Light filters in through the curtains making me groan. After yesterday's excitement, I can't wait to see what today has in store for us. Don't get me wrong, I loved the party the Elders put together for me—even if I complained to them. They even bought me some presents of clothes that are more suited for hot weather, not that I'm used to it yet. The Elders together gave me a necklace with three snakes wrapped around a ruby in the center that can be used as a talisman. What I find fascinating is the fact the necklace they gave me had my favorite animal. How could they have known that kind of information?

When I returned to my room, there was a large gift on my bed from Estel. Tucked away within a mess of red and black tissue paper were leggings, mesh tops and sports bras in various colors including a cute black, blue and pink camo print which is about the only way someone could get me to wear pink.

I wonder if I should keep my dancing a secret from everyone else any longer. If I did tell them, maybe I could dance more often. It's one of the few times during a busy week where I truly feel free.

I am brought out of my thoughts by Tally shouting through the door.

"Come on. What's taking you so long? The breakfast will be cold, and we need it since we start our next series of weapons training."

I smile and jump out of bed. Now that is something I can get excited about.

After eating as fast as we could, Tally and I are the last to join the group in the training area. There isn't a cloud in the sky, and although that should be a good sign, with the thunderstorm that came through in the early morning hours, it only spells a damp, sticky day to me. Yuck.

"Today you start using your weapons in close combat situations. You will eventually practice on everything, but for the moment train with what you have been given," EJ says.

He goes to each group of people to show them how to use the particular weapon they have in hand. Eventually, he makes it to me, Tally and Tanner, all having personal daggers.

"Remember the Daggers of Hamingja are just a myth." He smirks. "But seriously, it doesn't matter if they are a myth or just a family heirloom, because you all are going to begin training as if they are simply long daggers."

After bringing Estel forward with a dagger in hand, he shows us the basic techniques for handling the daggers.

EJ pairs Tally and I up to practice these techniques, and as we are practicing the strikes, my vision becomes foggy.

"Michaela, come play with us." My little cousin shouted from inside the fort at the playground. "Coming." I called back and climbed the ladder to where Tanner and Tally were playing. We were getting ready to play hide-and-seek when I heard the clang of metal against metal.

Looking out of the hole in the fort, I see Uncle Alex has Uncle Amby pinned to the ground.

"You can't get the best of me, old man." Uncle Alex taunted Uncle Amby.

As Uncle Alex was helping him up, Uncle Amby asked, "Best two out of three?"

"Don't you guys train enough? Go play with the kids." Aunt Laurel shouted out. Then I saw my uncles lay their swords next to my mom's sword and drag my dad with them to come play with us on the playground.

"Mick. Michaela. Are you alright?" EJ asks, and it takes me a minute to focus on him.

I look down at the dagger and then back up at EJ. "Did our parents use these in trainin'?"

"Yes, why?"

"I think I just experienced a memory 'bout our parents," I tell him as my head begins to ache.

EJ has my cousins take me back to the cabin, and as soon as they help me into one of the chairs, Tally starts pacing.

¡Dios mío, conejito!  Sit down."

"What did they look like?" she asks.

I throw my head back and laugh but then sober up. "Uncle Alex and Uncle Amby had the same dark blond hair. Aunt Laurel had black wavy hair. Aunt Trinity looked just like you, Tally."

Everything is churning within me, and I can't catch up.

"My dad had red hair like me and the same hazel eyes. My mom had the same dark blond hair and blue eyes as her brothers." I choke out, and I'm not sure how much more I can recount without all my walls breaking down.

My cousins wrap me in a hug, and we just sit there until the sun gets high in the summer sky heating the already scorching day. I calm down, but my head still throbs. Despite my headache, I know everyone needs to hear what I saw. No one knew if we would have any memories of the past. I have them. I hope Tally and Tanner have their own experience. Not because I want them to experience the sadness, but because I want them to have clear pictures of their parents.

EJ gives us a little extra time after lunch to get our emotions calm before returning to weapons training. The Daggers of Hamingja must be the feature event this afternoon; since everyone kept looking over at us during lunch. They must want to see what these daggers can do.

After we recover from the shock of my memory, we head back out to practice with the daggers. We are all eager to find out what these daggers can do. We start sparring but during one of the attacks my finger is nicked and the blood runs down my hand onto the blade. The blade lights up with a light I could have never imagined coming from it. It has a red glow to it, and the energy is like fire itself.

Tally and Tanner gasp at the sight.

"Prick yar finger, and let the blood drip on the blade."

They simply stare at me.

"I'm not crazy. Trust me. Just do it and see what happens."

Tanner shrugs and does what I asked him to. His blade illuminates with blue light that churns and swirls and reminds me of a rushing stream.

When Tally sees this, she doesn't think twice about following. Her blade comes to life. A purple glow shimmers off of the dagger.  Our daggers seem to sizzle and sing their own tunes, almost as if they were communicating.

When I actually remember that there are other people in the clearing, I look over where they a re standing. They are all standing there in a trance—even the Elders.

"I take it you've never seen this before."

Even the Elders are shaking their heads. I bite my lip and turn my head, but when I do, Tanner has his lips clamped together. My swallowed amusement dissolves into a laugh that becomes soundless.

Tanner speaks up. "I say let's see what happens when we use these daggers. How about it, cuginas? Ready to see what they can do?"

Tally scratches her nose. "I'm not sure I am," she says with a shaky voice.

"What's the worst that can happen?" Tanner argues.

"They could explode, cause everything to go up in flames, cause wide-scale disaster, I don't know any of the above." Tally is trembling.

Tanner's eyes narrow at her. "If they were going to harm us, they wouldn't have been handed down to us. They're here to help us to accomplish our mission. How about we see what they can do?"

We spend another hour just testing the daggers before the three of us feel the energy draining from us.

"Loves," Grandma Miriam says from behind me. "I think that's about all you can do for today."

"How do we get them to turn off?" Tally asks.

Grandma Miriam shrugs.

Tally gasps and Tanner's mouth is hanging open.

"Really? Ya don't know how they work?" I ask.

"No one ever let us in on the secrets of the daggers. Maybe call on your ancestors to help you harness the power of the dagger."

I start concentrating on the dagger. The feel of it. The energy pouring off of it. I call upon my mother to help me bring the energy from the dagger back into itself. Slowly the red starts to diminish until it's no longer visible.

I tell Tanner and Tally how to draw the energy back into the dagger. They do so and we head back to the cabin.

What an exhausting day.