Free Apocalypsis: Book 2 (Warpaint) by Elle Casey Page A

than on the most basic level.  God, I hope there are no rapists in this group.  The last thing I wanted to do was kill a guy in the swamp.
    ***
    There were almost a hundred people jammed into every available spot in and around the hut.  Some carried torches, but none were lit.  Most of them were wearing regular clothes, no one bothering to get all dressed up like they had last time.
    Trip and Kowi were talking together near the center.  Coli was standing off to the side, behind Kowi, gesturing to me with her head to join the two leaders.
    I walked into the center of the hut, making my way through the surrounding throng, arriving in time to hear them talking about what I assumed was the training I’d done with the guys earlier today.
    “Yeah, very cool.  You’ll like it.  She knows her stuff.  I’m dyin’ right now, man,” said Kowi, rubbing his bicep muscles.
    Trip acknowledged me with a bland look.  His bruises from our fight still hadn’t completely faded.
    “What’s up, guys?” I asked.
    “I was just telling Trip about your training … told him he needs to get in on it.”
    “He can if he wants.  I’ve got room for two groups a day of each tribe.  One girl, one guy.  Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”  I changed my focus to Kowi.  “I’m putting Peter in charge of the schedule if that’s okay with you.  He needs something to organize so he doesn’t go nuts or drive me crazy.  He’s already reorganized our pitiful pantry about a hundred times.”
    “It’s okay with me,” said Kowi, looking at Trip.
    Trip shrugged.  “Whatever.”
    I couldn’t get a read on Trip at all.  “ Whatever , as in, you’re okay with it?  Or whatever , you don’t want to do the training?”
    “Whatever.”
    I rolled my eyes.  “Again, Trip?  Again with the rooster shit?”
    “Rooster shit?” he said, looking a little angry now.
    “Yeah.  The strutting around with the feathers and stuff.  Honestly, I thought we were beyond that.”
    Kowi cuffed him in the shoulder.  “He’s just pissed you kicked his ass in front of everyone.”
    Trip scowled at him but said nothing.
    “Don’t let it bother you,” I said with a totally straight face.  “No one’s managed to beat me since I was twelve.  You have a lot of company.”
    Trip smiled in spite of himself.  “Seriously?”
    “Yeah.  Seriously.”
    “How long have you been doing this?  The fighting stuff?” asked Kowi.
    “Since I was three.”
    “No way.”
    “Yeah way.  My dad was an instructor.  He was kind of obsessed with it, especially after my mom left.”
    Trip nodded, saying nothing.
    I decided a change of subject was in order.  “You guys ready to start?  And what exactly are we doing here, anyway?  I’m kind of clueless, actually.”
    Kowi waved around to everyone, motioning for them to sit.  “You ready, Trip?” 
    Trip nodded, scanning the crowd.
    Kowi looked at me.  “Just stay here.  It’ll be easier to just explain as we go, if that’s okay with you.”
    “Sure.”  What am I going to say?  No?  Sorry, Chief, but it’s my way or the highway?  I tried not to be frustrated with my place on the totem pole, which was much lower than I cared for.  It made me feel out of control of my life and therefore, my safety, so it put my nerves a little on edge.
    “Thanks for coming,” said Kowi to the group.  “Trip and I have agreed to get all of us together to discuss uniting the tribes into one nation.”
    “I agreed to this in principle only,” clarified Trip.  “I know we’re stronger as one.  But we still need to figure out who’s in charge and how it will work with sharing hunting grounds and other stuff.  If I’m not happy with it, I won’t agree.”
    “I thought we already talked about a combined ruling council,” said Coli from the perimeter, her voice clearly expressing how annoyed she was with Trip.
    “We did,” said Kowi, “and as far as we’re concerned, it’s still