182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuinzXh6rH
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEjgSiDkSb
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5Tfzq2lPP
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVmA86WgcM
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxbL8C41sT
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXIjCuGfsA
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjTqPx7L4v
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQ6oA4mS57
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIELFX1hSP
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwaNNEwB92
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRSZTAnAnX
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNJxCYQKYq
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqVLHiC2FR
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBdysUqkgV
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO9VGiqg5U
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 looking182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkfSpeUQet
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP7jVnaAXu
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn80cTgtGsa
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62Uk5Bbv3J
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYgDQRZyxg
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 a182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfsIP2P7pD
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHXl7toCeb
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoclB66V7C
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdSXuofeS6
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg1gUv0zge
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 size182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X15puVthw
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Lu7peXU6
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlzMkx76pg
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRFAgLCCc4
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiwjGRsQ16
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWWEPQcQx7
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXg28v7zkF
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy5v1DRBNO
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eoSg2WC0B
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWApX44BhA
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o8oQ8FfyZ
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 head182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqNA6Qo45m
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77vCSQFyCV
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHXTMzdzFP
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIvtNhFSzW
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 was182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxAlRcNC4g
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklSYb864kV
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiR347DOsk
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64asQcBjjo
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADgxqm427W
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD6Ui7CTaP
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PO0NjVFxy
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjmcoZ0sy6
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiaoGYoUfU
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 practice182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrFenPTtwY
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqv39gkZnD
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDUBOOM7Ki
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFsC5D4GBa
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 demeanor182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZNQ7VCQMU
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqezMWlZbq3
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZk2FbSOJV
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 and182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaAXaSOCmv
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3I5RauuIw
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wRsYb9niS
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 dead182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxGVIfJEXj
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaFAWDWR10
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLFq1WCc2o
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaxLp4Vw9g
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nCrWoQgHp
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl902Bw9Wt
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubcIYuIgiS
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN1ZslUIom
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8hJXPUkOk
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgzrsA4ENJ
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhR9KuvMot
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N2RdQV0og
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6upHvxUMAf
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrulqKip8z
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. They182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMWZjtnrOE
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShTHQpNcPf
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ319aKluBYr
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEbnqBIegs
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 his182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JRJ63Hgjr
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2Kj0JGcXK
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWVddtsy2q
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0QAZ624Y8
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQUCrpAUwx
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JBVzusQzs
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGEAPpFNLi
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq21bI5sQ2
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6chzHlFf6p
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1TyIIVpRW
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i6PBZLCPa
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyYIXZMnq7
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 sidelines182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFLGN8WAjL
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs8CiOEzba
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 group182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR9kOZROFO
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUVPZYBlC3
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjKDyjmoti
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 fight182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cbo57otZJ
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 to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM8QHikp1n
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 moment182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNKEkrGW6p
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNLu74K9d4
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9cAukGpN8
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5lQjvTBMV
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 go182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOzyWKlbfL
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 by182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi69FO5nmJL
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3AnyvFYfN
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYsn1kgtH7
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5jtHLS4Wv
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’t182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKmCfszqyj
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65ZOpdvHMu
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAkT5l8s24
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHWMuXH0du
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 in182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6O1W315dK
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’s182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4XsYMDjpe
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3D3kqSuP4
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHtZsxtE1e
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgRBIn2xnQ
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh45OFdqTUQ
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCkC1aZiGJ
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcQQpl8Wi6
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 which182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzymnDzBYZT
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP23FWF1q4n
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dHIiwuegg
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna1AE6jSrj
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 of182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCoV4bltal
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYyUBNsMoH
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NV9DxZcja
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 think182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ7JipfnD2
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGTQMRsG7U
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. The182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHYVs3ivU1
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDXoSVxER5
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5MPZhmA3P
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeXwisp59t
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 too182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLCMYkadPv
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBlhAFrZJo
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.” Vander182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvcB2DH4zZ
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3eDfMpTu5
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts4GkAL98J
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNvoBknorb
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9wF5SnaIw
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 then182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEMUGTC0rA
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMMw3nsRBi
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNBmHKLFTP
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL5Ua2zQqI
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. She182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DMXOwbdlo
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 really182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCpmPslkyz
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFXEudxi7O
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoxFlKNMO5
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p4kbub5rY
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 up182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2TgU4xSvz
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuiM050B2n
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vrTQOfWSx
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ852cUF7Xv1
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrgYOGvH2D
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKvVMG6RCf
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. Between182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3NfswIhpa
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Bwql1cgw
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmTEWZzG1q
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTqCh2DXjP
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8uBw7SSxH
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70mrlEjTln
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwOILzytZa
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 bleeding182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryHH7Yai8O
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d9FlLGkiC
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52WOvem2FH
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tIju40tHV
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 have182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ6J2iZP52
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R4jjPKOyd
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SQfaBeTLE
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.182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1RJYmZst6
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9KyEGfEK5
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaijul9q4Rq
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWUkuZLsDM
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNCPmyORJL
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 the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp6g1mrDbc
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkNbSG57SE
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15YemNj0uB
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI9QpkUUDx
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoyvZNIgwH
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, he182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr8DkSsPs0
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xsPJFcw1z
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxPz28zB5l
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ2JVGpTzJ
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9AaoE6Sjw
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please182Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuL44M1Oeo
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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