Mall Rats Return

[Salene]

Salene

I know Tally is frustrated as Will, Dee and I talked about not leaving her alone, after they left us I smile back at her…

"Eciov… That’s a weird name. Is it a woman or another Herkules guy?"

"No, Its a woman, a young girl like you who I looked after many years ago, she was called Mouse then, but now goes by Eciov" I smile "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel like a child, your a mother and Leo is your first priority and we don’t know what to expect or who will show up and until Andy comes back you are alone and if something were to happen, god I dread to think"

"I really wonder why someone went through all this trouble…I mean… Andy and I weren’t a big part of the Mall Rats. Who else is with you? Trudy? Adult Brady? Bray? Amber? Their child must be grown up already too"

"I know, we have all had the same thoughts, some one has gone to alot of trouble to bring us back to the mall, I mean Dee was miles away and even she got them, Eciov lived deep in the woods…" I say

Both of us freeze as voices now drift out of the sewer, two guys shouting trying turn off the screeching alarm…

@Zweja

[Salene]

Dee

The guy Will and I walk back to the car, Mouse jumps out…

"Where’s Sal?" Eciov demands

"She has found one of the mall rats, she’s on her own with a baby and Sal refused to leave her" Will tells her

"Then WHY are you not with her dumbass"

"We just came to get our bags" I tell her "I’m going back to Salene"

"YOU go too"

"Yes boss" Will tells Ecoiv cheekily with a salute…

Eciov glares at him, smiles and shakes her head as we grab our bits and close the car doors…

(Postied Eciov with permission from @Jack)

[Tribelover15]

Lottie

I had started to dry my hair a little as Zandra called to the other Mall rats, I smiled at her and started to head towards the cafe. I took in more of the surroundings and I was filled with all the memories I had of this place. I could remember before I had fled to Liberty or before I became a Mall rat how people talked about the mall and the Mall rats and suddenly I had become one.

That feeling had been surreal, “Things have certainly changed but still, there is some familiarity feeling over it” I say as we reach the cafe. Soon enough another person joined us, the redhead made my heart first jump with familiarity, Sammy? no it wasn’t Sammy I soon found out.

I raised my eyebrow amused as I looked at him “Well hello Andy Ethan Walker, I’m Lottie” I said with humor in my voice. Well, he certainly wasn’t afraid of sharing things I thought as I wrapped the towel tighter around me and glanced at the others.

@Zandra @Jack @Danni

[Zandra]

Luc

I watch as they finally follow me to the cafe, though they take their sweet time getting up here, too busy looking around, hopefully, this isn’t them casing the place out to see if it’s worth trying to take it back. While yeah the mall was a bit run down this was our home and I had no plans to give it up to anyone.

I give a small nod to Callan who had followed the girls up the stairs along with Jaz and Liam. Hopefully Alix and Zane will be back quickly, I want our tribe to be together through this.

I glanced at Andy, raising an eyebrow at his introduction “If there are more of you’s hurry them up and get them in here, we’re not going to keep repeating the same conversation multiple times” I tap impatiently on the table.

[Jack]

Andy

I had been quite open to a room of strangers… The days of being a sneaky dick had clearly passed. The cutie pie sweetly managed to introduce herself as Lottie. Mmm mmm, I wouldn’t mind feeling her totty. I’m a poet and I didn’t know it. She tightens the grip of her towel so I quickly remove my jacket and place it over her shoulders.

As I do this a member of the tribe that now lived in the Mall didn’t mix his words. I guess thats the end of the introductions then. Which was a shame as I was intrigued to know the name of the other ex Mall Rat. The cocky guy starts to tap on the table. “Sure thing. But like I said I need to know how I can get my sister in here. You guys did quite a good job turning the sewers into the Amazon rainforest.” I pull out a chair and sit opposite the guy. “So please pray tell how can we get her, my nephew and whoever else might be outside in here in one piece?” I smirk and intimate him by tapping my fingers down onto the table too.

@Zandra @Tribelover15 @Danni

[Zandra]

Luc

I rolled my eyes “It was a bucket of water, and the girls have made it through fine except being wet, if they want to come in they walk through the same as everyone else has to do, there isn’t any special treatment here” I tell him annoyed.

They want to come into our home and they expect us to accommodate how they want to come in “You lot aren’t top dogs anymore, you don’t come into our home and demand anything” I tell him, the annoyance clear in my voice.

[Jack]

Andy

My eyebrows raise at this jerk sitting opposite me.

"Last time I checked a dog didn’t look like a rat! And you listen here, every Mall Rat man, woman and even Lex were top of the class. The Mall Rats fought for this city. They tried harder than any other tribe… Wearing their hearts on their sleeves. One big family from the beginning to the end… We have been asked back for a reason and you are in our home. So you best be ready because my sister and every other Mall Rat is coming." I slam my hands down on the table and kick my chair back. "And pretty boy, it was just a request, not a demand. If anything happens to my sister or nephew in that sewer you better watch your back."

Before he gets the chance or anyone to say anything I bolt as quick as The Flash from those old comics to the sewers. If we were getting in, we had to act now.

As I got closer and closer to the ladder I shouted "TALLY! MALL RATS! TALLY! QUICK. START MAKING YOUR WAY DOWN HERE. TALLLY!!!"

[Tribelover15]

Lottie

I raised my eyebrow once again, at least that eyebrow got a work out today. I eyed the jacket that had been placed over my shoulders and looked at it’s owner. “Thanks…,I guess, at least it was just water” lord knows I’ve dealt with worse things.

Wow, the readhead sure had a lot of passion about the Mall rats I thought as I looked at him walking away, I then took a deep breath and looked at the other. "As much as I loved being a Mall rat, I just want to figure why someone wants us all here without starting any fights"

[Zandra]

Zan

I stand up, the whole situation kicking off is ridiculous, there isn’t going to get them anywhere except causing fights “I’ll be back” I say and walk down the steps to the sewer following Andy.
I am beyond pissed off “What the hell is your problem, I have convinced them to let us in without causing problems and you go yelling about how fucking amazing the Mallrats are” I yell at him “That is not the Mallrats home anymore, it hasn’t been for 17 years and you think you can go into someone else home and threaten them?!”

“We need to work with them and this pathetic behaviour isn’t going to help that. There isn’t another way in, Trudy managed to bring Brady through here before and guess what she survived. There isn’t even any sewage down here anymore.”

I turn around “When you come back, leave your dick here, it’s their home and we need to work with them” I snap and head back into mall.

[Danni]

CALLAN

Luc, as always, was making friends but the newcomers weren’t exactly helping themselves. The guy, who cockily introduces himself as Andy, starts eyeballing the girls instantly. Dude couldn’t be any more subtle if he tried. He slams his hands down on the table after telling us we better watch our backs. Before anyone can react he’s headed back to the sewer, I subtlety gesture for Liam and Jaz to sit down at one of the empty tables before gesturing to Bekah, ’think everyone needs a drink, you alright to make some coffee?’ I ask her quietly before glancing over as Alix and Zane return from the sewers. I can tell they are p••sed off at the situation but the sooner we dealt with it the better.

Turning to Zandra I think for a moment, ’well, this is going swimmingly.’ I wasn’t sure if she was responsible for the idiot who had just attempted to start a scene but maybe she could rein him in before he did anything stupid. Before I can say anything else to her she stands up and follows Andy down into the sewers.

’I think we all want to figure out what’s going on,’ I agree with Lottie, ’we may not have got off to the best start, and your hellfire friend isn’t exactly helping things go easily, but at the end of the day we all just want to get on with our lives… right?’

@Tribelover15 @Zandra

[Tribelover15]

Lottie

A headache was starting to form a bit, i already know before i came here it was gonna be a weird day but just how weird i hadnt prepared myself for. ”This is gonna be a long day” i sighed outloud.

I glanced up at callan after zandra had left, ”Im not sure i would call him a friend as i dont know him but we have being mallrats in common which is something i guess.” once a mallrat, always a mallrat i guess. I trail of in thoughts, i did want my life to go back to how it was but at the same time my old life before the letters had turned into a sad one. ”Right”

@Danni @Zandra

[Jack]

Andy

From behind appears the redhead. Everything she said was right. I blew my lid unnecessarily. His attitude towards not caring about my sister and nephew struck a cord and I blew…

She turned away from me. As she walked away I called out, "I’m sorry for being a douchebag I was out of line… It’s just my family is my world. With how dilapidated the city has begun, Tally’s issue will be with the ladder. She won’t put her son at risk. I’ll come back shortly to apologise to everyone else."

I had been a fool. As I climb back out I saw panicked faces. One familiar, two not so. Maybe they weren’t panicked, I wasn’t sure if they had heard me shouting. At this moment I didn’t know much except I was a complete prat. I hug Salene and shake the other two’s hands. I then begin to explain what had happened inside. I wasn’t too sure how Tally was going to react… I had stuck up for my sister but also had been a jerk to the new tribe and shown myself up in front of two ex Mall Rats…

@Zwenja @Salene

[Salene]

Lex

After cleaning and gutting the fish, I run out of water, I used the last of it to clean my hands, grabbing the bucket I leave the bus, making sure the doors pulled closed, years ago I managed to find a lock that I could fit so I can lock it up, luckily from the outside it looks rusted and wrecked… I walk to the stream, I bend and place the bucket into the water and allow it to fill before going back to the bus, I hear movement and voices so I duck behind a bush and wait, I’m not in the mood to deal with people after that damn red letter, I watch and see of it’s them leaving them… Right now I’m suspicious of everyone…

"Did you hear whats going on?" Guy 1 says

"No" Guy 2 replies "Whats happened"

"I heard from Tad in the city that the mall rats are being called back, he over heard some one saying they recieved letters telling them to go back, he said some are threatening" Guy 1 says

"Wow, Thank god we were not Mall Rats, Not sure I’d want to go back to the dump" Guy 2 chuckles "Who’s sending the letters?"

"No one knows, It’s all a mystery" Guy 1 sighs "Hope who ever it is knows what they are doing, I wouldn’t want to meet a Mall Rat… They were always wanting power, everyone to kneel and praise them"

"And they thought the Chosen were bad, at least every one knew what the guardian wanted from day one, he wasn’t sly about it"

Both guys laugh as their voices drift away…

" So the Mall Rats are being called back to the city" I say in a low voice "That’s what the letters are about"

My mind drifts, if I got them who else did… Do I really want to be back there… I know what they all thought of me, do I have anything to go back for… Do I want to see them, I haven’t heard from Ryan or Tiasan since the Techno’s took over, I don’t even know who is alive or dead… I go back to the bus, the thoughts nagging me… I put my bucket of water down on the worktop…

"DAMN IT!!!.. WHY NOW?" I say loudly and frustrated

I go back outside and sit on the bus steps, my face in my hands… I know I have to go back just for curiosity more than anything… I don’t have to stay, I can just go and see who is there, the curiosity to see if Tai-san or Ryan will be there if they are still alive…

"GRRRRRR!!" I roar angrily

I pick up a stone and throw it as hard and as far as I can… I need some supplies first, sighing I start to build a fire as normal to cook the fish…

[Zwenja]

Tally

I breath in relief as Andy finally shows up. He hugs Salene and greets the others.

Then I groan a bit as he starts to tel what happened inside. “Oh Andy…” I sigh and kiss hiy cheek. "I know you wanted to stand the ground for us. And I love you for it. But it’s THEIR place, whoever they are. We don’t know anything about what happened in this city. We have no other place for the moment. We need them to accept us right now."

He looks completely deflated. I giggle a bit and struggle his cheek with a finger "You look like Leo when there is no milk anymore and he’s got to change sides…"

Andy’s eyes go wide and he pulls a face of small disgust “Ewwwww!” that makes the others and I laugh.

I then look to Salene. That’s what we did even in our short time in the mall. Look to Alice or Salene for advice. "What do you think? Did Trudy manage the sewers when Brady was so small? Back at home I had a carrier or him… But we left with literally what’s on our body and a packed bag for emergencies. I have nappy towels and a cream that I learnt to make from herbs. I have like three onesies that I wash. I was foolishly hoping the city had developed in a more resourceful place. But obviously it hasn’t. We’ve been on Alice old farm. Picked some wild growing potatoes and vegetables. We can offer those as a truce token… Maybe we manage between us to bring him in safely and just have a dry and warm place for right now. And then we’ll go by how it is… Take looks around… Right now I think it be foolish to storm off thinking how we don’t know anything about the places here and the tribes that now live in the city…"

I look to Andy who nods. He places an arm around me. “But if any of them gives you actually shit…” “I’LL GIVE THEM HELL MYSELF!” I grin "Don’t forget…Redheads are the reason Santa has a naughty list…"

Andy and I snigger about the old joke, Leo looks up, grinning his baby grin and grabs Andy’s finger tightly.

@Jack @Salene

(permission to move Andy from @Jack)

[Salene]

Salene

Andy appears from the sewers… He has grown into a handsome guy, nothing like his big brother was… He nervously lookes between Me, Will and Dee… He smiles realising who i am and we hug, I introduce Will and Dee to him… He then explains quickly what happened in the mall… Tally looks at me for help, the same way she and the other children always did… I look at Will…

"What do you think?" I ask

"I can check the ladder, make sure it’s safe for you, I’m not sure how long it will last once the rest of the Mall Rats are going up and down the ladder"

"She can’t go through the sewer there’s germs and bacteria, even though there’s no water… Ergh" Dee shudders

"I can scout out the rest of the mall, there should be other ways in, fire doors and things" Will says looking at me for clarification

"There were doors from the car park down, we blocked them off years ago after the technos"

"What about staff emergency exits" Dee says clicking her fingers "They open from the inside maybe we can clear one of them"

"Good idea in theory" Will sighs "But with how over grown the city is, I’m not sure the doors are accessable"

I sigh and look at Andy and Tally’s worried faces

"Don’t worry" I smile "Your not alone, we will work this out, I promise"

I place my arm around Tally’s shoulders for comfort, my own mothing side understanding exactly where she is coming from…

"Will you be okay?" Will asks

"We will be fine" I smile

Will nods and disappears, going to see what other access there is…

@Zwenja @Jack

[Trudy (The Supreme Mother)]

Brady

Patsy hands me the letter, and though it feels less ominous then the one I got, I do get why she feels she has to come along.

What if there actually was a chance, even the smallest one, that Paul would be there.

Ofcourse Patsy would have to take that risk.

Afterall, I would feel the same if there was a tiny chance to ever see my uncle Bray again. He was the only one who could give me the answers I so desired.

“Ok… yes… then we all go…” I say decisively. “But at the slightest sign of trouble, promise me that you and Aurora will run for safety.”

I look Patsy straight in the eye, I may be younger, but no longer shorter then her, and my will is as strong as hers.

“I mean it”

@Patsy

[Trudy (The Supreme Mother)]

Alice

“Whatever happens, we’re in this together ok” I tell Ryan as I give him a quick hug.

“No matter what we find back there, you’ll always have me”

The truth is, Ryan isn’t the only one who’s nervous to go ‘home’ again.

Or well… it’s not home… not anymore.

To much has happened, and there are to many memories back there; neither of us has good memories about the last days we were in the Mall.

But Ellie would not have send me a message this way unless she saw no other way.

And if my little sister needs me, I have to atleast try to help her, no matter what.

Afterall, that’s what I had promised my parents on their dead-bed.

Dad had been so sure I was strong enough to get through anything, but Ellie, she had been a different case. Head in the clouds, she had always dreamed of more then the provincial life we had on the farm.

So they told me to keep her safe, on the farm, away from all the dangers the city would bring to a headstrong girl who was always looking for adventure, to curious for her own good.

And though I had no clue what the past decades had brought her, it was safe to say, she clearly found some trouble.

“Come, it’s not long now. If we go down that way, we’ll reach the Mall well before nightfall”

@Tribelover15

[Patsy]

Patsy:
I have to go home, maybe Paul’s there. He’s the only family I have except for Aurora. Yes Brady has become like a much younger sister to me and I care deeply about her. Paul however is my brother, my flesh and blood. Even if there is the slightest chance that he is there I have to go there and see. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way. I do not want to put Aurora in any kind of danger, it went cold down my back thinking about the mall.

The mall doesn’t hold just happy memories, sad ones as well. I look at Brady and nod my head. ”any sign of trouble and we will be gone” I say looking at her. ”if you have the chance to get out or away and I don’t take Aurora with you. Promise me that” I say before looking around. ”lets find what we need to bring, things to cook with, keep fresh water in, it’s a long journey”

Aurora looks from one to the another frowning her forehead. Where has teddy gone? Her eyes scans the room looking for her teddy.

I look at Brady. ”how long do you need?” I question

@Trudy

[Zwenja]

Phoenix

Gentle pulling on my hair makes me sigh. Let’s my mind drift to soft, pink colored female lips on mine… And strong male hands - giving me thrills with the contrast - on my body.

I want to fall into the feeling of perfection that we always create together. Another pull and then another, hard and without the gentleness. I want to open my eyes, see Sam’s eyes looking back at me… Ask her why…

"Ouch!" I think to myself with another pull, now I feel the hard surface under me and my eyes fly open. What’s going on? Again a pull and my eyes turn upwards. I look straight in a feathery face with a sharp little beak. I yell voiceless and sway my arm up.

The bird that obviously tried to make a nest on my head hops on the branches of the tree giving me affronted (can a bird be affronted?) looks.

I look over to Sam and Kyle who are both sleeping tightly. It’s weird how I am the one who has the light sleep, considering my ears don’t work. I feel vibrations and such that often wake me up. But now it was a cheeky bird. Great!

The sun now seems to be full up. Winter sun. Cold but bright. Frustrated I start to losen the ropes around my legs. I throw my blanket down the tree and use smaller tree branches then to climb down. Back on the ground I use the ropes that hold our rucksacks up, to descend mine to the ground. I put the blanket in and grab my water bottle, before I pull it up out of eyes sight again.

Then I let down the bundle that holds my most precious possession. I carefully wrap it open and pull out my handmade bow and quiver.

Back where we live also lives a tribe of Maori. They ha e no problem of us hunters being there as we don’t force ourselves on the nature but live with it. We respect them, they respect us hunters. (We have a credo that we don’t hunt humans without the actual proof they did sonething wrong to someone) We even do trades with them.

I took a liking to their way of Archery and somehow deserved to be trained. I then learnt that Archery isn’t an old traditional skill for thrm. It’s a skill they first learnt through immigrants. You wouldn’t believe if you see them handling their various bows and arrows… Making them each an unique masterpiece of handcraft.

I slip the quiver on and check the hooks and the string of my bow. It’s more then a weapon.

It feeds us, it defends us, it helps us to keep people careful of us when they spot the long recurve style bow on my back.

I look high to my beloved soul mates and chuckle a bit seeing that Kyle is drooling on Sam’s shoulder. She’s so gonna kill him…

Looking around I take up a small stone and place it onto the now cold fireplace. They’ll know I put it there and that I am okay. Over the twenty years we know each other, we came up with our own signs and gestures…

Then I rush over the high meadow, zig zagging a little along to the high white dome. Curiosity killed the cat an old saying goes… Well… Good I am not a cat. Because curiosity is sure a part of me…

I look high the way up. Something tells me to go there… And so I start to climb up the hill…

[Salene]

Lex

After cooking the fish, I replace it with a pan of water to boil it for drinking… I take the fish inside and place it between two plates to cool a little while I check the water, I take the pan off and take that inside leaving the fire burning a little longer than normal, I place a lid on the pan to allow the water to cool…

"Why now!" I groan again

I sit down and take the plate off the fish, I start to pull it apart with my fingers, then push the plate away… I suddenly have no appetite… I put the plat back on top and bring my head down to the table, gently banging it…

"Grow up Lex" I groan "If they are gping back, you should go back"

I get up and grab my old faithful back pack and pack the few things I actually own, I then look for some way to pack the fish… Realising I don’t actually have anything to put it in I yell out loud, again pi**ed about the situation… I grab an old wiskey bottle that I use to store drinking water and fill it with the cool boiled water, I go outside and dowse the fire with some of the water in the bucket, I then throw the fish out across the woods, I’m sure the foxes or some animal will enjoy it. Going back into my home I wash the plates then grab some of the apples I managed to find from an orchard not far from here, (one of my night time, walk about rummages )… Grab my water and throw it in my bag, grab my bag and lock the bus… I hope to hell no one finds this place, hopefully it’s over grown enough that people won’t go looking deeper…

"Come on feet, lets go and see what shit waits for us"

I sigh and make a start for the city of nightmares…