For Those We've Lost - [Sequel]

Part 2 - Chapter 3

Linh chewed on the end of her pencil, staring up at the board in front of her as the teacher pointed at the timeline on the wall.
"In the year 60, the councillors...." Linh sighed, tuning out the lecture, shifting in her seat, turning to glare at Rayni, whose eyes were boring into her back.
"Can you stop that?" She hissed under her breath, glancing back at the teacher. Rayni smirked, rolling her eyes and went back to fiddling with her little cat pin. Linh sighed, going back to taking notes for the last couple minutes of the class.

"Alright, Linh, you did well today, you're dismissed." Lady Belva quieted and sent a glance towards Rayni. "Is our... guest coming next lesson as well?" Linh huffed.
"Yes, she is." Lady Belva grimaced.
"Well, give her a copy of your homework and notes..." She snorted. "So she keeps up."
Linh nodded, gesturing for Rayni to hurry up.
"Well, hurry along then." Lady Belva turned on her heel, hurrying out of the classroom.
Rayni sighed. "I almost fell asleep. That was boring. How do you do it, Song?"

"Don't call me that." Linh muttered, holding the door open for the older girl. "Did you even try to listen? Mr. Forkle was nice enough to let you come to Foxfire despite your crimes."
"I did, but her voice is so annoying. Keefe told me that she used to try to date him during school." Rayni yawned, pulling out a bottle of juice that she must have stashed away in her bag. "Jeez, Tam told me nothing but good things about you, and here we are, Linh Song in all her glory yelling at poor old me." Linh stiffened at the mention of her twin, speeding ahead of Rayni.

"Hmph." Linh hurried into the cafeteria, ignoring the annoyed yelps as she pushed through the crowd to get to the group's usual table. "Sorry, sorry!"
"Oh good, you're here." Sophie bit into her candy. Linh stared at her for a second, frowning, before moving to sit, Rayni lounging in the chair next to her. Sophie scowled for a moment, then turned back to everyone else.
"So, I talked with some of the connections we have around the- uh- forbidden cities, and they said they saw people matching the descriptions of Keefe and Tam." She pulled out a map. "In Australia. I mean, first in Scotland, most of the time in Australia. If what Fintan says is true, and that they have joined his... sister in another rebel group, it's possible they were relocated there. I haven't really heard about exactly where but they have said they'll keep an eye out." She let a loose breath out.

"They also said they've seen people who seem to be elves hanging around with them." Rayni raised an eyebrow.
"And you, The Moonlark, in all her amazing glory trusts these strange 'contacts'?"
"Why shouldn't I?" Rayni scoffed.
"You shock me." She grabbed the bao Linh was offering her and began to eat, ignoring everyone. Biana sighed, turning to Sophie.

"Have you got us permission to check?" Sophie scowled.
"Only Fitz can go. The council said that everyone else has jobs they have to do. And they said, which I quote 'Fitzroy is just a telepath, he'll be more likely to track them down'." Fitz frowned.
"That's a little rude. Do they really think I can outsmart our Funkyhair?" Sandor groaned.
"Must we track them down? We should be focusing on trying to train." Fitz rolled his eyes.
"I can fight just fine. And I'm fine to be looking out for Keefe, and Tam... and I guess their rebel friends?" He glanced at Rayni, who was now reaching for his unopened bottle of juice.

"Hey!" Fitz snatched it out of her reach and the usual bickering between the two began. Linh sighed.
"Soph, maybe we should give it a break for a little? Let Fitz focus on Keefe, the rest of us can actually get ready to fight. And you know.." Linh glanced at Rayni. "Focus on the rehabilitation thing that Forkle wanted to try out." Dex bit his lip.

"There's something I also needed to talk about."
"Is something wrong?" Marella frowned.
"Rex..is acting weird. He keeps sneaking out and avoiding the rest of my family. I heard him crying the other night, and he won't let me into his room anymore." Dex's lower lip quivered and Fitz stopped fighting with Rayni to move closer to wrap an arm around his shoulder.

"Hey...Rex is probably going through some stuff." Fitz tried to comfort Dex. "I mean, it's probably just normal 12 year old, angsty teenage stuff."
"...May I remind you that during that sort of time that's when I became a part of this dangerous crap?" Dex questioned, turning to face Fitz. "What if...what if Rex...?"
"Don't think that." Fitz said softly, bringing Dex to his chest. "Just...try to talk to him, okay? Make sure he knows that you're always there for him, mmh?"

Dex sighed into Fitz's chest. "Alright..."
"Uhm.." Marella opened and inhaled one of her cans of flavoured air. "Not to interrupt the sweet moment between our second favourite lovebirds, but why is Rayni retaking the regular levels? Aren't you supposed to be in the fancy noble towers of doom?" Rayni, who had successfully stolen Fitz's juice, just shrugged.
"I'm supposed to be her chaperone or something." Linh frowned. "But it feels more like she's a crazy little kid and I'm trying to stop her from going bonkers."
"Awh, have I grown on you Song?" Rayni smirked. "I should've known."

"Can you stop flirting with my girlfriend?" Marella snapped, narrowing her eyes at Rayni. Linh glanced between the two, and rested a hand on Marella's shoulder.
"Marella... She's just playing around, I don't take any of it seriously." Rayni rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, it's totes fine for Keefe to flirt with everyone but the moment I do it everyone hates me. Sheesh." Sophie rubbed her temples.
"Dear lord."
Biana tapped the table. "Okay, let's get back on topic."

~~~

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