Sadie POV:

I walked into the door, swiftly setting down my grey backpack. As I did so my little sister Bianca came hurling out of a hallway to launch herself at me.

"Sadie!"

"Bianca!"

"Lucy!" Said my father's wife appearing behind Bianca. To be honest I still don't know how my dad managed to score her. Dark brown eyes, blond hair, and a perfect beach tan, with a kind personality. Why she married my father's drunk and fatass the world may never know.

I smiled. "Hey Lucy, I thought you were working late tonight?"

"They decided to let me off early when they heard it was your first day as a Junior. Told me to whip up some dinner. Unfortunately for you I can only make spaghetti so that what we're having," she finished plucking Bianca out of my arms. "Course this little rascal almost at half the sauce didn't ya?" She teased my sister with a raised eyebrow.

Bianca's eyes went comically wide, and she put her fist in her mouth and wouldn't meet her eyes. "Nuuuu I didn't."

"Are you sure?" I asked wiping some of the left-over sauce on her chin with a finger. "This sure does look like Lucy's meat sauce?" I licked the digit. "Sure, taste like it too!" I said smirking as she began to giggle and squirm to be put down.

"Lemme gwo!" She said giggling wildly as me and Lucy shared a look before mercilessly tickling her. "Op, Op!" She said now practically wheezing for breath as her face turned red from the effort.

"Alright I think the prisoners had enough," Lucy said laughing herself, as she placed Bianca down, causing her to run off to who knows where.

I looked around noticing the absence of my father. "Where's my dad?" I asked cautiously looking around.

She looked at me as though I had lost it. "He's trying to start working again remember. That little farm hired him, told him he could feed the cows and help with milking them and all of that. Although he should've came back from now..." she trailed off, but inside I felt myself weep with joy, less of my father at home meant less attention and that meant fewer bruising hits whenever I did something stupid. Quickly I masked my relief so Lucy wouldn't see, if she found out about my father's habits she would leave and then there would be no one left to take care of Bianca and I could not let that happen, no matter how hard things got.

"Mkay I'll go wrap up my homework, just call me or something when it's ready." Quickly I went upstairs to my small bedroom, nothing special, a twin bed with plain white sheets, an oak desk, black office chair, and a couple of posters I had found to plaster onto the otherwise bare walls. My little stuffed tabby cat called Lilo laid on my pillow, a small gift from Lucy when she first dated my dad. I don't know why I got so attached to the thing, but he hadn't left my sight since the day I got him.

I started working my way through the Pre-Calc homework, already semi regretting my decision to take that damn class. Seriously why does one need to know if a triangle is scalene or acute? The world may never know. After a solid thirty minutes of lip chewing, I finally finished the eight problems he'd assigned. As I went to stretch my shoulders, they made a painful crunch, a sharp reminder of the fight. I winced and tried to stand up without jerking them too much, already knowing tomorrow was going to kick my ass.

Trying not to wince I slowly made my way down the kitchen, where steaming plates of spaghetti laid and not surprisingly, had no trace of my father. Lucy glanced at me uncertainly. "Well, I suppose we shouldn't wait...I'll just put his plate away," she murmured and quickly wrapped it up in tinfoil and placed the still hot plate into the fridge. Inwardly my heart was breaking, it wasn't fair to this wonderful woman who was trying her hardest in a relationship, to be with a guy who did zero things to her. I picked at my spaghetti as Bianca dug in almost instantly coated with a thick layer of sauce. We ate in relative silence with Bianca making a few random comments about her daycare here and there, something about a butterfly and a red dog.

I'll be honest I was barely paying attention and once I'd finished, I immediately excused myself to get ready for bed. Instant relief hit my aching muscles the second the warm water touched them, causing me to groan softly, my shoulders had taken the worst of the attacks with them being purple and blue and small cuts lined my knees and chest. I probably should've asked Abby, for some antiseptic or something to make sure I wasn't gonna die of poison, but it was too late for that now, bedsides she probably had better stuff to do then deal with a cut up teenager.

Once I'd changed into my fluffy pjs and climbed under the covers I basically blacked out instantly. My alarm blared much too early at 5:50 making me groan and rub a hand through my hair, while my other clutched Lilo tightly to my chest. I almost slumped back into the pillows till I heard my father's hoarse voice shouting. "Sadie, get the fuck up, I ain't dealing with this damn child anymore," cursing I shot upright and swiftly entered the hallway, where I could already hear Bianca's cries. I went quickly down the hallway, keeping my gaze on the floor as I passed my father, who's eyes were bloodshot and voice red from a hangover.

"Yes sir," I mumbled quietly avoiding his eyes as I got to Bianca as quickly as possible.

"Hi, hi," she greeted me as I scooped her up and changed her into a fresh pullup and outfit.

"Hello to you to Bianca, ready for daycare?" I asked, going to my room and placing her with Lilo on the bed before changing into jeans and a white checkered flannel.

"Yes...yous takin me?"

"Mhm, then sissy needs to go to work," I reply swinging by the kitchen to satisfy the pang of hunger in my stomach, Bianca would eat at daycare, so I know I didn't need to worry about her. I entered the still dull streets and hurried off towards the daycare that was around a block away from the house.

"Was dat on your wist sissy," I looked at my wrist, the small morpher still attached and I hesitated not quite sure how to respond.

"A watch," came a cool and collected voice, turning I saw my newest friend Zoe, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans and her eyes shining in the early dawn light. Behind her stood her gangly brother Noah, eyes still glazed over from sleep and black hair cutely ruffled into messy curls.

"Whos dat?" Whispered Bianca rather loudly into my ear.

"Thats my friends Zoe and Noah," I said giggling at her attempted to whisper.

"What are you doing out this early anyway? I mean we still got a few minutes before Abby needs us."

"I needed to get Bianca to daycare, its right on the way so I'll meet you at work."

Zoe shrugged, "suit yourself then," Noah on the other hand hung around.

"If it's alright I'll just walk you guys there," he paused to yawn and stretch. "Its way to early," he muttered smacking his lips to rid them of the offending yawn.

Bianca copied him playfully stretching her arms over her head and yawning herself. "Too early."

I blushed a bit at her. "Sorry, three year olds tend to copy stuff," I muttered as we walked into the daycare, where the middle-aged Ms. Smith welcomed us.

"Hi miss Bianca! And hello Sadie and handsome teen boy?" She finished raising a playful eyebrow at the two of us.

Once again, I found myself blushing. "Chill out he's, my coworker! Noah I'm sorry, Smith tends to jump the gun," I said aiming a meaningful look at the desk lady who was now holding onto Bianca.

"All good Sadie," Noah said with a blush, though I could see him holding back laughter.

"Yeah mhm. Alright bye bye Bianca!"

"Bye!" She squealed waving to the both of us as we walked out and back onto the sidewalk.

We walked in a comfortable silence for a while before Noah spoke. "So, uh what's the deal with Bianca and you? Shouldn't your mom or dad be taking her; you know someone who isn't 16?"

"It's kind of complicated-" I went to explain but before I could he cut me off.

"Oh! I'm sorry didn't mean to pry- you really don't have to tell me anything, it just sorts of popped into my head, so uh yeah sorry once again."

I blinked briefly taken aback, as most people were eager to hear the details, like children listening to a fairy tale before bedtime. Thankfully Piper saved us both at the front gate. "Hey you two! Ready for work?" She asked eyes bright despite the early dawn.

"I swear if that ostrich does it again-" I muttered making them both look at me. "What? Look that thing is nuts, it hates me!"

Noah's eyes went wide as a puppy. "Wait that's what those cuts were from yesterday?!"

"Yeah, we had a rocky start, I have no idea what I did to offend that thing, but I did and now it hates me," I muttered, already exasperated, as we entered the veterinary clinic where we found the others waiting.

Abby aimed a meaningful glare at me. "Maybe stop calling her an it? She is very much a female and can very much understand you."

I felt my cheeks redden in shame and dipped my head apologetically. "Sorry Abby," I mumbled. I'd already been through far worse, why should I be complaining about a couple of cuts.

She shook her head before turning to the whole group. "So, you all accepted to the be the Savannah Spirit Power Rangers. If that is the case your training will begin as mine did, with physical workout, now everyone to the elevator."

We followed the same routine we did yesterday, except nobody was nearly as delighted about physical exercise this early in the morning. Leo's eyes were still hazy from sleep, the twins were yawning, and I was still feeling groggy myself. Piper was the only one fully awake, eyes bright and alert. "How are you so awake?" I asked, struggling to contain the yawn that threatened to break free.

She shrugged, "Just a morning person I guess."

We arrived back at the now slightly familiar base and Abby led us down a different corridor, which opened into a large room shaped like a trapezoid, the original base square was a matted area, almost like a karate dojo, while one triangle contained weights and other exercise equipment, and the other looked to be a large closet. A long line of mirrors was mounted onto the backwall, with small symbols engraved into them with a darker shade of silver.

"First we start with basic cardio and strength training, but even before we can do that, you all need to change. No offense Zoe but I don't think you can run in jeans and a leather jacket." Carefully she led us to a small room, where we all had grey sweats and t-shirts in our according color with a small version of our animal imprinted on the breast.

"Huh not bad," remarked Zoe, holding up the red t-shirt. "Now boys' scoot, I ain't giving you a show," she huffed shooing them both out of the closet, making Piper laugh.

"You give a show? With what those AAA boobs? Nobody wants to see those tiny things," she joked with a snigger, I snorted under my breath.

"Oh, come on, small boobs are fine!" I tried to defend my own honor as well as Zoe's.

Piper laughed. "Sure, baby whatever you've gotta tell yourself, now me? I got good genes."

Zoe shrugged as she pulled on her own cloths as we did the same. "Good genes? More like bad genes, from the dicks that are attracted to those... such as Trevor."

"Why do you speak so badly of him? I mean yeah, he can be an asshole at times, but he's still your cousin," she retorted causing me to look up sharply.

"Pipes why are you defending him? He manipulated you and publicly embarrassed you when you did nothing wrong."

"Yeah, but he's still decent to some people."

"That doesn't justify what he did to you-"

Having enough of their bickering I cut them off. "Wait Trevor is your cousin?" I asked making Zoe pause and look at me.

"Yeah... my aunt Vida had him with my uncle Chip, and Vida is my mom's sister, so yeah he's, my cousin... why?"

I shrugged. "Just weird, cause you and Noah act so indifferent about him, I don't think I've seen you guys together once."

Zoe shrugged. "I dislike him, he was an asshole to Piper who did nothing wrong and is overall pretty big headed, since his parents got money. Just stupid if you ask me. Now Noah and him? Their a bit different, back when Noah was younger Trevor and I defended him since the other kids saw him a scrawny, easier target. He was actually one of my best friends till he pulled that dick move on Piper. Noah still sticks around because.... well good question, since he knows I have his back."

Piper shook her head eyes glaring in annoyance. "Were all changed. Now could we please go train?" She asked sounding a bit desperate to get out of this conversation.

Seeing she was desperately looking for an out I spoke before Zoe could. "Yeah, come on, the boys have probably been long ready."

Zoe just gave Piper and me a look before leading us through the closet doors to where all the boys were already in their training clothes along with Abby.

"First up let's see your speed," she stated leading us over to the treadmill and having Zoe get on first, before strapping her into a giant harness which I assumed would hold her in place if she slipped or something along those lines.

"I feel like a baby in a jumper," muttered Zoe in annoyance and slight embarrassment before Abby started up the machine. Zoe did surprisingly well keep up with the machine till around 17 miles per hour and by the time she got done she was red in the face and dripping with a thin layer of sweat. "Holy shit, I am out of shape," she managed to wheeze out in between pants, causing a slight giggle from Piper making Zoe glare at her. "If it's so easy then let's see you do that!" She grumbled.

Piper faired decently well, keeping up until fourteen miles an hour and though she could not increase her speed her stamina held out for several minutes. The rest of us faired similarly, with Noah at 15 and Leo at 17 (football practices had been paying off) and then it was finally my turn. Abby calmly strapped me in and revved up the machine, at first it was easy, then it got harder, but to my surprise the burning in my lungs wasn't all that bad and I started to enjoy the feeling of the ground rushing beneath my feet. By the time I got done everyone was staring at me.

"Godamn girl," remarked Piper. "You just made the rest of us look like we were walking that."

I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and tried to catch my breath. "Why? How fast was it?"

"22 miles per hour," Abby responded looking at me with approval. "Very impressive Sadie."

I shook my head. "There's no way, that's like not humanly possible."

"But you aren't fully human," Abby prodded gently as we all gave her weird looks. "You all chose to bond with a Savannah Beast. So yes, you are no longer just human, you are part beast as well. When you chose to bond to Tika, you chose to absorb a part of her spirit, her very essence."

I paused soaking in this new information like a dry sponge that had finally had access to water. "That's definitely not what I expected to hear," I murmured before Abby's morpher beeped with an alarm. She looked down and cursed.

"Trainings over for the morning cubs, your school starts in twenty minutes," she stated causing us all to look at each other with wide eyes. "I'll see you all back here by 2:30," she murmured before walking off and beginning to type some stuff into a monitor that was in the training room

"Everyone changes and meet at the elevator." Zoe said speaking quickly and making her way back to where the girls had left their clothes.

We worked quickly in relative silence, as no one wanted to be late on only the second day of school. And yet we were. I sprinted up the marble stairs just as the first bell rang only to be stopped by principal Monjero. She was an intimidating woman, a tall woman with a pinched face and dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun with piercing brown eyes. She looked down on us all, even Leo who towered a solid foot or so over her head. Even though she had only just joined the school towards the end of last year we all were taught fast, that she would not hesitate to punish you for the smallest of things, even if you explained what happened and its was a logical explanation, which is what I feared happening right now. "Late? This is very disappointing behavior seeing as it's only the second day of school."

"Ms. Monjero we have a reasonable explanation-" Zoe started to try to explain only to be cut off.

"Mrs. Monjero, Ms. Russell. Mrs. I would expect you to know me a little bit better. If I recall you spend much of Sophmore year down in my office, occasionally dragging in Mr. Russell and Ms. Jones."

She added looking over to Piper and Noah, who stared guilty at their feet. Zoe sighed. "Mrs. Monjero you didn't know the circumstances. I would not have done that if I did not have too. Besides it was off of school grounds-."

"It would bid you well to quiet down Ms. Russell. Now lunch detention today for all of you, as well as a phone call to your parents. Now to class." She said, the words a command, before turning on her heel and walking away, stiletto heels clacking loudly.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Next time I'm leaving earlier. And probably sprinting the entire way," I muttered only half joking.

Meanwhile Zoe was fuming. "The ignorance of that woman- she doesn't even listen! Not to mention our first period is an elective! We just sit there for forty freaking minutes and listen to an older guy talk!" Noah looked at his twin.

"Sis, just chill out, it's frustrating but mom and dad already won't be happy with us, last thing we need is a larger punishment."

To my surprise she actually managed to get a better grasp on her temper before noticing my look. "What?"

"Er- nothing sorry," I muttered feeling quite awkward and shifting my gaze to the floor.

The group just gave me a funny look, before we thankfully arrived at the study hall. I shoved myself ahead wanting to be out of the situation as fast as I could.

Mr. Dean looked at me as I entered, briefly making eye contact with me, then nodding and going back to whatever papers he was looking at on his desk. I breathed out in relief, before getting into my seat and trying my best to ignore the stares boring into my head. I twitched uncomfortably waiting for the class to start.

"Alright children, take out your textbooks and open it to page 34 and as I said yesterday, we will be continuing what we started: The Savannah. Now can anyone name some of the keystone species in the ecosystem,"

"Zebras," blurted out Liam.

"Alligators."

"Lions!"

He raised any eyebrow at me. "Sadie? A keystone species please?"

"Erm ostriches... I think," I muttered feeling self-conscious.

To my surprise he nodded. "I suppose an ostrich could count seeing as they provide food for many animals such as lions and cheetahs, especially the young ones." He carefully listed every species on the board with a dry erase marker, then connected them all. "You see all of these species, along with several others and the sun, provide the savannah with a stable food web, and without them the ecosystem could very well collapse.

A sudden knock on the door drew my attention as well as the rest of the class's. "Oh, come in," said Mr. Dean, quickly pulling open the door and allowing principal Monjero and Trevor Millian to enter the classroom.

"Yo its Trevor!" Hollered Liam in excitement. "Missed you bro!"

"Mr. Higgins," quipped Monjero in a warning tone. "I believe neither me or Mr. Dean gave you permission to speak, so it would bid you well to keep quiet." She stated firmly making Liam shut his mouth faster than I've ever seen him do it. Behind me I heard Zoe try not to snigger at his fright, failing a little bit, letting a small snort escape her mouth. Thankfully Monjero hadn't heard her and continued her conversation with Mr. Dean. "Mr. Dean, as we discussed previously, Mr. Millian is your newest student, as he decided to switch electives. Now I will leave you too your class, a good day to you," she said and exited abruptly as she had entered.

"Well, uh this is a bit of a dilemma, I hadn't really prepared seating arrangements," Mr. Dean said in an apologetic tone before Trevor cut him off.

"Not a problem I can find my own spot," he said flashing him the daring and mischievous smile that made all of the girl's swoon. Too my surprise he didn't head for Liam despite the blondes wild and frantic waving.

"Looks like the puppies been separated from his owner for too long," snorted Zoe, rolling her eyes at the childish behavior, making me chuckle under my breath.

Instead, Trevor calmy plopped himself in an empty desk, with me on his front, Zoe two to his left, and Piper directly next to him.

I flinched softly as his bag hit the ground, never being a fan of loud noises to begin with and made sure that my two-colored eyes were cast at the floor. Inwardly I cringed and forced my body into a relaxed position. "Hey cousins how's it going?" He asked and I was sure I heard Zoe snap her pencil in half.

"Fine." Came the gritted out reply from Zoe. Noah on the other hand was quiet probably because his sister looked ready to lunge at him.

"Shut it till Monjero leaves," hissed Leo in a warning voice, as the principal finished her conversation with Mr. Dean.

She turned a piercing look on us and a shiver went up my back as she made eye contact. "Make me proud students, we may be public but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have some sense of academic success."

"Well, isn't that just so encouraging," Noah mumbled leaning back in his seat, before Trevor turned to him. 

"Where the hell were you yesterday?" He said in a demanding tone, eyes full of anger. "You were supposed to show up for football practice!" He snapped as loudly as he could. 

"I got busy..." mumbled Noah embarrassed. "Sorry..."

"Oh, boo hoo Trevor. My twin has a life, get over yourself and learn some of us care about something other than athletics," Zoe practically growled. "If he chose not to show up then clearly, he had something better to do than get tackled and sweaty for two hours."

Trevor looked at her. "Watch yourself Zoe, some of us do care about sports and your brother is one of them."

"Here's a thought, maybe let people do what they want," I muttered at him having enough of him and his stupid face. 

He turned to stare at me, and a chill went up my spine, somehow those ice blue eyes were scarier than the Skeiks we'd faced last night. "Hmm maybe I will do that! Thanks for the suggestion, Sadie!" He then gave me the creepiest smile I had ever seen and turned back to the front of the room.

Zoe looked at me and even her eyes looked a little disturbed. "Sadie stay with us today. Thats an order from your leader, if he finds you alone it won't be pretty." She warned me before raising her hand and answering a question.