"Did you hear that too?" asked Sarah as Alexa trotted up.

"Of course I heard it, it was kinda hard to miss," said Alexa. "Weather was supposed to be clear tonight, but it sounds like it maybe came from the road. Accident maybe?"

Beckham and Taylor dropped their armfuls of wood on the pile, and the group looked around the valley as another three cracks rolled through the hills. The boys left Ashleigh's tent unfinished and came over to the group to ask about the noise. The eight of them stood quietly, listening. Within a few minutes, three cracks echoed again, quieter than before but still evenly spaced.

"A gun?" asked Jacob, but Samantha and Ashleigh both shook their heads.

"Nah, a gun sounds, well, flatter. Whatever it is, it's faster. Like thunder, really," said Ashleigh.

Sarah had thought it sounded like thunder, and now that Ashleigh had pointed it out she could tell why. The noise was distorted by echoes and distance, but whatever was making it was high-pitched and fast. "Should we check it out?" she said.

The others all nodded, and Alexa said, "Yeah, I don't think I'll sleep well if I don't know what it is."

Jacob had driven a truck, and between that and Alexa's jeep everyone was able to load up fast and they rolled back towards the main road. As they crossed a ridge, Sarah saw a change in the fog ahead. The mist along the road was already mottled from everyone driving through, but in the distance, Sarah could see a teal dome in the fog ahead. It vanished behind the trees as they drove back down a hill, but Sarah had already figured out what was making the noise.

"It's Finn," she said.

"Figures," said Alexa. "Wonder what the problem is? Or is he just showing off?"

Sure enough, they found him half a mile from the main road. He was weighed down with several heavy bags, and he was dragging a cooler behind him as he trudged along the path. He started waving as soon as he saw the cars coming.

Alexa pulled into the brush beside him, rolled down her window, and said, "Get in loser, we're going camping."

Finn smiled, waving at the truck that pulled up right behind Alexa. "I'm glad you heard me. I wasn't sure you would, or that you'd come if you did. My cell gets absolutely nothing up here. I thought you said there was a signal?"

"A bit, but you've got to get over that last ridge first," said Sarah from over Alexa's shoulder. "Why are you walking?"

"The roads rougher than you made it sound. Figured getting the Chevelle stuck in the mountains was a bad idea. I'm parked a ways back," he said. He looked inside the jeep and glanced at the truck. "It seems like I'm last?"

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"Yup," said Alexa. "Load up, we'll get you set up fast."

Finn chucked his bags in the back of Jacob's truck, then bent down to pick up the cooler. Finn had grunted and strained to lift the cooler up, then Parker leaned down from the truck bed to take it, making it look weightless. Parker's arms and back glowed bright as he held it loosely and feigned dropping it a few times before he set it down. Finn stuck his tongue out at him, then hopped into the back of Alexa's jeep.

"New trick, or just more lightning?" asked Sarah as they got moving again.

"Um, new, I guess?" he said. "It's basically the same as the wind thing. Only instead of sending it in one direction, I send it all out in every direction, and it makes a bang when I let go. Not super useful, but it is really loud for how little energy it takes. I tried normal lightning first, but I could only manage one that was loud at all. I figured that wasn't going to get anyone's attention fast enough."

"So, changing the subject," he said. "How's it going so far?"

"Fine," said Alexa. "Parker and Jacob are nice and friendly, of course. Taylor and Beckham are pretty excited to be here, and I think Sam is too. Ashleigh... honestly I think he's more scared than anything."

"Scared?" said Finn. "Why?"

"Cause it hurts to screw up," said Sarah. "Like really, really hurts. Like set yourself on fire hurts. Plus if you're already feeling overwhelmed, it's kinda rough to step out."

The other two were quiet for a minute. Then Finn said, "You still feel overwhelmed?"

"No, yes. Yes, I do," said Sarah. "But it's getting under control. Not the same as I used to, I haven't melted down from music or sunlight since that night at the dance, but it's still a lot, you know? I got used to being alone, and it was ok. But having you two around, it's been amazing. Really."

Sarah reached out and squeezed Alexa's arm, feeling the girls green power in her muscles. "It's good, and it's changing my life, but it's still a lot, and I'm not used to it. That's why I was so happy you did all the calls for tonight, Finn. I'm still struggling with you two, ten more felt like I was back in Mrs. Bianchi's room."

"I thought you were just being shy," said Finn.

"Is there a difference?" asked Sarah.

Alexa was nodding, "I see it. Samantha is probably more comfortable, just knowing the Vilhauer twins already."

"I didn't know they're twins," said Finn.

"Dummy, they're not," said Alexa. "But on the other hand, they look alike, they dress alike, they act alike. Just 'cause Talyor is a couple of years older doesn't mean they aren't twins."

Sarah giggled at the thought, then said, "So how do they know her?"

"Next door neighbors," said Finn. "Samantha spotted Alexa on campus and was watching them, but didn't say anything until she spotted Jacob too. Then after she got the rundown, Taylor saw it from next door. I don't know if they're really friends. Not friends friends, anyway. They grew up next door to each other, but I don't think they're all that close."

Alexa pulled her jeep back by the other cars, and they sat in it for a moment, waiting for the truck to catch up.

"So, do we have a plan for the agenda?" asked Finn.

"You make it sound so serious," said Sarah. "Lets get settled. Get your tent up, get a fire started before it gets dark. We can cook the hot dogs and get comfy. Then we can all talk a bit. I'm sure it'll all come out pretty natural once we're fed."

"Sounds good to me," said Alexa. "No need to be all formal about it all."

Finn sighed, "Fine, at least to start. I'm not sure if that'll keep on working, but it's something we can all talk about tonight too."