*picture of Finn

"Stronger strikes Torren!" Jade shouted as I fumbled with my sword against Alex.

"No one in the real world is gonna go easy on you!" Jade added.

Fine, you want harder strikes? Here. The loud clash of metal against metal hit my ears as I slammed my sword down onto Alex's and knocked it out of his hand.

"There," I said between breaths, "how's that for stronger strikes? Huh?"

Jade rolled her eyes and Finn laughed.

"She doesn't like being proved wrong," Finn said to me.

"Shut up Finn!" Jade shouted back as she walked away and Finn and I laughed.

I had become good friends with all the team for the month I've been here. Finn was hilarious, jade was a bit more bossy but still pretty cool, echo was really nice, Alex was also pretty funny, thatcher was surprisingly nice, and Raine was awesome.

Battle training had been and still was a bit of a struggle but Raine said I was getting better every day, same with Tristan. Tristan had a bit more experience with the hand to hand combat because of the self defense class everyone his age took. Of course, I hadn't had that class yet so I had to start from scratch.

"Hey Torren! Going to the market! Want to come?" Raine called from the exit.

"Sure!" I replied and put my sword back in the sheath.

I ducked my head as we walked through the sewer tunnels to the latter to the surface.

"I think we are finally ready to go to Havoc, don't you?" I asked Raine as we walked through the crowded streets.

"We are in havoc," Raine replied, "just not the nice part of it."

"You know what I mean," I responded and stopped at a stand with some odd looking fruits. I held one in my hand then put it back and continued walking.

"We still need an actual, good plan. Swords and bows aren't gonna get us to far," Raine replied as she stopped at a stand, picked up a basket of fruit, and gave the clerk a few gold coins.

"Let's think of one tonight then," I suggested and Raine sighed.

"Breaking into Havoc is not easy, getting into the Presidents building will be even harder. Plus, you and Tristan aren't ready yet," Raine whispered.

"Will we ever be ready?" I asked her and gave a her a sideways glance.

Raine shrugged, "depends. But I know you need more time."

"Let's vote on it then. Tonight. Plus, if you're saying we shouldn't fight our way in, why do Tristan and I need to be perfect?" I judged her with my elbow and smiled.

Raine frowned and rolled her eyes, "yeah, yeah. Joke about it now, you won't be joking later when your caught and killed."

"Lighten up Raine, we'll figure it out," I reassured her.

"Lighten up?!" She exploded and a few people turned and gave us strange looks.

"Shh!" I said quietly and urgently and pulled her out of the middle of the street.

"Calm down, ok. All I'm saying is that you don't need to be so serious," I said.

"I'm the leader, it's my job to be serious," she snapped.

"No, it's your job to lead us and inspire the team. They won't be inspired by someone who acts like a stuck up Gen all the time," I responded.

"They have been my team and my people for years and everything has been fine!" Raine exclaimed.

"Has it? You live in a sewer!" I replied desperately.

"It's better then what some people have to live in!" She growled.

"We can fix that! Let's think of a plan to change everything!" I told her.

"Let's go back," she muttered, "I'll  think about it, no promises."