Dinner was the next time everyone gathered in the same room. Roxton had left before breakfast, dragging poor Ned with him to go "hunting". Ned went with his friend to, if anything, make sure he didn't do something foolish. He was so distracted two raptors could have walked up doing the two step and he wouldn't even have noticed.
Back at the tree house things weren't to much better. Marguerite shut herself away in her own little tree house with Will. No one seemed overly concerned, especially Alex who had on many occasions seen the best and worst of the beautiful woman. He seemed content to spent the day with Veronica and Challenger, exchanging his stories of what's happened in the outside world with their adventures here on the plateau.
But like all things, the relative peace had to end and did when the 8 could no longer avoid each other and gathered around the supper table.
Challenger looked around at his friends. "Family" he amended. No one could go through what they did without becoming closer than any physical bonds of blood could draw a group together. He was going to miss seeing their faces every day.... Clearing his throat he spoke. "Tomorrow Mr. West has offered to show us the way to the cave behind the waterfall and how to navigate our way down safely."
"I think I'll be staying behind..." Veronica said earning a suprised and almost scared look from Ned. "For now," she corrected, smiling and squeezing his hand. "I think Em is coming down with a cold."
"I'll stay too then." Ned quickly offered. "Where went Veronica, so go my nation," he silently quoted to himself.
Marguerite opened her mouth to speak and Veronica quickly beat her too it. "Why don't you leave Will here just in case something happens?" The dark haired beauty frowned as her friend took away her only excuse to stay behind.
"Then it's settled. We'll start out first thing in the morning. With any luck, we'll be home by Christmas." Challenger said, oblivious to the tension in the room.
