Of Both Worlds

Chapter 6

Ace awoke to the sound of birds chirping. Or rather, that's how he wanted to wake up. He awoke to someone was standing next to him. Someone with dark hair, namely Sam. "Good morning to you too, Sam." Ace grumbled, his face still buried in his pillow. 

 "You got to get up Ace, we're going on a Talon hunt, and Kale gave me permission to bring you along."

 "Incorrect," A feminine voice said. "Kale gave me permission, you tagged along."

 "Hello Kaylin." Ace groaned.

 "Wake up loser, we have to go." Ace stumbled out of bed, his hair all mussed up and sleep clouded his vision. Kaylin tossed Ace a pair of jeans and a t shirt. "Hurry up, I'll be outside." Ace quickly changed and pulled on his shoes, double knotting them. "Let's go," Kaylin said as Ace and Sam came outside.

 It wasn't even light out, the sky was lightening but the sun stayed stubbornly below the horizon. Kaylin led them over to where a small group was gathering. "Okay everyone, it's kill or be killed out there, if you can bring the Talon in without killing it or it killing you, great one more thing to train off of. Everyone grab a backpack and an apple, that's your breakfast. If at any point you don't think you can fight the Talon, there is no shame in retreat especially if you tell other people where it is so we can get it. This shouldn't take more than a day hopefully. As for horses, I'll be on Grace, Kaylin you get Dot, Edwin you're on Stella, Carrie on Misty, Trent on Eagle, Sam on Treble, and Ace you get Spades." 

Ace nodded a small grin on his face. "I see what you did there." Ace said. Kale dropped a wink with a grin. "One problem, which one is Spades?" 

 "The brown one with white hooves and hair." Kale said mounting his horse.

 Ace grabbed a backpack and slung it over his shoulders and shoved the apple into his mouth as he jumped onto Spades. Kale clicked his tongue and kicked his horse. They were off. 

 In about half an hour the sun rose—finally—even though Ace wasn't awake to see it, sincerely he had fallen asleep on Spades' back. Ace really didn't have to do anything, Spades just followed the group. 

In about two hours Ace was rudely awoken to someone throwing a pinecone at the back of his head. Ace whirled around with a look of anger on his face. Kaylin put a finger to her lips and pointed to Kale who had stopped and turned his horse around. "Okay everyone, we had a Talon spotting around here, most likely a dragon but don't be surprised if a serpent jumps up and eats your foot. Ready, split."

 Ace took in his surroundings now that five horses weren't in the way. A lazy river was at the bottom of the rock out cropping that they were on. Farther down the river Ace could see rapids. Ace clicked his tongue and kicked Spades. 

He braced for a Talon at every breaking of a twig, but after three hours of searching it was getting kind of hot in the sun. Ace took Spades down to the riverside for a drink. Another Talonhunter was by the riverside too, Edwin, Ace thought his name was. "Edwin, right?" Ace asked. 

 The boy nodded, he had soft caramel hair with a blue streak. "You're the new kid, Ace?" 

 Ace nodded. "Seen anything good yet?" 

 Edwin shook his head. "Nothing, it's like they all heard we were coming and went into hiding." Edwin dug into his backpack and produced a sandwich. He sat in the sand next to the river and ate his sandwich. Ace's stomach grumbled as he watched Edwin eat. 

He realized he wasn't the only one, something was pressed up against the rock out cropping only a few yards from Edwin, he only noticed the sky blue eyes.