Chapter Eighteen

"And that's all he said?" Aravinda tried to remain calm as Siria nodded and continued to cry. Aravinda had been making some new arrows when Siria burst in, her face flushed and terror stricken. Aravinda had barely been able to ask what was wrong before Started to cry telling her what had happened. Aravinda had been expecting a fight to break out and it was obvious that Siria had been expecting the same.

Aravinda sat her arms wrapped around Siria pulling her close trying to quiet her. "Siria, Siria you have Lev, and he's ad about you. Jay is the past and sometimes you have to let go." Aravinda sighed. She was running out of things to say. She wasn't the person to comfort people. "Uh...and maybe Lev is better for you anyway."

Siria looked up wiping away at her tears. "But, Aravinda, He left and I was standing there and I was thinking...I was thinking that if he would have said he loved me and that he wanted me...I would have gone back to him."

"But what about Lev?"

"I love him; I love him a lot, but I love Jay just as much and maybe even more." Siria lay back down on the mat wiping her nose with a handkerchief. Aravinda looked at Siria, part of her wanted to scream and run, but the other half wanted to help, despite the fact that she had never experienced loving two men at the same time.

Aravinda was grateful for the interruption when Mouse entered unannounced. "Aravinda, Aravinda!"

"What is it?"

"Amber says she wants to have a meeting with you, Siria, and Lev."

Aravinda glanced at Siria. "Are you sure, Siria is a bit under the weather?"

"She says it's important."

Aravinda sighed. "When?"

"Now...."

Aravinda opened her mouth to scream, but instead said, "Fine, tell her will there in a minute."

Mouse nodded and quickly left. After she closed the door Aravinda stood and wetting a rag in a bucket behind the changing screen, she handed it to Siria. "Here, clean yourself up. We don't want Lev suspicious because if he leaves, you'll have no one and you said so yourself; you love him." Siria nodded taking the rag and cleaning her face.

As Aravinda and Siria walked to the tree house were the meeting was to be held, they noticed that Lev was standing outside leaning against the stairway railing.

"What are you doing out here?" Aravinda said in playful disgust.

"Waiting for my lovely fiancée...." He grinned taking Siria into his arms.

"Oh, no love for me?" Aravinda faked upset.

"No, Carrot Top, no love for you."

Aravinda rolled her eyes ignoring the stab at her hair color. "Well then be honest Lev, do the 'rats' bother you?"

"What can I say; they're 'rats'?"

Aravinda smirked slapping him on the back. "Or is it just one 'rat' in particular?" She gave a little laugh before heading up the stairs.

Lex rolled his eyes and kissed Siria on the forehead. "Are you feeling alright; Mouse said you were sick?"

"Yeah, I'm fine just a little headache." She smiled.

"Now let's get this meeting over with." He took hand and lead her upstairs. As they entered everyone was seated in silence and looking at them. Siria nervously pushed back a nonexistent braid and sat next to Aravinda with Lev sitting on her other side. When she looked across from her she saw Ebony giving her an accusing look. "I hope we left our bows and arrows outside." She spoke saucily.

"What afraid of being shot in the ass?" Aravinda retorted coming to Siria's rescue.

Ebony was just about to say something when Amber interrupted. "I'm sorry we came so unexpected but we needed to get here quick and unnoticed."

"What's going on?" Lev questioned.

"It's the new City-Leader."

"Jay didn't win?" Aravinda wondered glancing quickly.

"No he lost to a guy named Moulin, he's new in town. No one really knows anything about him, except that he has brought in his own work force; the Mods short for Moderators."

"Are they like the Technos or the Chosen?" Siria asked finding her voice.

"Not really, but that's what's bothering me. Ebony said she saw something and I'm honestly not sure what to think."

"What did you see?" Aravinda turned to Ebony.

Ebony sighed in self importance. "Well, one day I saw some equipment that used to belong to the Technos, but it was stuff that I had never seen before. I wanted to ask Ram, but Amber is unsure of him."

"But hasn't he been under suspension?" Siria asked suspicious of the idea of ebony following one of amber's orders.

"Yes, but he got off a month ago a little after the stuff."

"You've waited this long?" Lev questioned.

"We were thinking they may have found that stuff; Ebony mentioned it being a little worn, but we didn't see much change until recently with these new laws." Jay joined in.

"Like?" Lev asked.

Jay tensed. "Like this new sunset curfew, the fact that Traders can only sell on certain day, and he permanently dismissed the Tribe-Leader Council that Salene had set up before she left."

"Tribe-Leader Council?" Siria asked trying to calm Jay's anger and take his attention away from Lev.

He looked at her calming slightly. "Yes. Salene set up a council of the tribe leaders in the City to advise the City-Leader, so there wouldn't be too much power for one person."

"I see we're learning from our mistakes." Aravinda mumbled, but it was easily heard and Siria elbowed her in response.

"So Amber, what do you want us to do?" Lev asked.

"Come to the City with us." She hesitated. "The other City kids won't listen; they think Moulin is perfect and with all the trouble of the Eco-tribes the new laws are seen as necessary. Plus we've tried telling them Ebony's story; it didn't work."

"And us?"

"The Mallrats aren't as big as they used to be, we need the extra numbers. The Mods some how have heard of us and are keeping close watch."

"Well then wouldn't they notice you guys showed up with us?"

"Not if you were wonderers and came on your own."

Lev sighed. He looked at Aravinda and Siria. Aravinda nodded her head slightly while Siria just smiled weakly. Lev looked back at Amber. "We'll go."

Amber smiled in relief. "Ok, be ready by tonight."