Tum tum pushed Rocky aside and grabbed Jaz. He held her tightly for several seconds, "You're real," he smiled, "What are you doing here?"
She pulled back and looked into his eyes, trying to see if this man was still like the boy she remembered. He was so eager for adventure as a child and she hoped he still was. She smiled warmly, this was the first time in years that she felt anything.
"Looking for you."
"Me?" Tum tum asked placing a quivering hand on her cheek.
"Yes you...and your brothers."
"Move aside woman," Colt hissed pushing past the two.
Colt stopped as soon as he saw the shining face of Copperclaw smiling at him.
He looked over his shoulder at Jaz, "I hope this guy is with you."
"Yes, he is," She replied.
Tum tum's heart shattered. He had come to accept that he might never see Jaz again, but the thought of her ever loving anyone but him was too much to bear.
Holly peeked over Tum tum's shoulder, "Nice to meet you both. Come on Tum tum show me that place you said we could skinny dip."
Jaz directed her attention to Holly, "Hello, my name is Jasell, you may address me as such." She offered a hand, "And that gentleman is my travel companion. You may call him Copper."
Copper looked as thought he would explode with excitement. He leapt from the chair he have been patiently waiting, using his excess energy to tap his foot wildly, and grabbed Tum tum and gave him a hug.
"Old friend, I remember you well,"
"Copperclaw?" Colt asked with new interest.
"Hello Colt," Copper spun and shook his hand vigorously. "Rocky," he smiled extending his arms.
Rocky smiled and embraced him, "You look different."
Copper spun slowly letting them examine him while he asked, "Like it? It's my temporary disguise."
Rocky laughed with a nod.
Tum tum sighed in relief, it was only Copperclaw.
"Tum tum..." Holly whined.
"Not now," he held up a warning hand.
Rocky stepped into the cabin leading Rebecca.
"Hi," Rebecca said to Jaz.
"Hello," she stated coolly.
"Aren't you going to tell her she's not welcome here?" Rebecca asked Rocky in a whisper.
Rocky shook his head, "No, because she is welcome here."
Colt rolled his eyes, "Jaz you said you were looking for us. How come? Is K here?"
Jaz shook her head, "No, she's not."
"Good," Colt growled.
Jaz wrinkled her brow, "What the hell happened to you?"
Colt slapped the counter and in an angry voice he turned on her, "You happened to me! You and your cousin. That's what. And that bitch of a best friend of yours! Did you ever think for a minute we'd be angry about you making decisions for us? We sure as @#%$ knew it was you that decided we couldn't stay, for whatever messed up reason. And guess what? We wanted to stay. How often do you get a chance in your life like that? You were the worst thing that ever happened to us!"
"What about your life here?" Jaz growled calmly.
"What about our lives here?" Colt laughed, "Yes, I had forgotten what it was like to run around trying to catch up and never quite making it. I suppose you are right there." he said sarcastically, "Or as in Rocky's case, meeting a bitch of a woman. And what's worse...marrying her."
"Colt!" Rocky yelled in rage, "Just because you've grown up to be a complete looser and you're miserable, doesn't mean you should take it out on Jaz. Or that you should try and destroy the success and happiness I have obtained."
Un uncomfortable hush settled over the group.
Colt stared at Rocky, "A looser?" He whispered in a defeated tone. Colt walked toward the door, "Your right dad."
The door slammed so hard it shook the house. Rebecca's face had turned a deathly pale, and then instantly it was red, "I can't believe this!" She shrieked. "I just knew this was a bad idea. I'm not even unpacking. She's leaving or you're taking me home!" She screamed at Rocky while pointing to Jaz. Jaz smiled bitterly as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Colt didn't mean it hun," Rocky eased.
"Like hell he didn't," Rebecca huffed.
Jaz patted Rocky's back, "Lucky guy."
Copper looked over to Rebecca with a with a frown, "She's nothing like Mel."
"Excuse me! Who is Mel?"
"Oh, she's a wonderfully kind Queen who Rocky use to date. They have a …"
"COPPER-CLAW!" Jaz snarled, "Hold your tongue you scaly beast or I shall remove it."
Copper winced and backed into a shadowy corner, "Sorry Jaz," she said barely above a whisper.
Rebecca turned to Rocky, "We are so going to have a talk later."
Rocky hardly heard her as he stared at Jaz, "She married him…the Prince?"
Jaz smiled softly, "Yes, she did."
Tum tum put a hand on Rocky's shoulder, "Sorry man."
Rebecca snarled, "Don't be sorry. It too is taken."
Holly stopped tugging on Tum tum and asked, "You used to date a Princess?" She stared at Rocky in awe.
Jaz bit her tongue in frustration and quelling her intolerance toward these two, very annoying females, she tried to be as diplomatic as possible.
"Rocky, Tum tum…" she paused a moment to wisely choose her words.
"Samuel and Michael, if you don't mind," Rebecca interjected.
Jaz stared coldly into Rebecca's eye and Rebecca flinched as if she'd been hit.
"I do mind. I have come all this way to seek the aid of the three ninjas I knew years ago. Not a bitter Jeffery, a whipped Samuel or a pathetic Michael."
Tum tum frowned, "I'm pathetic?"
"Not just you," Jaz growled, "Her," she pointed to Holly, "Oh, and hat I forgotten, her." Jaz batted her eyelashes at Rebecca. "Yes, you're all pathetic to be quite honest. Rocky, you used to be a stand up kind of guy; one I would have trusted my life with. "And you," she looked at Tum tum, "I gave my heart to you…" she eyed Holly, "but I can now see the mistake I made."
Holly cut her off, "Uh...Tum tum?"
Tum tum pushed Holly away from him, "She's not with me."
Holly's face contorted, "But."
Jaz smiled momentarily then adding, "I'm not finished."
"You sure as hell are!" Rebecca screamed as she drew back and laid the back of her hand across Jaz's cheek.
Jaz touched her tender flesh and began to laugh evilly. Rocky's jaw nearly hit the floor as Tum tum was instantly at Jaz's side.
"Oh shit," Tum tum said, "you shouldn't have done that."
When Jaz looked back to Rebecca, Rocky had to leap over the couch to stop whatever Jaz was about to do. Rokcy held one of Jaz's arms while Tum tum had the other.
"Copper no," Jaz stated calmly as Copper was lunging toward Rebecca. One of his hands had reverted to its natural state and his sharp claws were mere inches from Rebecca's throat when Jaz commanded he stop.
Rebecca screamed, "Eww, what is that?"
"You all are way too fucking weird for me. I'm out," Holly paused a moment longer, "Oh and Rebecca they're all right...you're a bitch."
"Samuel let go of her now, we're leaving."
Rocky looked at Jaz. He knew she would not have come here just on a whim, someone had to be in trouble, "Rebecca, get the keys from Colt and drive Holly into town so she can catch a bus."
"If you think I'm gonna-"
"Rebecca!" He screamed, "Just do it! We will talk when you get back."
"Fine," Rebecca growled and stalked out of the house after Holly.
Rocky and Tum tum released Jaz. Copper's hand melted back to that of a human.
"I'm surprised," Jaz looked back and forth between the two.
"'Bout what?" Tum tum questioned.
"What you have grown into."
Rocky smirked. Jaz glanced at Tum tum, but before she could say anything Rocky asked, "Jaz what's going on?"
"The reader's digest version please," Tum tum added.
Jaz nodded, "This was a stand alone act decided by K and myself. Mel would never be able to pull herself together long enough to listen to a logical plan."
Copper nodded in agreement.
"Why? What happened to Mel?" Rocky asked in a worried tone. Tum tum smiled and nudged his brother.
"Well, she was left widowed by an arrogant boy who pretended to be an adult while ruling a kingdom. But that's not what troubles her. This man managed to get Mel's son, the duke and several other nobles captured by barbarians before he was murdered."
"And what's that got to do with us?" Colt asked just stepping in the door.
Jaz walked over to stare at a picture on the wall. She gently reached her hand out and pushed her fingertip on the glass across from Grandpa's hand. She did not need to ask the boys, she knew he had passed on.
"We need you to rescue Mel's son and whatever remaining nobles live."
Jaz dropped her arm and turned to the boys, "Anyone good enough in our kingdom would be recognized and caught. We need outsiders who have strength, spirit, heart and the skills needed to save our kingdom."