The Rebel League

Chapter 14- Let's talk

"Oh my god!" Complained Thea. "I still have so much energy to buuurn!"

Tristan grunted. "Same here. I need to beat something up... or someone."

Joel, Estella and I were trying to decide what to do next while the newbies were complaining their asses off behind us. It had been less than an hour since initiations and they were already hyperactive again. Like children.

"We can't kill them." Joel decided. "Not on their first day, it would be too traumatising."

I laughed while Estella raised her eyebrow defensively and said, "one arrow and you're dead. Apart from the wolf. Shoot the back of his knee for me."

Kira stood up from the couch, suddenly looking productive. "I'm going outside. Flowers to pick, poisons to make."

Without another word, she flicked her hair on the way out the back door. One down, three to go.

"Why don't we have an arm wrestling competition?" Tristan suggested, rolling the sleeves up on his camo shirt.

Thea glared at him. "You're on."

"Oh, Christ." Ruby muttered. "I'd rather keep my hand in one piece, thank you."

Joel, Estella and I left through the back door and sat down against the brick wall. Kira was unsurprisingly picking flowers half way down the hill and placing them delicately in her hair. She looked angelic in the sunlight, which was something that she seemed to excel at despite being a massive devil.

"What next?" Joel asked.

"You're getting really good at asking that question, aren't you?" I said, giving him a sideways glance.

Estella smiled. "He has a point, though. I didn't find much at my dad's factory. I think I'll have to go back again, at some point." She turned to us. "What about you boys? What've you been up to?"

I groaned and hit my head on the wall. "A lot. A friggen lot. Let's just say that."

Joel nodded in agreement and we left it there. Estella still looked curious, but she dropped the subject.

"Actually." I exclaimed, remembering something. "I have something to give you, Estella!"

Her eyes widened as I sprinted back inside, bursted into my room and took my backpack off the bed. She was still staring blankly when I returned, taking out the pouch of egg bombs from the costume store.

"These might come in handy." I said, handing them over.

Joel leaned over me, trying to get a better look. "What are they?"

Estella was rolling one in her hand when she suddenly put it back in the pouch. "They aren't real, are they!?"

"No. No, no, no." I said. "They're bombs."

Joel crawled around me and gazed at the pouch longingly. "So cool."

"You were there when I got them." I pointed out.

Joel didn't seem to hear me.

Estella took the same egg bomb back out and squinted at it for a few moments. Then her expression turned mischievous, something I didn't think was possible, and she looked down at Kira.

She was still braiding her hair with flowers, sitting in a pile of them. Her auburn gold locks tumbled in the wind, creating a challenge for her.

"Uh, let's not throw bombs at my sister?" I suggested.

Estella giggled and twirled the egg with her fingers. "I wasn't planning on it, but perhaps we should see how they work?"

"Definitely." Joel said, practically drooling on my shoulder at this point.

"You know you have your own explosives, right?" I said, guiding his open mouth away from me. "And guess what? They're arrows. Kinda like how Raven's egg bombs are suited for her."

He shrugged. "I suppose, but they're not as cool."

"Personally." Kira materialised in front of us. "I prefer poisoning my victims before blowing them up, but whatever."

"How do you do that?" Estella asked.

Kira made an "eh" noise before sashaying back inside. I rolled my eyes after her.

"Hey, Harley." Estella nudged my shoulder. "There's something I need to talk to you about."

I suddenly remembered needing to tell her something as well. The images of the cat ears on the roof and the flashing blue light in the alleyway repeated themselves in my mind when I nodded.

"I'll give you two some privacy then." Joel said with a smirk.

I didn't get the chance to punch him in the face because he disappeared back inside. Estella pocketed the pouch and sighed.

"I saw Shadow Knight today." She said. "He told me that I was wanted in 'The Court,' whatever that means."

I nodded. "Makes sense, Joel and I saw the other two on our way up from Wyong. I don't know what the court is, but if the samurai are involved I'd bet my whip that it's bad."

"You have a whip?" Her eyes widened.

I laughed. "I'll explain everything that we did later."

She seemed to accept that, because she just continued staring at me with her incredible blue eyes. It was actually quite astonishing how much Estella had matured, appearance-wise. Her features hadn't changed much, but she now had this natural look of authority and strength. I bet she loved it.

"You look older, you know." I said.

Estella suddenly shook her head slightly and blinked a few times. "Huh?"

I repeated what I had said as she buried her face between her knees.

"Sorry." She mumbled. "I'm just not used to seeing you again. You look better too."

I was about to make a sly remark but she whipped her head up and glared at the clouds.

"I meant older." She said. "For gods sake Estella you're on a roll today."

I smiled, glad to see that whatever might've changed in the time between our absences, our hilarious flaws hadn't. In Estella's case, she was still as shy and clumsy as ever.

"Perhaps we should go back inside?" I suggested. "I imagine Thea and Tristan have ditched arm wrestling and are now having a punch-on..."

Estella nodded. "Knowing her, I'd bet four out of my five quills."