Hothead:
"This is not a bridge," Alodia says with crossed arms. She lets out a cough as she turns her head. I shake my head and roll my eyes.
"I know this isn't a bridge," I say, "But it's better than nothing."
"It is nothing," Alodia shouts.
As she shouts, she uncrosses her arms and points at the ledge.
"It's not nothing," Jump says. "If you pay attention a little more, you can see this particular ledge is angled upward when compared to the other ledges."
"So?"
"So that means if we do this right, we could use this as a ramp."
"A ramp," Renee repeats before he starts to back up and waves his hand. "Wait, wait, wait, what are you two talking about?"
I sigh as I explain my plan once more.
"We have been walking along this ledge for what feels like years now. I'm not kidding! I can actually feel the grey hair growing and taking over! Anyway, for all we know, there is no bridge. There is no crossing we
Shocker: With the larger and paler serpecdysis lunging at me, I jump to the side and watch as it shoots past me. I barely land on my feet when the serpecdysis turns around and lunges at me again. This time, I don't have time to jump out of the way. All I can do is cross my arms before the serpecdysis charges right into me. It hits and knocks me to the ground. Skidding against the stone ground, the serpecdysis wastes no time and grabs one of my feet with its mouth. It throws me into the air before jumping up and wrapping itself around me. With my arms pinned to my sides, I can't do anything as the serpecdysis squeezes the air out of me. Clementine Mira: No matter where I jump, I still can't lose the smaller serpecdysis. It's chasing me, always one move away from swallowing me whole. Running toward a wall, I jump up and back. I hope the serpecdysis would run into the wall but it stops before it does and
Renee Eamon:The vultuzzard roars at us as it flaps its wings. Generating a sandstorm, it knocks us off our feet and into the air. I land in the sand with a loud thud.Falling on my face, I split some sand out. Pushing myself up, I watch as the vultuzzad flies into the air and circles us.“Are you okay,” I say running over to Jump. Helping Jump up, she also has to split some sand before dusting it from her hair.“I’m fine,” Jump replies. She readies her crossbows and looks up. Aiming at the massive vultuzzard as it circles back, she loads a tiny crossbolt.“I think you’re going to need something a little bigger.”The vultuzzard dives down toward us. About to hit Jump and me, Hothead runs from the side and swings his flaming sword. Bright red and orange fire shoots out, lighting up the night sky as it forces the vultuzzard back.“Plan,” Hothead says, looking a
Headmaster Noah: "And to Maximus Beor, Griff Beolagh, Durmad Gerald, and Alice Astrid, I present this crest." Using the game pieces the four received, I combine them into a single crest before holding it up for everyone to see. Once I do, I award the crest to Maximus and his new team. "This crest represents strength," I say after handing it over. I place my hands on the podium and face the hundreds of students with their eyes on me. I look past the blinding lights and stare right at the students. "Strength means more than just how strong a person is," I start, "It means how strong you make others, and how much stronger they will make you. Maximus Beor, from this point forward, you and your team will be known as Team MGDA (mega)." The students cheer as Maximus and his newfound team walk from one end of the stage to the other end. They disappear from the lights as I reach over for the next crest in line. "Corentin Keanu,
Hothead: "I am the greatest fighter ever," I yell, raising my sword high into the air. There, below the mountain of defeated animals is the whole village of Norwood. Everyone is there. Even Headmaster Strictcon. They are all chanting my name over and over. "Hothead! Hothead! Hothead!" "Hothead," Headmaster Stricton yells, shooting his fist into the air. "You are indeed the greatest fighter ever!" "Hothead," they chant. "Hothead! Hothe--Riinggg!" "Ahh," I say, turning away from the sound. "What in the world? What was that sound?" "Hothead! Hothead! Hot--Ringgg!" "Ahh!" This time, the strange noise is so loud I have to cover both my ears. "Riingg! Riingg! Riingg!" My eyes snap open. When they do, I don't see the mountain of defeated animals or the village of Norwood. Instead, I see the wooden bottom of the bed above me. "Ringg!" "Ahh," I moan when I hear the most an
Honey Aatish:"Animals study," I say, staring at the board. "Our first class for the day is animals study. Hmm."With my head resting on my hands, I stare at the classroom from where I'm sitting. The classroom is a large circular room with us students sitting in wooden seats on one half and a dozen screens on the other half, each having a picture of a different animal on it.As I keep looking around, someone taps me on my shoulder. Looking to my side, I see our team leader holding up his holo-display. There's a note written on his holo-display."The study of animals is referred to as zoology," the note says."Uhh, thanks."A second later, we all hear footsteps and turn our heads to the front."Hello class," a thin professor with small round glasses and spiky green hair says. The professor takes a sip of what I think is coffee from his thermos. Afterward, he starts to talk really, really, really fast. "I am Professor Runn. Professor Ruun is my name. It is. It is. It is."Professor Runn
Jump:"Zzzzz," Hothead goes as he adjusts his sleeping head on his pillow hand. I watch as the snot bubble coming out of his nose shrinks and glows."Sulien Bokamoso," Professor Purdue yells. "Sulien Bokamoso. Sulien Bokamoso, are you in this class?"I turn my head toward Hothead as he exhales, the snot bubble also shrinking. I roll my eyes and kick Hothead in the leg. His eyes snap open and his head shoots up."Here," Hothead yells, standing up. "I am right here! Here I stand!"As Hothead yells, he spreads out his arms like their wings."I am here," he shouts one last time. Smiling as he looks around, his smile disappears when, from the looks of it, he realizes he's in class."Uhh," he says in a much lower voice. He looks down at me and I nudge my head at Professor Purdue. The Professor meanwhile is looking right at Hothead. "I'm here.""Yes," Professor Purdue says, checking on Hothead's name on his holo-display. "I can see that. Please sit down."Hothead coughs as he awkwardly sits b
Alodia Darreth:As I sit on a bench in the hallway with my so-called 'team', I can't help but cross my arms."I will never forgive you for this," I say."Are you talking to me or him?"As Sulien asks this, his finger moves between himself and the other student from before. Funny enough, the other student also had his arms crossed. One of his eyebrows is twitching and he's growling like an animal from the Wild. I can only imagine I look very similar."I am talking to you," I say, making sure to face Sulien. "This is all your fault. Yours and your freaking girlfriend.""I'm not Hothead's girlfriend," Eimear says, her head popping out from behind Sulien."She's not Hothead's girlfriend," Renee says, his head popping out from behind Eimear. Sulien and Eimear turn to face our 'team leader' as he sits back down. With his back against the wall, he sighs and covers his eyes."Okay," Renee says a few seconds later. He c
Hothead:I try my best. I really do try my best. I shut my eyes. I cover my mouth. I even bite my tongue to the point where I think it's about to fall off, but I just can't hold it in much longer. My mouth is forced open while water starts to flow out from my eyes."Hothead," Jump slowly starts. "Are you...crying?"Instead of answering Jump, I slam my hands down on the table and jump up."Yessss," I cry out. Falling back onto my chair, I start to cry. I hide my face in my arms and start crying into them. "I hate this! Argh! Jump! I hate this so, so freaking much!"I raise my head and look at Jump with teary eyes."There is soo much homework! It's never-ending. I feel like I've been sitting here for years! No, decades! No, centuries! What year is it? How old are we? Did we just skip by the best years of our short lives? Are we already old? Do we have no teeth and white hairs?""These are not the best years of my life," Alodia says, flipping through her textbooks.I turn to Alodia. As fa
Jump:"The government had asked for our assistance again," Headmaster Noah said. "The animals have attacked three cities. The fighters managed to force them back but were badly wounded. If the animals attack again, they can't do anything. Forget what you heard. This is a private conversation."I repeat what Headmaster Noah said over and over again in my head."What were Headmaster Noah and Headmistress Amaya talking about? Why is the government asking for Headmaster Noah's help? And what is this about animals attacking cities? That's nothing new! Animals are always attacking cities. That's why fighters exist. What's going on?"While trying my hardest to think what is or could be happening, I hear someone snapping their fingers."Hey," Hothead says, snapping his fingers. "Jump. Jump! Are you in there?""Ahh. Oh, hey Hothead. Sorry. Did you say something?""Yes," Hothead answers, nodding his h
Clementine Mira:"This is all you will need to make a tourniquet," Professor Hadley says, picking and holding up a piece of string.We all look at each other, wondering if what Professor Hadley said is true."Hey," Honey says, covering her mouth and leaning in close. "What's a tourniquet?""A tourniquet is anything used to stop or slow blood flow," I answer. "It's used often when someone is badly cut.""How do you know," Chadd asks."When I was a novice fighter, I took a lot of classes in medicine and medical training.""Also," Honey says. "So this must be, like, review for you. Awesome! We got this!"Honey smiles and punches her palm."Uhhh," I say, moaning before clearing my throat. "I don't know if it would be that simple. Yes, I did take classes but it has been a while. I doubt I remember everything."Looking down at the medicine supplies on the table in front of us, I feel someone tapping on
Jump:"Hmm," Headmaster Noah says. He and Assistant Headmistress Amaya stop and look at the wall in front of them. Stepping forward, Headmaster Noah reaches out and grabs his arrow. He pulls it from the wall and slides it back into his quiver. Lowering his head, Headmaster Noah drops to one of his knees and rubs his fingers against the floor."Someone was here," Headmaster Noah states, looking at his fingers."Here," Assistant Headmistress Amaya asks. "Impossible. All students are supposed to be in their rooms. Curfew started three hours ago.""Just because curfew starts doesn't mean everyone goes to sleep."Standing back up, Headmaster Noah looks around. He looks in my direction and I try to push myself even deeper into the shadow.Looking in my direction for a little longer, he then looks down. Looking around some more, Headmaster Noah finally stops."Forget what you heard," Headmaster Noah yells, his voice echoing
Hothead:Bursting through the doors, I look around the nurse's station and find Shocker sitting on the bed with his team around him."Shocker," I yell, running toward him. Shoving and pushing his team to the side, I grab his arm and examine it. Groaning slightly as I pick it up, I let out a chuckle."Sorry about that, but are you okay?"Shocker nods his head."He's fine," Jump says, pushing me out of the way. "You're fine, right?"Again, Shocker nods his head."Oh, man," I say, wiping sweat beads from my forehead. "I can't tell you how worried we were when we heard a predalion bit you.""I can't believe a predalion bit you in the first place," Jump says. "Yellow Sun Academy had predalions?""Of course Yellow Sun has predalions," Alodia says, walking in with Renee behind her. "It said in the brochure they keep animals here for training. ""Brochure," I repeat. "You got a brochure?""Yes. Did
Shocker:"In the Wild," Professor Double Hits says, looking at all of us students. "You must always be ready to rely on your partners."The Professor, a tall, built man with a white headband tied around his head then stomps his foot. The sound is so loud it gets all our attention and makes us look right at him."Your partners, your team must know that you are reliable, that you are dependable, and that you will not let them down!"The Professor stomps his foot again. The sound is so loud some students have to slam their hands against their ears."You and your team must be a well-oiled machine," the Professor states. "You must work in unison. You must work together. You and your team must be able to move as one and fight as one. That is why we are here."Professor Double Hit stomps his foot twice this time. He then raises his arms high in the air before stepping to the side and showing us the academy's private arena.Y
Hothead:I try my best. I really do try my best. I shut my eyes. I cover my mouth. I even bite my tongue to the point where I think it's about to fall off, but I just can't hold it in much longer. My mouth is forced open while water starts to flow out from my eyes."Hothead," Jump slowly starts. "Are you...crying?"Instead of answering Jump, I slam my hands down on the table and jump up."Yessss," I cry out. Falling back onto my chair, I start to cry. I hide my face in my arms and start crying into them. "I hate this! Argh! Jump! I hate this so, so freaking much!"I raise my head and look at Jump with teary eyes."There is soo much homework! It's never-ending. I feel like I've been sitting here for years! No, decades! No, centuries! What year is it? How old are we? Did we just skip by the best years of our short lives? Are we already old? Do we have no teeth and white hairs?""These are not the best years of my life," Alodia says, flipping through her textbooks.I turn to Alodia. As fa
Alodia Darreth:As I sit on a bench in the hallway with my so-called 'team', I can't help but cross my arms."I will never forgive you for this," I say."Are you talking to me or him?"As Sulien asks this, his finger moves between himself and the other student from before. Funny enough, the other student also had his arms crossed. One of his eyebrows is twitching and he's growling like an animal from the Wild. I can only imagine I look very similar."I am talking to you," I say, making sure to face Sulien. "This is all your fault. Yours and your freaking girlfriend.""I'm not Hothead's girlfriend," Eimear says, her head popping out from behind Sulien."She's not Hothead's girlfriend," Renee says, his head popping out from behind Eimear. Sulien and Eimear turn to face our 'team leader' as he sits back down. With his back against the wall, he sighs and covers his eyes."Okay," Renee says a few seconds later. He c
Jump:"Zzzzz," Hothead goes as he adjusts his sleeping head on his pillow hand. I watch as the snot bubble coming out of his nose shrinks and glows."Sulien Bokamoso," Professor Purdue yells. "Sulien Bokamoso. Sulien Bokamoso, are you in this class?"I turn my head toward Hothead as he exhales, the snot bubble also shrinking. I roll my eyes and kick Hothead in the leg. His eyes snap open and his head shoots up."Here," Hothead yells, standing up. "I am right here! Here I stand!"As Hothead yells, he spreads out his arms like their wings."I am here," he shouts one last time. Smiling as he looks around, his smile disappears when, from the looks of it, he realizes he's in class."Uhh," he says in a much lower voice. He looks down at me and I nudge my head at Professor Purdue. The Professor meanwhile is looking right at Hothead. "I'm here.""Yes," Professor Purdue says, checking on Hothead's name on his holo-display. "I can see that. Please sit down."Hothead coughs as he awkwardly sits b
Honey Aatish:"Animals study," I say, staring at the board. "Our first class for the day is animals study. Hmm."With my head resting on my hands, I stare at the classroom from where I'm sitting. The classroom is a large circular room with us students sitting in wooden seats on one half and a dozen screens on the other half, each having a picture of a different animal on it.As I keep looking around, someone taps me on my shoulder. Looking to my side, I see our team leader holding up his holo-display. There's a note written on his holo-display."The study of animals is referred to as zoology," the note says."Uhh, thanks."A second later, we all hear footsteps and turn our heads to the front."Hello class," a thin professor with small round glasses and spiky green hair says. The professor takes a sip of what I think is coffee from his thermos. Afterward, he starts to talk really, really, really fast. "I am Professor Runn. Professor Ruun is my name. It is. It is. It is."Professor Runn