The Great Battle
Leon raced into the neighbor gathering area, his breath rattling in his chest as he followed Firen into the grassy tree rich park, everyone was there, waiting impatiently for their leader. 'This battle is like nothing we've seen, from what Jay's told me I might've just met my match. But I can't give up and let everyone down, I will fight to the end.' Leon thought as he squeezed between her siblings and his parents, accidently brushing arms with Cynthia who jumped and shifted away from him, both of them awkwardly looked in opposite directions, avoiding looking at each other. Being a martial artist there was no doubt Cynthia would be sharpening other people's skills while Leon was off using his power to protect the city, all four neighborhoods despite the hostility between them all.
"Are we ready for this?" Holly whispered in her brothers' ears, green eyes worried and slightly scared.
"I will be with Bree," Jay told his sister sharply, putting one hand on his friend's shoulder, blue eyes gazing blankly in front of him, "She will help me when I cannot help myself Holly."
"I'll take care of him, Holly." Bree reassured the black haired girl, amber eyes lit with a determined fire, "Jay can handle himself, but when he can't I will be there."
"You don't have to worry about me," Leon reassured his older sister, looking over at her, "I can't be hurt remember?"
"Leon, I will always worry about you," Holly chuckled weakly, "You need a responsible person watching over you."
"I can take care of myself," he reassured her, feeling Cynthia's blue gaze on him but forcing himself to not make eye-contact with his friend. "If anything we have to worry about you," he side hugged his sister, his brother briefly fumbling to do the same on the other side.
"Thunder residents, we face an enemy stronger than we have ever known!" Firen shouted, his voice projecting over the entire clearing from his position standing tall and proud on the stump the teenagers called the Great Stump, an over grown tree stump that's roots spread throughout the entire clearing and surrounding park. "The danger comes from the alley group as well as our own! The Dark forest has sworn to destroy Warrior City!"
Gasps rang throughout the clearing and Firen paused, letting the startled murmuring die down before continuing, "A battle is coming that we have to win, for the sake of everyone that ever lived. We must fight alongside the other neighborhoods, because this enemy threatens us all! Each of the three other neighborhoods; Shadow, Wind, and River will send a small group of people to fight alongside us and join our patrols. We will send three patrols to their neighborhoods. He looked down at his coleader, "Brad, you choose who will go."
Theo pushed his way forward to ask his question in a loud voice, making sure everyone could hear him, "Won't they take advantage of this to move in and kick us out like they tried before?!"
Leon's jaw clenched at the memory, a bloody battle of protecting their homes and his mother nearly be killed by a fatal shot to the stomach along with Cynthia going missing halfway through the battle only to end up being kidnapped with Leon, Jay, and Holly, the only ones able to find her with Diana's help. He smirked slightly, boy did he hope that the other teen's nose was still drastically crooked from the wallop of a punch he had delivered to the guy's face. 'That won't happen again thought.' He thought looking at Cynthia through the corner of his amber eyes when she wasn't looking at him, 'Even if she says I'm too special to be with her I won't let anyone hurt her-' His attention snapped to the front as his cousin Ivory moved around him to walk up to the front of the clearing, dresed in her usual black with her pistol hanging in the custom loop on the right side of her jeans.
"I know how they fight. I can teach those moves to the clan and how to counter them." Ivory's voice was calm, steady, and cool, the blonde had plenty of experience with both public speaking and people ignoring her, so she could keep her cool in situations like this. Leon, on the other hand, would probably die before he spoke in public like that.
"How do you know?"
"Traitor!"
Other people snarled and Ivory kept her expression indiffferent as Firen spoke over them, defending her. "I sent her to spy." Firen stated simply and the reactions changed, everyone staring at the skilled blonde in surprise and a few in awe.
"You were spying in the Dark Forest?" Diana asked her twin sister in surprise, blue eyes wide with shock and awe, she knew how rough and scary the dark forest was.
Ivory gave a sharp nod to her sister, green eyes impassive, "Yes. I was sent from Firen to spy on them once I figured out what was going on."
"You're so brave!" Miles squeaked from his spot next to his sister who gently hushed him and the eight year old shuffled closer to his favorite sibling, Cynthia ruffling her brother's hair, leaning down to gently whisper something in his ear. Leon watched the interaction, his heart felt like it was being jabbed with a knife once again. Something he once would've smiled at, now made his mood just a little worse with the missed chances and his hands curled into fists.
"We will win this battle because we are fighting for our lives and the lives of our community! Our enemies have been rejected before. They fight only out of hate and that will be their weakness." Firen shouted over the murmuring, the statement being received with excited and determined chatter.
"We'll beat them!"
"They won't win!"
Firen nodded, green gaze traveling proudly over his community, "Then let's start training. For our homes!" As Firen spoke a thought chilled Leon to the bone.
'The kids, they'll be left with Bridget and Daisy, but they can't fight!' Rushing over to his father Leon managed to form a complete and understandable sentence, "I'm going to go work with Bridget and Daisy, we need them to be on their toes and to defend the kids, I have a few ideas even though Daisy's never thrown a punch in her life."
"Good." Brad scanned the clusters of people, "Spider can train Mei and Packer. He's known them the longest. They won't mind taking orders from him."
Leon glanced at the long legged man and noticed for the first time a few wrinkles on his face, 'He'll be joining them before long.' The short hairs on the back of his neck stood up, 'If we're all still here.'
Brad curled and uncurled his fists, rolling his broad shouldesr, "We need to prepare for a new type of enemy."
"We have to fight as viciously as the Dark forest warriors." Anger bubbled in Leon's gut, "They're forcing us to break every law and rule we have."
"Defend your community above all things," Brad reminded his son. "If that means fighting like wild animals, then we must fight like wild animals."
"I'll fight like a lion if it means protecting the community." Leon said firmly, shaking away the memories of the animal that he had been given a nickname to, the memories painful at the moment. While his father continued dividing everyone into training groups, he jogged over to the daycare. Pulling open the door he walked over to the mess of kids all huddled together with Bridget and Daisy.
"What are we going to do?!" Bridget whispered to Daisy, her scarred face screwing up in worry for the kids they were in charge of.
"We'll help!" Miles declared, blue eyes gleaming with determination.
"You will stay and help the other kids." Leon ordered firmly, knowing how stubborn the young boy was, "You're their last defense Miles." He turned to the two women, "I'm going to teach you two how to defend these guys."
"I don't know how to fight!" Daisy exclaimed, "I can hardly throw a punch!"
"It doesn't matter," Leon told her, "You and Bridget are going to work together, you've got a dozen kids here relying on you so you can't let them down. There is nothing more dangerous than a women's protective instincts." He said, walking over to the two of them as Miles disappeared into the small crowd of kids. "Nothing in the world." He had learned that lesson pretty well when Miles had wandered off, leaving his sister a raging tiger, furious and dangerous. "Get ready."
Daisy shrinked back while Bridget stood her ground. Leon lunged forward and Bridget lashed out as fast as lightning, her fist barely brushing his cheek. "See? All your instincts will protect these kids."
"How dare you attack her that!" Daisy fumed while Bridget looked determined,
"It's okay." She met Leon's gaze, excited, "Let me practice another."
"You can learn this one, too." Leon said to Daisy before focusing on an imaginary attacker and moving in a fluid motion, darting his foot behind them and landing two quick punches. "It's realatively easy to do and weakens your attacker."
"Let me try it!" Bridget asked and Leon complied, his back meeting the floor a moment later with a sharp smack.
"Good, if you work together, one can add more punches while the other trips and pushes the enemy down." Leon was relieved to see that the fear had faded from the partially blind warrior's gaze as he got to his feet after the move. "Just make sure you keep an eye on those kids." Leon looked over at the huddle of children who were edging closer and looking more excited. "You guys, stay hidden, as hidden as you can get." the kids obeyed, scurrying off to go hide. Leon turned back to Daisy and Bridget, "Working together will make you as strong as the fittest warrior." He felt a rush of satifaction. For the first time in weeks, he felt as if he was doing exactly what he should. He'd spent too much time worrying. Now he was ready to fight like the fighter he was born to be. The foreigner Midlee's words echoed in his ears. You are only guided, not forced.
'I'm guided!' He froze, his heart leaping. 'It's all my choice!' "Can I leave you to practice?" He asked Bridget, his mind already on his blue eyed friend.
"Can we work out some moves of our own?"
"Uh, of course." Leon rushed over to Miles and crouched in front of him, putting his hands on the boy's shoulders, "Where's you sister Miles? I want to talk to her."
"Which one?" Miles asked innocently, knowing full well which of his sisters the teenager was talking about.
"Cyndy, Miles."
"She's with Isa and Diana!"
"Thank you, Miles, keep the others safe alright my little man?"
"I will do my best!"
"Good." Leon got to his feet and sprinted out of the building, swerving to his right and finding his father, "Hey dad, where's Diana and Isa?"
Brad paused his training to look at his son, looking a bit concerned, "I sent them with Cynthia to sharpen their skills in the gym-"
"Thanks!" Leon raced off.
"-near the lake. Leon! Where're you going?!" He shouted, wondering what one earth got into his son.
Leon didn't respond. Instead, he ran along the empty streets to the gym near the lake, yanking open the door as Cynthia was talking.
"... quicker," Cynthia said as she demonstrated, jabbing forward, the punch taking barely two seconds, "try shortening your blows like this-"
"Cyndy!" Leon called from the door, amber eyes anxious.
"Leon?" Cynthia asked, whirling around to face him, "What are you doing here? I thought you were with Bridget and Daisy-"
"I have to talk to you!"
Cynthia mumbled something to Diana and Isa before running over to him, "What's the matter?"
"Come with me." Leon grabbed her wrist and started pulling her towards the lake, ignoring her yelp of surprise and slight stumbling. When they reached their destination he let her go, watching her for a moment and taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"Is something wrong?" Cynthia asked, almost reaching for his hand before stopping herself short and clasping her hands behind her back.
"You have a destiny…" Leon said, taking a few more deep breaths as he paused, "just like everyone else. But you also have a choice." 'Please don't get mad at me!' Cynthia backed a few feet away from him, blue eyes wary but she didn't say anything so he pressed on. "And so do I. Our destinies guide our feet, but they don't shape every step. That's up to us. We walk the path we choose." Cynthia still said nothing, taking a few more steps back.
"Whatever our destiny says, we still have to choose our own path, don't you see?" He almost pleaded, "We can be together if we wish-"
A twang and Cynthia moved, rushing towards Leon."Leon move!" Despite being about ten feet away from Leon she managed to tackle him within the space of a second, throwing them both out of the way as an arrow embedded itself in the bark when Leon's head had been. Leon blinked dazed up at the sky before something registered in his brain as Cynthia got off of him, her cheeks pink, but her blue eyes glittered worriedly.
"Are you okay?-" She asked but Leon asked another question.
"How did you do that."
"Do what?" Cynthia asked, looking extremely confused.
"You moved ten feet in about a second! How'd you do that?" Leon asked, the answer already ringing in his ears, 'Cynthia's the fourth! And Firen's the fifth! We have everyone from the prophecy!'
"Uh, I ran?" Cynthia said, sounding even more confused, "What does that have to do with anything?"
A smile spread across Leon's face as he hugged her, laughing slightly, "You are more special than you think you are Cyn," He laughed softly before drawing back enough to look at her, "Not everyone runs that fast Cyn, I've never seen that before in my entire life."
"Wait, you mean…" Cynthia trailed off, looking for confirmation.
"There will be one of no relation but with the speed of lightning." Leon recited the line of the prophecy Jay had told him, "That's you!"
"No, I'm just a normal person able to run fast, how-"
"You're special Cyn, you've always been as special as I am, just believe me alright?" He asked her, leaning closer to her, surprised when she didn't move away, "You have always been special to me, and now you are even more special to the world."
"How? Leon-"
"Will you fight alongside me?" He asked with a double meaning that Cynthia seemed to pick up.
"Always." She decided, believing Leon's words and letting out a small laugh as his lopsided grin before it was cut off by Leon sealing the deal. As if on cue the lake behind them turned pink as the sun started to set, shortening their preparation time as it painted the sky a beautiful shades of pink, orange, red, and yellow; framing the two fighter's in the pink light being reflected off of the lake's crystal clear water. What could've been the perfect moment was broken a moment later when Leon lost his balance and the two teenagers fell into the lake with a splash that startled them both apart.
:) :) :)
"Use your toes to balance Rose, You need to be able to fight no matter where you are. These warriors want to kill you!" Ivory advised, watching the ginger haired girl struggle to do as she asked.
"How do we kill them?" Clark asked, turning his attention on the blonde giving out advice. "They're practically untouchable!"
"They are normal people with skills in fighting, kill them like you would a normal lunatic. But remember, outside of this battle there are no killing." Ivory stated calmly, pushing away the huanting memories of Alex's screams when she killed him to gain better status in the dark forest. During her efforts of pushing it away she hadn't noticed Brad giving out more duties until he called her name. With a sense of foreboding she did as she was told, 'They're going to ask me to tell them who's been training in the dark forest aren't they? Well too bad, I'm not telling you.'
"Which Thunder people are training with you in the Dark Forest.
"I'm afraid I can not give you that information Brad." Ivory said cooly, well aware of Brittany, Mike, and her father watching her from behind. "It's not common knowledge."
"I know they didn't know what they were getting into but this is our chance to protect them-"
"Well, I would tell you, but you aren't the leader Brad. And I'm not betraying those who have been tricked into doing something wrong." Ivory told him sharply, green eyes flashing, "They will not be ridiculed. I'm sure they will fight for our community and will not betray us." She pushed back her sleeve to glance at a black metal watch around one wrist, "I have to go make an appearance in the Dark Forest. Have fun playing a suspicious and paranoid game of guess who." She rolled her eyes and jogged off, with the intent of nudging a few people in the group to join the right side.
:) :) :)
Jay grumbled under his breath as he navigated his way back into the clinic from the whole Brad and Ivory fiasco, going into the quiet clinic, the silence pierced by his girlfriend Bree quietly humming as shel helped Leah sort the many medicines into piles and doses, loading up her wheelchair for field work while Leah would stay there at the clinic and do as much as she could with Cyllia and Silvia's help. "What are you humming now?" Jay sighed as he rolled his blind eyes, making it way over to the two, "A song about raining cats?" He joked sarcastically and Bree laughed.
"Nope! It's called we are the champions, do you want to listen?!" Bree asked with a little forced cheer that he could hear in her voice, she was scared and he could tell for once.
"Sure," Jay sighed, holding his hand out for her earphones, "It's got to be better than the drama taking place outside."
So he listened to the song, finding it very catchy and actually quite interesting, not that he would tell her that though. The three of them worked in silence for a while, Jay's thoughts straying. 'Who's the fourth person? The battle's coming and we haven't fullfilled the prophecy.'
"Jay!" Leon burst into the clinic and threw the doors open. How could Jay could tell? Well by the outragiously loud footsteps and his brother's voice. "Come with me, I think I found something."
"Alright, keep your shoes on." Jay snorted, getting up once again and following his brother out of the clinic to an empty clearing a little ways away from the main area of the neighborhood.
"Leon? What did you want to show us?" Diana asked
:) :) :)
Diana was tired, after all that training she had done today she really wanted to rest up for the battle that was about to occur. But Leon had rushed over a few minutes ago, soaking wet *He fell into the lake XD* but looking happier than he had in days, and insisted he come to the clearing.
"I think I found the fourth person!" Leon's grin was almost ear to ear, making Diana suspicious.
"I thought we were done arguing about that!"
"No really, I found her."
"Her?" Diana asked with raised eyebrows and whirled around at someone's next words.
"Well, I do believe I am a girl." Cynthia stepped out of the shadows, as wet as Leon was but also smiling.
"Leon," Jay sighed, "your girlfriend isn't related to us."
"Of course not! But remember that line in the prophecy? There will be one of no relation but with the speed of lightning!"
"Cynthia does not run fast."
"Oh yeah?" Cynthia said, taking it as a challenge, "Track me, Diana."
"What? How do you know about my powers?"
"I just guessed, with how you knew about the dam being built three cities away and all." Cynthia shrugged, "Anyway, track me." And she vanished, the bushes rustling slightly.
Diana expanded her senses, searching for the black haired girl. She found her jogging near the lake and was baffled how Cynthia had moved that fast. "She's near the lake."
"What? That's not possible."
"She's near the daycare now. Uh… I have no idea where she went." Diana said, looking everywhere for her. Besides behind herself.
"Boo," Cynthia exclaimed and Diana jumped a mile.
"Do you believe me now?" Leon asked impatiently.
"Yes," Jay grunted, his voice highly surprised.
"Yeah," Diana said, her blue eyes still a little wide from her scare.
They were interrupted by Clark running by, "They're gone!"
"What?" Diana breathed and her eyes widened further.
"Come on!" Leon grabbed ahold of Cynthia's hand and pulled her along toward the main clearing in the city where everyone was congregating around Clark, the air was filled with low murmurs from everyone discussing their speculations.
Diana and Jay followed Leon at his heels and together the four pushed their way to the front near Clark, their blue and amber eyes concerned and worried.
Ivory pushed her way through everyone else to be standing in front of Clark, her body language tensed and slightly concerned. Who?" she asked sharply, her fingers brushing the hilt of the knife tucked into her front jeans pocket.
"Brittany, Mike, and Bradley!" Clark panted, his blue eyes were slightly wide with surprise and shock. "They vanished when they were training with me and Rose a minute ago!"
Ivory's green eyes hardened and she let her gaze briefly flicker over to her sister, "be careful Diana." She said before she turned and started running off, her blonde ponytail fluttering behind her as she sprinted away towards the dark alleys of the city.
"Where are you going?!" Diana yelled after her before she realized with a jolt what Ivory was doing, "Ivory don't!" She broke free of the crowd and ran after her sister, "you can't help them now!" She exclaimed and grabbed onto her twin's arm, blue eyes scared and worried for her sister, "you'll get yourself killed!"
Ivory's leaf green eyes softened with unusual gentleness, she knew what she needed to do, she was the only one who could ultimately stop the battle, and she wasn't letting her sister's friends and their neighbors be killed in something they didn't knot the severity of. "I'll be fine Diana, but they wont if I don't go and keep an eye on them, I can't let innocent people die to save my own live."
Diana looked torn, she saw the sense in her sister's words but didn't want her sister to put herself in more danger. Eventually, she flung her arms around her sister and hugged her tightly, "promise me you'll come back!"
Ivory returned the embrace for a few precious moments before she made Diana release her. "I promise," she said, her leaf green eyes determined, "I will come back, I've been training for this for years, I won't be killed Diana."
Diana sniffled slightly and hugged her sister one last time before she let her go, "then go save them," she said with a watery smile, "what're you waiting for?!"
Ivory cracked a warm grin before she turned and sprinted off, being swallowed in the shadows of the dark alley.
:) :) :)
Diana paced part of the clearing, nervously biting her lower lip as she expanded her senses, listening to her sister's cool voice, if she found her, she found the leaders.
"If I was a spy Traktor," Ivory's cool toned voice caught her attention at the very edge of her hearing. "I wouldn't be here would I?"
Focusing on it, Diana expanded her senses further, through blackened alleys and down to the abandoned subway system that was full of trees crammed together, the bark stained permanently with crimson blood.
"You could be lying," Traktor's voice sent chills down Diana's spine, "after all, you are trained to lie."
Diana didn't fancy meeting Traktor anywhere, he was a bulky man with the look of an insane lunatic combined with a gang boss, quite a creepy mix.
Ivory gave traktor a blank look, "really? I've been here since I was eight and you suspect me of being a spy? Would a spy not hesitate to do this?" Ivory whipped out a knife and the blade nicked Traktor's shoulder, leaving a deep and thin cut in his bulky shoulder. She dodged his counter attack with filuid ease and tucked the knife back in her sleeve. "Ask around, I'm not sneaky, there's no reason for me to be." She gave a shrugged and caught the knife Traktor threw at her by the flat side of the blade between two fingers, her expression remained calm and impassive. "Besides, I'm respected here, in Warrior City I'm just a boring teenager and I prefer having no one mess with me in fear for what I am capable and rare others are." She replied and threw the knife behind her. A trainie about a hundred feet away yelped and fell backward when the knife narrowly missed their head.
Traktor smirker and crossed his thick arms over his strong chest, while he approvingly nodded slightly. "You have passed the test, I should never have doubted you, Ivory."
Ivory smirked, "heck yeah, I have the shortest warrior initiation time since yourself, Traktor."
Traktor let out a bellow of laughter, "that is true, killing Alex in under a minute is quite impressive, I will admit."
Ivory flashed him a smug smirk, her body language just oozing the emotion. "Hey, I deserve points for flaying him like a fish too, that's not easy either."
Traktor shook his head in slightly crazed amusement before his eyes turned cold and full of a lust for bloodshed. He raised his voice, making to so nearly all of the gang could hear him. "The time has come!"
Cheers and shouts echoed through the abandoned subway, their loud exclamations of excitement ringing through the cement walls of the large subway.
"This is the last night we will all spend in our dark home, for we will drive away Warrior City and claim it as our own!"
"What?" Brittany whispered her amber eyes that matched her sister's, growing wide with shock and nervousness. She was huddled next to Mike and Bradley, the three of them looked nervous and scared.
Atol sauntered over to his father and Ivory, Braxton at his heels, the black haired teen looked incredibly grumpy and more iritable than Jay. "Tonight we take back what is ours!" He shouted and the cheered grew louder, "Tonight we will destroy the people who inhabit Warrior City like a wild fire until only those who bow down to us remain! We will remake the city into the great city that my father led those many years ago before foreigners joined us!"
"No more hiding!" Cheered a scarred man whose red eyes gleamed nefariously in the dim light.
"We will rule!" Ivory shouted, her voice drowned out by the many cheers that accompanied her words.
"Follow us tonight," Traktor spoke again, "and I promise you will have more power than what you know what to do with!"
The cheering hurt Diana's ears and she was about to draw away before she gasped when she saw Sunny from the Wind neighborhood and Marlene from the River neighborhood, both of them were staring at Traktor and Atol with wide and shocked eyes. Nearby, Mike was backing away toward the trees, his eyes scared.
"The city's become soft!" Halden exclaimed from his position blending into the Dark Forest crowd, "we have to show them that only the strong should live!"
Diana felt bile rise in her throat, How can a City resident believe in cruelty like that?
Out of the corner of her vision, Diana saw Isa, the thunder neighborhood residant guided Mike back to Brittany and Bradley, her blue eyes understanding as she beckoned Flynn and Harry of the Wind neighborhood closer. "Don't let them see your fear," she whispered, having been told before hand about this entire thing by Ivory herself, "keep quiet and do exactly what he says, let Ivory do her thing and you'll see your neighborhoods again."
Bradley opened his mouth to object but snapped it abruptly shut as Malic turned to face him, her reddish hued eyes narrow with suspicion. "I don't hear you cheering for our leader," she spoke slowly, her tone threateningly.
Isa met her gaze, putting up a brave front. "We're just planning our strategy Malice, " she lied flawlessly, "ours is a little different since we have an edge when it comes to fighting the city, our neighborhoods trust us."
Malice narrowed her eyes, "let's hope you're prepared to fight for your lives," she growled and leaned closer to Isa. "because fighting alongside us in the only way you'll survive!" she hissed.
A thin dark haired man pushed his way through the crowd and stopped next to Malic, "how are our recruits doing?" he sneered, his yellowish eyes gleaming with a love for bloodshed.
"Derek," Malic greeted the annoying man with a growl, "they're terrified."
Derek's cool gaze swept over the small group of city residents, "don't be scared," he said with a roll of his eyes, "you're on the right side." his eyes narrowed suddenly as he realized Ivory wasn't with the city residents. "Where's Ivory?" He asked with annoyance, "she should be here already." he glanced over at Malice as he curled and uncurled his fists.
"She's right behind you," Ivory spoke cooly and used her silver knife to nick the back od his head, "keep talking about me I dare you."
Derek went silent and even Malice didn't dare provoke the third commander, after all, Ivory had been the one to kill Brian for the position.
Atol spoke up again, his icy blue eyes gleaming coldly, "are we ready?!" he shouted.
"Death to the city!" the other dark forest warriors cheered, Ivory included.
Diana shivered slightly, it bothered her how well her sister could hide her emotions and lie flawlessly like this, it was terrifying sometimes. But she didn't focus on that as she withdrew her senses with a snap and shot off to find Leon, Cynthia, and Jay. They're coming!
"The Dark Forest is coming!"
:( :( :(
"Are you ready Jay?" Bree asked the grey speckled black haired teen her age, her amber eyes concerned for her best friend and boyfriend, her voice oddly flat.
Jay gave a sharp nod, he would be defending the clinic to the best of his ability, hopefully it was enough. He could feel Bree's anxiety like an annoying bee sting, and his blind eyes softened a little. "I'll be careful," he reassured her, hiding how worried he was too, while he was staying in the clinic, Bree was going to be out on the field with her medical supplies, her job was much more dangerous than his own.
"I know you will," Bree mumbled her anxiety not at all appeased by the words.
Jay sighed and squatted down next to Bree, going down to her level and focusing his attention on her, "I have both Leah and Skylar to help me Bree," he said with a tone close to gentleness, "I'll be fine, you don't have to worry about me."
"I know," Bree sighed, her amber eyes locked on his blind blue ones, "but I'm going to worry anyway."
Jay inwardly smiled slightly, that sounded just like her, Bree would worry about him no matter where he was or what he'd be doing. "Well worry about yourself, you have the more dangerous job."
Bree snorted, "but I have more fighting skill than you, plus I have a heavy wheelchair to help me out."
Jay couldn't really argue and instead shrugged, leaning closer as he did so, "I'll be fine." He reassured sincerely with a hint of his usual grumpiness.
"I know," Bree responded simply, her amber eyes concerned and lacking her usual hyperactive cheer and excitement. There was an unspoken question that she didn't voice but Jay could read in her mind. 'Promise me you'll be careful.'
"They're coming!" Diana's exclamation startled them both and the two medics tensed up dramatically, Bree sitting rigidly upright, Jay's shoulders visibly tensing.
"I promise." Jay briefly kissed her before he pushed himself to his feet and sprinting from the clinic toward where he could hear Diana and a lot of chatter.
Bree watched him leave, watching his thin and lanky form disappear before she turned around to help Leah, "can I help? She asked, her voice was still flat and lacked enthusiasm.
:( :( :(
Which way are they heading?" Jay asked as Cynthia and Leon hurried over as well, the couple was slightly pink in the face.
Diana's senses were overwhelmed with drumming footsteps, some loud, some light, some heavy, some lite as a feather. "I can't tell! She exclaimed, her blue eyes wide with fear, "they're everywhere!"
Firen's eyes gleamed brightly and he rose his voice, "It is time to defend our home! All of you! Fight for everything you live for! Fight for the entire city!"
Cheers rose up from the multitude of Thunder residents, all of them looked fierce and ready to win, nobody was going to take their home from them, no one.
Brad stepped forward, "Sarah, Theo, and Spider, go to the Shadow neighborhood," he ordered, his amber eyes gleaming fiercely. "Fight like they are your own family. Wispy and Hazel, you must help Wind." The four fighters all nodded and sprinted off, only Sarh hesitated, glancing at the daycare where her other kids were hiding.
Cynthia locked eyes with her mother and nodded slightly, promising to do her best to protect her younger siblings.
"We'll keep Lily, Sage, and Miles all safe," Firen promised, his green eyes glowing.
Sarh nodded and sprinted after Theo and Spider, her speed quick despite her age.
Brad glanced over at Fin to find the warrior was already sprinting away with Tanner and Rose on his heels. "We'll get to River before the Dark Forest gang!" he shouted over his shoulder.
Bree emerged from the clinic, her wheelchair packed with medical supplies, a bow laid across her lap and a quiver was strapped to her back, her unique choice of weapon, a bow and arrow for her eagle like vision. "Leah has the emergency supplies hidden in the loose covering," she alerted Jay who nodded, thanked her, and jogged back into the clinic, armed with a small knife in his belt.
Diana heard the click of a pistol's safety going off and she glanced back at Cynthia and Leon to find the former had unclicked the safety of her black pistol while Leon was fitting brass knuckles over his hands, the two of them waiting patiently for their assignment."
"Dust, Ben, Paige, Brendon, Haliah, and Gunner, you'll help defend the hollow," Brad spoke, his voice firm.
"Gunner comes with me," Firen insisted and his green eyes flashed, "Cynthia Diana, Sam, Cloudtail, Leon, and Holly, you six come with me." the ginger haired leader turned and sprinted off, the mentioned six fighters on his heels.
Barely a moment after they left a young Shadow neighborhood residant came spirnting over to them, "We need help!" He howled at the top of his lungs.
"I'll go," Leon's amber eyes flashed at Cynthia's words.
"If she's going I'm coming too."
Firen nodded, "Gunner, Leon, and Cynthia, you three go with him back to the Shadow… Bree, you accompany them." He raised his voice to the last part, making sure that Bree, who had just shot past and shot down a Dark Forest gang member, heard what he said.
Bree's usually warm amber eyes hardened and glinted like rock, "Of course Firen."
Diana's heart pounded in her chest as she watched Leon, Cynthia, Gunner, and Bree all race off. This is it, the battle is here. May the powers of the stars truly be in my hands.
:) :) :)
Leon sprinted through Shadow neighborhood, Cynthia a few steps ahead of him, "Head towards the center!" he directed Cynthia, "if we go towards the center that's where most of the fighting will be!"
Cynthia gave a small nod and veered to the left, heading toward the neighborhood's center point.
The air was thick with the clashing of metal, sounds of guns going off and the sounds of battle. While Leon liked a good fist fight, this was ridiculous, the air smelled of blood and dead Dark forest gang members were all over the place. This is disgusting! He thought as he followed Cynthia toward the neighborhood main medic who looked like he was panicking.
"Why isn't Shadow attacking?" Gunner asked as he eyed the Dark Forest Gang members standing at the edge of the clearing, their eyes gleaming with a love for blood.
"Do you want us to lose more people?!" Linus snapped as he dashed between the injured residents, his blue eyes gleaming with panic. "I'm running out of supplies!"
Leon looked around the clearing, "you need supplies. Do you have any more in the clinic?"
Linus nodded, "some, but I can't leave and fetch it!"
Leon spotted Kirsten trembling near the edge of the main clearing. "Go to the clinic and fetch some of the supplies," he directed, "As much as you can carry."
Kirsten's eyes lit up and she ran off, clearly relieved to know what to do.
Leon heard a growl and a gunshot and turned around to see Cynthia with her pistol raised and a Dark Forest gang member lying on the ground.
"I wouldn't attack on your own you bloody idiots." Cynthia snarled and the Dark Forest Gang members looked a little restless, but they didn't approach again.
"Bree, give Linus some of your supplies," Leon directed before he went over to Radburn and whispered lowly, "start gathering together fighters and form a line, but do it slowly."
Bree darted over to Linus and offered him the supplies, "you can use these until Kirsten returns!"
"Where's the Thunder patrol?" Gunner inquired as he noticed none of the thunder residents sent to Shadow were there.
Linus didn't look up from treating the injured, "they probably chased the Dark Forst Gang member off."
Kirsten came sprinting back, her arms full of medicine and other medical supplies.
"Okay, thanks-" Leon thanked Linus.
"Leon!" Cynthia's voice and the sound of her pistol going off again made Leon jerk toward her and narrowly avoided getting a fist to the face.
"Get the injured to shelter!" Leon yelled as he slammed his fist into a member's face, the bone of the guy's nose crunching beneath his brass knuckled fists.
Kirsten and a few others scrambled to help Linus hide the injured while the four Thunder fighters and the healthy Shadow fighters fought the gang members as more of them flooded into the main clearing.
"Hold your positions!" Leon yelled, "don't let them get to the daycare!"
"Too late!" Bree gasped as they all heard shrieks from kids.
"No, you don't! Cynthia snarled and shot off, barely visible as she shot off toward the daycare to take care of the enemy in there.
The Shadow fighters remained in a line, those with guns or long range weapons doing their best to keep the enemy back.
Bree fired multiple arrows at a time, each one making it's target while Leon bulldozed through the Dark Forest Gang members, his stomach in his throat from all the blood.
But the Dark Forest Gang members were advancing on them, pushing the fighters back toward the daycare/
Leon heard footsteps from the opposite direction and his heart jumped, We can't handle any more!
Then they came into view with Hadara in the lead. "Now!" Hadara shouted and the new people swarmed, turning the tides once again.
Leon actually grinned, The Rushing Water City! The neighboring city had come to help them.
"Who are they?" Kirsten asked with wide eyes.
"They're fighters from the Rushing Water city!" Bree called to the Shadow resident and fired off three arrows.
Hadara skidded to a halt next to Bree, "we meet again," she greeted the other girl with a warm smile.
"Yup!" Bree chirped and shot more arrows, "how's your city?"
Hadara shrugged casually, "as quiet as usual." She threw a throwing knife and another enemy went down, "how about yours?"
"Well…" Bee grinned and downed a few more gang members, "we're currently fighting in a war, but besides that, we're all good!"
Leon laughed as he smashed his fist into another gang members' face, "it's good to see you again Hadara and you certainly picked the perfect time to come!"
:)
"Bree, Hadara, we're done here, can you drive off the last few straglers?" Leon asked, his voice authorative at the current moment.
Bree nodded and shot off out of the main area wth Hadara on her wheels.
:) :) :)
Hadara almost smiled at the sight of the remaining Dark Forest Gang members fleeing from them. "What do we do now?" She asked Bree curiously.
"We need to go back to my neighborhood-" Bree was cut off by a Dark Forest gang member jumping out from a tree and shoving her wheelchair over. "Oph!" Bree yelped and growled under her breath, her amber eyes narrowing to slits as she was pinned beneath her wheelchair.
Hadara moved to help her but two other gang members appeared and drove Hadara away from the pinned girl as she dodged one of the knife strikes and unsheathed her own blade.
Bree, on the other hand, glowered at the man who tipped her over and took out an arrow from her quiver. She then gripped a small rubberband in the back and pulled it back, she took a moment to aim before she let go and the arrow shot toward the man and dug itself into the front of his throat, killing him instantly.
The weight of her wheelchair vanished as the other member kicked it away from her and flattened her to the ground.
Bree spat out dirt and used an arrow like a knife, digging it into the other member's shoulder.
Bree howled and her entire body stiffened as the Dark forest gang member pulled the arrow from his shoulder and shoved it into the area between her collarbone and her neck, pushing it down enough that the sharp tip wasn't visible. With a flash of pain filled anger, Bree slid a knife from her quiver and jerked her arm behind her, she managed to dig the blade beneath the guy's ribs and he colapsed. Bree panted for a few moments and grasped the shaft of the arrow dug into the base of her neck. With a sharp movement she snapped the shaft of the arrow to keep Hadara from seeing the injury and drew her bow, her arms shaking as she drew the bow taught and let the arrow fly.
:(
Hadara dodged more attacks and inflicted a few of her own, I can't beat him! She thought, then an arrow dug itself into the Dark Forest gang member's juglar. The dark forest gang member's eyes widened and he let out a gurgle before dropping to the ground and his blood stained the cement. Hadara looked behind her to see Bree holding her bow, the dark brown haired girl's face was ashen and pale, but she seemed reatively unharmed, besides the absence of her wheelchair and how she was kneeling on the ground anyway. "Thanks!" Hadara panted and smiled.
Bree flashed a grin and hid a wince at the movement, "no problem!"
Hadara sheathed her knife and walked over to Bree, she pulled Bree's left arm over her shoulders and pulled the paralyzed girl upright before starting to continue walking toward the Thunder neighborhood.
It was quiet for a few minutes, the silence was only broken by Bree's heavy breathing and the sound of her useless feet dragging over the ground.
Things got bad to worse rather quickly when Bree's head drooped and she sagged in Hadara's hold, struggling to stay conscious, her right shoulder and that side of her shirt was turning a crimson color from the blood leaking from around the arrow tip still in her neck.
"Bree? Are you okay?" Hadara asked worriedly and paused to look worriedly at the paralyzed girl.
Bree gave a feeble nod, "yup," she croaked, "I'm good."
"Are you sure?" Hadara asked worriedly, unable to clearly see the blood covering her shirt with the red color of the t-shirt itself.
"Yup," Bree reassured her and tightened her grip on her bow, working hard on not dropping it. "I'm okay."
Hadara didn't look convinced and she consistently glanced over at her as they kept walking. She's hurt…
Hadara's assumption was correct when hardly a moment later Bree lost her grip on her bow, and she hung her head, barely at all conscious. "Bree? You awake?"
"Yes," Bree croaked in a mumble and didn't move to do anything. "I'm fine…" she crumpled.
Hadara quickly lowered her to the ground, "Bree!"
Bree just groaned and twisted her head slightly, her amber eyes were rolled back and blood stained her shirt red.
Hadara stared in horror at the silver arrow tip that was jammed in Bree's body from just above her collarbone, blood stained the shoulder of the girl's shirt. Carefully sliding one arm beneath her knees and the other beneath her shoulders and under her quiver, Hadara carefully lifted the injured girl and started running back toward the Thunder neighborhood with Bree's bow and quiver held on top of the injured girl, "I'll get you back to Jay," she said to Bree, her voice frightened and scared. "I promise."
:( :( :(
Diana paced nervously, the Dark forest Gang has vanished for the moment but she could hear their footsteps as they sprinted over toward them. Then she smelt it. Fresh blood! She could smell it on someone nearing the clearing. Diana's eyes widened and she caught sight of the person who was injured and she sprinted over to them, "Jay!" she shrieked with wide blue eyes, "Bree's hurt!"
Bree was white as a sheet, her body was laying limp in Hadara's arms and the right side of her shirt was stained with blood.
So much blood! Diana thought panicked as Jay burst out of the clinic and sprinted toward his injured girlfriend.
"Bree!" Jay exclaimed and felt Bree's neck for any blood. When he moved his fingers Diana saw blood staining his fingers. "Take her to the clinic," he said, his voice shaking slightly, his blind blue eyes were wide and worried, "now!"
Hadara did as he asked, sprinting with him toward the Clinic with Diana on her heels.
Bree can't die! Diana thought with alarm, she can't!
:( :( :(
Ivory's leaf green eyes narrowed as she sprinted toward Thunder neighborhood, Mike, Bradley, Isa, and Brittany were all on her heels. Blood stained her clothing but it didn't faze her, nothing of that sort matter to her right now, what mattered was that her home was being destroyed and she was ticked off. Leaping over a fence she continued running, slowly pulling ahead of the others to sprint toward where she could see her sister struggling against a Dark Forest Gang member, Diana's back was to a wall, and while her sister could flip off of it in her signature move, Diana wasn't trained to do it. Leaping at high as she could, Ivory grabbed a hold of a window ledge and jumped from ledge to ledge with the intentions of flattening the guy bothering her sister. "Hey! Sloan!" she shouted, "look above you!"
Sloan looked up and his eyes widened, "what?!"
"Get away from my sister!" Ivory yelled and jumped off the ledge, she landed feet first on his shoulders and flipped off of him onto the ground. Sloan's knees buckled and as he fell, Ivory jammed her silver blade into his neck.
Sloan gurgled and collapsed at Diana's feet, thoroughly dead.
Ivory flicked the blood off of her blond bangs and flicked them out of her face, her green eyes bright and alert. "You okay?" she asked her sister who just stared at her. "What?" she asked a moment later, "is there something on my face? Besides blood?"
Diana shook her head, "you… wow."
"Oh, right," Ivory cracked a smirk, "You haven't seen me fight before, well watch and learn sis."
:) :) :) :)
"You killed my father!" Atol yelled, icy blue eyes darkening with rage as he lifted his gun to shoot Firen and give an order to attack. But Ivory darted in front of Firen, blocking Atol's aim and making him hesitate, not wanting to kill the person he called his daughter.
"Atol, stop." Ivory said, cautiously getting closer to the dark brown haired man a few years older than her, hands raised in surrender, "Don't say that order." She got closer and Atol's hand shook slightly, "I know you angry at losing your father," She spoke quietly, green eyes locked on his blue ones, "I know what it feels like to lose something you care a lot about and you know I do. Put the gun down and order them to stand down."
"He killed my father Ivory." Atol growled, "my brother kicked me out of here in the first place."
"I know," Ivory said, getting closer and closer, blood streaked all over her clothing and face, "if you don't stand down you're going to lose your apprentice as well." She said, getting closer and ignoring the weird looks he was getting. "I don't want to fight you…" she said, hesitating before finishing the sentence, "You're like a father to me, and I don't want to fight my family."
Leon's face twisted into a scowl and he surged forward but Cynthia stopped him, knowing exactly what Ivory was doing. "Don't, Leon, he raised her, gave her the attention she didn't get, he is like the father she never had." She whispered in his ear, "Just like your father is my foster father Atol is Ivory's."
Atol looked at Ivory, the hand holding his gun shaking harder, "My father is dead." The usually calm and arrogant dark forest warrior said, his voice was angry, shocked, and lost.
"Looks like I'm all you have left," Ivory said with a small amount of cheek coloring her tone, "Your father is dead Atol, but you have a sister and daughter left, don't waste it in anger." she got closer, only a few feet away from him.
"Stand down." Atol looked at her for a few more moments before he said that and the other dark forest warriors murmured to each other, all of them obviously angry and eager to fight.
"Brad, tell everyone to stand down." Ivory said as Atol handed her his gun, kneeling at her feet, a sign of surrendering to her.
A shriek of anger and fear got Ivory's attention, using Atol's gun a gunshot rang out as the dark forest warrior dropped to the ground while Paige scrambled back behind her sister. Standing at her full height with her green eyes gleaming with authority Ivory was a sight to behold, standing tall and proud despite what she was in the middle of. Looking at the dark forest warriors she turned the pistol on them besides Atol. "I have leadership, being both Traktor and Atol's heir, those who are inhabitants of Warrior City may come stand behind me if they wish to return to their communities with no punishment. Those who do not better scram before I get to see what this thing can do." Moments later a crowd of the surviving people Warrior City who had been tricked by the dark forest had gathered around Ivory, looking nervous. All besides Braxton who had calmly walked over to Ivory and stood beside her, amber eyes sharp and protective. The other dark forest members had scattered and Ivory knelt next to Atol, talking to him in a quiet voice, Braxton crouching beside her as Firen stood up, wiping the blood from his lip.
"Warrior City remains!" He shouted and there were cheers for the victory even as Ivory took care of her foster father with Braxton at her side, her two boys.
There will be three, kin of your kin who hold the power of the stars in their hands,
One, a warrior trained in herbs; One, a warrior trained in hearing; and one, a warrior trained to battle.
They will be joined by a fourth, one of no relations but with the speed of lightning.
Four will become five by a fire's flame and the battle between light and dark will be won,
Within a leaf strewn river, hidden in the shadows, lies the key to the battle's end.