It was a moonless night the trio had just parted ways. Dexter waited a few minutes in case the others doubled back for something before examining his ankle. The cook did a good job, wrapping it in a way that took stress off the sore area. After confirming there was no better way to set it he departed for home.
Upon reaching the hill that led down to his currently empty abode he stopped to breathe the cool night air. A chill ran down his spine causing him to grip his weapon forcibly, a rustling broke out behind him. In an instant he had turned and raised the staff in a defensive state. Thud! Data blocked an attack. Two unknown enemies had appeared, the first had nearly three inches on Dexter and had dealt the blocked attack, the second, only to be described as a small giant, was simply sitting on a low branch of a big pine tree examining his blade. Both wore mysterious uniforms, midnight blue robes with hoods cloaking their faces from site. On instinct Data used his weapon try to lift his attackers hood, this attempt was thwarted by a sweeping attack that knocked him off his feet. Startled by the sweep attack Dexter lost his grip on the stick and it fell near by. Pinning him down with a silver booted foot the attacker turned to the giant, “You sure this is right? I was expecting more from them and it hasn’t changed yet.” The giant still examining his sword simply nodded. With a sigh the attacker kicked Data in the ribs as he relieved him of his weight. “Fight me already stop playing around I want to see your strength.” Dexter coughed a few times finally releasing a small amount of blood before regaining a sense of himself, “You must have me confused with someone else.” The attacker gained the posture of someone who was becoming really annoyed, “I’ll just have to kill you to prove my friend here wrong then.” As he spoke three spikes formed in the metal club he had begun the assault with. With an unconcerned motion he pulled back for an attack. Dexter had only a moment to react, without thinking he grabbed his weapon to block. The weapons met in a loud CLACK, Dexter knew his stick had broke and the blow would kill him any moment. An eternity seemed to pass and Dexter realized his grip seemed to house a metal rod as apposed to the wood of his staff. Looking up he noticed two things instantly his stick had become a blue-green metal rod with a grip in the middle and his attacker had turned his back and was walking toward the tree the giant still occupied. Moving his hand to the grip he pulled his new weapon back to deal a heavy blow to the fleeing assassin. The assassin turned and parried the attack, in the same moment a bolt shot though Dexter’s grip straight at the branch occupied by the giant. There was another crack as the branch gave way and in the blink of an eye the mysterious men were gone. Dexter loosened his grip on the rod and let it slide to the end in his hand, panting profusely. As he began the decent toward his house he noticed the grip had moved with his hand. He was really begging to like this new friend of his.
***
Axel stopped at the playground to catch his breath, he had already sprinted half the three mile trek to his family’s farm. As he got up to depart he noticed the old monkey bars, on many occasion when they were younger he could be found doing chin ups on them as Bris played on the swings and Data did his homework. Sitting his stick on a nearby picnic table he began his old training routine, it started with twenty hanging sit ups, followed by thirty push ups, finishing with fifteen pull ups. “Nine, ten, eleven, twel...” Before he could finish the twelfth pull up he was hit in the back with what felt like his stick. Dropping to the ground and retrieving the stick he mumbled “Data if you want a rematch wait till tomorrow I’m already late. Besides you shouldn’t push your luck you beat me once today. The same tricks need time to be forgotten.” Turning around Axel was surprised to see a small cloaked giant wielding a sword that seemed to big even for him. “Who are you and what do you want, if its money your barking up the wrong tree I’m the youngest child of a poor farmer.” The giant said nothing, drew his sword, and began to charge. Axel had more than enough time to plan an attack the speed was that expected from a giant, he swept at his legs but was surprised when the giant leaped behind him. He only had a moment to block but when he did it was with a flat metal bat like object. Upon looking up the giant was gone. Axel put his new weapon in his pack before heading home.
