Chapter 1
"Slow down Ebony and tell us again about this new tribe, what are they called?" Jay asked trying to make sense of it all; he just couldn't buy it…
Ebony sighed and rolled her eyes as she looked to Slade for support, "I told you, they're like an army, they descended onto the city, attacking all of the right places, and driving people out…they took over the city in less than a month"
Arkin rubbed his chin, "It doesn't sound good guys", Salene nodded worried about what might happen, "Where were they headed?"
Slade put a hand on Ebony's shoulder "South, taking everything in their sight, they're sweeping across the land like a plague"
Jay nodded, "Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't appreciate it, but why come back here? Why warn us? I thought the two of you left us years ago"
"We had nothing left; they took our friends, our home, and our city. We were lucky to get out when we did" Ebony said in a small voice as she excused herself and ran out of the room, followed by Slade, "You guys need to be prepared" he called to them as he ran after Ebony…
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It was getting later in the day and finally it was almost over, Gel pushed her hair from her face, not quite liking this new short haircut she had given herself only the previous week. Brushing down her clothes she looked around and sighed, it was going to take her at least another half an hour to clean up the nursery, she silently thanked god for it being time for home time…
…feeling a small pair of hands, Gel looked down to see Solana playing with her shoes, "No Solana, we don't play with Gel's shoes, that's not nice" she said picking up the child who giggled as she tried to eat her own blonde hair. Gel laughed at the child and placed her back in the playpen with her own son Mohawk, who lived up to his name, she ruffled his hair playfully, "Play nice with Solana now", Mohawk waved at his mother and shoved his fist in his mouth…
Hearing voices, Gel saw that Jack and Ram had come to pick up their children, both Travis and Eloisa grinned at their fathers as they waddled over holding hands, "Oh that's so cute" Gel said as she watched them. Something told them that the two children would one day be best friends or worse enemies…
In the corner of the nursery sat the trio, Brady, Bray and Marco, the three of them were always sitting around talking about things in their own language, no one, not even their parents could understand them.
Jack and Ram were talking in the corner, Amber and Trudy arrived from one direction as Kadin arrived from the opposite direction looking more than worried, Trudy saw his frown, "Kadin, what is it?"
He smiled quickly at Trudy, "Its Slade and Ebony, they're back and they don't have good news, Jay's called a town meeting, right away"
Trudy looked worried, as did Amber, "Gel, can you…"
"No problem, just fill me in on what's what" she said
Ram bent down to his little son, "Daddy's going to be a little longer today, so you stay here with Gel, okay little guy?" Travis nodded at him, similarly Jack told Eloisa that he would be back later, the little girl who idolised her father burst into tears as she was handed back to Gel…
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The man, known only to others as the Master sat in his room, laughing to himself, it was never meant to be this easy, it wasn't even a little fun, "What do you think lover? Should we tease this city a little more?"
The woman smiled at him and nodded, she was looking forward to their plan, and it was magnificent and deadly…
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Ebony had run out of the meeting with Jay, Salene and Arkin tears in her eyes as she ran out into the street, away from the buildings to what looked like a town square, a place filled with bushes and plants, she sank onto the floor and started to sob…
Slade followed Ebony out of the meeting, worried what was wrong with her, she never cried and it scared him that she had started to. Half an hour later, after searching the streets and knocking on a few doors, he heard crying as he found Ebony in a heap on the floor
"Baby, what's wrong?"
Ebony saw Slade and wiped away her tears, "Nothing Slade"
"Like hell there is"
"I said it's nothing"
"Well nothing didn't make you cry" he said as he slumped next to her on the floor, "So you gonna tell me what it is?"
"I can't"
"Why can't you, is it bad?"
Ebony shrugged, and Slade slipped his arm around her
"Okay, so I'm gonna guess, you slept with another guy and now your up the duff" he said smiling at her cheekily
Ebony burst into tears again
As Slade's arm dropped from her shoulders, "That's it isn't it, you're cheating on me"
"No, I'm no, I wouldn't'"
"Then why did you burst back into tears again?"
"Because it's half true?"
"Which half?"
"The half where I'm having your baby…"