Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Chapter 7

They laughed on the way to the Sanctuary, and hugs with Bear and Weasel were mandatory – for Stephanie only – and they were finally able to find out what had happened.

"Serpine's men had amour and weapons," Bear told Stephanie. "And they were in a small room and made sure to split us up."

"We work better together," Wolf said.

"Always have. And with others in the room we didn't have a chance to fight to our strengths. They knew that would happen, but we rushed into it and didn't realise until too late," Bear said. "We were very lucky to have you, Stephanie."

Crow nodded. "Though we do need to help you think up a name still. Calling you by your given name is getting more dangerous every day."

"She's Cub," Wolf proclaimed. "Right, Cub?"

"Yeah!" She said, putting her hands in the air. They high-fived.

Crow made a movement that was likely an eyeroll. "But you still need a real name. Code names are good for missions, we've needed them for a while I suppose, but that doesn't change the fact you need a Taken name."

"Hey," Weasel said to Stephanie, "you still haven't told us why you gave us those names."

"Aren't you meant to know these things?" Stephanie asked him.

He rolled his eyes. "I can't know everything. That would be boring. Tell me, why do I get the bad name?"

She tilted her head at him. "You don't have a bad name."

"Oh God," Snake said. "She's already acting like Skul."

Stephanie flipped her hair back and began pointing and explaining – she pointed to Skulduggery, "Crow, you always brought weird things, like crows get stuff for their nests." She pointed to Ghastly, "Panda made me a panda bear when I was little and it was the first thing he gave me and my favourite toy, so it became his name." To Anton, "Bear, you got me things that made me think you were trying to be all tough and not super cute but also wanted to spoil me like a marshmallow. I almost called you marshmallow actually but I liked the animal theme so you became Bear." Dexter, "Wolf, I'm not really sure how it happened, but it seemed to fit the you I made up from all the things you got me. It was always something new, unexpected and I loved it. I could always count on you to get me something when something bad happened too, so I sort of learned you were loyal and trustworthy, so I thought of a dog, but that sounded too tame compared to the other cool names so you're a wolf." Saracen, "Weasel, you always got me things I could eat or where I'd find more things to eat when I got there and weasels were good at finding food and getting from place to place unseen. At least to my head when I was a kid that's how I thought of it, so you got to be Weasel. I like that name." Erskine, "And Snake, I always thought you'd be telling me to do the stupid things and getting me in trouble on purpose, and then you'd hide and laugh at me, so you got to be Snake. You were always my favourite when I was very little because I'd spend so much time alone and whatever stupid thing imaginary Snakie said to me were usually pretty fun. So, I like it. I like them all though."

They nodded and grinned. She thought they seemed pretty happy with that. "I like that," Wolf said. "I'm the coolest."

Stephanie started to laugh as all hell broke loose and they started bickering over who got to be the coolest.

"Guys!" She shouted at them, finally getting their attention. "You still need to tell me what happened! You got split up but you didn't tell me anything."

"Oh, yes," Crow said, then coughed as if trying to distract himself from his own immature behaviour. "We were split up and attacked with extreme force. We knew Serpine was not to be underestimated but I think when we didn't see Serpine we didn't think his lackies would be any good. Obviously, we were wrong. Though we are lucky enough that there aren't as many Hollow Men now."

"Hollow Men?"

"Those paper like things from earlier. They have the single purpose of fighting to the death. Generally they can't do anything but in numbers they are catastrophic. Eliminating a handful now is the absolute difference between life and death later."

She nodded.

"The fight didn't last long. They had a very big man that got a bag over my head and shackled me to a bedpost before I could do much, which bound my magic and stopped me from helping," Skulduggery explained for her. She had assumed that was what the cuffs did but it was good to know. "I believe the rest of the fight was over as people were knocked out. And now I would like to know what happened to you."

Stephanie was looked at by them all and Wolf let her have the stage. She hesitated. "Well, it was pretty fast honestly. I just remember attacking this guy and the Hollow Men almost made me sick – I hate them by the way – and Wolf had all that purple mist you told me about on him. He kept screaming at that first guy who was going to hurt him more, so I stabbed him in the chest. Serpine said I killed him."

They were quiet. "I'm sorry," Wolf finally said.

She waved him away. "I'd rather he stopped hurting you. But then again, I'd rather never have to see Serpine again, his magic definitely hurts too much."

"What the–"

"Excuse me I'm still speaking Mr Pleasant!" She called before he had the chance. His jaw snapped shut. "So I passed out in the office after some guy turned up and I don't remember what he said, just that he was there. I woke in the cell and that guy came in pretty soon after to take me to Serpine and he tried to make me convert to his mission and be his daughter or some shit and I told him to shove it but in less words because I didn't want to die and I was taken back to the cells with only one smack which I thought was pretty good going considering everything. I tricked the guy into switching around cuffs and then I beat his ass and came and found all you. So you all got save by a little girl. Ha."

They snorted at themselves and the tension went from the van. "We are so teaching you to fight." Weasel said.

"I did fight!"

"Better," Crow said. "If this becomes a habit, if you want to keep up with the people we have to fight, you need to be better. We get the worst, most likely to be killed missions. You will have to sit out of a few until you are up to the standards we expect. I'm sure we can find a few small cases until you're ready for the big dogs though."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure."

They told her about Meritorious and the other Elders on the way but told her they were not going to be introducing them at that moment as they didn't want to have to argue to keep her as their apprentice. Still, she and Dexter would have to go to someone called Doctor Kenspeckle in the Hibernian Cinema, a place he had converted secretly into a small hospital. They had already registered with him as soon as Gordon had died since they knew she was going to be sent into their care.

They waited for the Cleavers to get out the van and they all left, and Wolf disappeared to get them a car – Weasel whispered to her secretively that he was going to flirt one out of the Administrator which had made her blush violently because flirting was weird, but also grin because it was weird in another way – and the others disappeared to sit around for the Elders and Stephanie had to wait for Wolf next to Panda who snored lightly from the pavement. It didn't take too long before Wolf pulled up next to her and they pulled and pushed Panda awkwardly into the car and then got in the front.

Since they were hoping he would awaken soon and didn't care how, they put on the radio as loud as it went, making the car vibrated with the music, and they sang along too loud for them to sound good, which Stephanie was grateful for. They drove for half an hour and screamed the whole way, even in traffic, getting a lot of looks, and when they pulled up in front of the cinema and continued to sing until the end of the song, Panda still hadn't woken up.

Her ears rang, but she was happy to help push Panda from the borrowed car and Wolf pulled him onto his shoulders. She locked the car for him and opened the building doors. He told her where to stand and made her walk through the magic door into the medical practice, making her grin and laugh and run up to the top.

"Who is making that racket?!" A voice shouted from somewhere. Two young men walked into the large waiting hall with smiles. They waved at her.

"Hello," she said to them. "My friends need help."

"Who are they?" One of them asked.

"Ghastly Bespoke and Dexter Vex."

They laughed. "Oh, we know them, are they coming up now?"

Wolf came up sideways with Panda still on his shoulders. "Yeah," she said. "Where do you want them?"

"This way," he said. "I'm Civet by the way."

She grabbed Wolf's top and pulled him along. "Come," she commanded. "I don't have a name yet."

"It's a big decision. I'm Stentor," the other told her and they opened a door to a ward in which Wolf placed Panda with surprising gentleness onto a bed.

She put her hands on her hips. "You need to lie down too."

He grinned wickedly. "Oh yeah? Why should I?"

"Because you were in a traumatic incident and must be checked for death."

"For death?" He said, laughing.

"Yes, and if you don't I'll tell on you." He stepped towards her menacingly, but she didn't move. "And it'll be awful. You'll be lectured and told off and still have to get checked but it'll be worse. What are you doing?"

He didn't respond, just pulled her to him and started tickling mercilessly. She shrieked with laughter and immediately fell to the floor, hugging her sides and trying to breathe through the intensity of the fun. An old man with grey hair and stern words for Wolf came in at some point but it just made Wolf pretend to roar and pounce on her and he ended up on his knees tickling her until she was screaming that she was about to pee herself and she was pretty sure she did just a little bit before he stopped and they panted, giggling still in her case, and the old man came and stood a foot from them.

"Are you two quite finished?" He said sternly.

"No." They said at once.

He sighed tiredly. "Get on a bed. Both of you."

He turned to his assistants and started telling them thing so Wolf and Stephanie looked at each other. They both stood silently and got into the same bed, Stephanie sitting on Wolf's knees in the most uncomfortable for him way she could.

Kenspeckle turned back to them to tell them something and saw them. "For God's sake. Your own beds!"

"Oh!" Stephanie said acting surprised. "Why didn't you say that in the first place?" She got in her own bed and tried not to grin at the looks she was getting from the doctor, Civet and Stentor.

"Insolent girl. Tell me what happened to you."

She told him about the brief torture and her time stuck in the cell but after a check over and some food she was told she'd be fine. Wolf was checked last and the other Dead Men came into the ward just as Panda groaned and started to wake up.

They were also sent into their own beds for check-ups though Bear and Weasel got out of that, meaning they could sit on either side of Stephanie and relay the meeting, in which they tried to convince the Elders that Serpine had killed people recently, including Gordon, and had taken them hostage, including a minor female that had been left at the mercy of not just Serpine, who tortured her, but also other known criminals. It had been played up a little to try and convince them but even then, it hadn't been enough to get a guaranteed stance from the Sanctuary.

"We usually fight alone," Bear told her reassuringly in his deep, quiet voice. He was the most comforting to have around, so calm and reassuring. Panda came next though she imagined she'd go to him for council and he'd help her, whereas Bear would let her talk and probably then kill or seriously maim whoever tried to hurt her, so they never tried again. It was very nice to have such strong support. She could have used that last year through school.

It was after saying all that they tried to help her with her name. The key word being 'tried'.

"We need to play to your strengths."

"Your personality."

"You like funny things. Something warm and fun would be good."

"Or something ironic," Crow pointed out. "You like dark humour too much for something warm."

"No," Weasel argued for her. "She could have a warm name."

"Yeah," Snake smirked. "Like Flame."

"That's terrible," Panda groaned. He had a bad headache after hitting his head hard and being given a sedative.

Stephanie nodded. "It was pretty terrible."

"You need something bold. Strong," Wolf said. "Like Wolf."

She stared at him. "Wolf is my least liked name." He raised an eyebrow and she grinned instantly. "I do want a bold name though. Something easy to remember. Not a mouthful. Not boring either."

"Perhaps something exotic," Wolf said. "Maybe we should get some books."

They tried to think up some books or other things they could use to help her but were soon being kicked out of the place by Kenspeckle, getting Stentor and Civet in trouble as they had joined the efforts to think of names. Stephanie was last out and held back for a moment by the doctor.

"Are you alright my dear?" He asked.

She smiled at him. "I haven't been happier in a long time."

He sighed. "I would hate to see you get hurt on one of their hair-brained schemes."

"I like hair-brained schemes. I like crime, in fact. I want to do crime tonight!"

He rolled his eyes. "God, just like Pleasant. You two both have a perchance for cain."

"What's that mean?"

"Trouble. It means you're trouble and I'm going to have to fix you too much. Now go on I suppose but remember to rest or else you'll be very sore tomorrow."

She grinned and gave the grumpy man a hug before running down the stairs straight onto the back of Bear who hiked her higher and let her stay there. He really was a marshmallow.

Hehehe so cute! And now you know why they're called what they are. Although Val's nickname, Cub, won't come up often it will be a cute reminder. You get to meet Tanith soon too and I think you'll love her :) Please give me a review on what your thinking, I am desperate to know :)