Part 12 (1/2)

We reach the top of the hill and approach a deserted wall of stone, half-built and abandoned. Jackson speeds through a tiny opening that looks like a miniature doorway and I follow. On the other side of the wall the bush is denser. Branches swipe at my face as we race through it. In our haste, I nearly squash a lizard basking in the sun.

Jackson stops suddenly and I crash into him a second time - I do admit a little on purpose. His back is hunched like a wild animal. The hair rises on the back of my neck. Jackson whips his head to the side and closes his eyes. I watch his brows pinch.

'What?' I ask.

'We're being followed,' he whispers.

My heart stops. Every muscle in my body constricts. We spin around into a fighting stance. My fingers brush the comforting steel of my orchid ninja star.

Through the ivory tree trunks I see a black shadow flicker. Jackson steps in front of me and raises a protective arm. I brush it away. I'm the White Warrior. I'll be the protector. Then that weed of fear sprouts where confidence should grow. What if my powers are not enough?

My mind scrambles back to the bush as I see another flash of shadow. Jackson tenses and it's as if he transforms into a cactus: his body p.r.i.c.kles, everything is hyper aware. Lowering my chin, I think of all the times Mum would surprise us with a mock fight on the way to school. We would have to defend ourselves and Elecktra was always so good at it. Another dark flash.

'Are there panthers in the bush?' I ask quietly.

'Who's there?' Jackson calls.

Silence wisps through the trees again. The sun throws daggers of light that splinter off tree bark and into our eyes. For a moment I'm blinded, then there's a whoosh and a silver bird flies towards us. Jackson and I duck. The bird smashes into the tree trunk behind where our heads were. We spin around. It's not a bird, but a ninja star. I rip it out of the tree. There is an 'E' in the centre of the blades.

'Emis.h.i.+,' Jackson says, looking around. 'Yep, this is definitely Emis.h.i.+. The most powerful ninja clan in the world.'

I crouch beside him and whisper, 'Why are they attacking us?'

'They're not,' he says. 'They're sending us a message.'

We see the black shadow flash again, but at a safe distance, then disappear behind a tree.

'Let's go,' Jackson says. We stand cautiously. Nothing happens. Jackson turns around and speeds off. I wait, peering into the trees. The black shadow flickers again, this time closer. I turn and follow Jackson.

'Hey, what message?' I call after him.

'Protection. The Emis.h.i.+ ninja is here for your protection. Aren't you the White Warrior?' he calls over his shoulder.

Suddenly it hits me. I'm the ninja security blanket. I've been so consumed by the effect of Elecktra's powers I've forgotten about my own. I've not only the responsibility to protect my family but all ninja clans. The weight of the realisation chokes me. I cough.

I try to keep close to Jackson, stepping quickly in the shadows of his footsteps. My breath pants hot in my hood, my toes connect with every rock under my feet. The bush fades to swampy purple as the afternoon descends. Every now and then I hear the Emis.h.i.+ ninja behind us, keeping guard, and it makes me smile.

I've heard Samurai Falls is built on a rare piece of jade rock and that when the sun sets, the water glows green. I hope we make it in time for sunset. I start to daydream, remembering a sunset a few years ago when I stayed back at school with Cinnamon to celebrate International Left-handers' Day. We ran a left-handed egg-and-spoon race, then competed in a left-handed tug-of-war. Cinnamon and I are both right-handed, but we wanted to offer our support, and with free Slurpees being handed out and a chance to win a Doll's Dream House in the raffle, we couldn't resist attending. We didn't even care that all the dolls only had left arms. The sun was setting by the time we finished, and Cim and I sat on the playground swings and watched the sky flush pink, then streak with opal. The sliding colours are the best kind of magic I know. I'm so glad we have a kaleidoscope sky and not the green moon of the Cemetery of Warriors. Those warriors are missing out big-time.

A blood-curdling scream from behind us splits apart my thoughts. Instinctively Jackson and I turn and rush towards the sound. We run so fast Jackson trips over and I overtake him. He is by my side in a flash and we slip between the skeletal trees. I see something red glitter in the distance. The flash of colour stops my heart. Lecky? As we run closer, I see the red hair more clearly. Has Lecky had a perm?

Jackson and I skid to a stop when we see Cinnamon peering at the ground, her cheeks cupped in her hands. In front of her is the Emis.h.i.+ ninja, lying on his back, an abandoned sword nearby. I run to the ninja's side and lift his head onto my knees. His eyes are closed. I pull down his hood to reveal his mouth and blood trickles along his nose. I bend my face to his.

'Still breathing, he's only been knocked out,' I say, looking up at Jackson. 'He'll come to.'

Jackson pulls off his ninja hood and crouches beside me. He studies the sword's red leather handle. 'Samurai,' he says.

'Great, our protector is hurt. What hope do we have?' I panic. 'The samurai will be waiting for us.'

Jackson shakes his head. For the first time he seems uncertain.

'What are you doing here?' I ask Cinnamon, turning to face her. She stands in her navy school blazer, her choir badge gleaming, and stares at me with clear blue eyes. I realise I'm waiting for her to cry, but she doesn't. She has that same determined look that she had the day she threw out all her lollies in French cla.s.s.

'Elecktra is like a sister to me too. We've sort of grown up together. So if she's in trouble, I want to help. And ... I also wanted to be brave,' she admits. 'Like you.'

'You could have got yourself killed!' Jackson says. 'There's a real difference between brave and crazy.'

Cinnamon flinches. 'I'm sorry, Jackson,' she whispers.

'Hey, don't apologise to him,' I say. Jackson stares at me, surprised; I ignore him. 'You are already brave - eating healthily, adopting stray animals, taking up and loving sport, dealing with Gate Two,' I remind her. Cinnamon smiles.

Jackson begins to pace. 'So did you see the samurai?'

'He was too quick and I was behind the bushes,' she says.

'It's too late to turn back and take you home. I can't protect both of you,' Jackson says. It's the first time I've ever heard him be gruff.

'You don't have to,' I say and stand up to put a hand on his shoulder. He simmers down at my touch and smiles at me weakly.

'Where are you going?' Cinnamon asks.

Jackson seizes the samurai sword and slides it into the back of his black belt. 'Samurai Falls,' he says.

'But that's where Hero will be.' Cinnamon freaks out at the mention of her tormentor's name. I can tell she is rethinking her quest for bravery. Maybe fighting samurai is a bit of a leap - perhaps she should begin with telling the teacher she is being bullied. But then she pulls back her shoulders, raises her chin and clenches her fists tight. I remember what Mum said when we made Ninja Meringues: 'You're terrified of the person your new powers force you to become.' I hope that I'm becoming that person now, and using my courage too, like Cinnamon.

Jackson and I gently drag the Emis.h.i.+ ninja into the bushes, where he will be safe until we can find Lecky and get some help.

'So what should we do?' I ask, nodding towards Cinnamon.

'Hide her,' Jackson says. 'She'll be safe.' Safe enough, I hope.

I take out one of my silver orchid ninja stars and hand it to Cinnamon. She accepts it delicately like a precious jewel.

'If you see anyone in red, throw the star. Red is the enemy,' I tell her.

Cinnamon crouches down in the bushes and clutches the star beneath her chin.

'We'll be back when this is all over,' Jackson says.

She nods. 'Be careful.'

I can't believe I'm about to walk into trouble. Again! But Lecky is my sister. Sister blood runs deeper than bad blood, doesn't it?

THIRTEEN.

When we arrive at a thick wall of trees, the sun slowly slips out of the sky, a pink coin gliding through gold fingers. We thread ourselves through the trunks like a black wind. A waterfall explodes in my ears, thunderous and a bit ghost-like, with echoes that whisper all around. The water smells like earth and mists into the air with the aroma of rain falling onto hot stones. I follow Jackson through the thick shrubbery. I'm excited we've made it just in time for sunset.