Tristan looked around and finally spotted the sophomore, eating by himself. Jared glanced up and grinned as Tristan sat next to him. "We can see most of the students from here," he said, trying to stay serious. "How many are different?"
Tristan looked around as the kangaroo flopped down on the floor next to him. "I've already got the black-haired senior talking to her friends, the redhead getting lectured by the principal, and the redhead's little sister."
"Kyle and Megan Bolton. The senior's Lily Foster."
Tristan looked around again. "Blonde jock tossing a football, and a brown-haired girl with dark skin and a green t-shirt."
"Aaron Maddox and Lisa Torres. Anyone else?"
"Not here, but not everyone eats lunch here." He changed the subject. "Destiny took Blair somewhere after school yesterday. I know Destiny's fine, but I don't have any classes with Blair."
"I have her next period." Jared put down his hamburger, appetite gone. "You think Destiny did something?"
Tristan frowned, brooding. "I don't know. She's nice enough, but something about her's just...off. More than the difference."
"Really? She seems pretty normal to me."
"I'm sure. Now what do I do about Chira over here?" He jerked his head at the kangaroo.
Jared frowned. "Well, first off, Chira?"
"I have to call her something other than 'the pink kangaroo'."
"I know, but--Chira?"
Tristan rolled his eyes. "I told you, I'm not good with names."
Jared decided to stop commenting and answer the question. "You won't really have to take care of her in any way. Just keep her out of your house and in your yard. Do you have any trees or flowers?"
"My mom has a vegetable garden."
"Try to train Chira away from it. A few missing leaves won't draw any attention, but chewed-up tomato plants definitely will. Take her up into the mountains at least twice a month to feed, more if she looks hungry."
"She's a binging vegetarian?"
"I think so. I haven't seen any of her kind kill things, anyway, and when they eat, they eat a lot."
"Okay. One more question."
Appetite rediscovered, Jared took a bite of his hamburger. "Shoot."
Tristan jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Is she going to keep following me around?"
Chira looked up. "Chirr!"
Jared grinned. "Yeah. Hope you liked freedom."
__________
Destiny leaned against the door frame and frowned, a little. Young and Ferrell had met and spoken, had traded secrets and suspicions, and that wasn't a good thing. Not good at all. Young didn't trust her, and now Ferrell wouldn't either. Distrust wasn't something Destiny could afford, at any point in time. She'd barely convinced Ross and Foster to follow her; she didn't need Young and Ferrell turning the others against her.
Destiny turned away and strode down the hallway. Why Young distrusted her, she didn't know. She'd done everything right, at least as far as she knew. She'd been polite. She'd been friendly. She'd behaved exactly the same way the other girls did. What had tipped him off?
It didn't matter. She knew Young's type. Stubborn, resourceful, intelligent, ethical--a true Crusader, uneducated as he was. If he thought it necessary, he would warn the others away from her. If he could, he would counter her with his own "study group". Unlike most such groups, however, the pool of candidates was limited, and each conquest would require a different approach.
This would not be a simple hunt, but rather a race. Who could find them fastest. Who could convert them first. Who could gain and keep their loyalty. Destiny didn't know what Young and Ferrell could do, but then, they didn't know what she could do either. And her ability was far more lethal than theirs could possibly be.
Destiny smiled. Very well, Young. Ready, set, go.
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