Anomalous

15-Graytumn

I wake up to the sun shining through the shades on my windows. I stretch, then get up and walk over to the windows.

I pull up the shades and open the window, breathing in the fresh morning air.

Training day. I quickly change into a stretchy workout tank top, and a pair of sporty black capris. I pull my kinky hair into a ponytail, then I brush out the lumps.

I head into the bathroom, quickly brushing my teeth and washing my face.

I grab my crossbow, then I knock on Leila's door, proud of how fast I got ready. I don't usually take too long anyway, but today was only about 10 minutes.

Leila answers, ever cheerful and obviously, completely ready.

Still a bit sleepy but ready to train, I head out into the hall with Leila.

I knock on KC's door.

"Morning, ready to train?" I ask her.

She nods.

"I think we might have some extra weapons you can use," I say, leading her into the elevator with Leila and the rest of the kids.

Leila graciously makes everyone pancakes with the hotel's little pancake making thingy.

Everyone eats fairly quickly, excited to train.

After breakfast, we gather around the back door.

"Okay, Mercedes and Oakley: You two go to the shed and see if you can find something for KC to use as a weapon. Meet us out back with whatever you find. Gray, you and I are going to set up targets. Everyone else, head out back," Nox says.

I walk to the back door with Leila, KC, Nora, and Ryith.

"Okay, Nora. Do you want to see if you can hit that target with your shovel?" I say gently, pointing at the first target that has been set up.

When I gave her that shovel and told her to smack bad people with it, I didn't think she'd even be able to carry it. At most, I thought she could maybe drag it around and trip people with it. It's just one of those things you tell kids to make them feel better. Like when you tell them, "Oh, what an amazing dog drawing!" But really, their 'dog' is just a circle and 6 sticks.

But to my utter surprise, Nora swings the metal shovel over her head and slams it into the target with a big thwack.

I look over at Leila and KC, but they're just as surprised as me.

"Nora, that was...amazing!" I cry, running over and hugging her little body.

"Are we sure that Nora doesn't have a second anomaly of super strength?" I mutter to Leila, giggling.

Mercedes and Oakley get back.

"All we could find was this hatchet," Oakley says, handing it to KC.

"Thanks!" She says brightly.

Everyone starts practicing, and I find an empty target.

I start shooting, and I smile, watching the arrows hit the target. Granted, not all of them landed in the centre, some were barely hanging on the edge, but considering I took archery 4 years ago, I'd say that's pretty good.

And, crossbows are obviously much easier to use than a real bow and arrow.

I hear Nox's pistol go off several times, and I look up to see how everyone else is doing.

Leila is practicing with her shears as a throwing weapon. I watch her javelin-toss the garden shears at the target. It lands in the last ring, ripping a hole straight through. She needs practice, obviously, but that's pretty good considering she's never trained before.