With Tally still not able to participate in training, the Elders decide to have the Protectors choose another weapon to train in. Their mindset is the more training we get, the more prepared we will be, and the higher the chance at succeeding if we have to do a surprise attack.

Carleigh, Ande, Tanner and I head to the weapons training ground after breakfast. Estel and Grandma Miriam are going to work with us to find a weapon suited for each person, while EJ takes the Guardians off to do—well, to do whatever they do.

Estel's mood brightens my morning as we get closer to a table near the target range.

Estel waits to talk until we all are gathered around the table. It's a weapons buffet. On the table is a wide variety of weapons from throwing knives, compound and crossbows, and other short range weapons. There is even a Sai on the table.

"Good morning everyone. Today we are going to work with different weapons that you are not used to yet. We've already done this with the Guardians, now we want you to see if there is anything on the table in front of me that you seem particularly drawn to. Meditate. Tap into your inner self. Whatever you feel like will help you make a selection do that."

It seems that all of us go into our own meditation—as much as can be accomplished by standing. The air stills around us, and I concentrate on all of the elements around me. The energy in my body builds until my eyes open up.

When I open my eyes the compound bow stands out above all of the rest. Dad used to take me with him to meet friends. They would talk about hunting and practice with a various assortment of bows. One of dad's friends noticed my interest and asked Dad if I could try shooting. The man had a smaller compound bow that belonged to his daughter. He spent time showing me how to hold the bow and to draw the arrow back. It was a wonderful experience I didn't get to repeat often due to dad's business trips.

When no one else is moving, I take the initiative.

"You've found something?" Estel asks.

I say nothing while I pick up the beautiful bow. It is black with green designs woven through the bow with strings to match the bow's colors. I test the weight of it in my hands.

"You might want to use this," Estel says while handing me an armguard.

"Thanks. I would have forgotten that it is necessary to protect my arm. Ya don't have gloves do you?"

She walks over to a box and pulls out black gloves with the same tree symbol on it as the bow has.

"Tree of Life, right?"

"I'm glad you remembered. It's an important symbol in Zoidrys. You'll do well," she says before moving down to the next person.

When I look over it looks like Tanner has picked a crossbow.

Estel smiles. "Nice. How about you two follow me?"

We go to the furthest targets where Estel starts teaching Tanner basic archery while I go through trying to remember how the bow works. First I remember not to draw the strings back without an arrow present. It takes a little time and patience, but the memories of my previous lessons come back.

Estel has us go to the closest distance taped off. My arrows veer one way or another until the techniques start coming back to me. Of course, I still have problems; this is the first time I've held a bow in nine years.

When we finish for the day, my arms are tired, and my hands hurt even though I wore gloves.

While I'm sitting around waiting to help with dinner, Hunter is running his mouth, as usual lately. Grandma Miriam is trying to help Tally control her powers, so the headaches will decrease; but it apparently is a slow process. Admittedly, it can get aggravating when she is in bed, and I am out training. Personally, I would rather be training than have a headache bad enough to put me in bed, in a dark room, with no noise and cool conditions—and it barely stops the headache.

"Tally, Tally, Tally. Poor Tally has a headache. Poor Tally can't train this afternoon. I'm tired of Poor Tally not being able to participate in all of the training we do." Hunter rants.

"And do you participate in all of the training she does when she has no headache?" Dominic counters.

Of course, Hunter doesn't answer this, because, NO, he doesn't participate in all of the training that Tally, Tanner and I have to complete. Not that it is such a taxing thing. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop Hunter from continuing his rant about her headaches, less training and supposed special treatment from Grandma Miriam. Honestly, Grandma Miriam would help any of us if we had problems with our powers, but of course, she is going to spend free time with Tally. ¡Ay, Dios mío! That is her granddaughter.

"Hunter, you cabrón, shut up!" I try.

He stops for a moment and frowns at me. "Why?"

He doesn't wait for me to respond before he starts again.

Everyone in the room tries to get him to shut his mouth, but nothing is working. Soon enough I hear a door open and slam shut upstairs. Feet are pounding on the floor above, and I can only imagine the storm brewing. 

And does it brew! Wind whips through the room. As soon as feet hit the wooden floor behind us, loose paper and light objects start moving around the room. The energy in the room shifts and the air grows heavy. As the steps get closer, the paper starts whirling around.

"So you have a problem with me? Why don't you just tell me face-to-face?" Tally hollers.

"Like you don't know these things, princess." Hunter starts.

Uh-oh.

"Do you know what it's like to have a splitting headache?" her voice raises.

"Of course, we all know what it's like to have a headache. You aren't so special."

The air in the room stills, and an eerie silence falls. I glance to my right, a snarl comes from a red face. Tally is shaking now and glaring at something. Following her line of sight, she is staring directly at Hunter and isn't taking her eyes off of him. A strange look plasters her face. Without warning, Hunter crumples to the ground screaming in pain. Touching her arm to try to get her out of her trance, Hunter continues to scream. Tanner rushes up concerned about the situation, he keeps trying to get Tally to stop. When I glance at Tanner, I suspect he has come to the same conclusion I have; Hunter's sudden pain is somehow connected to Tally.

After several attempts, Tanner gets frustrated, and Tally goes flying across the room and hits the wall. My heart pounds as I run over to check on her. She is out cold.

"What did ya do?" I scream at Tanner.

"I didn't mean to. I don't even know what I did. I just wanted her to stop."

The pounding moves up to my ears. "Well, you obviously did somethin'," I continue.

My vision clouds until I hear my name being called. When I look, Tanner is now suspended in the air. I shake my head.

Tanner comes down to the ground. Looking behind Tanner, Carleigh has her arms crossed, and her fingers are digging into her palms.

Then the world stops.