The two girls walked out of the store and looked up to the clock tower nearby. Fifteen minutes.
"I really think you should have gotten that shirt, Mynara! Really, black and white, it's so monotonous!" Myst giggled, poking her friend in the side.
"But I'm not one for anything else, really." She looked down at her simple new outfit. White t-shirt, white jeans, again, no shoes. "I like to stay simple."
"But you don't even have any patterns or pictures on your clothes!"
"That would have been overkill, seeing the pictures on my skin."
"I guess you're right, but it's still fun to add a little change to your everyday!"
"This IS a change, haven't you been paying attention? I don't generally like anything other than my thin cotton hunting gear." Both laughed, turning a corner and poking at each other. "So where's that spot he told us to meet him at?"
"Uh, I think it's this way. I forgot, running towards the sound of people." Mynara giggled.
"Come on, it's a shortcut." Myst pulled Mynara down a tiny dark ally, running towards the bright street on the other side.
"Stop." Mynara froze, Myst following suit seconds later.
Suddenly, someone jumped down from the roof and landed in front of them, hands on her hips and an eyebrow held high. Three other girls jumped down around her, and two others poked their heads out from above them.
"Who are you?" Mynara asked, pulling Myst closer and behind herself.
"The name's Alex, I run this city, in a manner of speaking. Who are you?"
Myst looked around, wondering at the girls surrounding them, but Mynara kept her focus on the first.
"My name is of no concern, I don't wish any harm to your people or your city. Why have you surrounded us?"
"You know we surround you even before you're told, interesting." She picked at a stray black hair, pushing it back behind her ear and replacing her hand on her hip. "We want to know why you're here."
"In Cocoon or the ally?"
"The ally."
"It's a shortcut to where we're going. At least that's what I'm told. Is there some rule, 'don't go back here'?"
"As a matter of fact, no, but it IS the one place people don't tend to go. Where are you going?"
"To the borders of town, and then probably back to my world. I'm not sure about her." Mynara shrugged towards the girl behind her.
"Well, isn't that nice?" Alex chuckled. "So where is your world?"
"I'm not sure, but I live in sector eight." Mynara kept her face flat and emotionless. It made Myst edgy.
"Well, fine then. I'm Alex, this is Sam, Max and Cat, those two up there are Fire and Eli. If one of you needs a place to stay, we'd be happy to take you. Here." She handed Mynara a slip of paper. "This is our bunk, come find us if you need us."
"But boss, weren't you mad?" The one named Max asked quietly.
"Nah, I like her style, and this girl is just lonely as you were." Alex placed a gentle hand on the girls cheek. "It's okay." The other relaxed.
"If we need to, we might show up." Mynara promised. "But I might not, I have a home, and people depending on my return."
"That's fine, if nothing more come by for a social visit sometime." Alex grinned.
Mynara nodded, loosening up a little. "That sounds nice, but we have somewhere to be soon."
"Fine with me," The young woman stood back, throwing her long black hair over her shoulder and running a few fingers through it. The others dropped their weapons, some running off while two stayed. One above and the girl named Max. Mynara smiled, and offered a hand. Alex took it and they shook. At their touch, Max stiffened, but relaxed when she was satisfied that Mynara didn't mean any harm.
"Well, sorry for keeping you, have a nice day and I hope to see you sometime in the future."
"Thank you, and good luck with your girls."
"Could I ask your name again, perhaps?"
"Mynara."
Bother nodded, and the silently, Myst and Mynara left, heading for the cliff outside town.

"Well, before I leave you two for good, why don't I buy you lunch? You must be hungry."
"Very." Myst laughed, "Here, Mynara give him the bag back. We didn't spend much, she didn't trust me with it."
"She would have spent us all broke." Mynara smiled, handing the bag back. It was almost as full as it had been. "I'm not a spender myself."
"Cool, come on."

As they walked out of the sandwich shop, Axel sighed. "Well girls, it's been fun! But I have to go back and give the last book to my friend." He smiled, patting Mynara on the shoulder. "Bye!"
"Bye, Axel." Mynara grinned again, hugging him gently, as Myst threw her arms around his waist and laughed.
"Where are you two off to?"
"I'm off to my father's world, not sure about Myst."
"I want to go back to the girls, they seem like the place for me." Myst smiled and held out her hand. "Can I have the address?"
Mynara held out the paper. "Here, I won't need it, good luck."
Myst ran off across the square and behind a building.
"Well, see you later?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Tell me," Axel asked. "What is your homeworld?"
"I don't know, but I live with my father in sector eight, why?"
"Curious, I'd like to tell a friend who I've met while away."
"Cool, then I guess, bye." Mynara walked away, heading in the direction of the trains she had seen earlier.
"Bye, Myn!"