They were closest to the door, and she wanted them to fetch the remaining bags of food from one of the cars parked outside. They almost whooped in delight when Gabe and Garren were told to help them. The boys made a beeline for them, and when they were in the kitchen, they were all grinning from ear to ear. ‘Where’s the rest of your group, I was hoping to see Seth,’ Garren said as they set down the remaining bags. Caro shrugged in response.
‘They got out of it,’ Claudine mumbled, still fuming that Amber hadn’t bothered to turn up either. Gabe picked up on her mood and put his hand in one of the bags.
‘Bruv…me thinks there’s something very fishy going one.’ He pulled out a large grey fish, holding it by its belly and shaking the head.
‘Idiot!’ Claudine laughed.
‘Fool!’ Caro bumped him with her hips.
‘Hey steady on, no touching on the first date,’ Gabe said and Caro blushed. Garren put his arms round the back of Claudine’s waist.
‘Nah…it’s the other way round. Touching is definitely allowed.’ The girls squealed before simultaneously shifting their bodies round to face them. The kitchen door opened, followed by an annoyed coughing. Soon other hands were stretching forward discreetly placing more bags on the table and Claudine groaned pulling herself away.
It was obvious that everyone disapproved. Maybe it wasn’t the right time, but everyone was so stressed by the meeting, she just wished, for once, they could have fun.
‘I’m not in the mood for meetings – anyone important coming or do you think we’ll be missed? Gabe winked conspiratorially.
‘Not sure,’ Caro whispered back. ‘I heard Andrea talking to the Surrey and Kent group earlier. Think there’s a load coming from there – bet it’s to do with that damn Anna.’ Three heads nod.
‘I heard she’s using mind control to take control of their totems.’
Claudine arched her eyebrow. ‘I‘d like to see her try.’
The noise from the lounge was getting louder, and they all looked towards the door.
‘We’ll find out soon enough. Low level trancers like us, don’t get to know what’s going on – remember?’ Caro half laughed, while sweeping a red gloss over her lips.
Gabe growled, wedging her in the corner of the kitchen and she pretended to struggle.
‘Hey, you should move to our group. We’re all equal, except for Suriah, Jared, Eaton, Lelah and of course Pippa.
‘Shut up…idiot!’ Garren interrupted looking at the mystified looks of the twins.
‘Don’t listen to him; he’s just named everyone in our group.’
Garren’s wide grin froze as the door slowly opened.
‘Everything done? Andrea called, peering round and focusing on Claudine and Caro. Caro blushed when she noticed a faint gloss on Gabe’s mouth, and knew Andrea hadn’t missed it either.
‘We’re about to begin, best to come back in.’ Andrea added, her voice low. When she had gone, Gabe and Garren wiped their foreheads whistling softly.
‘And we thought Pippa was tough.’ they laughed. Claudine and Caro held their fingers to their mouths, nodding towards the doorway.
‘Don’t forget to actually bring some food through,’ the girls reminded them. They looked at each other and smiled.
‘Glad we came,’ Claudine whispered to her sister as they went into the lounge, almost dropping her plate when an eco stepped through the wall.
‘Jeezus, be careful will you? Don’t you guys ever use doors?’ she glowered, and the eco made a peace sign before moving back to his group.
‘At least they’re wearing some clothing,’ Caro whispered.
‘Do you remember the last time?’
Claudine’s shoulders shook so much she nearly dropped her glass of juice.
‘Careful.’ A young girl growled sitting on a nearby chair narrowing her eyes at her. Claudine muttered a quick sorry before rolling her eyes at her sister, giggling again. This time, Caro bumped her causing a domino effect and Claudine found herself sitting on the girl’s lap.
She looked up in horror when they both stood up. She was the height of a giant and juice dripped down her face, like she was melting.
‘It was an accident, big foot.’ Caro snapped coming to her sister’s defence - although they both stepped a little further back. The girl growled, but the growl was deeper than anything they had ever heard before. It vibrated through them, and their mouths dropped. The girl called on her totem in front of them, and almost instantaneously, large paws were sweeping people and food like insects. Andrea pulled the wriggling twins away and into a nearby room. The commotion was deafening, and all they could hear was the splintering of wood and crash of glass before a deafening silence. When Hawk eventually opened the bedroom door, he looked visibly shaken and glared at the twins until they shrunk back on the small bed before turning to Andrea.
‘Haven’t you taught your group to behave in a meeting? She could have killed you and put a few more of us in the ground before we stopped her.’ Andrea who was still biting from their previous argument made the challenge gesture by crossing both arms in front him. Stress over Seth and Nettles and now the twins made her edgy, plus she was still stinging from their last encounter. She wasn’t going to be told what to do, not by him.
‘I’m group leader, you are a guest, just remember that, and considering I’m down to two official members tonight, I would suggest you stop telling me what to do! So, Hawk, are you challenging me?’ She repeated, crossing her arms again, as he exited, slamming the door behind him.
‘Wow, Andrea, you go girl.’ Claudine whispered, instantly regretting it.
Andrea looked at them like she was seeing them for the first time. Her voice was barely a whisper but the anger was obvious and they shrank away.
‘Next time you pick an argument with someone, make sure it’s not a bear, especially a grizzly. And give it a break with those guys, keep that for later. We need to stick together, not stick out.’ The twins stared at the door once she had left. They were baffled.
‘I still don’t know what we did that was so wrong. It was an accident, and she should control her damn totem. I mean, grizzlies aren’t exactly low profile in England. Jeezus, couldn’t she have chosen something else.’ Claudine whispered.
‘I think this is all to do with Nevaeh. I told you it was a bad idea bringing her into the group. Look at the way everyone fawned over her. She’s pretty in a weird sort of way, but she could do so much more for herself.’ Caro said, staring at herself sideways in the long bedroom mirror.
Claudine nodded in agreement. ‘Ready?’ Back in the lounge, Caro rubbed her arms, flushing guiltily at the looks they were getting. Hawk’s house was trashed; the front door was completely missing. They took in the large splinters of wood that had already been swept to one corner and noticed Gabe and Garren holding broomsticks. They were smiling in amusement, and the girls looked cautiously at Andrea before smiling back.
A large table had been cleared in the middle of the lounge. Hawk stood in the centre holding the sacred totem stick of leaders. Everyone was mesmerised except the twins who were still eyeing Gabe and Garren; especially when he mentioned Anna. Patrols were to be set up, and each group leader was given a place to patrol. The eco leader, Quinqui, an old, wizened man, greeted Hawk by touching foreheads. His green and brown skin resembled a mangled root, but his voice was loud and strong. The moment he took the stick, the other ecos murmured their respect in the ancient Gaia language.
‘From the time of Gaia’s birth, we were guardians of the sacred sites. We are voices for her breath, her life. Since the beginning, we have protected her.’