"Ripples?" Walker repeated.
"Ha!" came an unfamiliar voice. "I knew they'd meet the insect people within a week."
"No one doubted it Oscar." answered another, this one female.
"What the -" Zac asked.
"We've had some visitors Zac." Isaac explained. "They're friends of Zella."
"Zella? Hey, that's who I'm with right now! See, I escaped with Ripples and then Frog-features found out we were gone -"
"Frog-features?" Taylor repeated.
"Yeah that's one of the names that Ripples likes to call Gretel."
"Gretel is The Goblin obviously. That's her real name." Another unfamiliar voice explained.
"So you're with Zella now?" the unfamiliar female voice asked.
"Yeah. Oh and we're on our way back home!"
"Can I talk to her? Tell her it's Trinity."
"Umm, yeah, ok." Zac turned to Zella. "It's someone named Trinity."
Zella took the phone.
"Hey Z, how far away are you?"
"Two days at least. I disabled Goblin, but I'm not sure how long for. And as soon as she gets her tongue back she'll have her henchmen onto us."
"Henchmen." Zac repeated with a giggle.
"Tongue?" asked Trinity.
"Don't call this number." Zella went on, not bothering to explain. "We'll call you if there's a need to communicate. See you in two days."
Zella handed the phone back to Zac.
"Finish up ok."
A few minutes later he had done so, and they traveled in silence.
**********
"Can we listen to the radio?" Twinkles spoke up. "I wanna listen to the radio!"
"No. Shut up."
Twinkles looked offended.
"Hey don't talk to my girlfriend like dat!" Ripples ordered. "Apologise now!"
Zella sighed and glanced at Zac.
"Do they have to be with us?"
"I can't shake 'em. Sorry."