It wasn't long before they set out from the farmhouse. The headed along the dirt track back to the road, but turned to left following the road further rather than right towards the city. Eventually the road curved away in a familiar fashion, but they needed to head west so they diverted from the road onto a dirt track, which led through the forest. They took it easy as they went.

"Soup, when we meet the Ecos, I'm going to ask them for soup"

"Soup? Of all the food they can manage to concoct you want soup"

"Yeah, Pride used to make up that delicious tasting soup in the mall when we were held as slaves by the Chosen. If he could make soup like that up from the vegetables the Chosen let us have, imagine what the Ecos could make up with real fresh vegetables" "Personally all I want is a little more meat in my diet"

"Chicken...yeah chicken...chicken soup"

Bray chuckled at this as they started down a steep climb further into the forest. They'd been walking for a few hours and they paused for a few minutes rest and took a drink from the flasks they were carrying.

"Talking about food, we should stop soon and have something to eat" Bray said, looking about the forest. There was something vaguely familiar about the area, but he just wasn't sure. They could be near to the Eco's or miles away, you never knew with this particular tribe. They'd always travelled far and wide and it had been a long time since he'd been with them.

They moved on for another hour, sticking close to the worn out trail yet trying to cover as much ground as possible. They found a small stream trickling down, the water coming from the mountain ranges. They decided to stop by it and heat up some lunch. Bray had a fire started quickly and KC produced a small pot to cook their meal in.

"Well it ain't chicken soup, but it sure beats rice" he grinned as he divided the food between them

"Thanks KC, looks great" chuckled Bray taking share and leaning back against a tree trunk to eat "You know I..."

KC looked over at Bray when he didn't finish his sentence. Bray set down his bowl and gave KC a sign to stay quiet. He'd heard something, or someone.

KC looked a little surprised when he looked around and found a young girl of now more than nine or ten looking at them inquisitively.

"Uh, Bray" he mumbled, getting Bray's attention and nodding his head over to the girl

Bray raised an eyebrow and looked as surprised as KC when he looked at the child. She was small, had a cute looking face and from the look of her outfit, decorated hair and painted face, he and KC both surmised she was of the Eco tribe. And where one Eco could be found, others would surely follow. They both stood as the girl remained rooted to the spot merely staring over to them. Bray started looking about for other tribe members and was rewarded as a few stepped out from the cover of foliage about them. He held his hands up carefully, trying t show them that they were alone and could be trusted.

"It's ok, we're not out to hurt you or attack you" he started, a few of the members stood as if ready to attack, or flee whichever was deemed necessary. "We actually came to look for you."

The few Eco members looked apprehensive as he spoke.

"Please look, just sit with us maybe, hear us out. Or take us back to your Tribe perhaps, you're of the Eco tribe right? The Gaians?"

"Yeah, we knew your former leader, Eagle." KC added standing slowly

"You know of Eagle?" asked one of the members, a young man who seemed to be leading this particular scouting party of Ecos.

"Yes we know of Eagle, and Pride" Bray nodded "Who is your leader now, Hawk? Is he still leading you"

Bray was thankful that he could remember the details, sometimes memories could be hazy, sometimes it was not.

"Yes, Hawk leads us" the young man replied

"Perhaps you could take us to him, he may recognise me" Bray said, hoping that the leader would. With the Gaians it was all about trust more than anything.

The tribe members glanced at each other a little apprehensive before looking at the young man to make a decision. He pondered the thoughts a moment before nodding.

"Come with us"

KC lost track of time as they walked through the forest. The Eco's took them off the trail they'd been following and it was easy to become disorientated in the forest, and he was thankful for the guides. He and Bray walked together, between members of the party, who seemed to be watching their every move without trying to make feel too unwelcome. The young girl walked nearby them, giving them curious glances every now and then as they walked. KC looked down at her, wondering why she kept staring, as if she recognised them, but he certainly knew he didn't know her. Still it wouldn't hurt to make an aquaintance.

"Hi" he said down to her in a friendly voice "My names KC"

The little girl looked around at on eof the Ecos, as if wondering whether she could reply. She must have been given the signal that it was ok because when she looked back at KC she gave him a sweet smile.

"I'm Mouse"

"Nice to meet you Mouse" grinned KC, offering her a hand. She took his hand in hers and gave it a little shake

"Your Mallrats" she said matter of factly, looking from Bray and KC.

Bray nearly tripped over a log he was stepping over and KC merely looked down at her in surprise as she spoke.

"How do you know that?" KC asked her as the whole group came to a halt.

"I remember your pictures in the mall" Mouse explained "Look see, I used to be a Mallrat"

Although she'd been with the Eco's for some time now, Mouse still insisted on drawing the pentangle the Mallrats used to symbolise their Tribe on the back of her hand.

"I know you, your Bray" she said smiling shyly around KC over to Bray

Bray nodded his head in half amusement half amazement. This was certainly a coincidence, here they were looking for the Eco's and they find one of their own as well.

"Yeah that's right, it's nice to meet you Mouse"

"We should keep moving," said the young man "Plenty of time to talk at the camp. Come on Mouse, you promised me you'd help me scout out ahead"

Mouse gave the two men one of her sweet smiles before running off ahead and taking the young mans hand and the two headed off together ahead of the rest of the group.

"Well this certainly is a coincidence" Bray exclaimed as they continued on

"Yeah I know" grinned KC "What are the chances. How do you think she ended up with the Eco's?"

"Maybe Pride brought her. Maybe Prides here" Bray said "Guess we'll find out at the camp"