Chapter 13: Someone's in Traaaa-ble!

I officially feel like my soul has been sucked out of me, chewed up, and put back inside with that personal essay I had to write. And that history project I basically did all the work for in my group. And that geometry homework. And biology homework. And…you know what? Enough of the homework talk! I feel dead just hearing that word! How about…ice cream! I could use an ice cream right now! Leave a review with your favorite ice cream flavor below! (yep, I also officially lost it XD) To the next chapt!

"That's some storm!" commented Stephanie, looking gloomily out the farmhouse window.

"Yeah," said Cam boredly. He was still tired from the day's extended training. It didn't help that that the whole time Lawrence had been a real pain in the neck. When he wasn't trying to trip him or set him up for failure, Lawrence glared at him with intense hatred. Cam swore Lawrence was about to go through the roof when he asked Clara if she saw where the pistol from target practice went. He had turned around to find out Lawrence had it.

"There's also somethin' different in the air," said Irene, deep in thought. "Somethin'...evil."

"What does evil smell like, y'all?" asked a very confused Jason.

"That's not...it doesn't... ugh, just never mind!"

A sudden boom of thunder sounded, causing everyone in the room to flinch. Cam threw another log into the fireplace. "Has anyone seen Kyle?" he asked.

Everyone shook their head.

"Last I've seen 'im he was grumbling 'bout how his cattle smell better than us," said Jason with an eye roll.

"What he means is that his cattle, scruffy barn cats, horse stalls, and that dumpster in the back combined smell better than him." said Stephanie.

Irene burst out into laughter. "Good one, Steph!"

Cam laughed as well. "Anyways, y'all," he continued, "what should we do about dinne-"

"THIEVES! ABOMINATIONS! DISGRACES!" Yelling could be heard outside the barnhouse's front door.

Jason took a deep breath. "Here he comes, y'all. With another complaint!"

The door burst open, bringing in a whirl of wind and rain. In came Kyle, pushing two smaller figures in front of him. He slammed the door behind them, and shoved them into the middle of the room.

"I found 'em snoopin' round my horse stables!" Kyle exclaimed, pointing at his captives.

Cam looked the two newcomers up and down. They were young teenagers, a boy and a girl, dripping wet from the rain. They were distinctly wearing the brown and silver colors of the resistance.

The boy's brown eyes widened. "Smithereens?" he asked in surprise. He looked around the room. "Brown? Stormer?"

"I think I recognize them!" said Irene, stepping forward. "Hmm...Will and Serena, right? You're a few of the young recruits."

The two nodded.

"What are y'all doin' here?" asked Cam.

The two immediately began talking over each other, going into deep exaggeration over their tale.

"Whoa, slow down!" said Cam. "One at a time!"

The auburn-haired girl gave Will a glare, and took over the talking. "The mayor's officials caught up to us in the tunnels, and in the chaos, Will, Kimberly, and I were captured. They questioned us, but of course we didn't tell them anything. They put us in prison. But, tricking the guards and trapping them in our own cell, we started to escape. We then saw the mayor and some other creepy guy talking about their plans for capturing all us outlaws. And the mayor said he would let the creep have a high position in the government." Serena shuddered. "They found us, and the creep had his evil glowing minions charge after us. We ran, but Kimberly...Kimberly..."

She stopped, eyes filling with tears. Will put an arm around her, biting his lip.

"Then the two of us got out of there," continued Will, "and we met some bandit in a cave-"

"Enough!" interrupted Stephanie. "You're drenched, exhausted, and went through more tragedies in one day than someone your age would experience in five years. We'll talk about this tomorrow. Let's find you some dry clothes and somewhere to sleep." She took them gently by the shoulders and started to lead them up the stairs.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" exclaimed Kyle in a fluster. "Have y'all forgotten that this is my house? My property? My possessions? I ain't letting some suspicious little kids stay here! They could be thieves as well for all I know! Y'all already ruined and tainted everythang I have!"

Everyone gave Kyle venomous glares. Cam stepped in front of him, crossing his arms. "If I remember correctly, our parent's will clearly said that you would make decisions concernin' the animals and stables, Natalie the crops and treasury, and me, the farmhouse itself. So, technically speaking, y'all have no right to tell me who and who not to let stay here."

The two brothers glared at each other for a good couple minutes till Kyle scoffed and turned away.

"Fine. Invite the whole town here while y'all at it! Ya disappear for who knows how long, and y'all think ya can just barge in here and order me around? Well, I'm goin' to the stables, where I'm appreciated." With that, Kyle went back outside, slamming the door.

Cam sighed, and sat back down. "I just can't get anywhere with him, y'all."

"Don't I know it," said Irene quietly, gazing out the window.

"Well, see what kind of food there is for dinner," said Stephanie, continuing up the stairs. "I don't know about you, but all this constant arguing is making me hungry."

"Now I'm hungry." said Cole.

Sensei Wu face palmed.

"Once again," Skylor said with a sigh, "the interruption has to do with food."

"Spooky," Jay commented randomly.

Sensei Wu opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by a thump!

All the ninja whirled around to find that Kai had fallen asleep and fell off the couch.

"What does this guy think he's doing?" Tia complained. "It's not that far into the night!"

"It's night?" asked Lloyd blurrily. "Why is this story so long?"

"I might have been done if you didn't interrupt, my little sausages," Sensei replied.

"Anyways," said Ivy, "I have the perfect idea for what to do with Kai." She glared at him with an evil smile. Ivy got up and dragged Kai towards the edge of the room while everyone stared at her, confused at what she was planning and also at how Kai didn't wake up.

Ivy pulled Kai up to the large house plant in the corner and tied him up to it, grabbing a spool of Misako's yarn nearby and wrapping it around him several times. She brushed her hands together when finished and walked back to the rest of the team, sitting back down on the floor.

Sensei Wu blinked a couple times before saying, "Well, now that we have, uh, that done, I will continue."

"But I didn't get food!" Cole complained.

"And I didn't get pizza!" Lloyd added.

"No pizza for you!" Sensei replied, "I will continue the story so we're not staying up till four am."

The ninja were silent, waiting for Sensei to say his usual thing. Which he did.

"Now, sausages, I will continue."

The town began to quiet down in the fading light, shopkeepers closing up their shops and stands, and workers hurrying home. Carriages traveled down the rough street, stirring up clouds of dust. Lawrence and Clara made their way side-by-side towards home, avoiding attracting too much attention. Their father was already suspicious about their whereabouts as it is.

Clara stepped carefully over a ditch in the road. "So," she started, "what do you think about the whole Wild Roundup thing? None of us seem to be making much progress in training, except for maybe Stephanie."

Lawrence rolled his eyes. "I think Uncle completely lost his mind! Having us fight next to bandits, wanted fugitives, and insane farmers is one of the most ridiculous things he's ever done. On top of that, he got the idea from a library book!"

Clara's brow furrowed. "But so far everything the prophecy mentioned is coming true. Great evil: that'll be the zarthlus - check! Eleven individuals matching the prophecy's description - check!"

"Insane old man - check!" Lawrence looked over at her, worried. "You can't honestly believe that prophecy, Clara. I mean, we never even seen a zarthlu!"

"But Cam and the others say they saw-"

"Don't believe a word THAT THING says!" Lawrence interrupted fiercely. "He should have been hanged for kidnapping you! I don't know why he's still alive!"

Clara sighed in frustration. "Two things. First, I'm not a kid. For goodness sake, I'm a year older than you! I can take care of myself. Second, as much as I don't fully trust Cam, I can tell he's saying the truth. There is evil in this town, lurking in the shadows-"

"They brainwashed you! Clara, come to your senses! They are-"

He was interrupted when a carriage pulled by two white horses swerved in front of them and came to a creaky stop. It was made of smooth, dark wood, and had elaborate deep green curving designs on the door. Lawrence and Clara exchanged a fearful look. It was one of their father's carriages.

The coachman looked at them skeptically, then turned away as the carriage door opened. Out stepped Henry Porter, one of their dad's assistants.

"There you are!" exclaimed Henry. "Where in the world have you been? I've been looking everywhere!" Henry was only a few years older than Clara, and sorta like an older brother to Lawrence and Clara, having known each other for so long. "The mayor was this close to firing me!"

Clara winced. "Sorry about that. I had extra papers to grade. We're just making our way home right now."

Henry looked them over, not completely convinced, but not pushing it either, something both Clara and Lawrence appreciated. "All right, then. Come on, get in the carriage. The mayor wants to have a talk with you two."

Lawrence stepped towards the carriage, but Clara put an arm out, stopping him. "What kind of talk?" she pressed.

Now Henry winced. "Let's just say it's not a happy discussion."

After the short carriage ride, Henry led Lawrence and Clara into their fancy mansion home and towards their father's study, passing expensive furniture and exotic green hallways. Their family took the Green name to heart when building this place.

Henry stopped in front of the study's door. What sounded like a terse conversation sounded from inside. He knocked three times, and waited. The talking inside abruptly stopped, and after a few seconds Clara and Lawrence heard their father's voice say, "Enter."

Henry opened the door, and the three went in.

The study's walls were, of course, a dark green, and lined with bookshelves and maps. The fire in the brick fireplace crackled and snapped, the only noise in the room. And behind a massive wooden desk sat their father, the mayor. Standing next to him was a middle-aged woman, with long graying brown hair, wearing a simple but expensive beige dress with a green sash.

"Mom?" asked Lawrence, confused. "What are you doing here?"

Lawrence and Clara's mother, Martha Green, spent most of her time in the library, deciphering old texts and scrolls. Not in her husband's dreary personal study.

Their mother gave them a small smile. "Just discussing recent events with your father. Don't trouble yourselves over it." From the slight stiffness in her posture, the two could tell that their parents were arguing over something, but they knew neither would admit it.

Mayor Green turned to Henry. "Thank you. You may leave."

Henry saluted, gave Lawrence and Clara a reassuring nod, and left the room.

Then their mother turned serious, and she gave them a stern look. "What have you two been doing this past week? You're gone before the sun even comes up and don't get back till very late."

"Is that what you called us here for?" asked Clara, looking back and forth between them.

"Partly," said Mayor Green coolly. "Have a seat. We have much to discuss."

Soul Stealer was heading over to the mayor's place to check up on how the plan was coming along. He still doubted that Mayor Green would really uphold his part of the bargain, so a quick trip to remind him of who he would be going against shouldn't do any harm. He was going from bush to bush, not wanting any attention from the stray townspeople making their way home in the fading light. But through the slight drizzle that started up, he could spot two members of the Wild Roundup in the distance. He decided to stalk them.

"Really!?" Lloyd complained.

"We don't have time for this," Sensei Wu said, glaring at Lloyd.

"Fiiiine." Lloyd rolled his eyes.

As it turns out, these members were also heading to the mayor's place. After arguing about something, they got on a carriage that had come up being pulled by two white horses. Soul Stealer watched as they headed towards the mayor's mansion. He crept after them.

After getting to the mansion, he sat under the window outside the mayor's study to spy on the two members, the mayor, and another woman who were in the room.

"Have a seat." The mayor told the members, gesturing to two velvet chairs. "We have much to discuss."

Thissss isss bound to be interesssting... Soul Stealer thought.

Quite short, but time is of thee essence! Till next time y'all, ten una buena semana! ("Have a good week" in Spanish…I hope…I have a Spanish test I need to study for this week and have no idea what I'm doing XD)