The middle school parking lot held strange feelings for Emery. She hadn't been in it since the night she'd come to think about Adam, the night she'd met Cathbad all tangled up in the goal net. None of her friends understood her quiet, her contemplativeness, as she stood under the orange lights, looking down across the field toward the woods.

She was there with Tess and Liam and Ben, and somehow Natalya had met up with them. Really, there were too many people, but what could she do? They were helping her out; she couldn't tell them to leave. And at least Natalya had driven herself, so they had the extra car. They'd need it, too, if Cathbad brought even a few people as big as Cearnach. The plan was to pile them in Ben's van--it was one of those super-big, windowless white monstrosities--and take them directly out to Camp Hack-a-Back. Cearnach was already out there. Last Emery had seen him, he'd been catching fish in the large pond the campers used as a swimming hole. She'd thought at first that she'd need her friends' help to bring food out to the warriors; it was one of the reasons she'd enlisted them. But watching Cearnach, Emery realized that these men would certainly be able to fend for themselves. While there wasn't a ton of wildlife, there were some deer and probably small things, definitely squirrels, maybe even some skunks and possums. These guys were probably used to hunting. In fact, Cearnach had seemed absolutely elated to have something to do. Emery doubted he'd be pleased to have her deliver food to him as if he were incapable of getting it on his own. And even though she'd managed to open up some of the cabins, Cearnach hadn't seemed interested in showers and toilets, and she didn't even care. He could do whatever he wanted out in those woods, as long as he didn't wander out of them and hid if anyone besides her arrived. She'd explained all of this to him before leaving, hoping he'd been paying attention.

Well, he'd have company soon enough. And what happened after that was anyone's guess. Emery couldn't think that far ahead. She really wanted Cathbad; she had so much to ask him about, not least of which was Adam's message, which had upset her so much she'd had to get up and walk away from Tess, who'd asked her about it.

Why did it seem everything was causing her to feel so isolated? She couldn't talk to Tess or anyone else about Adam; she couldn't allow herself to be close to Charlie because of Cullen; her parents were beginning to be suspicious of her; and she couldn't even trust herself with all this moving in and out of dreams and visions. At least she'd been able to bring her friends in on this--this warrior collecting.

"Are you sure this is real?" Natalya asked, approaching her and interrupting her thoughts.

"Why did you come if you doubt it?" Emery was annoyed at the question. "Ask them." She waved distractedly at the others. "They saw Cearnach. There's more of them coming."

"Like, big hot warriors, right?"

Emery smirked. "Big, probably--can't promise they'll be hot."

"Ok, but, like, these guys roleplay and stuff?"

"They don't roleplay. They're actually warriors."

Natalya laughed. "This is going to be amazing."

Emery could tell her friend didn't believe her for a minute, but she didn't care. Natalya could make up her own mind soon enough.

It was probably nearing nine thirty, after they'd been sitting around for about two hours, when finally, finally, something happened. Ben had called Xavier, telling him to bring a soccer ball, and he'd shown up in his own car with Lily, his current girlfriend. They'd all gone down to the field and been playing an impromptu game in the dark for quite a while when, from the depths of the woods beyond, there came a low, long rumbling followed by a flash of blue light, which was mostly obscured but still visible through the trees. Everyone paused, looking to Emery, who felt her stomach roll with anticipation.

"They're here." She hoped it was Cathbad and his warriors, in any case. If Death or Dark or the one brother she hadn't seen yet--Evil--came around, she had no clue what she'd do.

The seven of them stood there on the field, their vision pretty limited with only the parking lot lights behind them and the moonlight above them, waiting for who-knew-what-exactly to come out of those woods. And they didn't have to wait long, because all of a sudden, in a horizontal line, several large figures and perhaps a few smaller ones came jogging out between the trees, their multitudes of shadowed yet definite weapons and gear clanking and jangling against the quiet night. At first, Emery's friends stayed relatively still, but perhaps the sight of the dark shapes nearing them at a brisk pace freaked them out. First Liam, then Natalya, then the others turned and hurried back up onto the parking lot where the lights were. Only Tess and Emery stayed put.

"Lady Emery! Lady Tess!" When the group neared enough, a familiar voice called to the girls, and relief washed over Emery. "Slow, men," Cathbad ordered, and the figures, whose features were just barely outlined in a bit of moonlight, stopped, while the druid ran forward. When he reached them, he seemed somewhat unsure how to behave, but first Emery and then Tess embraced him in hugs that left him grinning ear to ear, though neither of them could see it. "We have returned," he said.

"Yeah, no kidding," Emery replied, reacquainting herself with the man's earthy smell.

If Cathbad picked up on her sarcasm, he didn't mention it. "There's so much about which we must talk, but this place isn't safe. I trust you've secured a location for the men?"

"I have," Emery beamed, proud of herself.

"Then lead on, Lady!"

Emery turned and began to head up to the parking lot, where her friends stood staring down at them. When Cathbad realized there were others, he pulled Emery's sleeve.

"Have you enlisted aid?" he whispered.

"I had to, Cat. So much has happened, but I'll tell you about it when we get where we're going. Come on and we'll introduce everybody."

The druid and his warriors reached the pavement and stood in a row facing Emery's friends, who were absolutely stunned into silence. Even Emery was rather speechless. While the assembled warriors weren't all as big as Cearnach, some were even bigger, and a couple were downright terrifying. Still, she had to maintain some sense of control, so she pulled a hospitable smile out of somewhere and introduced each of her own friends, none of whom could manage more than a nod or feeble wave. Tess alone said hello, but she was a bit more accustomed to the weirdness and stood next to Cathbad at the end of the row. Bathed in orange light, the druid looked the same as he had when he'd left—long cloak, wizardy paraphernalia, straight mossy black hair—but he wore a smile of immense satisfaction, and though it might have been because he was pleased with his success, Emery wondered more if it were due to her friend standing so close to him.

But then came his turn, and all were anxious to know who the motley crew of assembled warriors were. Cathbad pointed first to the man nearest him, a relatively average-looking fellow with shaggy brown hair and a particularly large nose, who was introduced as Lóegaire the Victorious. He bowed slightly when named, and Emery caught a few stifled snorts from farther down the line. Next to him, Cathbad pointed out Keltar of the Battles, who, of all the others, looked most like some sort of knight straight out of a romance novel. Soft flowing blond locks were tied back to show off his well-chiseled face, though he wore the expression of a man who knew his own beauty. Even the way he stood—one hand on his hip, his chest puffed out--was telling of his nature. A rather large and imposing man was next to Keltar, this one introduced as Fergus Mac Roy. He was a good deal taller and heftier than Cearnach, and something about his big bearded face with its glinty eyes and thick red lips made Emery quite uncomfortable. She was happy to turn her attention to a group of three that Cathbad stated were brothers: Naoise, Ainle, and Ardan. They appeared the youngest of the group, none of them graced with facial hair or the more worn appearances of the older warriors. They were shorter in height and narrower in stature, but they were each of them quite handsome, particularly the eldest, Naoise, whose hair was black and glossy as a raven's against his fair white forehead. These three smiled almost shyly when the druid stated their names, which made each girl present a little warm. A slight slip-of-a-man, wily in his grin and hunched a bit as if he were an old man though clearly he was not, was presented as Bricriu the Poet, but Cathbad passed him by before any poetry could be recited, though it appeared the man would've gladly obliged had anyone asked for a verse. And last was a man so terrifying that Emery couldn't bear to look at him long enough to get much of an impression beyond his absolutely massive size, twitching fists, and mouth full of teeth he felt inclined to reveal when his name, Cethern mac Fintain of the Brilliant Deeds, was announced.

Each of the warriors was dressed in attire similar to what Cearnach wore: breeches and tunics, over which layers of outerwear of various sorts was draped and buckled and linked. Some, like Keltar, accoutered themselves more gallantly, with numerous shiny bits and brooches and cloaks lined with rich color. The brothers all wore a similar tartan that looked under the orange lighting to be red, but it was difficult to tell. The weaponry differed amongst them as well, though Emery noted that the two largest warriors--Fergus and Cethern--appeared also to possess the largest assortment of them or perhaps to just display them most prominently.

They certainly couldn't stay here, outside of the middle school. Emery could only imagine what a confrontation with the police might look like. So just as soon as they'd been introduced, she suggested piling them into the cars, and it was then that she was grateful both Natalya and Xavier had driven their own vehicles. After a quick mention that the "horseless chariots" they'd be travelling in might make them a little ill (Emery had learned that the hard way when they'd transported Cearnach and he'd screamed in terror half the time before they'd pulled over and let him vomit), they divvied up the men. Natalya quickly scooped up the three brothers, and Lily said she'd join (to the consternation of her boyfriend). Xavier and Liam decided to take the two medium-sized men, Bricriu the Poet and Lóegaire, and that left the two huge, rather disturbing warriors, Keltar, and Cathbad to Tess, Emery, and Ben, who'd drive the van.

Their convoy pulled away from the parking lot around ten o'clock, and soon enough they were on route to Camp Hack-a-Back.

Keltar, being only about six-and-a-half-feet as opposed to the eight or so of the other two, rode shotgun to Ben, and Tess and Emery sat in back, where two benches ran along the sides all the way to the end. Neither girl wanted to be close to Cethern or Fergus, so they kept themselves as near to the front seats as possible and let the warriors have the majority of the back. Cathbad positioned himself next to Tess, which didn't exactly surprise Emery, though it slightly annoyed her; she had a lot she wanted to ask the druid.

However, as they sped along, Emery realized that conversation would've been entirely impossible, as every single one of those men could focus only on his breathing and keeping his stomach still.

"I've watched the brains drain from many a skull and sewn my own internals back into my gut, but this ailment will do me in for sure!" roared Cethern at one point, and Tess and Emery exchanged wide eyes.

The ride was utterly harrowing, watching those grown men clutch their stomachs and spin unsteadily in their seats, hearing their groans and wondering every moment whether they'd puke. Even Cathbad closed his eyes and refused to speak, as if all his concentration was focused on maintaining his equilibrium. By the time they'd reached the camp, Emery felt as if she'd just pulled an all-nighter watching a bomb countdown. She practically fell out of the van, never so happy to get out of a car in her life. It seemed her friends had experienced the same, as they exited their own cars quick as rabbits.

The warriors regained their composure within a few moments of standing on solid ground, and a few looked even a bit sheepish. Bricriu the supposed poet approached Cathbad at once and accosted him, "Druid! Why could you not use your magic to bring us here?"

Cathbad rubbed his forehead, still a little dizzy. The other warriors grumbled for an answer as well. "My transportation spells are . . ."

Emery waited for him to say "fickle."

". . . not meant for more than a few at a time," he concluded his thoughts. "And I'd already expended much energy to bring you through to this world."

At that moment, Cearnach came galloping over, causing all the other warriors to draw weapons in anticipation in spite of their wooziness. When they recognized their peer, though, the cheers were unanimous, and suddenly, all of them had forgotten their traumatic ride to the camp. Emery watched the group of men greet and bear-hug and yell good-naturedly at one another, smiling in spite of herself. She wondered about this strange group of people, what exactly their relationships were to Cullen, whether he were friends with some more than others, whether he'd fought with him, whether he was the best swordsman of them all (he must; he wielded the Claíomh Solais). But then she caught herself thinking of him, and she stopped herself immediately.

Knowing there was no way to grab the attention of all these men, Emery turned to Cathbad. "Cat, this place is huge. Tell them they can run all over it, as long as they don't destroy the property. And more importantly, make sure they know to hide if anyone shows up; we can't risk them being seen. Cearnach can show them around, but again, it's super, super important that nobody sees them, so please don't let them wander off the property."

Cathbad took hold of both of Emery's hands and gave her a meaningful look. "Thank you, Emery. You've gone beyond my expectations. I am truly indebted to you. I will aid the men in settling in, and then I will bring myself to your home. Will you wait there for me?"

Emery nodded. "We'll be there in about half an hour."

"And, Emery," the druid hastened to add as the girl turned away from him, "it may be best if these others are not present when we speak, although you may bring the Lady Tess . . . if you wish."

Smiling, Emery chose not to respond and left Cathbad in limbo, taking Tess's arm and walking toward her other friends, who were all standing rather shell-shocked by their cars. She thanked Ben--tall, handsome Ben--and the others, sassy Natalya and kind Liam, mischievous Xavier and the lovely Lily, and she told them all to go home, to wait for her to message them tomorrow. Then she and Tess climbed back into Ben's van and headed back to her house, where they awaited the coming of the druid.