The Jade Arms Chronicles Book I: The Wolf Pack

The Carsons

I turn the corner of the hallway and instantly find myself pinned to the floor, a fist cocked back, ready to punch.

"Dude. Not cool." I say while moving my head out of the way of the flurry of punches.

"Stay still and let me knock your lights out!"

"How 'bout no?"

Without warning, just as quickly as he was on top of me, my assailant is thrown off of me and down the hall. I look up to see none other than Matt Simms standing over me, holding out his hand. He pulls me up off of the floor and walks away like nothing even happened.

I glance down the hallway to see Josh Reynolds slamming the guys who attacked me into the floor, and walking away. When he gets to where I am standing, he stops to speak to me.

"Sorry about that." He gestures behind him at the heap of a person on the floor.

"It's okay, I'm used to it..."

"Well, you shouldn't be."

"..."

"Either way, Matt and I want to help. Dakota... He's new here, he doesn't understand how people are here just yet, but he is pretty persuasive. So, talk to us when you can, because we might just join you guys. If you want us to, that is."

"Thank you. I guess I'll send you a text about it later?"

"Here, this is my number, that one's Matt's." He says, matter o' factly, handing me a slip of paper.

Before I can look to thank him, he is already gone.

"Great... So I'm dealing with ninjas." I mutter to myself before stepping into my next class. I see Justin Carson in the back of the room, so I go to where he is sitting and take a seat for myself.

"Hey."

"What's up?" He says, no emotion showing on his face.

"Well, it's about forming a team."

"Who else?"

"So far? Myself, Dakota Lanister, Matt Simms, Josh Reynolds, and possibly Nathan."

"My brother Nathan?" He asks, now showing interest in my pitch.

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'm in."

"Seriously, that willingly?"

"I mean, Matt Simms, Josh Reynolds, those two names alone had me sold. They're the strongest guys in the school."

"Fair."

"But what really made me agree was because Nathan will be there, that and you've saved my life before."

"What? When?"

"Last year. During the banshee attack on the school."

"when did... oh. That was you guys?"

"Yeah, you used a light cross move and kill off the banshee right before it was able to hurt us."

"Wow. I had no idea. So you really want to join?"

"Yes. Just call me when you want to talk about it, these are our numbers."

Justin hands me a piece of paper before walking out of the room as the bell rings for lunch. I jog out to meet him in the hallway.

We get to the cafeteria to see Dakota and Nathan waving us over to the table where their stuff lays. The two of us walk over to greet them.

"Aaaayyyy." Dakota says making a finger gun gesture at the two of us.

"Sup?"

"Not much. So, we have two more clues to solve to get you some weapons, so how about everyone meets at Jack's house tonight?"

"It sounds fine to me. What about you guys?"

"I'm down." Nathan says apathetically.

"Let's do it then!" Justin blurts out, A bit too loudly.

"Okay, it's settled. Oh by the way, Dakota, you and I have a fight."

"WHAT!"

"Yep. We get to take on my old gang."

"You're gonna slaughter them aren't you."

"Yep."

The four of us sit quietly eating and going over the information we already had on the weapons.

"So... Basically were hunting down ancient primordial weapons forged by gods."

"Well... Yes and no? I mean, the weapons are old but not exactly ancient, and they were crafted by a single man who was so profound with weapon smithing he created these devices that would create a weapon based the attributes of your personality and your experiences."

"Oh..."

"It makes no sense, I know."

"Okay well, we need to find these two weapons right? So let's go tonight!"

"Sounds good to me, everyone meet at my house, I'll text you the address."

"Sounds good."

The bell for lunch to end rings and Nathan and Justin part ways. Dakota follows me down the hallway.

"So you're probably wondering about the fight this afternoon."

"Yeah, am I actually going to help?"

"Do you want to?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Then you take four and I'll take four."

"That's okay to me."

"Dakota, I just want to say thank you for all of this, sticking with me, and helping, and being so willing to gather people to form a team when we really have no definite plan of action other than getting started."

"You're welcome. Thank you for having faith in us. All of us."

"So, how tough is this team?"

"Well, let's see. We had Myself, Andrew Carter, Michael McArthur, Kevin Harrison, Slater Camden, Jarred Baltimore, Haley Martin, and Jennifer Rosner. Andrew uses a chainsaw blade, Michael uses a pole arm, Kevin uses chain whips, Slater uses a spear, Jarred uses a broadsword, Haley uses knives, and Jennifer uses a whip. As for the new guy they have, I think he uses a halberd. All of them are trained in speed and reflex based attacks, mixed with high damage and speed striking."

"So you can fight... I don't know... Jarred, Michael, Haley, and Jennifer."

"Andrew is mine to fight, I will take on Andrew, Jarred, Haley, and Kevin. You take Michael, Jennifer, Slater, and the new guy."

"Alright. Let's do this then." Dakota says, slamming his fists together.

"Sounds like a plan, just be ready, Michael is extremely violent."

"Alright. Anything else I should know?"

"They have a team attack, but with a new guy in the ranks, I'd be surprised if they even tried to attempt it."

"Okay, then let's kick some ass!"