The Hellhound's Secret

General Deception, Part I

Uploading this now as I am busy on Monday.

This chapter was fun to write.

"I thought you guys were going camping?" Vida asked, watching as Xander and Nick lugged their belongings out of the Rock Porium. It was technically too early for the shop to be open to customers, but Toby had allowed the boys to store their gear there overnight.

"We are," said Xander, tossing a bag of supplies into the jeep. "Hey, Kali," he added.

Kali nodded once as she crossed the street. She'd just appeared through the oak tree on the opposite side of the road and was approaching Vida from behind. She stopped beside her friend and former teammate, resting her folded arms on the side of the jeep. "The others have left. Tori says to meet her at the half way point," she said.

"Well, if these guys hadn't packed enough gear to out kit an entire city then we'd be on our way," said Vida.

"You should see what the Ninjas have packed," Kali muttered.

Lorna, Xander's new girlfriend, frowned. "Xander explained somethings about camping," she said, speaking for the first time. She'd been present from the beginning but had decided to merely observe. "I thought it was about 'roughing it'?"

"It is," said Vida. "Which is why half of this stuff in useless to them."

Kali scoffed. "Dustin packed a TV," she said.

"A TV?" Vida asked. "How are they supposed to run it without electricity?"

"Shane has a portable generator."

Vida rolled her eyes. "They're so missing the point," she said.

Kali nodded her agreement.

Carrying the last of their bags out of Rock Porium, Nick paused to lock the door and then headed up the steps and towards the jeep. He deposited the last of his gear in the back, behind the seats, and then turned to greet Kali with a kiss.

"You sure you don't want to be there this weekend?" Nick asked, climbing into the back with Xander.

"This," said Kali, pointing at all the junk behind her, as she climbed in beside him. "Is not camping."

"Camping is about having fun," said Xander. "We've just packed the necessary fun items."

"Yeah, like a TV and portable generator," said Vida, sarcastically. She started the car and pulled away from the curb.

Kali smirked while Lorna laughed.

~X~

"How did Dinner go with your parents?" Lorna asked. She had twisted in her seat and was leaning over the back, while staring at Kali.

Kali shrugged. "It was... adequate, I guess," she said, shrugging. "I mean, I didn't lose my temper, so, that's a win in my books."

"You were great," said Nick. "Your outfit seemed to impress, too."

Kali rolled her eyes. "It definitely impressed you," she said, poking his shoulder.

"I'm not denying that it didn't," Nick laughed.

Vida glanced in the rear-view mirror. "It must have been some outfit to impress both Nick and your parents?" she said. "Do we get a preview?"

"She wore a dress," Nick snickered.

"I've worn dresses before."

"Oh. I'm aware," said Nick. "Here," he passed his phone to Lorna, the image of Kali in her dress shown on the screen.