Even as they made their way away from Charlie's house, the three could clearly hear Grandma Bone yelling furiously. Terra felt a tinge of pity for Charlie, but it was quickly replaced with a sense of relief for herself. She was with the two safest people possible, and on her way to one of the more well-guarded houses around. All of it was natural protection, too.

They were passing in front of a restaurant, after having been walking for about twenty minutes. Lysander and Terra were in bouts of continuous laughter, seeing as Tancred's stomach grumbled every time he saw something that even remotely reminded him of food.

"Well, it's not my fault I'm hungry," he said with mock indignity, "Lysander insisted we visit you and Charlie, and then there was the issue of the aunts…we could, at least, get a cocoa or a pastry."

Lysander shrugged and replied, "I didn't bring any money with me, mate. Sorry about that," he turned to Terra, giving her a hopeful look, "you have anything, Terra?"

She shook her head glumly, staring longingly at a store across the street, on their other side.

"Or maybe," thought Lysander with a slight smirk, "she's staring at Tanc discreetly. Wouldn't that be funny? I can already tell he wants to look back at her…"

He chuckled to himself and slowed his pace to walk behind them. Neither of them seemed to notice, which he noted mentally with a gleam of triumph in his eye.

"Hey, guys walk a little slower, eh?" he said, grinning all the while, "I'm sort of tired, and you're walking awfully fast…"

Tancred turned and stopped, "Oh, sorry, Sander!" he exclaimed apologetically, "I didn't realize you were behind, I was too busy admiring the food in the windows."

Lysander raised an eyebrow and then winked at him. Tancred stared dumbly back, unsure what his friend was getting at. Shrugging, the African boy caught up with them and said, pointedly, "We're almost to your place, Tanc."

Terra looked ahead, as if trying to guess where Tancred lived among the large houses. They were into the heights, now, and would soon be at the thunder house.

"So, um, what do we tell your parents?" Terra asked tentatively.

Tancred looked thoughtful then replied, "That Charlie's crazy aunts are stalking you and you need to lie low for a while, I guess."

"Great idea, Tanc; The truth. I never thought I'd hear you say that," Lysander agreed with him wholeheartedly.

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They finally reached the thunder house, and the two boys lead Terra in carefully. They were immediately met by Tancred's mother, who smiled brightly at them.

"Why, hello, boys!" she said happily, "oh, my, I have the pleasure of meeting a young lady, today, too! Is she your girlfriend, Tancred?"

His mother looked so hopeful, that Lysander had to resist the temptation to say yes and embarrass his friend immensely.

Luckily, Terra had the sense to answer before either of them, "Um, no, I'm not his girlfriend, Mrs. Torsson," she said with a swift curtsy, "just a friend from school. My name is Terranova, it's a pleasure."

Mrs. Torsson nodded and then said politely, "Well, you all look tired, so I'm guessing you walked here from that Charlie Bone's house?"

They all nodded back and were gratefully herded into the kitchen. She brought out leftovers from dinner, which Tancred had missed, to his annoyance, and seated them at the table.

Terra jumped as a bright flash peeked through the shades and a boom of thunder followed. Looked positively terrified, she looked around, as if for the source. Things had been calm when they'd arrived, which was unusual for thunder house.

Terra hadn't known that, so she'd assumed it was a normal house. Apparently, she didn't realize a calm meant Tancred's father was out. The storm just showed he was back.

"It's okay," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "it's just my dad. He makes storms too, like me."

She gave a sigh of relief and continued to eat as if nothing had happened. Tancred reluctantly took his hand back, wondering if he'd calmed her or his explanation had. He shot a glance at Lysander, who was stuffing his face, now that there was edible food (unlike Bloors' food).

"I'm back!" Mr. Torsson called, entering the room with a gust of wind, "I see we have guests! Hello there, son! How are you Lysander? And, Ms…Tancred's friend, who just happens to be a girl."

He added the last part when Mrs. Torsson gave him a warning look.

"Um, hey, dad," Tancred said, a few raindrops plopping on the table from overhead, "This is Terra. She's being stalked by Charlie's psycho-aunts, so she needs to crash here for a day or so. Is it okay?"

Mr. Torsson smiled and replied in a booming voice, "Why, of course she can! A friend in need is a friend indeed!"

"Daaad…" Tancred rolled his eyes, "I thought we talked about not using corny rhymes…"

Mr. Torsson only smiled and snagged some food off of Tancred's plate before disappearing into the living room.