Panther: A Marissa Meyer Renegades Fanfiction

4. Renegade Trials

4. Renegade Trials

Four days later, and it was time for the Renegade Trials. I only did it because my sister wanted me to, not for Adrian or Captain Chromium, even though he scared me. So I went out, got the papers, wrote my essay, and was ready to go. I sighed. I couldn't put everything about me on my essay, like how my uncle was Ace Anarchy or even that my last name was Artino. So I used our fake name, which my sister and I used to get me jobs or her to school. My essay talked about how I worked in a supermarket and my mom worked a lot and stayed away from our house sometimes.

It was finally time. I waited through all the other teams, waiting for my turn. Then, suddenly, I heard a girl named Nova McLain. I thought that it was purely coincidence that there was a girl named Nova and I was looking for Nova. I decided to check her out anyway. I peered through a cracked in the gate. I heard her talking.

"...But if you're wondering about the non prodigy skills I have it includes:bla bla bla" The girl started turning towards me but stopped and I couldn't clearly see her face. She finally turned toward me to address my side of the crowd. Just then I saw her face. There was no doubt about it. It was Nova.

...

Nova, what are you so excited about? I wrote on the pad of paper in front of us. We had developed a secret code when it was necessary, when we didn't want adults spying on us , at about 4 years old. While she read my message, I looked around her house at all her dad's artwork. He created amazing things like pots and pans and vases and jewelry. Everything he made was beautiful

Nothing. She wrote. Just that I found some syringes for my hydraulic elevator.

I gasped. Trying to contain my elation, I wrote quickly. Really? Oh my stars that is amazing! Let's have a science meeting in the Katova Tree House!

Nova had an empty bunk on her bunk bed, because her sister, Evie was still a baby. Her parents, Uncle David and Aunt Tala, were hoping to have Evie bunk with Nova by the time she was 4. That was a long time away, so Nova and I built a fort in the top bunk and held secret meetings in there. We had lanterns and marshmallows hidden under pillows for sleepovers, even though I knew that sometimes Nova had a late night snack without me.

No, it's the Novie Tree House She scribbled back.

Why's that?

Cause it's my house.

Yeah well -I was interrupted by my mother, finally done with her long conversation with Uncle David.

"Katie, it's time to go now. We'll see you in a few days David," said my mom, holding Kaylee. "Bye Tala."

Aunt Tala managed to wave goodbye with her hands full because she was feeding Evie who was crying, red faced. Uncle David started whispering something to my mother. I only caught a few words.

"Kaylee... brother... Nova... prodigy... Roaches... bracelet..." I figured it was just boring adult stuff, so I went back to Nova.

Bye Nova. I'll see you when your elevator is done. I wrote.

Bye Katie. She wrote back. I'll see you when my sister stops crying. We shared a quick laugh and I followed my mom out the door. I waved to Nova as the door shut and we walked back to our own small, comfortable house.

...

Nova again? I had to be delirious. But no. I looked back and it was still her, no matter how many times I looked away and back. She was accepted by a team that I didn't see, but she was challenged and chose to fight Gargoyle. I watched nervously as she fought the Gargoyle and won. I saw her go over to her new team and was thinking about how Uncle David and Aunt Tala had left Kaylee and I to die, with no mother.

I was so lost in my memories and the shock of seeing Nova twice after not seeing her for 10 years, that I almost didn't hear the announcer announce my name. I rushed up there and then The Dread Warden(whomever said that) told me to present my power. I pushed my power up and summoned up the biggest cat I could find. A great, strong panther suddenly appeared in the center of the stage where the skinny stick of a girl had been mere seconds before. I made the loudest and strongest growl that was possible for an animal to make, and the amphitheater we were in made the sound even louder than it was. The crowd immediately cheered while all the teams except one rejected me. It was... Adrian's. Sketch. The one at the parade. He smiled at me and pressed accept. I saw his other team members start talking. I saw Red Assassin and Smokescreen. And I saw... Nova. The team that had accepted me was the same one that accepted Nova. Such a coincidence. I saw her looking at me in surprise.

The four of them walked over to me with Red Assassin and Smokescreen bickering, and Nova blinking in disbelief. Adrian walked over and shook my hand warmly and took out the same pen from the parade, and drew lightly on my shirt. The Renegade pin was a rosy red colour and very shiny.

"Welcome to the Renegades, Katie."

"Hi."

"Hello, I'm Ruby and that's Oscar. And over there is Nova." Ruby paused.

Oscar finished for her. "We just got her today. She doesn't talk much." Nova frowned. Adrian glared at him.

Adrian apologized to Nova, "He means-"

"It's fine." said Nova

I interrupted. "So ah- do we go to Renegade headquarters? Or do we go home or what?"

"Oh right," said Adrian. "You go home everyday but it might be late. So you just tell your parents not to worry if you get back late." We must've looked worried so he said, "They can pick you up from Renegade headquarters if they don't want you to walk alone.

"Nah," Nova and I said a the same time.

"Well the Renegades can help if you have any problems." Adrian smiled at us both and the three of them headed off, back to Renegade headquarters.

PS the flashback was from a couple days before everyone was killed by the Roaches.