The Outcasts | Book One: A New Pack

Chapter Nine: Training

Blaze growled, "Who's that?"

"I'm Aqua. I'm here to join the pack."

"The Bluemoon Pack killed her mom so she'll be joining Obsidian for training."

Blaze's frown turned into a smile. "Another one to help take down the Bluemoon Pack."

"Should I start training soon?" Al asked.

"Yeah, in about half an hour," I said. "Can you show Aqua around?"

"Sure."

"I'll come too," Obsidian said. I smiled.

"Athens?" I yelled. I walked around but I couldn't find him anywhere. I couldn't find anyone but Aqua floating in the lake.

"Aqua, where's Athens?"

"Oh, he's in the cave in the mountain."

"Cave in the mountain?"

"Yeah, there's a secret cave in the mountain."

"Okay, where's everyone else?"

"Obsidian is on top of the cave and everyone else is hunting."

"Okay, I'm gonna train you since the others are gone."

"Alright. Should I get Obsidian?"

"No, I'll go get him. For now, just enjoy the lake," I said as I ran to the top of the cave. At the top of the cave, I saw Obsidian sitting there looking out at the water.

"Hey, ready for training?"

"Yeah. Where's everybody?"

"Hunting, so I'm training you and Aqua."

"Okay, I'll come down in a second."

"Alright." As I walked to the lake, I saw Athens talking to Aqua.

"Athens! You're back."

"Yeah, I was just walking around."

"Ready to train them?"

"Yeah," he said as Obsidian came running.

"Hey, Athens! Ready to train?"

"Yeah. Where should we start?" Athens asked me.

"Hunting. Go find a mouse and kill it."

The Trainees said, "Okay," and ran off.

After five minutes, I looked at Athens with a smile. "Who do you think will come back with a mouse first?"

"I don't know. If I knew more about Aqua, I could make a fair guess."

"Yeah, that's a good point." I looked over. I couldn't see who, but I knew one of them was coming this way. Suddenly, I saw Blaze running toward me and Athens with Aqua limping.

"Blaze, what happened?"

"She scared me. Before I knew it was her, I swiped."

"Luckily you're not too strong. Otherwise, it could have been worse. We need a Gamma."

"I can be the Gamma," Athens volunteered.

"Alright."

"What do you know about healing?" Aqua asked nervously.

"When my pack died, I spent years doing all the jobs the other pack members would do. When I got hurt, I had to figure out how to heal myself, had to find shelter. I had to learn to become a Hunter when I got hungry."

"What pack?" Blaze asked. I forgot that Athens only told me about his past.

"Athens?" I whispered.

"It's okay. It's time I tell them." The others came back.

"Tell us what?" Luna asked as Obsidian sat down next to Al.

"The story of my past."

Everyone stayed quiet for the story, and when Athens was done, Blaze asked, "We're going up against your brother?"

"Yeah, but don't worry. I was always stronger than him."

"But to be Beta, you have to be one of the strongest of the pack."

"Yeah, but while he's been sitting in a cave all day, I've fought to get stronger and stronger."

After we finished talking, Athens went out to train Obsidian.

"Athens, there's some stones over there. Obsidian will jump from stone to stone." Aqua was still in pain so I let her rest 'till tomorrow.

・・・

Two days later, I walked into the cave, and Aqua said, "Hey, I feel ready to train. Can I go out?"

"If you feel ready, go for it. Athens?" I called. "Aqua's ready to train."

Athens ran to us. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, do you think you can jump?" Aqua did a perfect flip.

"Wow. You might beat Obsidian in a race across the stones," I said, stunned at how fast she healed.

"I'll set up more stones and they can race," Athens smiled.

"Ready, set, go!"

Aqua was a lot faster than Obsidian. I whispered to Athens, "Maybe we should focus more on Obsidian." Athens agreed.

After the race, Aqua told Obsidian, "Good job."

"Yeah, you must teach me how you run that fast."

"Alright. After training." Obsidian smiled. Athens walked up to me.

"You know, if this is gonna be a real pack, we need roles."

"You're right, I'll call a meeting."