Slugterra: The New Shane

Chapter 33: Finally Back Home

If you didn't see it already in The Teenage Book, I did a but of a redesign for Alana, it's attached in the media box. I also did a design for Dana but since I don't know how to add multiple pictures, just check it out on The Teenage Book or wait for the next chapter of this story :)

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Alana's POV

Eli hastily stepped forward as I became more and more upset. The worst scenarios flashed through my head. Isis was one of my top slugs and friends. She was a Healer who had helped me countless times before. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to her after I sent her alone to get help. I should have found another way that wouldn't endanger her.

"Alana, Isis is okay," he assured. There was a nervous look in his eyes. "She's just... not here. It's kinda a long story. A lot has happened since we all got split up."

"How about we all sit down and go over everything that's happened in the past few days?" Trixie suggested. "We need to catch each other up anyways. Alana, if we just tell you now, it'll be super confusing. But I promise, Isis is okay."

Pronto piped up from the couch. "Yes! Come and let Pronto the Magnificent tell of our heroic journey to save all of Slugterra! I was fearless in battle-"

Kord groaned and rolled his eyes. "Pronto. How about you leave the storytelling to us?"

I ran my fingers through the hair dangling in my face. This day seemed to have lasted a million years. I was tempted to tell the gang we should wait until the morning to clear things up. My muscles ached and the shock of almost being ghouled was still lingering in my mind. But I knew if I tried to go to sleep without figuring out what happened to my Healer, it would be another restless night.

"Okay, fine, story time. You guys go first," I said stiffly, walking over and sitting on a chair. Eli and Kord sat next to Pronto on the couch, and Trixie took the beanbag chair next to the television. The gang themselves, I noticed, looked almost as tired as I did.

"Is there something in your hair, Alana?" Trixie asked curiously, peering at my hair. I tensed up as I realized that the red in my hair was probably showing.

"Oh, maybe, I said casually, trying to tuck the red under a blue streak. "I rode through a lot of mushroom forests to get here, I'm probably a bit of a wreck," I said with ease. Trixie nodded, seeming to take the cover. For now.

I pulled my knees up to my chin, and Ash jumped on one of my knees. He looked pretty worried- I knew he and Isis were best friends. My top two slugs, and my best friends when I was living alone and working solo. The two had been working together for years. Ash had to be almost as worried as I was about her. My heart sank. Thinking about slinging without Isis was almost unbearable. I sympathetically rubbed Ash's head.

They said she's okay, I told myself.

"Alright," Eli started, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "A bit after you left for your recon work, we got a distress call from near the Great Abyss. Isis intercepted us on the Mecha ride there. We figured right away that you must need help, but..." Eli's eyes lowered, and suddenly his voice was filled with shame. "I thought the distress call would be quick. I made the call to take care of the ghoulslingers first, then go to help you. I'm sorry."

At first, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment. The gang had already lost Isis. Then I realized how irrational these feelings were, and how I probably would have made the exact same call if I had been in Eli's position.

"Don't worry," I told Eli, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. "By the time you would have gotten there, I had to have been long gone. You did the right thing."