Chapter 19: Pushing Past Limits

Randelle

"Again!" Kieran barked, his gravelly voice echoing through the misty dawn forest.

I staggered to my feet, legs shaking, and bent to grab the heavy pack I had just finished sprinting with. My lungs burned as I gasped down air. Through the sweat dripping into my eyes, I saw Kieran frowning, arms crossed over his broad chest.

"No rest yet, recruit! Give me five more sprints up that hill with full pack!"

I bit back a groan. My thighs screamed from the repeated hill charges already this morning. But Kieran's flinty stare brooked no argument.

Jaw set, I turned and began lumbering up the steep trail once more. My boots slipped on loose pebbles as I forced leaden legs into a run. At the crest of the hill I pivoted, chest heaving, and started back down.

Kieran's voice trailed me on each agonizing repeat. "Drive those legs! Put some fury in that stride!"

At last I stumbled across the makeshift finish line on my fifth climb. My pack hit the ground an instant before I crumpled too, wh