Authors Note: Thanks to Napordie your review is greatly appreciated
Any and all reviews are welcomed even negative reviews; I always need the criticism to improve my fanfics.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or their histories I'm just borrowing them for a while.
At dawn the next day the mallrats were ready to move on. Bray JR was strapped to Ambers back and Trudy carried Brady, the fire had been put out and everyone was ready for the long walk. May carrying the first aid kit and Ram his rucksack with all the food that remained after they had had a pitiful breakfast of berries, sweets and water. Ellie had a makeshift crutch of driftwood with Jacks shirt around the handle as a cushion. As the group walked they split into smaller groups:
Lex walked at the head of the group with Ram a few paces behind nervously pulling his sleeve over the techno zapper which he had not mentioned to the rest of the tribe. Slade and ebony were holding hands as they walked in watchful silence. Near the middle of the group Ruby, Salene and Trudy were talking about the eco-tribe and foraging for food in the forest. Jack was supporting Ellie as she hobbled along refusing his offers of carrying her, however much pain she was in. Gel walked in the thick of the group moaning loudly about how terrible she looked and much her feet hurt, to which no one paid any attention. May and Darryl brought up the rear both at ease and mouse, Lottie and Sammy played tag around the group.
During the day the tribe made good progress stopping whenever they felt the need to rest. At about midday they came to the outside wall of the grounds to which belonged the house. As the rest of the group hung back, Lex, Ebony and Jay entered through a back gate and approached cautiously not knowing what to expect.
After creeping round some overgrown plants they saw an older girl of about 17 Harvesting fruits and nuts from a large garden of fruit trees and vegetable beds that had been well cultivated. The girl had long blond hair with lilac streaks and the front half of her hair was pulled back into a plait studded with small white flowers. She was wearing blue jeans with a mauve waved line vertically down each leg and a lilac top under a deeper purple leather jacket.
The girl looked up startled and saw the trio Jay knew they had been seen and saw no reason to stay hidden when she knew they were there. The girl froze when she saw Jay's attire but relaxed slightly when she saw Lex and Ebony were not dressed similarly. She started towards them abandoning her fruit and demanded
"Who are you and what is your business here?" Jay stepped forward with Lex on his left and Ebony on his right.
"We're the mallrats, our boat was sunk in the storm a few nights ago and we're stranded." By now the girl was stood about a metre on front of Jay
"How many of you...Mallrats are there?" She asked warily,
"About 20 or so" Jay replied
"Then where are the rest of you?" she asked half expecting them to be creeping up on her.
"They're…" Jay started before Lex cut in
"Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?" Lex suggested threateningly stepping in front of Jay
"Lex." Jay said irritated
"No we've told her about us so let's hear a little about her." Lex said without taking his eyes off the girl who stared back defiantly.
"What's your tribe?" Lex demanded of the girl.
"I don't have one" she responded immediately.
"Beth do you want some help with the berries?" called a young girl in a sporty pink outfit coming out of the house and walking down the path. The younger girl froze when she saw the strangers
"Alicia go back inside," Beth called to her, Lex smiled evilly
"No Tribe eh?"
"Lex back off" Ebony warned
"We've told the truth now don't you?" he continued ignoring Ebony. "So, how many people in your tribe?" Lex asked Beth who repeated
"Alicia go back inside" as the girl hadn't moved but this time she obeyed running swiftly up the path.
Beth took a step back and Lex grabbed her arm "Now where are you going?" He asked menacingly. Beth looked slowly at his hand and then back at the smirk on his face,
"Remove your hand." She instructed in a dangerous tone.
"Or what?" Lex questioned
"Lex let her…" Jay started but Beth swung her free fist and hit Lex in the face with enough force to make him stagger back and release her arm.
"Or that." Beth she answered him.
"I'm really sorry about Lex; he's just…well he's just like that I'm sorry." Jay explained stepping between the two in order to prevent any more fighting and putting out his arm as Lex started back again. Beth looked at Jay for a few seconds
"Where is the rest of your tribe?" She asked again.
"Behind us outside the grounds, we're a scouting party of sorts." Ebony explained as Lex stood by glaring.
"If you're a mallrat, why are you in a techno costume?" Beth asked Jay suspiciously.
"You've heard of the Technos?" Ebony asked surprised
"They have an outpost down the beach." Beth explained.
"You never said anything Jay." Ebony said as Lex looked on knowingly
"I...uh...didn't realise we were on this island." Jay said partly truthfully as he hadn't been sure. Ebony sensed there was something more but did not press him for answers.
"Well I'm an ex-techno now." Jay said addressing Beth.
"Why don't you go and get your tribe and I'll get my friends" she said pointedly looking at Lex. "And we'll see if we can work something out." Beth suggested. Jay nodded
"Thanks we'll be back in a few minutes" the trio walked back to the gate Lex in front of both Ebony and Jay so he could not do anymore damage.
"So how did it go?" Ruby asked as they approached the group.
"It went ok, there are at least two people that live there and they might consider letting us stay with them." Jay answered
"Might?" Amber asked
"Well it could have gone better couldn't it Lex?" Ebony said as she walked over to Slade.
"What did he do this time?" May asked disdainfully, Lex glared at her viciously
"No more than usual, you know threatening, fighting, getting hit!" Ebony replied emphasising the last words.
"Shut it." Lex said angrily at her taunting.
"She said we can go a discuss staying there with her and her friends." Jay interrupted to prevent another argument.
"But we know nothing about their tribe." Darryl protested "How many people, weapons, intentions?"
"They seemed harmless enough to me" Jay said
"Just not to Lex." Trudy teased.
"So are we going or what?" Salene asked to hurry things along.
"All in favour of going to the house?" Amber asked everyone but Lex raised their hands as they were exhausted, hungry and felt the risk was worth it.
"Ok let's go." Jay said starting back up through the gate with Amber.
The group filed in the children near the middle and Lex reluctantly following behind.
As the mallrats rounded the trees they saw Beth, Alicia and two boys stood waiting for them. One was tall, had brown hair and was wearing black clothes including a sleeveless top that clearly showed his muscular torso and make up, creating a gothic image for him. The other was short, had blue hair, plump and wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and an open navy shirt over the top. The gothic guy looked about the same age as Beth and the other was obviously the youngest at around 13.
"Well," Beth paused "I'm Beth this is Alicia, Danny and Michael." Beth introduced indicating each by pointing, Danny being the Goth and Michael the youngest. Jay introduced the Mallrats and each nodded or waved in greeting. "Is this your whole tribe?" Beth asked for confirmation. Jay nodded
"And are these all your friends?"
"Yes" Beth replied readily.
"Well we don't have anything to give you in return for food or shelter, but we could help you collect water, plant crops or something." Amber said to start negotiations. Beth nodded attentively while Danny studied his fingernails and Alicia and Michael studied the newcomers interestedly if a little nervously.
"Ok Danny, Alicia, Michael and I are just going to have a chat over here a minute." Beth said signalling her friends. The group walked a few paces and talked in hushed tones.
"Do you think they'll let us stay?" Trudy asked.
"I don't know they seem like nice enough people." Slade said,
"Then again some of us didn't make the best impression." Ebony commented scathingly looking at Lex.
The quartet returned to the Mallrats, "We will be happy to have you stay with us; however we need your assurances that none of you will harm any of us." Beth requested pointedly.
"We're really sorry for what happened earlier and we promise it won't happen again, will it?" Salene said looking at Lex
"It wont." Lex said through gritted teeth obviously humiliated by this girl over and over and vowing to get revenge.
"Ok, then you are welcome to stay with us, there is plenty of space in the house, bedrooms on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors there should be enough." Beth said as she started back up to the house.