Flipside

Part 4, Part 1

PART 4: MEETING

They finally arrived at Pepper's house.

"Dante lives nextdoor," she informed them. Gemma and Nevin quickly followed him. Marsha followed Pepper through the halls, but Pepper quickly held up a hand. "Stop." She announced. "I'm getting changed."

She closed her bedroom door and opened her walk-in closet. She got a black, fake leather skirt and her favourite star T-shirt. She topped it off with some pointy heels. As in, the heels on them were pointy. Not the toes.

God, Pepper detested pointy toes!

She finally put on a long white coat.

She reached for the doorknob, then paused. She picked up a spear that was nearby and then left.

"If I don't have a tree, I will flip." She told Marsha. She went to the backyard and found an oak with its branches entwined with the alder nextdoor.

Looking at that nextdoor tree was Gemma, Dante, and Nevin.

"Cool tree." Nevin said to break the silence.

"Uh, thanks." Dante muttered. He had already changed into his shorts and T-shirt. He pulled an axe out of the ground.

"Ooh!" Nevin smirked. "That looks amazing, dude! So what is it? A legendary war axe? Something used to chop down tree monsters? IS IT THE WEAPON OF THE GODS?" He shouted.

"I don't know." Dante said.

"Trust me, an average guy like this wouldn't own any such thing." Gemma sighed.

***

"This is follower blood. We're getting somewhere." Mallory said, looking at her group. Sasha looked at her, bored, and Charles burped loudly. Gregory and Michael were the only ones who seemed immersed in it. Seemed, because Michael doesn't care for this stuff, he just feared Mallory.

"Uh-huh." Charles muttered.

"Shut up, Johnson!" She snarled.

This is hardcore conflict, they call each other by their last names. Trust me. That is a sign of pure hatred. He unsheathed his claws.

"Oh, no! Did you take off your soft paws again?" Gregory wailed.

"You put soft paws on him." Sasha muttered. There was silence.

"Oh, come on! He's part cat." Laughed Mallory. Charles hissed and raked his claws across her face. "Gregory, calm him down!"

"No, I don't want to... it doesn't feel fair..." He mumbled.

"Come on. You're the only one he lets do it." She sighed. Gregory went behind Charles and scratched behind his ears. A rough purring sounded almost immediately. "Thank you." Mallory smirked. "You can stay there with him while we hunt if you want."

"Screw you, Mallory..." Charles growled, leaning against Gregory.

"You're welcome." She pushed them both to the ground so that they were sitting down. "What should their ship name be? Catfish?" Sasha gasped.

"Hell yes."

"Isn't it kind of mean to pair people?" Michael stuttered.

"It's just a little joke, Mikey! Lighten up." Mallory smiled. They then moved on and found the follower.

"Ugh, it's not a Reaper." Mallory groaned. She picked up her bow and shot at it. The follower snarled and charged at her before slicing her arm with its scythe. Michael and Sasha quickly killed it.