."

"Stop it!" Kim laughed so hard she was hiccuping.

"Not until you say, 'I love Lord Zedd.'"

"William Mitchell Cranston, when I get my hands on you, I am going to hurt you!"

"If you can catch me! Hey, watch it; that hurts!" Billy protested as Kimberly landed a kick on his posterior.

"Let me go! Tommy! Help!" Kim shrieked.

Billy glanced up at Tommy. He had observed Tommy's initial approach and had been confused by his momentary retreat. However, Tommy headed towards them once again, wearing a devilish grin. Billy matched it with one of his own and nodded to Kimberly's flailing foot, which landed another blow.

"Looks like you could a little help," Tommy observed, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Make him stop; please!" Kim pleaded.

"Actually, I was referring to Billy." So saying, Tommy caught her left foot and started tickling. If anything, Kimberly's left foot was more sensitive than her right. Billy noted an almost fiendish delight in Tommy's eyes. Kim's frantic cries rose in volume.

"No fair! I hate you both!"

Under the cover of the trees, the other four were doing their best to stifle their laughter as Tommy joined in, his presence detracting from the more intense performance of moments ago.

"Poor Kimberly," Kat murmured, trying to check her giggles.

"This is too good! I wouldn't have missed this for anything," Rocky chortled.

"Billy has an interesting view on stress reduction," Tanya added.

"They had better not let go or else Kim will kick their butts," Adam said.

"Think she's had enough?" Tommy queried. It was becoming more difficult to hold on to Kimberly's twisting body, and her laughter was losing its frantic edge, becoming almost a snarl.

"Yes, but if we let her go, we're dead men," Billy panted.

"Maybe we'd better try and calm her down," Tommy agreed.

"The question is how."

"Should we try massaging her feet?"

"It couldn't hurt."

They ceased tickling and started to gently rub the soles of her feet, but it was too little too late as far as Kimberly was concerned. By changing their tactic, both Billy and Tommy had loosened their hold on her ankles. Inching forward, she reached out for the lip of the water hole. Her fingers sunk into the ooze, and a devilish light flickered in her eyes.

"I think it's working," Tommy observed, noting that Kim's struggles had lessened. He glanced over his shoulder to see what Kim was doing and was clipped by a mud ball. Startled, he released her foot. Kim kicked away. She flung another wad of mud at Billy and jerked her foot free.

"You two have had your fun; now it's my turn," she glowered with dangerous amusement. She threw another handful of mud at Tommy. He didn't move fast enough to avoid the messy missile.

"Co-ed naked mud fight, all right!" Rocky cheered.

"And you can't play," Kat chided as she and Adam held their overeager companion back.

"No fair," he pouted.

"You weren't invited," Tanya teased him.

"Aw, man!"

"Don't complain; at least we're letting you watch," Adam teased.

"We're lucky she's not Tanya," Billy said, referring to Tanya's pitching abilities, as he tried to dodge another glob--unsuccessfully.

"She's doing pretty good as it is," Tommy agreed. Kim was flinging the mud fast and furiously. As Tommy ran his evasion pattern, he edged closer to the source of ammunition. "I think it's time for a counterattack!" With an exuberant ki-yai, he scooped up of a handful of muck and hurled it at Kimberly.

"Oh, yeah?" she challenged and started aiming exclusively at Tommy. Billy wisely stayed out of the contest. The two were caught up in the battle, snarling, laughing, and just generally having a good time. Tommy kept closing the gap between them, and Kim started shoveling the mud in his direction. Finally Tommy scooped up a double handful of mud and dumped it on Kimberly's head.

"Tommy!" she squealed in protested. She swung at him and missed, much to Tommy's merriment. He maneuvered himself so that he was behind her.

"Let's see if your sides are as ticklish as your feet," he said as he reached for her waist.

"No!" she screamed with helpless laughter. She doubled over as she fought to escape. She was slick with mud, but Tommy wrapped one arm about her middle so she couldn't escape and continued tickling with the other. Kim tried backing him down with her hips in order to break his grip. As she struggled to get free, she twisted and contorted her body so much that Tommy soon found his hands in places he had never dared put them before. Kim was just so slippery--he couldn't help it if his hands were sliding all over the place!

Finally, Kim could stand it no longer, she shifted her weight so that Tommy was actually picking her up, then she kicked back, catching both of his shins hard.

"Hey, that hurt!" he yelped, dropping her hard on her backside.

"You think my sides don't? I can't breathe!" she grumbled, glaring up at him furiously. The fury melted into amazement as her gaze traveled the length of his body. It was hard to miss the prominence of his manhood, and Kim suddenly realized just how intimately her backside had been getting to know his groin area as she had bumped and ground against him in her efforts to break free. Tommy noticed the intensity of her stare, and she looked away quickly.

As she was trying to look anywhere but at Tommy (and she was practically at eye level), she became aware that she had not been unaffected by their contest either. The taut buds of her nipples obviously poked through the coating of mud, and the wetness between her legs had less to do with the wet mud than with her own excitement. There was more of emotion than exertion in her elevated pulse and labored breathing. Just as she had been aware of Tommy's state of arousal, so he was aware of hers, and Kim was grateful for the coating of mud that hid the fire in her cheeks.

"Here," Tommy said, offering her his hand. She accepted it. The two simply stood there for a moment, neither able to meet the other's eyes. Tommy ran his hand across the back of his neck, and Kim nibbled at her lower lip.

"I'm sorry...." they began at once.

"I didn't realize ... I guess I got so caught up in the roughhousing...." Tommy sputtered.

"Me, too. I didn't mean to...." Kim fumbled.

As they made their awkward apologies, the two became aware of Billy's laughter.

"I wish you guys could see yourselves!" Billy chortled. "You look like a pair of little kids!"

Tommy and Kim paused and looked each other over again. They were still uncomfortably aware of their states of excitement; however, as they continued to stare, they realized that they were covered from head to toe with squishy reddish clay. They had to admit, it was a pretty comical sight. Sheepish grins gave way to laughter. Kim doubled over and lost her balance and slipped into the mud again; Tommy helped her up.

"So, how do you guys feel?" Billy queried as he stepped forward to offer Kim a hand.

"You know something," Kim began, exchanging knowing glances with Tommy, "I think this was a set up." She grinned wickedly.

"I think you're right."

"Uh, guys, let's not do anything rash, now," Billy protested as he tried to back away, but Kim refused to release his hand.

"Okay, Mr. Science, your turn for a mud bath," she declared as she jerked Billy forward. He tried to stop his momentum, flailing at the edge of the muddy track.

"If I'm going in, I'm taking you with me!"

"Oh, no you don't! Tommy!"

Tommy reached for Kim's other hand as Billy tugged at her. His foot slipped on the grass, and all three tumbled into the muck.

"Ew, gross," Billy groaned, mimicking Kim. She retaliated by taking a handful of mud and dumping it on his head.

"A mud bath is supposed to be good for you," she teased.

"Speaking of which, we can't go back to camp looking like this," Tommy said.

"Can you imagine what the others would say about their leaders mud wrestling?" Billy added.

"I'm sure Rocky would have plenty to say," Kim commented. "Should we clean up here?"

"I suppose we could; the mud should settle quickly and pose no problems for future visitors," Billy replied.

"I just hope I can get all this gunk out of my hair," Kim said ruefully. "I wish I had a comb or something." Tommy opened his mouth to make a smart comment, but Kim beat him to the punch by depositing a large helping of mud on the top of his head. "Now we're in the same boat."

Billy started to snicker again, and Kim whirled to face him, another handful of goop held at the ready. However, as she turned, her eyes went wide and her body went rigid with fear. Tommy looked up, and Billy turned. Towering behind Billy was an enormous creature--dinosaur-like in appearance but sporting an elephant's trunk. The creature's head was narrow, its eyes widely spaced apart. Its mouth was filled with teeth, and a pair of dangerous tusks jutted forth from either side of its prehensile nose. It snatched up a trunk full of grass--grazing Billy's leg with its tusks in the process--and began munching.

"Flat teeth, an herbivore," Kim stammered, recalling Tanya's lessons.

"But those tusks are nothing to sneeze at," Tommy added.

"Judging by its eyes, I would venture to say that its visual acuity is very poor. Most likely, it relies on movement to find things," Billy said; the scratch smarted but wasn't deep.

"So if we don't move, it won't see us," Kim concluded hopefully.

The three held perfectly still as the animal continued to eat. After several helpings of grass, it moved in closer to drink. As it swung out its trunk, it knocked Billy aside. The sudden movement alarmed the creature, and it began snuffling around, probing about with its trunk. The serpentine nose found Kimberly, and one of the tusks pricked her throat.

"Don't move," Billy urged her in a desperate whisper. If the creature were to move its head suddenly, it would rip out Kim's throat.

Kim whimpered softly as the nose snaked out and wrapped itself around her head. The creature sniffled and snuffled wetly in her ear. She bit back a scream. Then, the trunk began to descend lower, probing curiously.

"No," she murmured in absolute mortification as she felt the leathery appendage moving from her shoulders to her chest. To her horror, she felt her sensitive nipples responding to the stimulation. She closed her eyes, praying that no one else would notice.

"This is absolutely priceless!" Rocky chortled, trying to keep his laughter quiet. "Kim getting felt up by a dino-elephant!"

"Quit being so juvenile," Kat snapped.

"Kim could get hurt," Tanya admonished. "We should do something."

"But what? You heard Billy," Adam said. "If it detects our movement, it could turn its head and gouge Kim's throat."

Rocky knew the matter was serious, and he did his best to rein in his impulse to snicker. He didn't want Kimberly to get hurt, but man, he wished he was that trunk!

Billy sat in the grass where he had been tossed, frantically trying to think of something to do. Nothing came to mind. Kim's only recourse was to stay completely still and let the creature satisfy its curiosity. It would move on once it was assured that there was no threat. Kim's body was strung as tight as a bow string, her eyes tightly closed and her teeth clenched as she was forced to endure this new indignity. Billy had observed during the tussle with Tommy that Kim had been highly susceptible to tactile stimuli--not that Tommy had been unaffected either. He noted that the creature's explorations were producing a similar reaction, and he discovered that he was unusually affected by the visual stimulus. He was suddenly gratefully to be crouching in the grass.

Tommy was torn between watching the appendage as it wound its way down Kimberly's curves and trying to find a way to get Kim out of her predicament. He was hard pressed to stifle a moan as the trunk cleared the mud from Kim's behind, revealing the lightly bronzed globes in all their glory--not that they weren't just as nice all covered in mud. If it wouldn't have been for the tusk at Kim's throat, he really could have gotten into watching the creature feel her up.?

"Stay real still," Tommy urged her softly. "We don't want to get it excited."

"I'm trying," Kim hissed back. Tommy watched as a tremor shot up her spine as the trunk found its way between her legs. His mouth went dry as her buttocks tightened against the intrusion.

"If that thing doesn't stop soon, I'm going to scream!"

"I'm going to put my hands on your back; put your weight against them, and I'll start easing you back. Once you're clear of that tusk, we'll get you free of the trunk. All right?"

"Okay."

"Here goes." Tommy had his hands braced and could feel Kim relaxing against them. As he started pulling her back, the creature moved its head back slightly, enough to alleviate the immediate danger but not enough to allow Kim and Tommy to move away. The beast snorted, making noises that sounded like someone trying to hold back a sneeze.

"Oh, no," Tommy groaned. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the explosion.

"Not that!" Kimberly moaned. A second later, the beast emitted an ear-splitting trumpet and sneezed. Tommy and Kim both received a generous shower of mucus but still could not move. The creature proceeded to get its drink and finally wandered off, leaving Tommy and Kim standing in the mud dripping with snot.

"Are you guys okay?" Billy asked. He was trying desperately not to laugh or smile. He failed miserably.

"Not a word," Tommy warned him.

"Don't you dare say anything," Kim echoed him, but in the distance they heard guffaws. The mud covered trio turned to find the rest of their friends doubled over in helpless mirth. However, the quartet quickly recovered themselves and ran as Kim wiped the mess from her face and reached for another handful of mud.

Amadan watched in the viewing globe as the four Rangers ran from their mud covered companions, squealing and laughing. His normally dour expression deepened into a hard frown.

"They think this a game?" he hissed. The fact that they had survived far longer than any other visitor to the jungle made no impression on him. He tightened the image in the orb to focus on the muddy trio. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Tommy's dirty, exuberant face. "I wonder if they will still feel like playing without their leader."

E-mail: kittiec@starpower.net