The meeting had proven to be very productive. Administrative aspects had been covered and the girls were now official members of DarkRiver. They'd been separated so one could take an IQ test whilst the other completed a physical check up with Tamsyn, and then they swapped. There were also more casual discussions such as what the girls were interested in, Tamsyn used this to her advantage and was delighted when Hebe was more than happy to train as a Healer and offer a helping hand. Lucas had also told the girls they would be assessed by one of the pack's trainers in regards to their physical fitness and combat skills.
"What were your positions in your pack?" Lucas asked leaning forward. Torah looked towards Hebe.
"Trust them Torah" Hebe sent.The hairs on Lucas's neck stood up, he had always been able to sense when a psychic was using their talents. He sat up straight that instance adopting a wary look, he glanced at his mate and she nodded sensing it aswell.
"Soldiers" Torah said with a smile.
"Rank?" Dorian asked. It was a difficult question to answer because they were young and the pack wanted to keep their strength a secret to surprise an enemy; they were low ranks but neither of the girls wanted DarkRiver to think them as weak.
"What do we say?" Torah asked Hebe. Hebe had no time to answer before a low growl emanated from the alpha's chest. Torah's eye widened with shock.
"I caught it that time" Sascha said looking at her mate.
"Is there something you're not telling us girls" Lucas asked a growl still cloaking his words.
"They're not talking about what I think they are, are they?" Torah panicked making the mistake of looking at Hebe as she sent it. She felt Hebe mentally kick her, a silent 'stop it'.
"We're mid ranked soldiers, captains" Hebe answered, Lucas dismissed it.
"I've a talent" Lucas started "I sense when Psy's use their abilities." He leaned in "My hair stands up on its ends"
"That's interesting" Torah said with slight sarcasm, this aggravated him slightly.
"Well darling, my hairs have been standing on their ends" Hebe used this as a brilliant opportunity to highlight the fact he was sat next to a cardinal. Sascha merely smiled and said
"Don't look at me" as she raised her hands. "But you two however" She paused looking at them carefully "are emitting psychic waves"
"We're changeling, not Psy" Torah laughed as if the possibility of such a thing was ridiculous.
"Before silence, races intermixed and Psy DNA is within most of the world's population, some more than others giving them Psy abilities" Sascha said as if this piece of information was common knowledge and much bigger than she was letting on.
"That's how I know you two are having a little 'conversation'" Lucas rubbed his neck.
"It's a possibility that they're unaware of what they're doing, isn't it?" Dorian asked.
"We're aware" Hebe interjected, Torah looked at her as if she'd been betrayed.
"Torah we couldn't hide it forever" Hebe said sharply.
"I'm glad we've cleared that up" Sascha said with a sigh. "You two have been wreaking havoc on the web" The girls looked at her with genuine bafflement. Sascha explained the Web of Stars to the girls, how she and other Psy have dropped out of the net to form alternative nets or webs.
"This brings me back to you two." She sighed. "Clearly you two have Psy abilities, no doubt abilities that are hereditary and being so close they no doubt flourished as best friends or sisters often have a degree of 'knowing'"
"Like knowing what each other is thinking without saying anything" Torah interjected
"Yes exactly, that sort of knowing is common in most species especially females, because of your genetics and this it clearly had a multiply effect and you two are 'pathing "
"We've only ever talked to each other that way" Hebe said running her fingers through her hair.
"Try and talk to me…that way" A look of amusement crept upon Sascha's face at the way Hebe had described something so natural to the Psy.
"Torah, you're better at it" It was true Torah could send Hebe thoughts over longer distances, it would be a one way conversation Hebe's thoughts becoming muffled over the distance.
"Umm okay" Torah said slightly worried. She shut her eyes, it came so natural with Hebe there was a straight link, a direct tunnel to Hebe's mind, a mind she knew so well. She had to bring herself away from that tunnel; she couldn't see the tunnel because she was always inside it, she tried to bring herself out. She was conscious that she'd crumpled up her face in concentration.
"I'm trying to get outside the link" She said through gritted teeth.
"Here let me help" Sascha replied and sent out her psychic scent as it were, something to help Torah build a bridge between their minds. Torah felt Sascha's presence brush along her mind and she grabbed onto it and tried to follow it, almost enter it.
"We're not entering darling, not yet" Sascha giggled.
Torah blushed. She felt Sascha brush past her mind again and instead of trying to follow it she grabbed on to it.
"Sorry" Torah sent out and Sascha made a sound of delight. "I did it?!" Torah said eyes wide full of excitement.
"You sure did, clear as crystal" Sascha clapped her hands "Well-done!" She sent back.
"Hebe you try!" Torah grabbed her arms.
It took Hebe a while longer but eventually she managed to link to Sascha.
"What does this mean?" Tamsyn interjected.
"That we have two functional telepaths added to the pack" Sascha grinned.
"What about the web?" Dorian asked.
"Yes, back to that" Sascha nodded. "I think subconsciously you two were trying to link up to the web, but with no clear access route you were merely banging on the door."
"How do we access?" Torah asked.
"Well you can mate with a sentinel" Sascha smiled "Or I can try and link you two in."
"Sascha that's something we'll have to discuss." Lucas said with a serious tone, she sighed in response.
"But what if they're suffering starvation like Tally?" Dorian added
"Well they haven't had any of Talin's symptoms" Tamsyn responded.
"If they begin to develop symptoms there will be no debate to whether they enter the web or not" Sascha said sternly. "Either way, if you girl's will accept my assistance I would like to work on your abilities with you, Hebe you may have M-Psy abilities that are untapped."
"I could?"
"It's a possibility"
"Well this has been more than productive" Lucas stretched "but we've been caged in this room for near enough 3 hours and I'm starving" Torah noted they hadn't yet spoken about OrangeMist but decided that it wasn't the time to push the matter, she was also starving.
"Canteen?" Dorian asked both of the girls.
"Please."
"This way, I'll introduce you to some of the other Juveniles, you've already met Kit, he's a good starting place I suppose."
"I scent Alpha on him" Torah said.
"Good nose" Dorian said impressed, Torah merely shrugged.
"How did we do on the IQ tests?"
"Torah, I can't divulge that information." He laughed
"Why on earth not? It's our intelligence, even if the test is completely inaccurate"
"Why's it inaccurate?" Hebe asked.
"For starters it assumes the person who's written the test has an IQ of 200 and it's culturally biased and only assesses certain aspects of knowledge such as language maths and logic."
"Well I'm glad you're so against them because Hebe was 15 points higher than you" Dorian said ruffling Torah's hair.
"Haha I'm smarter than you" Hebe teased Torah, she knew Torah liked being the best at everything.
"Whatever" Torah sulked.
"But don't worry; you're still above the national average." Dorian consoled her, and it did indeed make Torah feel a bit better about herself. "But I'm still smarter than to both of you." He smiled.
"What are you? A boy genius?" Torah asked. Dorian seemed to flinch at the remark and muttered something about Ice cold water.