The Cadmus Chronicles

Chapter 12 ~ After The Escape

The next morning, they were all still a little clueless as to what had happened in the last few weeks. Hannah yawned, sat up, and whispered "Did we actually do that?".
Keiko, equally as groggy as she was, remarked "Yep. We definitely did"
The girls fell back on the grass in laughter as they noticed Leo was still snoring.
"What are you girls laughing at?" Leo exclaimed, slightly ticked because of his interrupted sleep.
"YOU", Keiko answered him, Hannah literally crying from laughing so much.
Leo, embarrassed, fiddled with his blond bangs while attempting to hide his blushing.
The girls ignored him and looked at their surroundings.
In their part of the forest, there many trees, boulders, and a stream of water that flowed from a nearby river. This was a perfect practice arena to work on their powers in natural environments.
Leo was the first to try out his power.
He hesitantly conjured a fireball the size of a grapefruit and threw it at a nearby tree. The tree didn't catch on fire, but there was sizzling, scorching spot on the bark where it hit.
"Hey! I think I'm getting better at this!" Leo said, a little more confidently. Leo threw another fireball at another tree, except this fireball was about as big as an average sized watermelon. As soon as it hit the tree, the bark burst into flames from the higher temperature of the second fireball.
Without missing a beat, Keiko launched a blast of water the same size as the fireball at the burning tree. The water put out the flames and all that was left of that tree was the smell of ash and burnt grass.
Keiko looked over in Leo's direction to and noticed the disappointment racing through his thoughts, almost blinding him in a self-deprecating trance. "Hey, at least you could form a fireball bigger than your finger that time!"
"I guess so, but I don't think I'll ever be able to control my fire." Leo sighed sadly.
"Hannah, how about you try your powers out?" Keiko tried to lighten the mood.
Hannah nodded and reluctantly stood a few feet away from a boulder. She closed her eyes and let her powers consume her. Her eyes changed to a familiar magenta color and her hair became a blinding white. She levitated a few feet off the ground and held her arm out and moved it back as if she was about to throw a ball. She suddenly threw her arm forward and the Boulder was sent flying at 50 mph at a tree filled area 30 feet away from their practice area. Hannah's eyes came back to normal and she landed on her feet.
Flocks of birds frantically squawked and flew out of the trees in a chaotic mess of feathers, claws and beaks.
"Whoops, I didn't mean to do that"
Hannah remarked, a hint of embarrassment in her voice as she chuckled.
As the morning progressed, the trio tested out their powers even more to see what they were truly capable of. Keiko was making scientific observations in her mind with her telepathy. By the time the sun was at its highest point in the sky, they were worn out but their veins were coursing with adrenaline and determination. Hannah suggested they should find something to eat.
"A feast to celebrate our escape!" She smiled, jumping up and down enthusiastically.
They split up into nearby sections of the forest having assigned their roles.
Hannah and Keiko would search for firewood, while Leo would hunt.
Hannah forged axes with her power, making sure she didn't go out of control. Keiko rinsed the firewood and made sure they were clear of poisonous molds and hazardous chemicals that could be inhaled. As the sun began to sink in the sky, the trio reunited and constructed the fire. Leo shot a spark into the wood, lighting it up. The flames were warm and comforting as they gently cooked their meal. As they finished up their food, they built makeshift cots out of moss and animal fur. Keiko doused the fire in some water and the stars appeared above their heads. It was the most magical thing they'd ever seen. They fell asleep to the sound of the stream and the gentle chirping of the crickets.