34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXQxppjQOJ
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCXVV8IRfH
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NdcofSrWC
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStImY1E8Jf
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZUwyBeg5X
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRn5VKkATx
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9BibiqD16
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZP3j4VNNA
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbYrbLxJOU
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGCMTcVmXn
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8dMZUxPKs
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EBcXOBuJO
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LCFwPxpux
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirZlB2C95N
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oXyxiedAw
the ranks of the worlds greatest military might.
Inside the singleton building, all the way in the room closest to the training ground, a man sat at his desk looking34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaayfC5ePn
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6mw5cOJto
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9tOxmwAnQ
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvAD05ROte
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySti5RCINt
the letter. It was addressed to him.
Vander was in his twenty-fifth year of life and his eighth year as a Blade. He had been promoted to Captain a34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByT0fUcmgn
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lK67ctHm
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQicRJKU7mT
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBve7VRYxa
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYYJznk50S
Alexander, who instructed them in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander was a giant of a man standing well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his arms the size34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmi4ojIZVe
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVDzXMVrkw
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PgiRhJtoe
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoNoZB2Oav
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kEOGsi8MQ
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe57GSiaNG
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50o1g14F0U
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrHifFwNtO
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIb92A8GZb
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD4dDIgFRN
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jMR2NVO5c
the only life he knew.
He turned to look at his bed where a massive white wolf stared at him with concern in her eyes. Shea tilted her head34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vsAYrzgrQ
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6pxGBvLW0
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSpN3SSHWA
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwQpFUlBjX
enough for Shea to snake her way through the opening.
He put the jacket on to protect himself against the cool springtime air as he left the building. The jacket was34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSlEgJ42mT
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEmSnS4YDJ
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWiAgIjEfM
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uURtNoL1n
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhl01YevVm
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETHuXVtTVF
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPxC5PvLAS
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLj0MpQmLW
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c4cKUdolx
the shade as her master did his duties.
Alex acknowledged him with a slight nod of his head, but he soon turned back to watch the trainees practice34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7XFkZfJay
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsG9ivpwba
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfkbc8hnGU
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0Tq3EMQCz
use muscle groups they didn’t normally use it their training.
“How’s everything coming?” Vander asked. He stood with his hands held behind his back, his eyes or demeanor34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsV9x270ul
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAcOi7W93a
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuDr29xJVR
their progress is still slower than I would like.”
Vander watched as the siblings Rooster and Chicken squared off against each other. Rooster was bigger and34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcm9LPM3Uc8
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7UDsuVn2U
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5amGvQURH
headlock where his size would have the advantage.
He wasn’t quite sure where the two of them had come from before making their way to Eluvia, but they were both dead34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgyVmbIn07
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsNgXRPkDv
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhObZj9w59
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w6t5TMESi
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeSU62c3Do
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzntg5n9VUn
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTXW1Dqsbj
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSkH7H23hW
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIBuj2QsUJ
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdR2750aC1
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiujtQKCgNg
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2gkoLRS0l
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xgmj03UBa
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn29wXzju2g
the rest could barely stand. Her dark black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Briar and Forest, he was unsure if they were siblings or not, sat next to each other their faces unreadable. They34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8hVrUFqN2
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5eEeiOmLK
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZUXm3NzP8
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfitygjIevR
up against, she would throw hands with anyone who looked at her funny.
Forest was her opposite. He wore his blonde hair sheared short; his blue eyes always looked for a way to take his34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAOdHwQxbU
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrILHFlK00
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuLqfsYfSm
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FEE9DLYXo
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N5oJxJYs8
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQhjRhCQJ9
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcIi2j1kOz
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY00Fr2pFg
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCfS8K8xmd
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFjylnd2hR
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfaxIFgTIm
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNghEdB2VxI
fired back with an answer.
“How about we fight him?” she suggested. “All we’ve done is fight each other while he sits on the sidelines34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG5b9sYdla
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KE7wTjo2D
didn’t show it, Vander was happy with her proposal.
“What do you think?” He turned towards his friend. If Alex was surprised, he didn’t show it. It was how their group34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5BWAPPQUf
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5yiPBtNHx
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzVrZaVb0t
them, and it would be a good lesson for these recruits as well.
“I’m down, but don’t come crying to me when you lose.” Alex growled.
“I have a better idea though.” Vander removed his jacket before handing it to Alex. “How about the five of you fight34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvlCRkRkaX
me? I want to see how much you all have improved.”
“Do we get something if we win?” Briar asked. “Otherwise, it won’t be fun for us. I’d rather get beaten up trying to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZQmfphljI
get something than nothing at all.”
“Do the rest of you agree?” They all looked at each other then nodded their heads. Vander thought for a moment34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcO2fjFOdZ
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC4l80REfl
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMdmGeey8a
which will include drinks.”
“Aw yeah!” They got their feet and cheered. The food in Eluvia was much better than the food they had out here.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaztOBNA41
The fact they wouldn’t have to pay was just a bonus.
“Settle down!” Vander shouted over them. “If you want a wager, there must be something in it for me as well. If I beat you, you will go34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGAIcXSwJm
for a run in the forest with twenty pounds added to your packs.”
“Anything but that.” Rooster groaned.
“Come on,” Vander grinned. “Out of all the things I could ask you to do, a run through the woods is small by34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5lmoCssF6
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mKz8hfh2W
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m3iz8IJML
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKRpoQnS3J
good to tell them that now.
“Mind if I go first?” Rooster got up from his spot on the ground and went to stand in front of his mentor.
“What would you like to fight with?” Vander asked. “Swords, knives, fists? Take your pick, whatever you want.”
“Swords please.” Vander nodded to Alex who walked towards the fence where their weapons were hanging up. They didn’t34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3k7uFgTuV
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh6Yow5R4Z
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4cXPu0UOT
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHOvilVVYs
could still build muscle and train how to use them.
Alex handed one of the swords to Vander before crossing the field to hand the second to Rooster. He stood in34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hGh7J6SXd
between them, off on the side, and raised his hand. “Begin!” He shouted.
Rooster being the plucky little kid he was, launched himself forward swinging the lump of metal aiming for Vander’s34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIMlw2c02B
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ42vdJs0b
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxVipfoREd
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeqCf0nmS8
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreNiIW2pnU
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjektajifu
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQnsrmm0qT
flushed with anger.
“Swings are wide, and you rush in when you should be a little more cautious.” Vander said. He held out his hand which34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W63NXUp8C
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDngkxvk89b
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8d3VxuHZw
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjD5g1cTsP
his spot on the ground.
Chicken shook her head which didn’t really surprise him. She wasn’t much of a fighter preferring the safety of34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tx8fq1KGp
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ206JAKDv
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16QzIcodF2
weights and sat down next to her brother.
“Do you mind if we come at you together?” Briar and Forest asked. That was surprise to him as he didn’t think34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkZ6vVZG5o
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF33Oa1Igf
Perhaps they would surprise him so he would allow it this time.
“What weapons would you like to use?” The two of them looked at each other before nodding.
“Bare hands.” A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Vander stripped off his jacket and tossed it to Alexander. The34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZk85aMrwj
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyUo4enUKc
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fvyxUOhgR
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w4J3SLh0R
at attention then smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Forest and Briar raced off in opposite directions trying to get him in a pincer movement. While he was focused on one, the other could take his back and grapple him before he had a chance to defend himself. So, he did what anyone in his position would do, he struck first. He went after Forest because he was the strongest of the two. He must not have expected the attacked because he barely had time to defending himself from the punch Vander threw at him. Forest blocked directing the strike away, but it clipped his ear. He stumbled sideways clutching the side of his head. Vander grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in front as Briar came in with own punch. She collided with Forest and knocked him to the ground.
“I’m so sorry.” Briar gasped. She held her hand to her mouth as she watched Forest struggle to his feet.
“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.” Vander whispered in her ear. She spun around to hit him but was too34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv4yEgbsSB
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTfDzWLPkr
finished her with a punch to the jaw knocking her to the ground.
“Briar!” Forest struggled to his feet. Vander kicked him in the ribs knocking him back down.
“If they two of you are going to be worried about each other during a fight, you leave yourselves open.” Vander34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN36d1l41B2
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPUpRas5Ku
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHYpvKCGyQ
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw6urhUcSB
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugvfN5vbjr
sustained would last a few days. It would be a painful lesson for them.
“This makes it my turn.” Eve got up from the ground and brushed off her pants. She walked over to the rack then34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ix0DaLtTJ
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClMvuLxvKS
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA43WJM6XXt
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxdDqJ6HgJ
other in an underhand grip.
“Would you like me to use daggers as well?” Vander asked.
“Use whatever makes you comfortable.” She shrugged. He rolled his shoulders and motioned for her to come at him. She34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEMH7pO8et
didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge.
The fight was quick and brutal. She was quick with the slashes, but as they were lumps of metal, they didn’t really34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JVQ3F2Cuj
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KXOnk5vvt
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJenEsiVfd
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHH9CNSCdE
away. Daggers, like fists, were an intimate way to try and kill someone.
As Eve stabbed down with a dagger, Vander brought his arm up to block the strike. At the same time, she stabbed up34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xz047GTSX
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQFJn29iW0
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F3Y5kItUs
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQYRSZ2Wgd
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrqN1Lt669
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSodtu1x43p
brought her head back then slammed it into Vander’s face.
He felt his nose crunch under the blood. He stumbled backwards clutching his hand over his gushing nose. Between34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4FBPGMRsG
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtTZl6BRuy
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TjbhsItwh
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7TNOOj4MW
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dVYR21hNm
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG6SaNkTG4
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45yVWOum8h
ground, but he was heavier and stronger than she was.
“I yield.” She gasped. Vander got up off her and took the handkerchief Alex offered him to staunch his bleeding34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcDHHDLvXU
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnxesv0J8v
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SYoddQbcx
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf40JsIvNRR
blood out onto the grass.
“I’m lucky I have more experience with these kinds of fights.” He explained. “In a few more years she would have34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLbUf5AJdm
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboECq73v2j
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevLjc2oNyy
fighting.” Alex explained. “It’s a mess.”
“Eve is the strongest of the group, but I’ve seen the way she looks at them. Seems she thinks they are dead weight.34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa34t845iNA
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKnhuEBSpJ
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfBezMFN0Y
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMJs4YGzHv
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XnCzOPA01
feet before trotting after the recruits.
“I’ll get lunch ready.” The two of them went their separate ways.
After Vander washed his face and changed his clothes, he sat down in his chair willing himself to relax. In the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb0hQTg8CV
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSib5GyUhls
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgcYBPlxus
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIK0WZkQ28
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDDA3Y5exF
open the door then jumped onto the bed to curl up and go to sleep.
As he sat watching her, he remembered the letter from his grandfather that had come earlier. Grabbed his knife, he34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchwk7k1Wtq
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9XMol0Je8
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b7YGrNVrB
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTHLZtDBY7
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88EUNzUNK5
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQwBS8sDZu
trust me on this, come back.
-Your grandfather, Charles
P.S. This is a Red Alert.
Once he read the Red Alert, he knew that it was an emergency. Only a couple of things would warrant his grandfather putting that in a letter recalling him and none of it was good. The rest of the letter didn’t matter to him. He crumbled it up and slipped it into his pocket. He rushed outside to call the others to him.
They would have to leave tomorrow.
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