Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the TV series The Tribe

This story starts at the end of the Series 5 carrying on the story of the Mall Rats as they escape on the boat away from the city. I am not sure how long the story will be, probably as long as the inspiration lasts.

Let me know what you think, Cheers Sorrel x.

THE HIDDEN

Chapter 1

Within a cove a lone figure stands on the beach, looking out at the ocean. Although it is calm in the bay the view out to sea is a different matter; dark black clouds litter the otherwise perfect azure sky of late summer.

The figure, a girl of 17 with a mane of white blond hair, shades her eyes from the impending sunset and continues to look out to sea. She thinks to herself that the autumn storms are coming earlier this year and she must make sure that everything is ready before it hits the cove. A noise from behind distracts the girl from her thoughts and she turns away from the sea.

The frown that was painted on the girl's face is replaced by a wide smile that lights up all her features; from her rose petal lips to her emerald coloured eyes. A boy is coming towards her, waving and calling her name impatiently. As he gets closer you can see that the term boy isn't an accurate description for the figure; he looks like a bronzed god, broad shouldered, with a mane of honey coloured hair, and laughing green eyes the exact same shade as the girl's.

"There you are!" exclaims the figure as he reaches the girl. "I've been looking for you all over the place, if you want any food you need to get back to the huts. Laurel and Mika have been helping Aaron cook, and you know how Jake and Marc are when the girls have been helping with the cooking!"

"I am just coming Seb, I was checking the lines," the girl indicates a row of fishing lines that are secured along the beach.

"Sorrel you checked the lines earlier, they are all fine! Everything is on schedule; we will be back in the valley in 2 weeks, all in time to help with the harvest." Seb replies. He goes to take Sorrel's arm to help guide her back to the camp and food but she stops him with a gesture. Looking up into his eyes, mirrored green on green meet; no words are spoken but a realisation creeps into his mind and catches up with her worries. He looks out to sea, and she says "There's a storm coming."

All playfulness is gone and he answers in a serious tone, "It looks like we have a few days, a week at most. The fruit has all been collected and packed, some of the fish still needs to be dried and salted. The fresh has already been frozen and transferred back to the valley. We can get everything done, Sorrel, it just means this year we miss out on the feast and the week off in the sun." He smiles at her and continues when she doesn't answer, "Come on we will head back to camp and talk with the others; everything will be fine. There is plenty of time before the storm hits."

"Sorry Seb, I know I am worrying over nothing it is just I can shift this bad feeling that the storm is bringing us more than just wind and rain."

He takes her hand, turns her away from the sea and starts to walk her up the beach towards the tree line. "You worry too much," he says to her. "Whatever this storm brings we will weather it just like all those other things in the past, and all those yet to come but right now the most important thing is to ensure that we don't miss out on Mika's famous spiced chicken and Laurel's coconut cream. Come on I'll race you …" Smiling he lets go of her hand and sprints off in the direction of the trees. Sorrel glances back at the ocean and then runs after Seb, catching him up in seconds. They continuing running together, matching like for like, and giving the impression of two graceful gazelles dancing in the last rays of the sun.

Well there you have it, no Mall Rats on the horizon yet ...