"You're insane!" Danny cried.
Louie quickly shushed him, and they glanced out the window to check no Street Panthers were nearby. Dan had spent the last few minutes listening to Louie's mad-cap plan which was basically to hope there where no Street Panthers around and make a desperate run for woods outside the city. "It's not logical; we need a much better plan than that load of garbage!" Dan exclaimed.
"Well, if you have a better plan, please do share it." Louie said.
"We lay low, find a place to shelter, stock up on food and water then keep heavy surveillance on any possible threats, get used to their routine, see if there are any patterns, plot the safest route and finally we move when the time is right." Danny suggested.
Louie sighed, "You always were the man with a plan, weren't you Danny?"
Danny nodded, hoping his old friend would listen to reason, so they could move out of the ransacked and burnt shack they were squatting in. "It makes sense Danny," Louie continued, "But, I've been stuck here for so long, you don't know how tough it's been. I've tried everything, took things slow and steady, all that I've achieved is to lose George to a Bloodhound patrol, I'm telling you, these are no playground bullies, these guys are like military units, it's impossible to beat them!"
Danny sighed, George had been another old friend, together the trio had ruled the school, but, he had no heart for bulling left, he just wanted to help who he could, it might be too late for George, but, he was certain there were others.
Danny sat there thinking about the two rival tribes, he admired the leaders of these gangs, and the fact that they inspired loyalty and respect or at least enough fear to turn everyday kids into an efficient military force. Finally Danny spoke, "Nothing's impossible; I'm still alive aren't I? I slipped through their net, thanks to you."
"True, but, who's going to protect us? Well, Danny? Who's got our back? There are only two of us and I'm desperate to get out, so would you if you'd been here as long as I have!" Louie explained.
"Well then," Danny mused, "that means everyone else is in the same boat."
"Huh?" Louie said, a look of confusion spreading across his pale face.
"Think about it," Danny explained, "If everyone here is just as desperate as you, then I'm sure they'd be willing to lend a hand."
"I'm not sure, Danny." Louie said.
"It has to be worth a try, hasn't it?" Danny asked.
Suddenly a voice spoke from out of the shadows, "I agree."
Danny and Louie leapt to their feet in fright and assumed fighting stances; they were being watched by a stranger, who'd been their all along. Out of the shadows stepped a young boy, he could only be a few years younger than themselves. He looked almost as thin and pale as Louie, but, he had mischievous, intelligent grey eyes that peeked out from underneath his fringe that was part of his thick, shaggy brown hair. He wore a simple grey shirt and dark blue jeans, he also had a black jacket that seemed too big for him and around his neck was a cord of black string and on the end was a dark black claw. "I didn't mean to frighten you." He chuckled.
"I wasn't scared." Louie lied, dropping his aggressive pose.
Danny stayed cautious, "Who are you and what do you want?"
"I apologise," he said, "for dropping in unannounced, my name is Todd, and this is my humble abode or what's left of it. I fear all my provisions are gone, so I've nothing to offer you."
Danny eyed up the boy warily, he looked honest enough, but, it seemed as if a sneaky smile was constantly playing behind his shining grey eyes, Danny spoke "Okay, it's obvious you're planning something and besides you still haven't answered my question… what do you want?"
"I simply wish to be of use to someone. My life has taken a turn for the worse, I've no food or water and I can't stay here, I want out as much as you two. But, I've no way of doing it, I agree with you, Danny, that with some help we have a better chance. United we stand, alone we fall." Todd explained.
"I don't trust him." Danny whispered to Louie, "is it possible he's a spy for these Street Panthers?"
Louie replied confidently, "Don't be ridiculous, if he was he'd have killed us already, besides it's nice to see a friendly face and he seems truly willing to help us."
Todd continued, "I know some worthy candidates for this group of ours."
"Wait a second," Danny interjected, "we said nothing about a group, we just need a few useful people who have knowledge of the city and some skills that can help us escape. We're not starting a tribe or anything."
"I never said we were," Todd replied, that sneaky smile playing on his lips once more, "we will gather back here as soon as I can."
"Um, how many people are we talking about?" Louie asked.
"Oh, only a couple." Todd said; a mischievous grin now spread wide across his face.
Half an hour later the house was full with six other people. "I thought you said there would only be a couple of them!" Louie exclaimed.
The children Todd had gathered where all his age of younger. "Sorry, I was only planning on bringing a few, but I found a load of strays and it wasn't in my heart to leave them all alone." Todd lied.
Danny saw now that as soon as he'd been pulled through that window, Todd had been directing him towards looking after this bunch of misfits.
"Look, we've got to be harsh, only those that are useful can stay." Louie declared.
Muttering arose from the group, "I disagree!" shouted a small child, he had short ginger hair and a freckled face his eyes where bright green and when his gaze was on you it seemed his eyes were boring into your very soul, "we are all useful, some more at some things than most and some less at different things, but, more at those yet to be thought of."
"Who's that nutcase?" Louie asked.
"That's Jonathan." Todd said.
"Is he always like that?" Danny asked.
"Indeed." Todd replied.
"Well, what does he mean anyway?" Louie wondered.
"He means that everyone's good at different things and someone could be good at something we haven't thought of yet." Danny explained.
"You have to admit, he has a point." Todd said.
"Alright, maybe he does, but, we can't all stay here." Danny cried.
He felt someone tug on his sleeve he spun round to see a boy, not much younger than Todd, he had a thin face and scruffy black hair, "I know a place, it's really secret, and I doubt anyone else knows it even exists." He said.
"Can you take us there, Zach?" Todd asked.
He nodded and dashed out the door and the small troop of children followed, keeping watchful eyes out for enemy tribes.