I shoot up in bed, gasping for breath. Bad dreams have been plaguing me for the whole night. There hasn't even been a battle recently!

And sometimes, when I'm training, I feel something out of reach. It's strange.

I shake my head, trying to get my bearings. Jo is snoring in the bunk above mine, and his area is hanging over the edge, though I can barely see it in the dark. Helmer is snoring as well—he sounds really sick.

Picket is in the hospital for the night; he has Purple Fever. I'm sure that Helmer has it too, but he's not going to the hospital unless he's dying—I've heard him say it himself.

Anyway, I wipe the sweat from the white diamond of fur on my forehead. I shudder at the thought of sleeping—and nightmares—and hop out of bed, throwing on my sword belt and a cloak. Then, I tiptoe out of the Fowlers' bunk room, off to do some training.

First Warren's corridors are empty, save the guards at their posts.

I make it to the large training room with no trouble, then ditch my cloak and get to work. Picket and Perkinson used to do this at night, and when I came, I made it a nightly habit, though they say I'm so good I don't need to train.

Anyway, there's no one else there, so I go all out, flipping and spinning and diving off walls, all the while reducing the dummy to shreds with my sword.

There are two more, and I do the same with both, and then I stand there, breathing heavily.

Heyna walks into the room. I don't see or hear her, I can just sense when somebody is near me, especially her and Picket's girlfriend.

"Heyna," I say. I don't turn around.

"Couldn't sleep either?" She asks, and I hear her dagger exiting her sheath. She doesn't want to kill me, only train with me.

I wait and wait until the last possible moment. I deflect the dagger right out of her hand.

"Ow! That hurt, Cole!" Heyna's holding her wrist when I turn around.

"Sorry," I say. I'm not that good with apologies. Then I frown. Something seems different about her. I look a little harder and realize that her deep blue eyes have more gold—or yellow—flecks in them, much more. And she's radiating…cold….

Hi guys! I'm sorry this is kind of short but they will get longer for you soon!