X-TERMS

Chapter 5: Even Thorns start out soft.

                   TEN YEARS AGO

Nox Thorn was unlike the rest of his family. His two brothers and sister were born with the green hair and glowing brown majick of Earth like their parents with extreme abilities in healing, thus the reason the Thorn family owned the biggest seller of healing items and doctors known altogether as Thorn Pharma.

Nox on the other hand was born with turquoise hair and glowing blue eyes..the power of water and weak healing abilities. His parents still wanted him to be a doctor, he figured it was their way of showing they didn't hate him. But he always felt as though they were harder on him.

His siblings certainly were, always teasing him and making fun of his name calling him Nox of the soft Thorn, Thorn of no bite...they were just as ruthless as the kids at school who always bullied him for being different from his family knocking him down in the halls in front of his siblings who would just stand and glare at him and then walk away.

It wasn't until he got Huginn as his companion that he finally had somewhat of a friend. Huginn being a raven was still semi ruthless to him since she hadn't been taught manners or just didn't care to learn them. She was always blunt with him but she had a gentle soothing voice when he needed corrections.

"Nox you fool,"Huginn would chitter,"tying the stitching wrong again, try again."

Always the same reply,"Yes Huginn thank you for reminding me."

Nox had never had friends, he was never that skilled but with Huginn's help he passed the X-Terms doctor exams and became a licensed doctor even if he was rarely ever called in to help.

That is until the day ten years later when he was suddenly introduced to Alex, Genovia and the insanely beaten Foxe Leonard, a legend and a horror story even when he was school. The man who killed his two families but also the best X-Term the school had ever seen.

With Huginn's help they were brought to him and he was able to heal this almost dead man in just a short week, the fastest and best work that Nox had ever done. Maybe he was getting better or maybe..just maybe there was more to come of this man then he thought.

He'd be insane not to follow thus crazed man and his friends into hell..but could he? Could the Thorn of No Bite learn to finally become strong and sharp? Nox had no clue he was frightened but they asked him to come anyway.

I'm a God damn doctor, I shouldn't be here man. I'm gonna die all because of these two insane assholes! And then Huginn flies off after them! God damned bird! X-Terms is gonna have my license!"Nox whined as they walked down the bright city strip.

It was then that Nox had the most rude awakening of his life and it thrilled him. Foxe had him pinned against the alley wall and was screaming at him about wanting to be nothing or wanting to be a hero. He slid to ground and sat with tears in his eyes.

What was he to say? He was so scared he was about to piss himself. And then all he torment of younger years came flooding to him all at once. The pain he felt about being the weak one in the family the link to break the chain. And it here it was..the operation that he as a doctor looked for, the chance to save millions of lives.

He stood and took Foxe by the hand and give him a strong nod that said I'll walk through hell and back with you. He whistled for Huginn and ordered her to keep her sharp eyes out for trouble, he then walked towards the opening of the alleyway.

Right across the street was one of his families companies. In bright big green letters read 'Thorn Pharma' the words wrapped in neon thorny vines. He stared at the people walking along the streets, hundreds? Thousands? No millions of lives waiting to be saved from whatever hellish organization Foxe's brother was part of and then he smiled and looked over his shoulder at his new friends.

"Let's go kick some ass."