Chapter 7: Cruelty of Scavengers

I'm so furious! We were up for 12 hours going through the most ridiculous training I'd ever heard of! Long story made longer, first we had to 'bulk up' a little.

Being in a desert you'd expect there'd be nothing decent to eat. You'd be right. The vulture warrior doubled as a food bringer and what he brought us nearly made me vomit in my scarf. Decaying flesh of some poor unknown slob sat on a platter in front of us, and Jet and I were a little less than eager to dig in.

"Uh, what is this garbage!" demanded Jet.

"It's all we have, Master Jet. Something dies outside or city and we take it and eat it."

Without warning flesh was flung at his face. "I don't care where you get your fillings from! The Master won't tolerate this crap!"

Storm thought otherwise. "I don't mind. This stuff isn't half bad!"

"You don't even know what it is!" I pointed out.

"Who cares as long as it tastes good! Jet if you're so against eating then why don't you show us why you should be the Wind Master?"

Jet stood up at this remark. "Are you challenging me, Storm?"

The albatross was too busy engorging himself to notice Jet. I rolled my eyes with boredom. "Fine then! Warrior dude, let's get to work!"

"Very well. First you must catch up to me using nothing but your own two feet, and then if you can attack me with all your might."

"…I'm a little ashamed to say this but…I'm not much of a fighter compared to you. I mean what am I supposed to use?"

"Figure it out on your own. In the meantime…"

Like lightning he flashed into a sprint leaving a trail of dust caught in our eyes. "What are you waiting for Jet? Go catch him!"

With a delayed reaction, Jet finally gave chase. Curious as to how this would turn out I decided to follow them.

"Where are you going? You can't keep up with Jet he's like a speed demon!"

"Who said I was going to run?" I gathered as much air as I could underneath my wings and then jumped.

"Wait for me!" called out Storm, but of course I didn't bother since he'd only slow me down. After trying to keep up I realized this: it wasn't going to happen. There was nothing left to chase accept the flow of Jet and the warrior's speed. Something was weird about it too. It was solidly visible and even touchable.

At some point they stopped, meaning that Jet had caught up with the warrior and was…doing absolutely nothing to defend himself. This could only lead to a slaughter. Still trying to catch up I heard a weird but loud wheezing sound followed by a thud. Instantly I pictured Jet lying on the ground torn to pieces by that brute or possibly even dead…yet I was relieved to find that he was the one standing up.

"Are you two okay?" I asked.

Jet started to jitter like he'd lost it. "I'm fine. He isn't."

Something was covering the vulture's face, something gross and sticky. "What is that Jet?"

"Ha ha ha! It's a spit wad!"

"You mean to tell me you beat this guy by spitting in his face?"

"Not like I could do anything else! And this is only the first level of training, just wait until I go all out!"

Wiping the spit off his face, the warrior gave Jet the evil eye and said, "Alright you beat me. Don't let it get to your head cause we're not even close to being done. It's the large male's turn."

"Large male…oh Storm! Where the heck is he anyway?"

Huffing and puffing, Storm limped his way to over to us. "So…did Jet pass?"

"You're a little late, buddy. And guess whose turn it is to sweat blood and tears!" Jet patted his shoulder.

"Super. So what do I have to do?"

"Since you have much muscle you must test your strength against mine," he made a circle in the sand using a stick, "if you're able to throw me out of this circle then you will pass."

"That's it? Jet's test was a lot harder…"

"Why are you complaining? Just hurry up so I can get my turn!"

Still disappointed, Storm began stretching and doing jumping jacks while our trainer only stood patiently. Watching the guys work was getting me excited to show my stuff. Grabbing each others hands they pushed as hard as they could; Storm was struggling a little more than the vulture.

"Come on Storm, push!" exclaimed Jet.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" growled Storm, his knees buckling.

For what seemed to go on forever Storm just couldn't hold it any longer and fell on his knees. Jet surprisingly didn't make a snappy comeback but instead shook his head.

"Pathetic Storm. Really, really pathetic." Jet sneered. "I thought you were the strongest thing that ever lived!"

"Yeah, well I thought you were the fastest until I heard about…uh, forget it! I'll just have to do better next time!"

As usual he threw a fit whenever he didn't get his way and this time I wasn't going to stop him. It was my turn to improve. "So what do I have to do?"

The vulture said nothing as he turned his back to me. I got a little confused.

"The sun is about to rise. I can feel it." He stretched up to the sky.

"No it isn't it's not even dawn yet."

He sighed. "Regardless…I have no interest in teaching you. Find someone else."

Things got even more annoying when Jet burst out laughing for no reason. I knew he was laughing at me but that wasn't important. "And why exactly don't you want to teach me?"

"There is no need for your 'talents' around here. And in this city you'll be far more useful in women affairs than a fighter. Go find a job that suits you."

I hoped what I'd heard was all in my head but it was obvious that he meant what he said about me. This jerk had shamed Storm, embarrassed me, and treated Jet like a god…and that really pissed me off. But if I attacked him it would just mean an uproar from the Master. One thing for sure, since tomorrow would be my birthday there was no way he was going to get off scott free.