Mouse and Gel's Search for Cloe

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse had taken Gel down the car park stairs that lead from the second level down. Luckily they were away from the cafe and everyone was so busy there anyhow...They walked the Market trying to find a stall that would trade some food for the little items Mouse had brought. Mouse was used to buying at Market and knew some stalls that would work

Comments

[_ebony_]

Well, there's the orange rock on the corner; a bit of fallen concrete someone has spraypainted. But there's no one there, at least not yet. Sure, passersby walk along the sidewalk on their own business, but no one is stopping.

So it goes for another ten minutes or so before a girl darts out. She's a year or two older than Mouse, if that, with long brown hair and bright blue eyes, scruffy and unkempt. She kinda eases towards the orange concrete, gaze fixed on the ground where the shadows lie beneath it. There's no sign that she's noticed Gel or Mouse quite yet.

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse looked around for Gel as soon as she saw the girl. She didn't recognize her and was sort of curious how she would know Cloe. Not waiting she went up to the girl asking if she was Janice.

[gel413]

Gel had been looking at something on a table when she noticed Mouse wasn't standing next to her anymore. "Oh no where did she got off to?" Gel asked herself quietly. She looked around and spotted Mouse talking to a girl. Gel quickly went over to them. She heard Mouse's question and added, "Yes are you Janice?"

[_ebony_]

The girl jumps back a little when Mouse walks up. She starts even more when Gel joins her; the older girl seems to make her more than a little nervous, because she backs away some. "Yeah... hey. Hey! You're Mouse, right?" Janice gives Gel a wary look and scoots more towards the younger girl. "Did you get my note? Do you know where Cloe is?"

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse was slightly suspicious. "How do you know Cloe? She never mentioned you." She glanced over at Gel then back at Janice. "When did you last see her?"

[gel413]

Gel looked at Mouse and then back at Janice. She stayed quiet this time. The girl looked a little scared of her, Gel didn't want to make her run away. She looked at Janice and waited for the answer.....

[_ebony_]

"She's a friend," Janice answers, putting her hands on her hips and thrusting out her lower lip in a pout. "I met her a while ago, while we were waiting in line at the market. I don't know why she didn't mention me!" For a moment, she looks like she's going to start crying, tears pooling in her eyes. But then she takes a deep breath and wipes them away before they can spill free.

"I was worried about her, she hasn't been around in a long time. And I know she lives at that mall, but I don't know anyone else there. So I sent a note."

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse put on a thoughtful pout. She still didn't fully trust this girl. The Technos had helped to make her a suspicious person. Who could you trust? "I saw her the other day, but not since then." She decided to tell her. "That's all."

[gel413]

"Yes I saw her the other day, too. I haven't seen her since." Gel told them. "Are you two hungry?" she asked. "LEt's go to my hideout and have something to eat." she said. Gel walked away from the rock, not bothering for an answer. Even if they didn't follow they would see where she was going from there.

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse had a sudden thought. "You're not a Vid Head, are you?" She was referring to those who were hooked on the Game. She didn't want Cloe to get stuck with those people.

Mouse saw where Gel was heading, but didn't move until she heard more of Janice's story. It was nice that someone worried about Cloe, but why did she write a note? Why not come in to the Mall? Everyone else was....

[gel413]

Gel came back with a loaf of bread and a jar of jam. She heard Mouse's question and looked at Janice thoughtfully. She wanted to know too........

[tribal_mouse]

Mouse sighed as the girl didn't answer. She would have been more patient, but the jam and bread Gel was holding was looking too good. And both had missed breakfast to meet Janice. "Let's sit over there." She pointed to a spot over in a corner. "We can talk. You can join us if you want, Janice."

[gel413]

Gel followed Mouse to the corner she had pointed to, wondering if Janice would follow.

[tribal_mouse]

Janice had yet to join them so Mouse made herself comfortable as possible on the concrete ground. "So, Gel, I thought we could talk. About...you know...stuff. Did you ever play the GAME?" Mouse was curious about her new friend. She had missed most of the conversation between Gel and Salene earlier so now was as good as ever. "You had a tribe before joining us, didn't you? Do you miss them?"