Chapter one
The Bear Twins
Kat lets out an exhausted sigh to herself, staring out of the window of her dorm room. She didn't expect a simple exam to take so much out of her, but it had proven to be a worthy opponent. Probably one of the toughest she's taken in her whole career. But, given her wit, she doesn't doubt that she passed with flying colors.
She turns her phone on, smiling a bit at the lock screen. It was a picture of her twin sister and herself, from the last time they met. She unlocks the phone, and scrolls to her sister's number. Perhaps Abi would have the time to sit and talk with her for a bit…
Deep within the mountains, Abi lets out a yawn as the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand pulls her out of slumber. She flips it over, and lets out an annoyed groan as she sees the time and the caller ID. She stifles a second yawn, and picks up.
"Time Zones, sis…" Abi says to her twin, again stifling a yawn, and shuffling upright on her bed.
"Oh, uh, my bad." Kat gives a sheepish chuckle.
Abi sighs- "This is the third time… Anyways, what's up?.."
"Ah, right…" Kat begins. "I was uh… Just wondering… If, uh... "
Abi gives an affirmative hum as she realizes what Kat's trying to say. "Relax, sis, I promise I'll be there." she says, shifting out of bed and moving to get dressed. It was her second day of mentoring the youths of the pai zhuq school… The Order of the Claw… She'd might as well get ready early. "It's been three years since we visited mom together as a family. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Kat gives a relieved sigh. "Yeah, it's been a while, huh?" The melancholy is clear to hear in her voice. "Do you think dad and gramps will come this time around?.."
"Hmm… Maybe, it's hard to say." Abi sighs, adjusting her uniform, still a bit annoyed at being woken up so early. "Welp, I got a long day ahead of me, so I'd better get going. Love ya, sis."
Abi hangs up before her sister gets a chance to reply.
"Wait, I was wo-" Kat begins, wheeling herself to her desk before a click sounds in her ear. "Ugh… That little…" She grumbles under her breath. With a sigh, she opens a drawer besides her workbench, and pulls out a side project. She needed to distract herself and her mind from the events of the past. She winces, remembering the events that left her without the ability to simply walk, and had taken her sister's arm… Not to mention, their mother…
Kat sighs, and shakes her head, looking back at the project. Abi's prosthetic could use an upgrade, and she had wanted it done by their birthday… But there was something stumping her… Again, she reaches for her phone, and scrolls through her contacts.
Maybe the only other genius she knew could help her out...