"Wait...what?" Kyle stammered. He wasn't used to these conversations. Girls liked to talk about feelings and love with their friends. Boys just don't do that. He looked at his cousin's-cousin. She looked dead serious. He thought for a second. "I, uh..."

"You're a boy, and his brother of all things, so why doesn't he like me?" Karina repeated. "Boys are completely unpredictable, but you're a boy, so I'm asking you."

"I... well..." Kyle had to put some thought into it again, knowing Karina would never let him just drop the conversation. "I think he just sees you as his cousin, and doesn't realize you like him anyway. I mean, you moved to live with your Mom ten years ago, we were six, you were...five? But you moved to our neighborhood and you two met, and you've been childhood friends ever since. I guess that's how he still sees you." For Kyle, that was a big answer. He didn't feel comfortable in the conversation in the first place.

"Yeah, cause there's nothing wrong with me. I'm perfect for him. And what's so great about her?" she moaned. Kyle sighed, knowing this conversation would be a long one. "She lives in the woods. You can't be pretty if you live in the wild!" she hissed.

"And she rides Jewelclaws! They're evil, and everyone knows that. Everyone thought they were good until they ate President Wolfe's daughter." She spoke in a low voice to make sure Madelyn didn't overhear. It was hushed like a 'don't wake the kids' kind of thing. She couldn't hear a word Karina said, but knew she was talking about her the nonetheless.

"Yeah," Kyle said. "But maybe they were never evil in the first place. They probably didn't eat the little girl either. If they did, well, I don't know. But if you could prove that they didn't kill her, you'd know they weren't evil."

He realized it made sense. Madelyn might be able to ask the Jewelclaws what they did with her. Then they could find the girl, that is, if she was still out there. Maybe she wandered back to the city somehow, or lives in the outskirts with a new family.

"Not you too!" Karina exclaimed. Madelyn whipped around, and Karina lowered her voice. When Madelyn turned back around, Karina continued. "Just because she's so pretty, doesn't mean she's something that she says she's not! Just because she says Jewelclaws are good, doesn't mean you have to start defending her views and finding ways to prove to the world she's right! How in the world can anyone be beguiled by her like that?!

"Personally, I think she's a liar. Like I said, you can't be pretty if you live alone in the woods! She could be working with the Jewelclaws, and she's luring us into her den so they can eat us. I'd escape, but she's watching. As soon as her back is turned, I'm getting out of here. But then, I'm going to save Jackson, and he's going to love me for once. Because I saved her from that wild-girl." Below her, Willow neither cared about nor listened to her conversation. She was very tired of Karina.

Karina already easily hated Madelyn, and simply because Jackson loved Madelyn instead of her. She didn't even know if what she said made sense, or if she had good reasoning, and she wasn't going to admit it, never in a million years, but she was jealous. Envious.

Sometimes, she'd feel resentful and loathing towards Madelyn. Other times, she felt emulous. Karina had shoulder-length straight brown hair, Madelyn had long, wavy, light brown hair. Karina had boring brown eyes, and Madelyn had big, bright blue eyes. Karina had a big nose with a permanent sunburn on it, Madelyn had a pale little nose like a Disney Princess.

Karina wasn't fat, but she wasn't skinny, and Madelyn was really thin but somehow strong had this little waist and dainty little feet, while still being tough and hard core. And she dared to wear that clothing in early spring, when it was still cold! You might as well wear a furry bikini!

And how was it possible that girl didn't have a single goosebump right now? Karina was starving and hungry, and she still wasn't as skinny as Madelyn. Madelyn's charming little high cheekbones, pointed chin, and perfect pink lips made Karina just want to smack them off when she flashed that flawless little smile of unnaturally white teeth back at her, with that smug little look on her face like she's trying to mock her...

"Karina!" Kyle exclaimed, waving a hand in front of her angry face. "You still there?"

"Of course I am! Now stop bothering me," Karina snapped. She lowered her voice for the last time. "Now if you want to be useful, distract little treehugger wild-chick so I can talk to Jackson!"

Kyle was a little offended, but this was how Karina always acted, and he knew he probably should've gotten used to her by now. He couldn't blame Jackson for not taking a special interest in her sometimes. Kyle still thought it a bit awkward riding next to Madelyn, but less of a torture than sitting next to Karina. He sighed. "Hey, Jackson!" Kyle called.

"Yeah?" Jackson called back.

"Karina's not looking well. She hasn't had food in days, and I think you should ride next to her to catch her if she falls." Jackson didn't look convinced, so Kyle threw in a bit of a stretch to catch him on. "I'm not strong enough to catch her." Jackson's look back said, You got that right.

"True," Madelyn said, eager to get some personal space. Her conversation with Jackson was going downhill, and he kept trying to veer Dexter closer to her. Unfortunately for Madelyn, Dexter was quite keen to listen to him on that. "Jackson, you might want to drop back."

"Alright, Maddie," he said with a wink. Madelyn avoided the temptation to roll her eyes. Jackson reached over to her and rubbed and patted Madelyn's back. Madelyn stiffened, flicked his hand away, and faced forward. She really wanted to slap him right then.

Living in the woods really broadens your personal space. He winked again before Dexter dropped back to Willow. Madelyn turned around to see Kyle and Loki padding back up, and Madelyn's eyes fell on Willow.

Loki padded up next to Hazel. It was a bummer Jackson had to be like that to such an amazing... Don't think like that. It's weird. Kyle scolded himself. He'd never liked a girl before, believe it or not, and never had a girlfriend. Kyle was the complete opposite of Jackson. "Sorry about him," Kyle whispered.

"About what?" she said airily. Her concentration point had turned. She was completely focused behind her, still looking at Willow, who was sniffing intently.

She definitely noticed him, I know that... Kyle thought, not noticing her focal point. He narrowed his eyebrows and whispered, "Jackson totally just..."

"Shhh..." Madelyn hissed, and put her hand up to signal they stop. They all went silent. She slid off Hazel and walked to Willow. Karina looked petrified to be approached so outright. Willow's tail twitched back and forth.

The Panther started meowing to the others, and they meowed back. Then they started looking stressed, their tails twitching, licking their lips, and flicking their ears.

Loki kneaded at the ground, like he desperately wanted to start running. Karina and the boys looked around in confusion. Jackson looked on, bewildered, as Hazel sniffed made a few frantic movements to Madelyn, whose eyes widened in panic and fear. Madelyn raced back over to Hazel, jumped on her back, and took off.

~ ~ ~

So there's for chapter three, I hope you guys like it, because I sure did. Like Jackson's theme song there? Sorry about the weird starter picture on the second one...I genuinely have no idea how it got there.

Those of you who are right now forming conspiracy theories.... Keep in mind what Jackson said about ten years ago. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can find it in Madelyn and Jackson's conversation just before the 'hard core' part.

Next chapter is a good rise in the plot, be sure to continue!

-Anna