206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtj0iHBHIg
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmarsTTLXTt
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBMWAOAoOB
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyuRy30Bpq
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucz4nYuRo8
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0qMPd7gDx
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZkhvC2Spj
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGGqokga4Q
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gOtu57yaK
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JQbealhPW
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNh0uohtnF
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfCwDsWjT8
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf54WTVR6Hh
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m5OKqM6zK
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqSJnUpMHH
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 looking206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkE97tv6Yz
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5SSs3HfG9
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnChf6ABzpa
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkwrF6mB0r
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNGSXsjV5V
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 a206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsvUN2KQ6f
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr31so5hXMY
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZqESXsruJ
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7WNxNA9b
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o5kStWiXw
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 size206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmFRvCpohL
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF1RabsnfD
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtY9OGZ33p
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZuhoNTBEA
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQVJVRqhcQ
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWLiU5urT3
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEsYjKUB8J
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvt7yvPsxB
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLThCztrRO7
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCjVEmkrEn
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceGgAMX06i
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 head206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7RC6IxJu7
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwE0VyDY0d
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMsFPxi8M1
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwGZsC9YOd
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 was206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPgYtsxj2o
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSTLCNpszm
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW9FwhvOcm
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxQM2XmeHt
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkyvezqVV8
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsKGgzbLzP
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGC96DTVmf
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUYcZRU79x
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwpXoOmFCj
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 practice206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgFIz0zri6
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZiwbfZpUR
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOhH9H0NjF
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR7DVWe75S
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 demeanor206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp9ZnHacVW
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvauZY1ut8B
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ5rosWHqj
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 and206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASqcHUiri7
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mRN2VU0Hh
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mOTG7XrGG
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 dead206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJUBWKiJYt
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzGEnoJgYI
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mOJHZxqqd
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5cRRFSA1K
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eo4c0Fuef
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qyK8G36W7
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF85lEdSW1
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Ku8hu6pt
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsSXUw9wI2
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgFo7wzQAB
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1peDj31wjt
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9u7hePGa7
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkYbGjfc9b
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4hrjgtOy9
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. They206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaven6TYeV3
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dWttjiKve
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVSrSWw0pB
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jAmHdTE4R
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 his206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDrMZC7IDr
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcMORSiXr6
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4IK48YtaG
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70O6MgN5OI
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgBzEtaWB0
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q3OQdgYRS
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0OXC2sBG6
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uHIsIz7HE
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JyszGnUqS
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRbIlfSpWF
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EsKpSmJTU
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2YiqkqMvl
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 sidelines206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9569IE7vL9
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5hsrNMU2G
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 group206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bgrzleKlH
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpZckKB1Ph
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RouMbKauH
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 fight206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkNWsyZEXf
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 to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYPo8CCqXy
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 moment206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6dn1QPUGv
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vG0lHpGg8
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OPNWtxvel
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1DogDXcX2
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 go206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlmTaNCKxY
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 by206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKKCGovHwj
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlxMGPeqkQ
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBjWzRyif0
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2c836DRze
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’t206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMVtdlzpue
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyCLEFFfR2
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmsvY9Jccw
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNBYqWQb42
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 in206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo3MXiPsmL
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’s206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DcHbI2lSK
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneV5p0iqb6
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmImInkaSF
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3CvXaVuKM
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbSZA9cTW7
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0SSljvrT6
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6895sw0PG
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 which206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeha4TGwFn0
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem5HLNNbeT
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOHjEH2U7M
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGkKcBOc86
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 of206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMvkcuq9Op
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoL2pZhgzn
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc2qY4ndYR
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 think206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU6zJCcRRn
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgEsf4hO6v
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. The206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRaXCvgNh4
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubqoT9Ulsf
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X0MZ5hShq
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev4lhgwacx
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 too206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIxttXFwTo
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaRTZZDPVb
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.” Vander206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XgD2xUmKa
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE14lBzuGT
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22qhSsLh9N
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TR0pjuN01
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlvepeLEJK
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 then206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkhN6ikXWN
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWwOH1OGIF
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0QT4lVNXB
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAfMY90gnh
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. She206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8GiJ4ye12
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 really206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx56qiadw6x
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYpWQIu1EA
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG6Plz8X1A
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd8HrzSU1Y
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 up206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XIhrj4xIg
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCplEUpspr
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59NMx4WZCC
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZvsKRjAar
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdQ4JZCkIq
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iJoQkEa9M
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. Between206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyf6wJOUDt
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYXKYcqL8K
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGw6kWraJR
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem46sjJazq
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxsZngmA4V
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo54Fekatc
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zAP0iroRy
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 bleeding206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4kTHFghag
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhxRqEC3Md
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZyI5QBaAE
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc1AFXx3BE
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 have206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdYoxJV6uK
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKefg0TGMZ0
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXSb1ydi3B
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.206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUk8dDbXl2
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYANJUzyX5
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGo9pje6RQ
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvE6XksTtl
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ0LmnmOFv
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 the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kBGYIHO9L
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLNlwuvCmT
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaakfUGFJj6
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSvDIIhD7e
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvb2n2w1x
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, he206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv9EDw6G3x
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXGBmXi8DF
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORT0MM19nm
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxbCuqvx6I
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq6E7rXa5T
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please206Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlIYNCp0tM
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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