190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY2fP9eoUn
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK0yM8sdJH
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDNBGVr6nQ
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvnk0SAi3B
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXneEbINel
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7d96YnNRA
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnzQoLgwJr
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ydeBLtD0T
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVpuWVzMeq
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rS8U0l1tp
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZN9aUfS1c
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AzOTqv9RO
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAw2ZXSaWe
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LYjmGkS4g
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOub6I1o2oV
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 looking190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJAXsI6Oj4
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwMBEuIu1A
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQuwq3hbFp
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m0v4JGq1E
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabNuqeNqev
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 a190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl9SjdbBAh
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6RRnH2DWk
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0oNQly9pm
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmhtHB0c1t
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqwl8kBvBu
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 size190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLJd5cfpmF
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEfVS6WVfb
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhHIWBIhHJ
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG9263mVzr
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZTW8qzzrb
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pKnybrhbS
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrh3iBTwtU
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KNpwiTz0r
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnoikqjp2N
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa3Av8YuKG
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD15Kb3rs9L
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 head190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvtpqSUsYL
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPGg5OtixQ
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKPNGMT4Pu
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWtSlBIlDC
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 was190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo13r1YIvR0
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkBYjAje3j
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFSDADyEPo
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OUeAfVv97
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RnGQmG6Gr
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoaB5QUqCK
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiX815yLJB
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgqJzX64V3
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggtd1FDNDS
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 practice190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMZJEKPJRD
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdUTzuXW7d
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQlQVeOKLX
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40BoEAFOAg
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 demeanor190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDOaHGX3U8
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhSOcAWiJj
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjWLaAAhHW
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 and190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kheZH64nv
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5LB415Uvd
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0ztzz7Af7
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 dead190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtNmxrLbUH
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgr2tLpgzI
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9sMHEE7hS
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXCTPfDHqI
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW4ierNRle
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp2PcBWWDV
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseXJTQocn3
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilxT9dO1s1
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs6EdwVdcn
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt4QR4VnfI
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uFGNQXBv2
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoPLFN8e19
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2jtmctsx4
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvNqIMDzPX
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. They190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ughkaBgfU
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar7GlCBoXl
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yjzZEQhWh
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWon0n7LhP
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 his190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0L5CpzMJK
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxjE4LShUi
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuS2JERqBo
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2wyA8yrHz
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSKY5cL4Zb
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgcSkulbCE
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlQOhciBlD
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj12Pm5V0P
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSD49COZgB
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FSErmJV2t
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRc1O4HJzR
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK7aRMqAew
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 sidelines190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ4U8DiUK7
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaIXfq8riV
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 group190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1VgtKp9xI
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWiogQnplE
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBhwJHmFn6
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 fight190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEmbCC3jTj
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 to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86bdsnKREz
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 moment190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYRVGDe5TO
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzvxEzlMAg
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtImQjBNld8
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmWc1JOvl9
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 go190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBTpCSsTDL
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 by190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNZOB2PUwC
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tJ4Nx22o6
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH2RcWug5T
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrPSb4foZ
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’t190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHGbahzigm
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5xyHPM3fp
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfrg4CMMpU
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbT6881mE1
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 in190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryKvmKzjxv
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’s190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh89S2nrb5
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlmxChvK94
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DgJsJ1OTo
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJL5VBuEeJ
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9sGvhlCSu
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA5cecpHhM
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq3An1e2DD
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 which190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39CpO6yMNz
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeRfeMlUN0
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTcHKuWTal
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3vJ5dwcp6
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 of190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vLbmkjAbD
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4Ie6zduQs
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPW9gAuy6W
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 think190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsFqftAXcw
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV9OnXa6YF
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. The190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkemlKfUh0h
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMDxnuDmGo
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJccCYAkHfu
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsqgrao3j5
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 too190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPbUdyQuwF
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXOpTwhd6n
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.” Vander190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXxNcDmbIh
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJHHjweSl4
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE2QcR8Ga0
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBifFduqTRs
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW2hjDIBLB
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 then190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUfeDyU8hC
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExnPSLmVHF
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2JIqguMs7
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXjBsYr6AG
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. She190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9bHrimKP4
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 really190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24BeDExFKR
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWctddrFWRl
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQXCSbpYHp
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIexthJkv2F
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 up190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCJmATUtLj
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF3eOX3u6J
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk63BqshQu
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02ecRW72nd
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQCTxt2wN6
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf7cPMPc72
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. Between190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiog1yAUZD
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnIIhbp5Jp
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDwjEWCGrW
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKcFi2zDbT
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFdmLZoSSu
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCIi4suuAx
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUuyk8DuxS
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 bleeding190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq8Kd7nj8c
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0dMiCQ6do
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjfstjrN7n
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q0b1UZzuB
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 have190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl8omf4km7
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QWyIAKerd
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqrXc7Fy9C
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.190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdBnhpMa88
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUOM5N1t3r
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSUmlKUm6f
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo3kHYKwTZ
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkzp1UHByt
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 the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNHYSya2FG
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhlHwDrpbb
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XOZ7afe4T
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXgLRDzhiG
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4cE2u4xIL
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, he190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEgSDN8Rg9
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVll0KU2k1
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPiiV6DzUZ
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8aYh14Xb8
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxNmavzFN7
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please190Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3xK3ngNpu
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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