“Nuh unh Sis," Robbie said. “You make me tell you everything every time I've done something . . . what's the word?" he asked, looking at Natasha.

"Rash?"

"That's it."

Red growled. Neither her brother nor her friend seemed particularly intimidated at the moment. The she sighed. “Come on it," she muttered, walking towards the back of the cave. "I'll explain."

"Jane here?" Nat asked nervously. She wasn't sure if she should be there, thought it would probably be okay because Robbie was chaperoning.

“She's at work," Red said. “After what happened out east, she decided she needed a job." She decided just to dive right in. She told them everything, from the bus-ride out to Jane's home town to Red's total break down.

Robbie was staring in amazement. His sister had ALWAYS been the reliable one. What she had done was so un-Red-like. "PLEASE tell me you've got that out of your system," he said at last.

"Yeah. I think I've seen the error of my ways. Or at least felt them," she groaned as she leaned back against the wall.

"We can have Arthur take a look at you in a bit," Nat said.

"He's probably tired and . . ." Red started, but her brother wasn't having any of it.

“Let him help. Arthur was actually able to rest on the trip up.

Luckily, none of us got injured," Robbie said.

"I'm impressed," Red said with genuine respect. “It's hard to lead troops into battle and bring them back.”

"Yet you've been doing it for how many years?" Robbie asked. “And you never complained." Robbie was as open with his sister as he had been in years. "Red I never realized how hard what you do is. I've done it once and . . . and I don't WANT to do it again. I stunk at it. The only reason we all made it out was because we worked as a team. I'm not putting myself down. I just not as much of a leader as you are and I'm okay with that."

"I don't know. I think you're not giving yourself enough credit." She looked at him and ruffled his hair, then gave him a hug.

"Okay, mow you're REALLY creeping me out," Robbie said, though he didn't mind so much.

Red smiled at him. "You've grown up." She looked him in the eyes.

"Jane . . . she was asking Tarloh and them about how it started.

About when we first met the Strays."

Robbie's mood sobered quickly. "I hadn't thought about that in a long time."

"Me neither. Afterwards, I just started thinking back to Mom and Dad and the promise I made. I think that's what started this," she said, looking at her bruises. "I've been doing one thing so long that the idea of changing things this much was a bit overwhelming."

Natasha smiled as she and Robbie helped Red to her feet. "You're a strange bird," she said. They walked down the trail to the main building. "And for everyone's sake, I hope you never change."

Jane was moving through the forest at high speed, wanting to get home. She'd gotten a call on her cell that all the Strays were back and she wanted to see them. In her many magical braids she was carrying some snacks she had bought with her meager money. She'd also grabbed all the hot dogs from the grill that had been there a little too long. There was always someone in the Strays who would eat that stuff.

She scurried up to the building and clambered inside. And she was in for a surprise. When she emerged into the main room, she saw a huge man with wings . . . bat-like wings. He turned and seemed to growl at her. Jane screamed.