144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXRsJwh0XJ
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV34KZv2FjG
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgggI6OjAz
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrfq6xR7vj
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN06FvjWp4X
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyFwfdNETp
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDDnxrI3gQ
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sBGdaOKTi
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfMz5Pbn8m
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b1vGjovBn
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTIeJIT6Wx
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBmXD3piAG
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFmWY4wrxI
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIiU7ZbuT4
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEENIaKQD3k
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 looking144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHylICKSLsb
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBADtwcwVr8
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMCxfJc4IX
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfJD1fDrAO
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmgGsXLLEk
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 a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvkCC0yRc4
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuASp1jmTYp
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kcoh7VTDS
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW83MDVuSZ
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbXnwSOdLz
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 size144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MZSbU5I78
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRoK0Sp8kf
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtoBiWduJh
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl3v686wNx
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC7ygyOVzO
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWS9T6YFPc
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q1qUbMyd1
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNTZUFIPmZ
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuh2V8e01T
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKbRKpcWT6
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjv7e9Uljo
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 head144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYA0MPr62w
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn9AWRgaji
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIFwxAt9Dm
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGiFWTLHe6
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 was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffNsZzSgzw
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQKPB8eGX0
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6ZDtPKNhH
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WDuJI7EeZ
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaS4T8xgtI
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftZAdUdDus
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPqU1OBaRb
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDLWZZShYE
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfnjappyTD
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 practice144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4jba7Z5OK
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuS74tHviE
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinV5178Kx6
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzrKRNbvRx
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 demeanor144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pmHzoefCU
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi2aZtjfim
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ti4Aa43d7
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 and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPnsgQNQZG
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpV7pGYFRP
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjNIT2KKus
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 dead144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CSXNtfTQI
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvqKy2di6Z
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT54GILPhF
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENqsSZwJWH
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRLoK1iO5v
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE1pQM9U8n
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiuoraZTxS
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK7v3ji44i
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssNueJM15p
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxCwX6JBQ1
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV0hDKRTub
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUONBETzw5L
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8DwVWr4h4
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHRgRPTVwc
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. They144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeVSYdlawn
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hgJd4tmHU
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPt3wmacM8
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IsZmOvVC7
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 his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8q7RdbhgY
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYugcFck1p
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrjVg8v8je
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVu64ROHAv
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVAcdPMmM0
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKsWs3RC7C
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZKIiEc9K7
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxNOXTCp9A
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7HzNA13V7
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WZElNUUtR
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuOUIrSG5t
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMbB8qtaNs
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 sidelines144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUVDrHrmPb
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fm3kCAZMZ
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 group144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5fEsFJTuN
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd2idEIc32
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD6WPdQzXr
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 fight144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gmH8JqzoC
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 to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAM2s40QUS
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 moment144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0q1jIwSNT
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskkJJiXoFR
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbwjo5Az9M
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt2grexiyF
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 go144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZh2miVhD3
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 by144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvtINHibCv
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ381f1kHop1
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7FrXrgVaF
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15IYETcZwH
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’t144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYQGqKEkM4
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvycLVeB4E
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzojSD5Uld
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiTNbeC33L
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 in144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDiwbimr8s
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’s144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg3gkpqqWv
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP3N9qzm46
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhFRbFQUZ1
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZep3xK6gj
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrhWieb9OU
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HPV4SybX8
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNi18BCPBN
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 which144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN4Iht08MG
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYPMafBoxJ
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuP8z5X7g7
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfX2zO5OGi
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 of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7pS6XpReU
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwGYMhLkOM
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEITm1GaqFu
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 think144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BVizHMx8Y
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6SddwBDsB
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. The144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIQ8K5Gerz
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tU8tXx5Sk
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29vw6sraro
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRnFYjLHWF
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 too144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94POMDCMMQ
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyPFyhzGV8
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.” Vander144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1XWQY8tGb
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzO3yRmIT3
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW98GafPA0c
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC7vzWLWvw
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PFlLx0vAC
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 then144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXqNS0D5cR
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr6acFq4w3
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwmyOIiZ9c
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXqQZToLfi
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. She144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NPbUhoe8h
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 really144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GsbFmD5uG
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6h8D8GpjB
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Uz4Kqv5rO
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyiYlX99hB
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 up144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfuq5kfMhN
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIzoJua0Ip
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0Q4ftBwNw
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRPzhbYDPc
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrg3Z0fGGm
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEHCZXQmHT
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. Between144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYLSPfOIwQ
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdXigiMZrA
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx117qDBWA4
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB51RAjjLC
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVi2JZYGGZ
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvojKJHGnoN
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWaQ60tpdr
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 bleeding144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboRdKOTtqd
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCiNbSCpSv
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsbXLI8MFr
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6NguvxFsu
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 have144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9tFNpVZnx
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYRp90QxoV
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaKXcTIG8a
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aVOuPMkfJ
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIWMOaJ20G
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz06Wnc8QO
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADLxgSSgtw
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDRukDHKhE
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 the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaHaUe6Ksc
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOZZz5TmN4
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9kLMjqwVQ
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD40pw3vcW
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOHxwXJfaE
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, he144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJErGmwMCN
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CxcPb3MnC
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yK2HSTKA3
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7uQZ8mkMQ
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5DD7qgMPX
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWw5iiZzpq
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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