Hey, here's a poll: When you write a review (and I'm sure you will) include who your favorite real character is.
Chapter 2: Here We Go Again
Andy looked around. They were standing in front of an abandoned city in the middle of the jungle. "Not this again!" he said exasperatedly.
"All right! It worked!" Jill yelled triumphantly.
"Is this where you were—"Stephanie broke off. "Cait, how'd you get here?"
Caitlin laughed. "I saw all of you and stepped onto that circle. I was going to ask what all of you were doing when we poofed here."
"Jill! Why Shadar Logoth?" Adrienne complained.
"Well, why not?" She laughed devilishly. Andy couldn't tell if she meant to come here or if it was an accident. You never could with Jill. She continued, "Why were you here anyway, Happy?"
"I stayed for math and saw you walking through the parking lot," she giggled. "I decided to follow you, I've got all the time in the world. I can drive."
"I hate you!" Jill said and shoved her.
Andy was very confused. "Where are we? How did we get here? And what is that rock?"
"Shadar Logoth, and you last two questions are the same," Stephanie replied.
"Well, what's the answer?" he asked impatiently.
"Adrienne, cover your ears." Adrienne obeyed, understanding that the answer would give away part of the story, the story they were now part of. "Portal Stone," she said simply.
Andy didn't understand, but he decided that persisting wouldn't get him anywhere. "Great, let's go." He knew what was next and decided to hurry it along.
"Oh, good." Stephanie began rummaging through her bag. She gave everyone a belt knife, belt, and pouch; a staff and blue jewel on a chain for Happy; a bow, quiver, and sling for each Jill, Andy, and herself; a sword with birds on it for Jill, and an axe for herself. "Adrienne, turn around." She handed Andy a gold dagger with a ruby on its hilt. "Keep it hidden, don't take it out unless Mat does, and don't use it unless he does. And what ever you do, don't cut yourself or lose it," she emphasized.
"Can we go now?" he asked.
"Let's go!" Jill said, taking the lead. They wandered about the deserted streets for what seemed like forever. Andy was about ready to throw up his arms and announce that he gave up when they heard screaming.
"Hide!" Stephanie said urgently.
"I though we were trying to find them!" Andy said.
"Yes, but they felt eyes watching them."
"That was Moiraine's wards," Jill argued.
"That's what she said, but what if she's wrong?" Stephanie answered. "Besides, it will be fun."
"Stupid Silk," Adrienne muttered.
"Oxymoron," Stephanie countered and Happy giggled. Three young men bolted out of somewhere. Stephanie darted onto the street to follow with everyone else behind her. Jill protested something, but Stephanie overrode her again.
"They don't dare look back and if we don't follow we'll lose them."
"You're just enjoying yourself," Andy accused.
"Aren't I allowed?"
"Oooh, a palace. I want to live in a palace," Happy said as they ran past.
"Not that one, you don't," Jill warned. The pursued people disappeared through a doorway. Stephanie got there first and peered through.
"You had your fun," Adrienne said and shoved her through. A rich-looking lady got finished chastising the farm boys they were chasing and looked at them curiously.
"We're not Darkfriends," Jill said quickly.
"Then who are you?" Andy couldn't put an age to the woman. She looked young and wise at the same time.
"Well, I'm—" Stephanie promptly shoved Jill into the wall. "All right, all right, spoilsport," she muttered. "I'm Jill."
"Caitlin."
"Adrienne."
"Silk." Adrienne elbowed her. "Stephanie, I mean."
"Andy."
"All right, then. My name is—"
"No!" Jill, Stephanie, and Adrienne yelled in unison, making everyone jump. "Let us guess."
"You're Rand—"
"Perrin—"
"Egwene—"
"Lan's not here—"
"Nynaeve—"
"Moiraine—"
"Thom—"
"and Mat."
Andy completely missed the identification of these strange people. It was obvious from their blank stares that they thought of him and his friends in the same way. It was him who first launched their tale.