Sasha

This is so stupid. I thought, frowning as I clipped my cloak around my neck. The green fabric flowed over my shoulders and to the ground, not quite touching, but low enough to be annoying.

Wait, no, not stupid. I searched for a better word as I tied back my long hair.

Useless, I decided as I fiddled with the pin in my bun. Completely, utterly useless. What's the point of journeying to get talismans if they're going to be taken from our own hands? There is no point.

A rumbling growl startled me from my thoughts. I whirled from the mirror, coming eye to eye with my jaguar. Delar was perched on my bed, his spotted fur sleek from grooming.

"What?" I snapped, "I'm going as fast as I can!"

Delar snarled and I flinched back. Even though he was my spirit animal, the beast still scared me.

Not only that, I thought, sullenly returning to my reflection, he doesn't want to bond with me.

A jolt of anger ran through me. Well, I don't want to bond with him either, I snapped internally, I'm supposed to be a Zhongese soldier! Not some Greencloak... puppet!

As the bell rang for training, I hurried out of my chambers. Delar loped beside me, his pads near silent on the cold floor.

Getting to the training room, I saw that it was empty. Stretching my legs, I picked up a sword and started running through the moves my father'd taught me.

"You're not bad with a sword."

I looked up, startled at the comment. Zay stood in the doorway, arms folded.

"Uhh... thank you?" I placed the sword back onto the weapons table, turning and mimicking her stance, "what are you doing here?"

"Can't a girl just come to training early some days?" She drawled, rolling her eyes.

"You're not early." I pointed out without thinking. "Everyone else is late. The bell rang ages again."

She narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips. "Hm." She shrugged. "Well, if everyone is late, then I'm still early." She said it so confidently it made me bristle.

Okay, well if you're so sure. I spat in my thoughts, how obnoxious can someone get?

"Just because you come early doesn't mean you have to block the doorway." Niko materialized behind Zay, interrupting any smart remark I'd wanted to through her way.

She huffed and moved out of the doorway to lean against the wall, making me wonder why she was early anyway. She obviously didn't want to train with us.

Niko moved into the room, giving me a quick nod that seemed almost amicable.

I scowled in return and turned away, practically tripping over Delar. He growled lowly and I silenced it with a simple glare.

The sound of footsteps approached, signaling that the others had arrived.

"Zay, Niko, Sasha!" At the sound of Ryan's ever-cheerful voice, I suppressed a groan.

The rest of the team followed Ryan into the training room, many looking groggy or just annoyed. A tiny bit of me was glad that I wasn't the only one who hated our guardian's cheerfulness.

Tyler came in last. He had bright eyes, but only a shadow on his lips compared to Ryan's blinding grin. "Morning, everyone. Today we'll be practicing some hand to hand combat."

Finally, something I can do. I thought, unable to resist the smug smile that crept over my lips.

Zay, who stood nearby, shot me a glare at the sight of my smugness. I had a sudden childish urge to stick my tongue out at her.

"But," Tyler drew our attention back as he walked to the opposite side of the gym. A tattered beige curtain hung by the wall. Tyler pulled aside a curtain, which I'm sure was only there for the dramatic affect, "you'll be using these." Behind the curtain, there was a large array of pans, brooms, and household items.

I saw Niko's mouth fall open. I shoved my own shock down, scanning over the weapons with a practiced eye. Anything could be used to defeat an enemy, that's what my father had taught me. However, I wasn't exactly sure how a handkerchief would work.

"You have ten seconds!" Ryan called as the doors flew open. Eight more Greencloaks entered, their animals bounding at their sides. They wore determined expressions that made me gulp.

I hurried over to the weapons, choosing a large frying pan and turning it over in my hands. It would have to do.

"Go!" Our guardians shouted, although I'm pretty sure that wasn't ten seconds.

I found myself facing a small man with no apparent animal.

You've got to be kidding.

"I'll go easy." I told him smugly, swinging my pan around to jam for his head.

The man dodged, darting behind me. Next moment, I felt a pair legs sweep my own out from under me.

I cursed and reacted quickly, although my limbs were heavy with fatigue after the exercises I'd done earlier that morning. I swung my pan around, this time successful with hitting his head.

The man shook it, but proceeded to pull out a dagger.

Really? I almost laughed at the ease of it. I used the pan as a shield to block his slashes, and when he wasn't looking, returning the favour in sweeping his feet out from under him.

"That's enough!" Ryan's voice called, and the sounds of fighting ceased, replaced by heavy breaths.

I wiped an arm over my brow and offered my opponent a hand.

He allowed me to haul him up and patted my shoulder. "Good job. You're adaptive, quick. Just remember that you're not alone." He pointed to Delar.

I glanced over at the jaguar. He was washing his paw, a disinterested look on his face. "It sure feels like I'm alone." I muttered.

My opponent shook his head, chuckling. "You should've seen him when we were fighting, kid. Couldn't keep his eyes off you."

Really? I raised a brow in surprise. The other Greencloak moved away as I regarded my spirit animal. Maybe there was hope for our bond, after all.

Navia

"Now, you will be fighting as a group. Have each other's backs!" Ryan called as the opposing Greencloaks regrouped near them.

I brushed my hair from my face, having forgotten to tie it back.

"Ten seconds to switch weapons!" Tyler added.

I discarded my handkerchief, which had not been a good choice for the first round, and ran for another weapon. This time, I got a broom. Better. Not a spear, but it was close.

"Go!"

Sabien ended up at my side as three Greencloaks charged, their weapons raised. I saw his face go pale and leapt into action, defensive. With a quick side step, I dodged one of our opponents. Then, I shoved the bristles of the broom into another's face and used the end to jab the first in the stomach.

I realized I'd lost track of one of the Greencloaks, but dismissed it. Sabien can handle that one, I thought, ducking a slash. I blocked another and tripped the Greencloak. They fell. I then kicked the other in the gut, making him fall, too.

"Stop!" Tyler's voice rang out, startling me. I looked around. No one was pinned or hurt. In fact, all seven of us had bright eyes and were still standing.

Had we really been fighting for that long? I glanced out the window. The sun was almost all the way to its peak.

Tyler dismissed the Greencloaks and drew back our attention with a clap of his hands. We discarded our weapons and gathered around him. "Well done," he praised, sending a bolt of pride up my spine.

"Better, I must say, then the Four Fallen," Ryan added with her signature grin.

Tyler gave her a look, as if to say that it wasn't a competition. She shrugged and he shook his head, but I could see the beginnings of a smile on his lips.

I glanced at the others. Many of them had their chests puffed, faces glowing at the praise.

"We have a new mission. The Silver Wolf of Briggan has been located." Tyler continued, this time more seriously. "We believe you are all ready for this next mission."

"You're becoming formidable warriors." Ryan agreed, "and your teamwork has never been better. Together you are all so much stronger."

Is it enough? I wondered before I could stop myself. I glanced around, taking in Sabien and Tazi's bruised faces. Will we ever be stronger than the Conquerors?

Hey, sorry for not updating. I had this thing I call "futureitis". It's where you're looking took far ahead in the book/ series that you're writing, and you can't focus on what's going on in the chapter you're on. Anyway, pov requests? Also, little question for you guys. So, these characters are based off my and my friends/family. Who am I?

edit 24/10/21
akjsjdjdjd please ignore the old author's note it's so cringey
also,,, this chapter is over 1500 words now?? holy guacamole
enjoy! xx