35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1k5DMY6e2
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZvk6NMKlM
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhxmYAqL71
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ187IiEyW2G
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFx4aDbpkz
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPeVffHfr1
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa6PFvQwSQ
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK64pw3ya2M
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jcnpvtYEe
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rXMCYuSEB
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLjAZBQTFt
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjVbi2M0qt
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMxLm9Cl8c
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RUgPYbaGI
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3v2Ic3gd
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 looking35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih9doRx867
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjBWtHvLdB
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP8LHj0SGj
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWIivW89f7
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXLoZBDfeK
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 a35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTvkiMW8LG
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UyNNoctdq
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSbOYHVSQC
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51ZRfHLyGC
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvP1uO6WjX
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 size35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsRWFHjOdA
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctIWxle93y
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhizmxYXHx6
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInje0Cfqbs
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeu52lj1Bt
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8dax6CbeV
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnammbhhuT
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV2Ef9ZHN7
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaKkZCkZTn
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP22ujiRv0
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuEOk6Kj5G
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 head35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FVeVWFgFB
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl13UNXyut
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4x5ibA4SJ
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziKuJzAzhO
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 was35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbT8KyZ37S
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBgC8pkuH3
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7167bn7of
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOm1xp1sKe
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpElDkEdMd
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCvjQRHidA
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLorT11AjZw
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ealZq2rrq
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk7Pupj0oE
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 practice35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNhCQQQTi6
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN5TZezBkz
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSdl2Vbkoi
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO46OTopoRk
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 demeanor35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12GyqBdz1M
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMuVPivVhc
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErutZzcbkK
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 and35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyu7xX7d0m
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95buQKvcYP
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRB5ZK1STT
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 dead35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzo0TkbCV7
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC9ZF9KuPR
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGPzjzIjZt
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGU4owaAjr
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOtvNrBXWG
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpFM0Nhhri
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE2qPS5pMi
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXMvsZhnTu
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgrBWyd6gr
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq9Rr6ZcBm
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxafp9QokQT
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppnUzdcEzQ
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDFmsWiqgR
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQRIlMcxrv
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. They35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDZfh9A7O2
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpv6TBQK6f
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV1NNvJxLx
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQbevwIFt8
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 his35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccbVXrBxLv
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg2fhwxkN0
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRyia7uyLY
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLxR9pg4Qk
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPBL4m75na
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF3e4jOizm
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KzfXb85Da
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpTu375G57
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0oydQhRBV
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUX4J3UCYK
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8wXxutTfc
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5scPc7Jb0
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 sidelines35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nMRQJAxgL
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIIpyvYTly
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 group35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAmRW5c8nZ
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnF9GCgknd
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TMpzSjL8b
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 fight35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHHxH6xMPm
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 to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Efqc2Db2
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 moment35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjom8CjxDJI
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyj9E2JQ2R
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JlpHzIDsV
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.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ076HJ6wkNi
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 go35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBmXrkzMUw
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 by35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGAneHTjOY
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6fmxCQW0s
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtiNqbJyQr
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA7Fl2jDgl
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’t35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbFyNsQypV
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhogGDJqp5g
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeW6PY2hAJ
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCrm6VDcPG
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 in35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRDkbmWvF0
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’s35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDyeegH1wr
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJilvXpt08f
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbxLVE7DG7
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NUokQcXjd
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UwR9pPH3d
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHh8TfWxlC
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx0VyKdR6m
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 which35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYHZJb9ZaR
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UrTN7xkt7
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K7UwRiAwY
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAo9v5LUyB
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 of35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBmeLkHeYH
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJDQLkMRBS
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvvmG7bRHV
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 think35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49D3Z2MOdN
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLq2EWVUST
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. The35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv0g4q6HRv
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvyn8cpkvp
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlVyzRs3Ei
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4mFRYpcT6
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 too35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5K07LwJOg
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTwe2taddn
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.” Vander35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoduLy3geAY
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9uDgFz3rT
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFWE80kp2f
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqQXe7uAmg
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAJA5yWEV7
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 then35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz10qKTcpp
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqumyCrQ00
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi0Sz9gOf3
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLpHmQ0kv8
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. She35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyRVfF2cub
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 really35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS25VkgVnJF
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sjHdJNBMO
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEi5Aio0sv
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuZKR4PIe9
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 up35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQV2AHjEbm
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6BIvyi4dJ
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kUJilabG3
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG0vwq0Yl3
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch4aYZr3zs
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKRJ6Ka1pR
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. Between35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN0lpVTat0
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFjZrt1SZj
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn2Rskxbcg
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQnJBnHTDc
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIka8CuQax
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0VGGDa4mN
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7byvOjkBgs
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 bleeding35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYUj95a97K
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vjTKg33XJ
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObN7mOm7B5
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU9Z6ekpUF
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 have35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJLKqJDoiq
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtPxglu0EG
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7j9yT8NDH
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.35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOohmRBZ4o
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XLipyBboq
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjUFBWLDpv
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQENQbfTe3q
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1hOrBpvQx
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 the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY4rvKSXpr
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUXj0vDaYQ
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC0bhcaY9O
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE2yvs1wZd
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9wE4XbL3A
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, he35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn5MjSOWGG
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMTLtkvFOY
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTLVwazRVU
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhadp3IZReR
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTThEG1zXU
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv0jSP2ZuS
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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