For general zargon, who mentioned something with Hanson and Gracie in it.
"I'm still not sure we can trust this guy," the redhead muttered, looking at the home in front of them.
"Nick was the one who recommended him, Hanson. He said that this Monroe person would explain everything, and I really want to know what was going on!" his sister exclaimed in reply.
"Gracie, he's a complete stranger!"
"He's Nick's friend," she shot back in a tone that said her words said everything that needed to be said. "Besides, if nothing else, he promised us that there would be a full lunch and other kids there. Plus it's a place where we can get out of the cold. It'll be fun, Hanson!"
Hanson gave his sister a sideways look. The way she was fiddling with the puca shell necklace around her neck told him that she was much more nervous than she was pretending to be – but at the same time, she did want to attend this meet up that Nick had arranged.
"Alright," he finally sighed in defeat. "But don't expect me to trust any of them."
"I won't," Gracie replied. The excited look on her face just told him that everything he had just said had basically flown over her head.
"I cannot believe it!" Gracie gaped, looking at the tall girl she was talking to with something akin to hero worship. "With your hair? How did you even manage that?"
Holly laughed. "It started out as a way to hunt," she explained. "It meant that I didn't have to deal with any potentially dangerous creatures face to face, especially since I knew nothing about my abilities then."
That was the part that Gracie had found most difficult to believe – she had seen Monroe, and Holly, and the other two boys, Barry and Roddy, change form, but it was still unbelievable. And then to be told that the people who had killed Steven and had nearly killed Hanson and her weren't human – well, weren't human in more than the metaphorical sense – was more than a little overwhelming.
And to hear the stories of the others present at the house on top of everything – well, at least Hanson wouldn't question Nick's motives for sending them here again.
Still, despite how interesting Barry and Roddy were, it was Holly who held her attention. She had heard about her story, of course – anyone who had ever come near the vicinity of a newspaper or a television had. Holly Clark, the girl who had turned up sane and normal even after nearly a decade alone in the forest. And knowing what she did now didn't make the story any less inspiring – it wasn't like Holly had known who she was when she was abandoned, after all.
She was sure Hanson would have something to complain about once they left, but she regretted nothing. This had definitely been one of the better experiences of her life, and she fully intended to convince Holly to teach her self-defence. Being able to attack people with her hair – well, that sounded like one of the best things ever.
"You know, you could tell us if we're boring you," an amused voice said, cutting through Hanson's thoughts.
He had the strongest sense that the other two boys – Barry and Roddy, they'd said their names were – were laughing at them.
"It's not that," he rushed to reassure them. "It's just my sister."
At that, the two of them looked even more amused. It was enough to irritate anybody.
He hadn't been as shocked as Gracie had at Monroe's explanation. Even though he had been drugged, he could still remember faint bits from their kidnapping, and by far the strongest memory had been of a vulture-like creature with a human body, looming over him.
Truth be told, he was just happy to have an explanation for everything. He even liked Barry and Roddy – for all that Barry seemed to be another spoiled kid, he had his own issues. And the only that was different between him and Roddy was the fact that the other boy had a father and happened to be a musical prodigy.
Holly Clark, on the other hand…
"You should just leave the two of them alone," Barry said, sounding as amused as before. "Your sister doesn't seem to be the type whose going to stop talking to someone just because you have a feeling, and as for Holly – well, she definitely doesn't leave hold of people she considers friends."
"Besides, they're both girls," Roddy chimed in. "Unless you plan on keeping your sister from any sort of female friendship at all, I don't think you're going to feel any better any time soon."
Hanson scowled at the laughter he could hear in their voices. It had nothing to do with Holly being a girl – but he knew his sister, and the look on her face said that whatever they talking about meant trouble for him. Considering where the – blutbad, he thought Monroe had called them – had spent most of her childhood, he had a very bad feeling that it had something to do with his sister and fighting.
As much as he liked having answers, and could grow to be friends with Roddy and Barry – well, the look on his sister's face proved him right.
It really had been a bad idea to agree to this.
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