*******With a sneer on my face I told Viper to get the others, its time to give the newbies a taste of whats in store for them.***************

We've been standing here forever. I've never been one to stand around and do nothing so might as well have some fun with my powers. After a while of spinning leaves and tossing acorns through the air I decided to try something new. I slowly opened my mind and saw the threads that were everyone's thoughts. I reached out to the guy's minds, pulled the individual threads together,and bound them,  my work finished I withdrew to my own mind. I was reached through the link and could feel the others' minds. 

It felt like I had someone standing really close to me, almost on top of me. Kevin flinched at the sensation and the rest of the boys wore simliar expressions of discomfort. I didn't know it would feel like this guys, I just wanted to get some practice in. I sent along with a apologetic impression. It's fine but a little warning would be nice next time. Kevin said. 

Speak for yourself. You know how I feel about people looking into my mind Dev. Will's feelings of discomfort and slight betrayal flighted across. I nodded, slowly unbound our minds, stumbled for a second after my head started to feel fuzzy,  "You okay?" Kevin whispered. I'm probably just pushing my powers too far too fast; I need to slow down. I sent. Come on boys it's all clear. I gave myself as second before jogging down to the beach after them all.

Kendal look better, well as good as someone who's just been dragged to the bottom of of a lake can be. "So what's next, we need to get this show on the road. We need to get to that beacon asap am I right?" Will said, rubbing his hands together anxiously. "Do we know which way we need to go?" Tara questioned. "I saw path through the woods earlier, we could go that way." Kelly suggested. "If no one has any objections then let's head out. We still have half the day ahead of us, Kelly lead the way." I said. Kelli lead us to path.

We walked for a while, the sun overhead, the bugs and birds  could be heard clamoring when we came to a break in the path; it split four ways. An unspoken question floated among us. "Ok. Let's split up for now. Don't go too far. We all need to be able to regroup and set up camp for the night. Kendal and Will go left. Tara and Jacob will be middle left. Kevin and Kelli go middle right. I will go to the right." Apparently this wasn't okay because.

Everyone.
Started.
Talking.
At.
Once!
No!
More like shouting!!

"I want to go with Kevin!" "I want to go with Jason!" "I Want-" "I Want-" "EVERYONE SHUT UP!" I shouted vocally and telepathically. "Let me think for a second." I said, taking a breath. Looking around the group slowly.  "Kelli you go with Jason, Kendal with Tara, Kevin with Will, me by myself. No changes, got it?" I looked around and there were smiles all around. 

"Let's do this!" Kendal whooped, racing down her path, letting out a loud grunt when she tripped. Tara just shook her head and walked after her friend. Will and Kevin started down their path, walking close together, talking quietly. Jake and my sister were already retreating further in when I turned to them, they were walking so close together that their hands were touching. 

Falling into the big brother role, I gave them a little telekinetic nudge apart; Kelly turned and glared at me. "Don't make me come back there." She growled in my head, after a moment her face softened and added, "Stay safe." "You too." I sent, starting down the narrow path into the unknown; this is also when I realized that I totally goofed when it came to assigning partners.

The first thing I noticed right off the bat was the eerie quiet. None of the sounds that I had grown accustomed could be heard, in fact there only sound was of my quiet footfalls and breathing. It gave the whole forest a creepy vibe and sent chills up my spine. This place totally gives me the creeps, why did I have to get stuck with the creepy forest path? Why couldn't I be on the path the that led to unicorns rainbows, chocolate, and quesadillas?! This is so not fair! I thought. 

After while I noticed that the trees and everything in my sight was void of color. When did that happen? I thought as I stared at my bleak surroundings; thats when I noticed the singing. It was a haunting, slow melody ,in a language I didn't recognize, that peeked my curiosity. I'm imagining things? Well better check it out.  

 Jogging down the path with renewed vigor, eager to see who was it singing that strange melody. I soon arrived at a bleak little clearing with a giant tree stump that had a girl sitting on it, swaying slightly. The odd thing about her, besides the fact she was here, was that she's the only thing in color.

 She had her back was facing me but, I could see the red lines and snake on her bastion suit which read Viper as her tag. She suddenly stopped singing and turned toward me; I was struck dumb by her beauty. She had petite, delicate, soft, asian features that made her smile even more beautiful, her chocolate brown hair was done in a pixie cut, and I could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes.

"Hello, who are you?"She said, her voice reminded me of wind chimes, patting the spot next to her. I sat next to her and listened to her talk, entranced by the way she moved. "My name is Devin." I whispered. "I'm Piper. It's nice to meet you. Do you wanna know a secret?" She giggled. I nodded mutely. She crooked a finger at me. 

I leaned forward. I could feel her breathing on my neck then felt  her hand on my chest. "You rookies are so easy to trick." she said coldly. I jerked back, seeing an evil grin on her face then noticed her eyes. Their pupils went from full to slits like a snakes and the iris had turned into a burnt orange. I pushed her through the air with my thoughts and the world was suddenly flooded with color again. 

Piper or rather I should say Viper twisted in mid-air so that she landed on her feet. With a flourish of her arms she shifted into a battle stance, bright  blue and red scales erupted from her skin, fangs appeared, her tongue became forked, a tail erupted from her spine and her features sharpened, elongated, becoming more reptilian. After looking at her face closely for a second I saw something that was strange. 

I looked at her for a moment longer before dissolving into laughter. Her stance relaxing as she looked at me with confusion. "Im sorry! its just that you. You. You look like Voldemort, you have no nose! Oh gosh, I'm sorry!" I said in-between fits of laughter.

I stopped when I spotted the murderous look on Viper's face. "I don't look like Voldemort you jerk!" She shouted,"I'm going to kill you!" she dashed forward, claws extended. I pushed her back into a tree, pinning her arms to her side. "What do you want?" I demanded, I was feeling pretty confident that I had the upper hand. 

When she refused to speak  squeezed her a little tighter with a thought, I suddenly felt a coppery taste on my tongue, moisture on my upper lip, and a pinching behind my eyes. A nose bleed? Crap! I've been pushing my powers way to much! At this rate-  My thoughts were interrupted when my grip on Viper slipped. 

She dropped to the ground and started toward me. "You Natural Es always rely on your powers. You idiots always push them so hard that your bodies just can't keep up. It hilarious to watch really. Us Primal Es have it good, our bodies adapt to fit our power sets so. No. Draw. Backs. Our only weapons are our bodies and they're the only weapons we need." She said laughing coldly.

 I tried to reach out and grab her again, but that only brought my to my knees as my symptoms got worse. I could do nothing but watch as Viper slowly approached, a cruel smile on her face. she kneeled in front of me and whispered in my ear," As for what we want that's to win of course." The next thing I was what her red fist rearing back and punching my face. Then darkness.