"Over here!!" A quick wave came from Mia when both boys entered the Tavern.
Mia and her group had settled themselves at the bar counter; Hollow and Fluke ordered a couple drinks, and Armen struck conversation with a pretty friendly bartender. Mia hadn't gotten a drink, she didn't want alcohol in her system at all. Drake smiled as Grayson immediately goes over to the counter to order himself a shotglass.
"What took-" Hollow turns to face the hybrid, but his brows furrowed when he saw that two of the four were no where to be seen. "Where's jackass and sheep boy?"

At this point Drake understood what those nicknames were, and who represented which, so he crossed his arms curiously. "They're with us of co-"
He turns to look at his two companions, but saw none. "What?"
The mage looks around. They weren't in any other area of the small Tavern. "Where did they-"
The Brit stares at him with bland, pale eyes. "Holy shit, you lost them didn't you?"
"Lost who?" Fluke asks, suddenly interested in their conversation.
"Yeah, lost who?" Mia pipes up.
Drake ruffles his hair, feeling a little stressed. "I think... Evanz and Rage are still back at the markets. That's where I last saw either of them, at least."
Grayson choked out his beer, coughing a little as he tried to soothe the painful burn in his throat. Armen pointed it out and the bartender nodded, cleaning up the mess and handing the unfortunate blonde a tissue and some water.
"Thanks, Benson." Armen calls out him, who gives him a simple smile.
After that, the brunette glances over at Drake. "So you and Grayson lost two of our boys. Perfect plan, you guys."
"Hey! It was crowded as hell back there!" Grayson rebutted, wiping his mouth.
Hollow paced around, thinking as Fluke groans into his arm. Drake looked around, nervously tubbing his arm. People inside were starting to stare, especially a group of younger-folk in the corner. They seemed.. stressed, almost like they had the same problem.
"God, with their luck, those two could be anywhere in this whole damn t—" Just as Fluke was about to finish his sentence, the doors to the Tavern opened.

"Hey guys." Lo and behold, both Rage and Evanz themselves, and a.. boy with an eyepatch?
"Evanz! Rage! Oh thank g-"
"OH THANK GOD YOU'RE SAFE!!" Suddenly a girl with blue highlights in her hair jumps out of the group that stared at them and tackles the eye-patched boy.
Rage had to move roughly to the side just so he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. Evanz seemingly laughs at the scene, walking away and towards Fluke.
"What is with people and cutting off my sentences!!" The blonde huffs, but smiles and ruffles Evanz' hair when he gets close enough.
"Ack— Fluke!"

Rage walks over to Hollow, who punches him in the shoulder.
"Oi!!" The dark-haired brit glares at his best friend.
"That's what you get for being a dumb fuck and getting lost." The blue-haired male huffs, but smiles a little.
At least his boyfriend is safe for now.
Drake and Grayson sigh in relief, the short scene of panic dying down as easily as it had risen. Mia, laughing, grabs both of them by the shoulder.
"Man, if anything had happened to either of them, i'm pretty sure Hollow and Fluke would have slaughtered you both." She teases with an evil grin as the two boys shuddered at the thought.

Meanwhile, Eyepatch exclaims in embarrassment, nearly toppling over as he laughs and hugs the girl back. "Jeez Chass, i'm not a lost puppy or something."
The group that had stared at Drake and the others seemed to let out a simultaneous breath of air, joining Chass in greeting the boy.
"B-But— what happened Will?" She asked worriedly.
A ginger-haired girl, who wore glasses and a hood that had a similar style to Rage's in that it was 21st-Century, raised her eyebrow. "Yeah, why'd you up and disappeared like that?"
"You worried the lot of us, especially Chass here." Another girl added to the conversation. She was a hybrid, feline with black cat ears and a tail, and had long almond hair that went over her seemingly ever-changing eyes.

He winced at the thought, but smiled wearily. "I.. got lost in the crowd. Thank these boys for finding me and bringing me back here."
Will gestured at Rage and Evanz, and while they were going to protest that he totally flipped the story, his eyes held a pleading gaze. As if they were to tell the truth, something might happen. They kept their mouths shut and nodded, smiling as the group thanked them for finding their friend.

A short girl with a bow on her hair approached them last, a bright smile on her face. "Thanks for finding one of my kids, we all appreciate it."
Armen, who was nearby, choked on air as he looked at the short girl in disbelief. "Wait— your KIDS?!" He asks incredulously.
The group snickered a little. As if she wasn't used to the implied comments on her height. The short girl still smiled, laughing. "If I really was as old as you probably think I am, I would have slapped you." She jokes, fixing her glasses.
"No, they're not actually my kids, but i'm pretty much the mother of the group." She tells them all, proudly gesturing to her group.
They all flashed a friendly smile/wave, Chass still clinging onto Will like there was no tomorrow.

"I'm Jace," The short brunette continues, deciding to introduce her friends one by one. "the ginger is Shelby, the hybrid is Kat, you've already met Will, and the girl clinging onto Will is Chass."
Mia smiles. "You all seem like a lovely group!" She comments, and Jace grins.
"Thank you! If I may ask, what are the names of you folk?" She asked innocently.
Of course, Drake, Grayson, Mia, and Armen were hesitant to answer, some pulling on their covers a little more. Jace notices this and smiles reassuringly. They needn't tell their names, it's understandable to be uncomfortable around strangers like them.

If only that REALLY was why they kept their names anonymous.

The Crew, on the other hand, gladly provided their names.
Rage stood up, proudly grinning under his hood. "I'm Rage, and these are Hollow, Fluke, and Evanz!"
Hollow waves politely, as does Evanz, but Fluke looks curiously at Will and Chass. Will noticed this and looked away from the group.
"U-Uh, why is, um, Fluke, right? Yeah, why is he staring at me?" He asks nervously, starting to feel a little stressed.
Does he know he lied about what really happened out there? Does he know he has...
Fluke blinks and laughs sheepishly. "Ah, sorry mate, I was just curious!"
He then points at Chass. "Is she your girlfriend?"

The bluntness of the question is enough for the hoodie wearing girl to immediately de-tach herself from Will and stumble back. Will stumbles away was well, both figures having bright red blushes protruding from their faces.
"WHAT?!"
Shelby and Kat laughed out loud, this wasn't the first time they were mistaken as a couple. Both Will and Chass glared at Jace before she could say anything, like she did it often, but she does so anyways.
"Sadly no, but I have high hopes in the future!" She snickers evilly, and this caused the group to laugh even more.
Drake glanced over at Armen, who smiled curiously. Grayson also seemed to be laughing along, as did Mia. The new air of youthful cheerfulness was refreshing to them, just like when The Crew somehow jumped into their lives.

Alas, that cheerfulness would have to come to an abrupt end. Suddenly, the doors to of the Tavern swing open once more, as a harsh coarse yell rings through the bar.

"JACE WE HAVE TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW."

---------
((Guess whO'S BACK NERDS!!! IT'S ME, JACE, AND IM BACK IN ACTION SOMEHOW!!! WITH QUITE A COUPLE OF CAMEOS FROM Doctor1Who0 DreamNoble KittyKat27929 CaptainBat AAAAND YOURS TRULY!!!

You know, for that bit of the story, I DO have a small idea to make another book based off that, but idk maybe not :'D

In any case!! Here's the long awaited part I took way too long to finish!! Writer's block is a BITCH QVQ That's all for now, I'll see you all in the next chapter!! Peace!! =^v^=))