Story (c) Llee
Story (c) Llee
Novia and Tierra Senalda, Corbin, Miss Alondra and Vasco Alondra (c) Llee
Jane, Barney, Simon Drew (c) Susan Cooper
Everything else (c) Susan Cooper

Author's note~
Did some more name looking up. Tierra means 'earth'. I thought it fit because mother earth... you know? Vasco means 'crow'. Boy, I sure do like a lot of crow/raven names, huh? Plus, did I say Senalda meant 'pure'? Well, sorry to mislead you. It actually means 'a sign'. Which fits in, don't you think? *wink* I wonder where Will will come into all of this... *chuckle* Also, I'm wondering whether I should continue exactly to Susan Cooper's story. Should I go with the script or flow freely? I was just afraid someone would mind if I totally changed it. Plus, I don't go 'Miss and Mr. Alondra' because I thought it kind of didn't sound right. So, please don't mind if I just say 'Miss Alondra and Mr. Alondra' all throughout the story. I hope I get the Drew kids' personalities right. By the way, if you want to see some ugly pictures I drew of Novia and Corbin, go to fanart.lionking.org and look up the artist, llee. I only drew one of each so, it might take a while to find. They're in feline form, of course. Novia is a lion, and Corbin is a panther. You don't have to, only if you dare...

Reviewers~
Wild Magick Girl, Alana the Rain Goddess, Britannia Potter
Thanks for reading and reviewing the fourth chapter! I hoped you enjoyed it. I'll be taking some ideas but not all of them. I'll be sure to try to take all of them into consideration. I appreciate the help. That's all right about the Las Vegas thing. I just gave you some background info, that's all! I remember that part about the kidnapping! Barney's being forgetful... hehe. The Drew kids are just one year older than from the original, but I don't know how old they ARE in the original. Sorry, can't help you there. Eh... yea, well I think this is where the personalities go askew (Ooo! I used one of my vocabulary words!!!). Ok then, we'll see what happens. When I write, I don't even know what's going to happen! I don't plan things! That's why everything is so unorganized... Oops! Sorry about Will. I know how you're all DYING to see him appear. I don't know, I think his entrance should be something... unique, hehe. By the way, I think I made the Drew kids a bit TOO prejudiced and cautious. Oh well, hope no one minds.

Chapter 5~
Introductions

'Novia, I met some friends here. Be nice,' Mrs. Senalda told her daughter patiently.

Novia looked insulted. 'I thought this was supposed to be just the two of us!'

'I know, I know. But I haven't seen these people in years. Please be patient. We'll just catch up a bit, and then, you'll never have to see them again.' She smiled, trying to convince her.

'Well... as long as we're still going jet skiing.'

'Promise.'

Novia smiled. 'Ok.'

'Let's go now. Those kids seem really nice.'

Novia frowned. This was supposed to be a vacation with her mom. Now it was just some sort of reunion with whoever these people were. She never heard of them or seen them before.

'How many did you say there were? Two boys and one girl?'

'Yes, I believe the girl's a bit older, but I'm sure you'll get along just fine,' Mrs. Senalda reassured.

Novia still kept her stubborn frown. It seemed pasted to her face. They rode down the elevator. The elevator music poured into her ears, drowning all thought. She stepped out. They walked towards a pair of doors and swung them open. Sunshine glared into their eyes. They could see the river, flowing smoothly, dark as night.

'There you are!' An unfamiliar figure waved at Novia from a distance. She squinted to see a firm, yet friendly woman racing towards them.

Mrs. Senalda waved back. 'Hey! I've brought Novia to meet you all.'

/Ha! I didn't come all the way over here just to meet some strangers in the middle of the desert./ Novia grumbled as she thought this.

'Hello, it's nice to meet you,' Novia greeted while trying to be polite. She didn't hate this woman. It was just that... they had destroyed her vacation! She secretly resented them for that, even if they didn't do so intentionally.

'Why, hello there. What's your name?' the woman said sweetly. Her voice annoyed Novia deeply. It was a voice for children, one that shouldn't be speaking to her.

'Novia, and what is yours?' she replied boldly.

The two women laughed. Novia narrowed her eyes. Was everything she did so childish? 'My name is Miss Alondra.'

'Oh.'

'Well, shall we get going?' Mrs. Senalda asked quickly, trying to cover an awkward moment.

'Yes, we should. I'm sure Barney and the others are getting impatient.'

'Of course.' They headed off, towards an array of docks, boats, and people. Novia quickly reasoned that Barney should be one of the children.

A tall man stepped out to meet them. 'Hello, Novia. I heard you like jet skiing. Ready for some action?'

Novia nodded slowly. She decided he liked him better than Miss Alondra. At least he didn't treat her as though she were 5.

But where were the children?

'Um... not to be rude, but where is "Barney and the others?"' Novia asked.

Mr. Alondra looked around, a frown forming on his face. 'Maybe they just went around to explore. They always do.' He shook his head. 'Crazy kids,' he mumbled.

'Ah... I'll go look for them,' Novia offered.

'Thank you. As soon as you find them, just mention my name, Mr. Alondra. Then they'll surely come running.' He chuckled to himself.

~**~

'Hullo. You like boats?'

'Huh? Who are you?'

'What? Is there something wrong with saying hello?'

Jane and Simon looked at each other. Barney looked at Jane and Simon. 'Let's go back to Miss Alondra and Mr. Alondra.' He didn't like the dark boy with a mischievous grin. He even had a black feather behind his ear. What's with that?

'Yea, let's go, Simon,' Jane agreed.

'Well I want to take a good look at those boats.'

'Come /on/, Simon. We'll look at them while we're jet skiing,' Jane pleaded. She stared at the dark boy. She frowned.

'Fine, fine. We're going.' Simon gave in grudgingly.

Corbin shrugged as the three started to trod off.

~**~

Novia saw them, three figures in the distance. She was pretty sure it was them. They were standing by a rail by several remarkable vessels. Then she noticed a fourth. Novia started to run towards them, just to be sure that it wasn't who she thought it was. Corbin. What was HE doing here? She was pretty sure he was stalking her. Why else would he be here? She growled to herself.

/Corbin, what do you think you're doing here?/ Novia snarled angrily into his mind.

/You look so unhappy to see me! Is there something wrong?/ Corbin replied sarcastically back.

/Yes, there is something wrong! How many people want to ruin my vacation? It's a conspiracy!/ She almost let out a sob.

'Slow down there!' Someone grabbed her sleeve.

She turned to see three concerned faces looking straight at her.

'Oh!' Novia exclaimed, caught by surprise. She had almost ran right past them. 'Are you the three kids with Mr. Alondra?'

'Why, yes. You must be Novia.' Jane held out her hand.

Novia took it and shook it. 'Um... nice to meet you.'

'We were just about to leave,' Jane gave Corbin a glare.

Novia smiled secretly in her mind. 'He's not a popular character, is he?'

'Hm? You've... met?'

'Um...' Novia suddenly became nervous. 'Why yes. He's actually um... I've met him,' she finished, shaking slightly.

Barney raised an eyebrow. 'Met him where?'

'Ah...' Novia trailed off.

'We're old friends.' Corbin walked up to them, hands in his pockets.

Novia gave him a shocked look. /How dare you!/ she screamed into his mind.

Corbin shined one of his famous grins.

Barney looked unconvinced. 'You're here together?'

'No!' Novia shouted. 'I mean... I came with my mom. ONLY my mom.'

Barney kept quiet, still looking suspiciously at the two.

'Oh, come on, Barney. Stop being stubborn,' Jane scolded.

'Where's Simon?' Barney just noticed.

'Yes, where IS Simon?' Jane looked around.

'Is that him? There by the boats?' Novia pointed.

They all turned to look. There he was, staring as though he had a craving for these boats.

Corbin raised an eyebrow. 'Is this brother of yours... normal?' Novia stamped on his foot. 'Ow!' He rubbed his toes.

'Simon! Let's get going!' Jane called.

Simon turned his head. 'Hm?'

'Let's go!' Barney yelled.

'Oh, coming!' Simon rushed over. 'Those are some marvelous boats all right.' And he went on, describing the boats in CAREFUL detail.

Jane almost yawned but caught herself. 'That's lovely, Simon. Can we go now?'

Barney looked very annoyed. He WAS interested in boats, too. But since he got into art, he began to gradually lose interest. 'I want to go jet skiing! Mr. Alondra's probably waiting! He's going to get mad!'

Then Jane and Simon perked up. 'You're absolutely right, Barney. We wouldn't want to get Mr. Alondra angry,' Jane stammered. The three rushed off, leaving Novia and Corbin behind.

'Wait up!' Novia called. 'Corbin, you coming?' She turned her head to see if he was. He had disappeared somewhere. 'Corbin?' She shrugged. She trailed after the Drew kids. 'This is going to be a heck of a day.' She checked her watch. It was 10:00 already. If they wanted to have some fun ON the jet skis, they were going to have to hurry up. She sprinted across the wooden docks, trying to catch up to the quick three.