Roshaun recovered first. "Well, that was interesting. Seeing as we've managed to rescue Nita, shall we return home?"
Dairine exploded.
"No we cannot just return home! I for one am sick of being treated like a kindergartener who's done something wrong! I demand to know what's going on right this minute."
She stood there, shaking with rage, in the middle of the clearing, until Ponch coughed deliberately and they all turned to look at him.
"I may have some information that may clarify the situation."
Nita could tell from the furious expression on her sister's face that she was going to start screaming again soon. "Me, too," she added quickly, and with a quick nod from Ponch, launched into her tale, glossing over the part where she'd thrown herself at Ronan. When she was finished, silence had descended over the little gathering. Out of habit, she looked to Kit for reassurance, and was shocked to find him looking murderously angry.
"They did WHAT to you?" he shouted, not even attempting to keep his voice down. He focused his attention on Ponch. "After all that, we're just supposed to let them walk away?"
The mutt's expression was serene, and it was very easy to forget that he was nearly omniscient. "Yes," he responded calmly, "you are."
There was a pause as they digested this information. Ponch took this opportunity to speak. "A long time ago," he said, "there was a council of twelve that was appointed to protect this world. I say appointed…they appointed themselves, rather. They were wizards all of them, and not human….but they were just as much a part of this world as you are. More, maybe. And now the time has come for them to move on…I believe Kit, Nita and I understand that better than most," he added with amusement, referring to last year's tumultuous spring break. Then his voice was serious again. "We have to accept that," he continued, "and then move on ourselves."
They were all silent for a moment, considering that. Then Nita said aloud what they were all thinking.
"I don't know about you guys, but I really want to go home."
A/N: Filler chapter. Filler. FILLER. Sorry, I know that must be annoying. And I also realize that Ponch didn't really explain *everything*. But that's the way it goes…it'll all work out (Tom Petty = the greatest).