Jadan Grandin, Kangaroo Huntress

CHAPTER 1: AN UPDATE FROM LITTLE COUSIN

Claudia was already busy, making some snacks for Gracie while Krissy was doing her schoolwork. Their eldest sister, Kayla (who was carrying her second child) was in the living room and reading to firstborn daughter, Patricia-Caroline, who was only three (and a half) while her husband David was at work. What none of them expected was an incoming call on webchat.

"I g-got it, everyone!" Claudia called out as she put away the food she was making and answered the call, shocked to see Jadan and Joey with Hops in between them. In the background were pink and blue balloons.

"Hey, Claude," Jadan waved.

"What in the name of Charles Monroe Schulz is going on?" Krissy asked as she walked towards her little sister and glanced at the computer, "Hey Jadan, hey Joey. What's the big event?" she wondered.

Jadan chuckled "Y' two better sit down for this… trust me."

"Mum's having a baby!" Joey blurted out before either sister could take a seat.

"Joseph Steve Grandin, what did I just say?"

"Someone had to tell 'em!"

"Y' could've waited for 'em to sit down first."

Krissy rolled her eyes, "I take it Aunt Claire's having baby no. 3," she said.

"Yes, she is." Jadan smiled, tipping her jacaru.

"B-boy or girl?" Claudia asked.

"We're gonna find out, today, Claude," Joey said.

"Oh boy… another little Grandin wandering around. Not that there's anything wrong with that," Krissy laughed.

Kayla groaned "I heard that."

"Yeah. We heard Kayla's wee lil' bundle o' joy's due in August," Jadan mentioned "It's a boy, right?" she asked.

Claudia nodded her head "It's gonna be a boy."

Krissy then asked the big question "So, is your baby sibling gonna be a boy or a girl?"

"Once mum gets t' gender reveal cake, we'll know for sure," Joey mentioned, "But I'm Team Brother."

"Team Sister, o'er here," Jadan declared.

"Good grief, you two," Claudia laughed.

Krissy smiled "And when can we expect the kangaroo huntress' youngest sibling to be born?" she asked.

"December," Joey exclaimed, looking at his older sister.

"Kangaroo huntress…" Jadan thought to herself.

NINE YEARS EARLIER

"Lookout! Here I come!" Jadan declared, leaping off the sofa. Xavier, her father, was watching over her to make sure she didn't get hurt while Claire, Jadan's mother, was putting baby Joey down for his nap.

"Where're y' going, y' lil' rascal?" Xavier asked, picking up Jadan and sitting her down on the couch.

Jadan stared off into space for a second before answering "T' catch me some roos, daddy," while rocking a bit.

"To catch yerself some roos?" he replied, sitting beside his little girl.

"Uh huh. They're my favoritest!" Jadan replied as she picked up her toy kangaroo and played with it.

"We know, Jay-Jay." Xavier answered as he nudged her in the ribs. All seemed quiet, before the unmistakable sound of gunshots was heard.

"What's that?" Jadan asked, out of toddler innocence.

"Crickey!" Xavier instantly got off the couch while Claire burst out of the nursery with a crying baby Joey. Jadan, instinctively followed after them, which Claire took notice of.

"Jadan, what're ya doing?" Claire asked, trying to sooth a crying Joey, "Hush, Jo-Jo. Mummy's here."

"Following daddy," Jadan replied.

"This is dangerous stuff, kiddo." Claire explained.

"But I heard a big boom. Where'd it come from?"

"Mummy doesn't know, neither does daddy," Claire instantly held Jadan's hand as the four of them headed over to see what happened, eventually walking towards a truck of poachers speeding away with a dead kangaroo in the back of their truck.

"Not another one…the poor roo, " Xavier thought as he picked up Jadan and held her in his arms, 'y' see, Jay-Jay, some mean people called poachers come after animals like the roos for their skin…cause they're wicked-the poachers, that is."

Jadan however was focused on something else. "Daddy! Look!" she pointed over at a small brown tail hiding behind a large rock, "What is that?"

Confused, Xavier put Jadan on the ground and held her hand as they investigated, only to see a small brown joey no older than a year old.

"Crickey! A joey!" Xavier exclaimed "Claire, call the vets!"

Claire nodded and carried a still fussing Joey to the closest phone booth, calling up the vets. While that was going on, Xavier carefully picked up the joey as Jadan watched.

"He's scared, daddy. Where's his mummy?" Jadan asked.

Xavier examined the roo closely before putting it down on the ground, "Well Jadan, mummy roo most likely is in the poachers' truck, being turned into pelt."

"Oh." Jadan sighed, "Is he gonna be okay?"

"They're gonna make sure of it," Xavier poked Jadan on the nose as the toddler cooed, "And Jay-Jay?"

"Yeah, daddy?"

"That there's a girl roo."

PRESENT DAY

"Jadan! Earth to Jadan!" Krissy exclaimed as Jadan snapped out of her trance.

"Whoa! What is it?" Jadan asked.

Joey facepalmed "They wanna know about mum and dad."

Jadan smiled "They're good. Mum's doing fine for someone carryin' her third baby. And dad…well, let's just say he's handlin' the situation best he could."

"Crickey! A third!" Xavier commented, off camera.

"And whatta ya plan to name the little one?" Claudia teased.

Joey smiled "It's gotta be a J name, duh."

Jadan then chimed in "We'll figure out a fittin' middle name."

"Anything but Steve the Second."

"Alright, then. We'll let you two prepare for the gender reveal party. Tell us what it's gonna be," Krissy said as they ended the call, "They're having a baby cousin…"

Claudia could only reply with a one-word sentence.

"Crickey."

CHAPTER 2: A FRIENDSHIP IS BORN