92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1cY8jpYNk
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwo0jnQGi8
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0gREzvm5r
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVg37FYbIQ
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡindRZrcTJ5
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD6rkAhUUE
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNh2zW0mBC
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWhxKHthFm
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32eQgokziU
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYozW9SFYrP
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhDzdUmrFj
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXWIOMyhsH
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs3mdq5teK
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuOSvIplXX
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV5s8LeiMi
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 looking92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2rIfjV7xY
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNX1l7ZxIb
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6KasUaldv
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT89kShjI0
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZzAFJIGz4
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 a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gyjYsRm5N
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXjjnP9jkW
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7FR6lvWuX
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomj0tBVC0J
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cVxka5qe8
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 size92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQbWOfJ6tg
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwvYHGVkqR
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqDfPfSJe0
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYXIHA0C9L
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmc2tt358A
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhGWskvCM5
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHFQivecka
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8B8LPEbqI
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HpfAv5quV
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q0keWP7uT
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOGaCyBB4W
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 head92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj75x2U1jm
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu0lyCzds4
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHSt3bE88U
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Iiwqwkn8
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 was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbNneT8d22
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqIe0xmcNt
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPhK60dzto
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WvqC1W62K
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjgo9XphEb
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0NP8lotUN
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlGyzyZCOn
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgftN7nUtf
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojncz7Kvou
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 practice92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhJmBFzIkn
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuex2sGkZn
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0YCFfNLSP
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRwTaBj2cX
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 demeanor92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtuSJgLwZv
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZa3m5HD7i
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobxVDY0lIl
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 and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuUcBAiwsb
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7fMcZPvdx
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIXYiuoCtR
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 dead92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B2lSKbH21
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF06Vi8yIZJ
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiA1qe84G8
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBdAJ4nYtJ
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0YNLXr442
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODIxEBvuYg
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGE9TfSTn2
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xi6uPWsIc
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CUCwei5Cm
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP74VmD4sG
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mnN4any1e
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGKdvuUc2X
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z5MgVAzVw
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QjyNQhJkb
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. They92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIVvwTTyPZ
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrJ0l7xbqO
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEm59RzpqHb
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1fvJj7idP
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 his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtguVhbhiKs
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB0SPFyDth
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uhllQE5Ne
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoO4vNic2G
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00dC9Xm8GG
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaLKcspc7C
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpl3yt2q7f
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUim1ElNwyo
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ynDP3h56l
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPA3W3dFHK
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMF3G4BeZw
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EIa0i0hiZ
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 sidelines92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2pykRAkxN
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXZE3STJm5
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 group92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6PQ03umQq
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSYwuJsSni
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRlmkzVa3W
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 fight92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qzLMhCjbw
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 to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzSiYrtgVO
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 moment92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO01bi7tfi
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVyZAZ3OoI
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXgR3xlC80
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2N0ZX8e3t
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 go92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto4uPThi7o
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 by92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxJMKLaFWN
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsfbyeLgN5
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OH8PdBYOw
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrzQEQiSJL
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’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vd7VRgUQP
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuKAA0CjXK
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCedvuAgw0N
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlijY2nM51k
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 in92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGKwSg3zkd
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’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDVKaWToUu
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnoDg9HThI
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz8ARsRSK3
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTpkwzOKGN
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucHIl7ACwH
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m9e8tPjFo
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoj2zIsxcr
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 which92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmQsExz08D
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXM3sJQ6zR
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcNkDdcRcv
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3IFlVY39J
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 of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1hlHcpHPm
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUKMWm8YQi
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn17VgNaMYF
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 think92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvuGF8WhsE
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd2LqH7Ydw
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. The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3BPrvNlzA
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyx0RRcEb1
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ9Igv4fnU
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIvPwCRS9o
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 too92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzguOvGyIM7
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoH27XbhbI
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.” Vander92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEfgXZtdB5
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha1TaXHHZg
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9vDAGD8x9
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4darNDxBZ
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfpapbmiEX
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 then92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonMLRznl6K
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIjnG1Speh
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdzgpjDkhz
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxLg6MiGYQ
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. She92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUs9Zf4jhe
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 really92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDsTxYUz1x
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcokCUyQRo
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYnn64bhLv
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGFMJpqULN
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 up92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQJW2DhrgW
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFnGuabhSn
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzYC7poLgL
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNFWzii22X
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNMBrnNWvX
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64u1S0Dhak
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. Between92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS4qFcWiGM
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65SOjZQfJ7
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfc2VmZUol
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEtKj3BI9C
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LtA2EWTSY
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBWh99V3QH
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPHFUZifDX
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 bleeding92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdLMhuzTEl
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiiWeqzOBU
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTckIindPdt
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqC1tG7Dah
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 have92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPoPlHRN42
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rAh0hn2Vb
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8wtXKc1b4
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.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF30AXZjx5b
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm8Y9b262h
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY5RPpyWBQ
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLg79uBkcx
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjRh9WYEg5
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 the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQXQSheoX7
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9QryuMaRe
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsRrrP3rJ2
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41GA9G2Y8L
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfhPttkTid
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, he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjl4lyzpGz
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6Dw3MYEnp
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza6mQlDq66
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nfVA3Yx6Y
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJjFn7dcLk
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLsNCHlTB6
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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