The Zodiac Cycle

2.2 Puff of Smoke

"I still dont understand how to do it." Rebecca held her hand out, trying her best to summon her weapon with Keith's instruction. It was midday the day after they had set out from the Wendigo Village. They had stepped off the boat in the northern part of Axton and Keith had decided it was a great time to start training them.

"You have to feel it!" Keith repeated for what seemed like the 30th time.

"It would be easier to feel if I knew what I was feeling." She put her arm down and glared at him.

"I already said I cant tell you. You have to discover it for yourself." Keith crossed his arms, thinking, then turning to the rest of the group who were also trying the same thing. Rebecca had a feeling that he didnt know what their weapons were either. "Ash, come here for a moment."

Ash raised his eyebrows and wandered over. "What's up?"

"Attack Rebecca." Keith pointed at the blonde human. Both signs looked at him like he was crazy for a moment.

"What? Why?!" Rebecca exclaimed.

"I'm not going to attack her unprovoked." Ash crossed his arms.

"Maybe if you feel like you're in danger, you could summon it on instinct." Keith suggested.

"Provocation accepted." Ash got into a fighting stance, making Rebecca back up.

"Nope, no, nuh-uh." She shook her head making an X with her arms. "Not going to happen. I'd much prefer dying and passing on the mark to violence." She put both her hands up defensively.

"Then die." Ash shot towards her, startling her and making her fall backwards, closing her eyes.

She felt something in her hands, felt familiar with it. It felt warm and alive.

Sleep.

There was a flash of blue light and a puff of smoke. Rebecca coughed, and Ash's attack never came.

Once the smoke had cleared away, she saw both Keith and Ash unconscious on the ground.

"Oh crap, what did I do?" She stood up, her weapon in hand.

It was a slingshot.

"Did you seriously just kill them after saying you dont like violence?" Amber frowned.

Nolan ran over to Ash and rolled him over, listening to his chest. "He's not dead, just sleeping!" He put one thumb up for confirmation.

Clementine checked Keith. "Same here."

As if on cue, Ash snorted a little bit. Making the group laugh a little.

"I didnt mean to." Rebecca looked at the slingshot once more before it dissolved.

"Well, putting them to sleep isnt violent, so I guess you achieved that goal." Alex walked over to her.

"Yeah." George walked over to them. "Help me get them into a bed or something?"

Alex agreed and the two worked together to get the boys over near the boat.

The only one who had really managed to summon their weapon that day other than Rebecca was Carson. He seemed to already have the hang of his large sword.

"Why doesn't the Sagittarius have a bow and arrow and the Leo have a sword, that would make more sense." Avery watched Carson swinging the blade around.

Rebecca shrugged. "Convenience? I feel like the Leo should have a long range weapon so they can keep track of a battle as a whole and figure out a strategy from there."