The Gifted Ones/Part 1

==The Gifted Ones Part 1==
===How It All Began===
Reens blinked as the groups came back together, each with their findings. "So, what all did you find?" the so-called leader of the Gifted asked.
"We found an old warehouse full of junk," the leader of the East group replied, grinning. "Food enough, sure, but also plenty of medical supplies too."
"Lucky," huffed the South's leader. "We didn't find anything except piles of trash."
The West's leader pulled out a backpack stuffed full of broken pieces of metal.
"Well, we didn't find much," one of Reens' teammates replied tentatively, "but we did find some food."
"Well at least you found something," the leader said with a grunt. "Not like miss waterworks has much to say."
Hearing that, Reens' ears perked up. "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm not suggesting anything," the leader replied, getting in Reens' face. "Except that this is all your fault."
It had been about a month since everything had happened. Gifted, people with powers gifted to them by magic, birth, or other means, had been caputred and placed into holding cells that either limited their power usage or used them as living batteries. Reens, a hydrokinetic hedgehog with golden eyes, freed most of the occupants with the help of Natalie Walker and her friends. The group had fled into the wilderness, but not before Reens had rescued Xavier, a Gifted with an extraordinary amount of power and strength. The group had not found a great place to stay yet, so their self-proclaimed leader Jakob decided to have the large group split up into smaller groups in order to find such a place. 
Back to the present, tensions were running high.
Xavier did his best to fold his arms, wanting to do something, but not knowing what.
They continued, "If you hadn't gone nutso with your powers, then we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. We would be free to live out our lives in peace!"
Others murmured, beginning to agree.
"Look, I was just protecting myself; I had no idea they were going to-" Reens protested, but was cut off.
"You didn't know they were going to hunt us down and kill us?" The leader mocked, pushing Reens to the ground.
Her robotic arm, made up of mismatched pieces of scrap metal, clanged next to her as she fell.
"If you had any idea what Kabletech was like you would've known!"
"Hey, back off!" Xavier interjected, stepping between the two, the red lights on his gauntlets glowed bright.
The leader turned to Xavier, huffing. "And who are you to defend her, hmm? Because of her you were used as a living battery!"
The groups huddled together, passing out food rations.
"And because of her we were able to escape!"
"Because of her, we wouldn't have needed to escape at all!" The leader shot back, fists clenched.
"I won't deny her role in causing this. But personally, I blame Kabletech! They're the ones that initially sought her out. They're the ones that overreacted! They're the ones that called all the shots!"
Reens slowly got up from her position and held her arm close, stretching the rest of her body.
"You can't blame her for their actions."
The leader huffed and turned their back to Xavier. "If you want to support her, then fine. I blame Kabletech. And her."
Reens cleared her throat. "Well, we can't just stay here, right? We need a better place to hide. If we stay put they'll find us and capture us again, or worse, kill us all."
"Fine, then you go scout out a hiding place for us," the leader said, pushing Reens forward. "The hothead could go with you. The rest of us will stay here and get ready to move out."
Xavier sighed. "Alright," he said in a low tone, "But could someone get my hands free first? I'm not much use with them encased."
One of the people in their team fetched a crowbar. "I'll try this," they said, putting it under the gauntlet.
They pulled hard, trying not to hurt Xavier.
Another person grabbed a large piece of metal, then slid it under Xavier's other gauntlet.
Together, they moved the metal back and forth, wiggling the gauntlets.
"Oh for Chaos' sake!" The leader growled, impatient. "Just cut them off or something!"
"We don't have metal cutters," a person near them admitted. The leader facepalmed.
Xavier let out a sigh. "If there's one thing I'll give Kabletech credit for, it's their engineering..." He muttered. Suddenly someone meekly approached. "I-I can... manipulate technology... I might be able to... unlock them... for you..." After fumbling with the gauntlets in their hands for a few moments, concentrating, the ends of the devices around Xavier's hands popped open and fell off. The hedgehog stretched his hands once they were free. "Thanks."
The others put the metal away and blushed. "Sorry we couldn't do anything."
"It's fine, I won't blame you for trying."
The leader, shaking their head, sighed. "Alright, then. Anyone else want to go with them?"
"You, techno-whatever, go with them."
"Oh... Uh, a-alright..." They said.
"Why don't you come with us, leader?" Reens suggested. "Maybe with you, you can determine how much room we would have."
"Look. I don't trust you for a second, so don't think I'm gonna risk my life with you," the leader huffed.
The two who had tried helping Xavier stepped up. "We'll come too!"
"Me too," another voice said, belonging to a red, female tenrec with upward-facing spines. "Better than being a sitting duck."
'The more the merrier," Reens said with a soft smile. "Okay, are we all ready?"
The group looked at each other and nodded, some giving her thumbs-up.
"Ready when you are miss!" One of the twins said earnestly.
The group began to move towards north... and their future.
===Meanwhile...===
Far away, beneath Kabletech tower, two figures stood in a room. One was a red Mobian fox, wearing a black suit and with one hand in his pocket. The other was attached to the wall, connected to a machine similar to the one Xavier was on. The Fox was called Maxwell Kable, and the one on the wall was Vendeta the Hedgehog.
“You know, Ven,” Kable said, facing away from the hedgehog “You’re lucky to be here and not in a cell.” “You’ve told me this before” the hedgehog replied. “Then I’ll tell you again. Not many get this pleasure. Most Gifted are thrown in cells, to die of starvation. But some are useful. People like you, with your limitless supply of psychokinetic energy, fill the needs of the people without them knowing.” “What are you trying to get at?”
===Finding a Campsite and an Ally===
Reens started walking, making sure Xavier was next to her.
A Common dragon called Servius stretched, yawning, his sharp teeth glistening in the light of his cave. He blinked, running his tongue over his teeth. 'What a night,' the dragon thought, getting up from where he slept. Stretching the rest of his limbs, the dragon fluttered his wings.
He moved to the mouth of his cave, then gently picked a ruby from its wall with a claw. Looking at it, he didn't notice the small group walking towards his territory as he walked back into the cave.
"Um, we've been walking for a while," one of the twins said. "My feet are starting to hurt, miss."
"It's okay," Reens said to her. "We can rest here," she said, letting them sit down in front of the cave.
"So, anyone have any idea where we actually are?" The female tenrec asked.
No idea," the male twin said with a shake of his head.
Servius paused, sniffing the air. 'Intruders...'
"But wherever we are, I hope we find shelter soon," the female twin said with a sigh.
'Perhaps they will just go away,' the dragon mused, scratching a claw over the cave wall.
Reens perked up her ears and turned her head. "Uh, did anyone notice that cave there?"
The twins blinked and turned to look. "It has shiny gems in it!" "Is it warm?"
"You know, this kinda reminds me of a story I heard once, about a cave filled with riches that's protected by a great beast..." Xavier said.
"Oh?" Reens asked. "I've heard stories too. About... dragons."
Amused, Servine moved closer to the entrance to the cave. 'And what else have they heard?'
"I heard dragons will eat you if you get too close!" The male twin said, scared. "I heard they make their beds out of the bones of their victims!" The female twin added, just as scared.
"Hey that's just rude," Xavier said.
"It's what we heard," the twins said together.
"I'm sure dragons don't make their beds with the bones of their victims," Reens said calmly, trying to calm them down.
"But they do eat you?!" The twins asked, shaking.
Servine's tail swished behind him. His amusement was decreasing as the discussion went on.
"A-Ancient Dragons, perhaps," the technokinetic said, speaking up for the first time since they departed. "I-I think I heard of one Great Dragon doing that once... but that was an... isolated incident, and... C-Commons are much to civil to do such a thing..."
Swelling with pride, Servine chuckled lowly. "At least someone knows their dragon lore," he said to himself.
His comment echoed, reaching the small group.
Xavier and the tenrec's ears perked up, with the latter aggressively turning toward the cave. "Who's there!?"
Reens stood up, getting into a fighting stance.
"I could ask you all the same thing," Servine replied, staying in the shadows. His grey eyes reflected the light from the cave.
He prepared an orb of ice, keeping it at the ready.
"We won't hurt you," Reens said slowly, moving towards the cave. "Just come out slow."
Servine smirked. "I can smell your fear from here, hedgehog. And your gold as well."
"Reens..." Xavier said apprehensively.
Reens paused. looking over at Xavier. "What?"
"I think we're dealing with a dragon!" The female twin whispered.
Reens stayed where she was, breathing slowly.
With slow, confident strides, Servine finally exited the cave. His eyes were pensive, looking over the group.
He said nothing, but looked at them with disinterest.
The technokinetic shrunk away in fear, the tenrec just glared, and Xavier kept a worried eye between Servine and Reens.
He walked around Reens, taking in her scent. Reens stayed where she was, slightly unnerved.
"Hmm. Your gold... it's so tantalizing..." Servine said, licking his teeth.
"Um, er... thank you?" Reens said, confused.
He paused, touching her chest with one hand and tracing a claw around it. "And this..."
Reens, uncomfortable, slightly pulled away from the dragon.
Servine frowned, then moved away from her to examine the rest of the group.
"Well, you all smell strange," he commented, sniffing the female twin.
"Gyeep!" The female twin cowered next to her brother.
"Yeah and you act strange," the tenrec blatantly remarked.
Servine paused, then chuckled. "What, you've never encountered a dragon before? You're on my territory; I'm simply identifying you."
"No, I've met a few," the tenrec answered, "None acted like this though."
"P-probably a... difference in c-culture..." the technokinetic piped up.
"See? The one that smells of oil knows what it is," Servine replied, finally making it over to Xavier. "You smell of... fire... and energy... What are you?"
Reens relaxed, but still kept her stance. "Look, dragon, if you want us to leave-"
He held up a clawed finger.
"Your soul..." he continued. "It isn't... cooled as the others. Are you... related to dragonkind?"
The twins, scared out of their wits, jumped up and hid behind the tenrec, shaking.
"At least he hasn't eaten us yet," the female twin whispered.
"I don't think he will," the male twin replied. "I doubt he's eaten anything with how thin he is."
"Oh will you two be quiet?" The tenrec asked somewhat harshly.
The twins shut up immediately, looking down. "Sorry, miss..."
Xavier though for a moment, taking in the dragon's question. "I'm... not sure," he answered. "But, anything's possible."
Servine nodded. "Good answer," he replied, moving back to the entrance of the cave.
"If you must know, I am Servine Ironclaw, a Common Dragon."
He folded his arms along with his wings behind him. "I'll let you leave my territory unharmed."
"Th-th-thank you... s-sir..." the technokinetic said a bit shakily. "I-I, I think we should get going...?"
"Am I related to dragons? That'd be... cool, actually..." Xavier said to himself beneath his breath.(edited)
Suddenly, Servius' stomach growled loudly.
He cleared his throat and turned away, trying to hide it. "Be warned that I may not be so merciful next time my territory is breached," he tried to say with intimidation, but his stomach continued to growl.(edited)
Reens cocked her head. "Is he... hungry?"
The female twin's eyes widened, as if to say, "Don't do anything!"
"We uh, picked up some berries along the way here, if you'd like some," Xavier said to the reptile.
Servius turned his head. "Are you... certain?"
"Yeah," Reens added, joining Xavier. "It won't be a problem."
With a resigned look, Servius walked over to them. "What do I owe you for this... favor?"
"I don't know, directions to someplace we can keep a large number of people safe?" Xavier asked, looking at Reens. "Who cares about them? They clearly don't care about you," The tenrec interjected, "I say we just leave them and fend for ourselves."
The twins both nodded in unison.
Reens sighed. "They may not care about us much, but we can't just leave them," she replied, looking over at the tenrec. "If we do it'll be their blood on our hands."
She just 'hmph'ed and looked away.
Servius took the berries and ate them, thinking as he chewed. "Hmm. A fair trade," he said, after swallowing. "I assume none of you can fly."
Reens' ears drooped. "I don't think any of us can."
"Except for us," the male twin piped up. "It's in our species!"
"Yeah," the female twin answered after him. "We're flying squirrels."
"...That's gliding you dopes," Cinder said, "That's not flying, it's just falling with style."
The twins looked at each other, then sighed. "It was worth a try."
Servine chuckled and shook his head. "Anyway..." he continued. "... There's a valley when you go in that direction," he said, pointing a claw. "It's isolated, and spacious. I've visited with my parents before."
"it should have plenty of room for your... sizeable group. There are fruit trees and wild game, along with fresh water."
"That's good to hear," Reens sighed with relief.
Servine then spread his wings wide. "Hopefully your group can keep up with me," he said, lifting himself into the air.(edited)
He then started toward the valley, flapping his wings as he went.
And the group followed to the best of their ability.
"Miss Reens, can I ride on your back?" The female twin asked, leaving the tenrec.
"Huh? Um, sure, I guess, but it might slow me down-" "Yay!" She climbed onto Reens' back and settled. "Onward, noble steed!"
Reens grimaced slightly and moved forward, soon picking up a steady pace.
The male twin walked behind the tenrec, afraid to ask.
Xavier tried to stay around Reens, and the technokinetic stayed at the back of the group.
Servius looked down below him, sighed, and lowered himself to their level.
"Mr. Xavier! Can you really breathe fire like him?" Kelsie, the female twin, asked.
"What? No, I just produce energy," He answered.
"Oh," she said, disappointed.
"Why would you assume that, little one?" Servius asked, amused.
"Just wanted ta know!" she swung her leg, making Reens a little off-balance.
"Careful up there, okay?"
Kris looked over at the tenrec, but said nothing, rubbing his arm.
"He might not be able to breath it, but I can make it!" Cinder called at Kelsie.
"What?!" Kelsie said, excited. "Show me show me show me!"
"When we're not running!"
"Oh, okay," she chirped.
"I just hope there's enough room for the rest of the kids," Kris said softly.
"Why do you say that?" Reens asked him, shifting her weight.
"Um... well... they were all worried that the adults would leave them, since we're so small... and we eat a lot..." he continued. "And, er, my powers aren't... 'manitested', either."
"You mean 'manifested', right?" Reens asked him, as he turned away.
"Yeah..."
Kelsie teleported in front of Reens, then back onto her back. "Like this!"
"Oh, cool!" Reens said, her golden eyes glittering in the sunlight.
Servine blinked, then swerved as he almost slammed into a tree.
"So, Firesoul, explain to me why you came to my territory?" He asked Xavier, flying near him.
"We were part of a much larger group that sent us to find somplace safe for them to stay, that's all," He answered.
"Oh?" Servius put one finger on his chin. "Because of the steel and fire?"
"You mean Kabletech?" Reens asked, shifting Kelsie.
"... Kabletech. So that is the monster's name," Servius mused to himself.
"Well, then. I hope this evil monstrosity will be taken care of."
The technokinetic, a great horned owl named Elizabeth, started thinking about Reens' arm. She decided to ask once they arrive at the valley.
Servine flipped midair and kept flapping his wings. "We are almost there," he called down to the group.(edited)
"Yay!" Kelsie grinned, jumping off of Reens' back and starting to run. "Our new home!"
"Kelsie," Kris groaned. "We don't know that yet!"
Servine landed gently, then turned to the group. "Here we are," he said, showing them the valley.
It was just as he had said. There were rolling hills of fresh green grass, fruit trees, deer grazing peacefully, and a stream of clear, cold water
"Wow!" Kelsie said, taking off her shoes to let her feet touch the grass. "It's so soft!"
Reens joined her, taking off her shoes and feeling the grass under her feet. "I haven't... I haven't felt grass under my feet in forever," she said to herself. "Not since... everything changed."
Servine plucked a crisp apple off of a tree and tossed it to Xavier. "I hope this valley will be enough to satisfy your needs for the time being," he said nonchalantly. "Well, then, if you are no longer in need of me, I'll return to my cave."
"How about the rest of you stay here for now, and I'll let the others know we found this place?" Reens asked, putting her shoes back on. "They'll be overjoyed!"
"They'd probably still be against you, so I'll go too," Xavier said.
"Sounds like a good idea," Reens agreed, stretching out her arms. "Let's get going, then."
The two started making their way back to where the rest of their group were, whil Servine flew above them to return to his cave.
"You know, Servine, if you wanted to you could stay with us," Reens suggested. "It'd be better than being all by yourself."
Servine shook his head. "Sorry, but I'd rather not. A large group is more conspicuous than a lone Common Dragon."
He licked his teeth, then landed near his cave. "If I don't see you in the future... it would be too soon," he commented, closing the mouth of the cave with a large boulder.
===Returning to Camp===
Reens blinked, then shook her head. "So, what happens if they don't want to come with us, Xavier?"
"Well, that'll be their decision," he answered. "We can't force them."
"True," she sighed, "but I just hope it isn't all because of me."
Her ears drooped, and she looked at her right arm, with its mismatched pieces of metal strapped together with duct tape. "If only I had kept my powers in check... none of this would have happened..." she said to herself, clenching her hand.
Xavier put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. Not everyone has perfect control over themselves. You don't need to beat yourself up."
Reens smiled. "Yeah... I guess so." She held Xavier's hand in hers for a moment, then let it go as they approached the rest of their group.
The leader, talking to a young cat, turned and glared at them as they approached. "So, you've finally returned hm? Well, did you find anything? Or have you just been playing around for hours on end?"
"Yes we did, actually," Xavier answered. "A valley, with plenty of space, food, and water for all of us."
"Really?!" the cat said, jumping up and down. "I can't believe it!"
Reens nodded. "Thanks to the help of the locals, we should have plenty of safety away from Kabletech and anyone else who wants to hurt us."
Carmine, a lava-red blonde fox wearing brown khakis and a jean jacket looked Reens up and down. Why does that cat have so much hope and trust in her? She's the reason we're where we are. With a sigh, Carmine looked at her phone again, rapidly changing what she was viewing - her phone, and Reens.
Whatever. If it helps, there's no reason to not want it. "Good job, Xavier. You really helped us out."
The cat stopped jumping up and down for a minute. "But what about these 'locals'? Are they nice?"
Reens rubbed the back of her head. "So far we only found one person, and he was, er, nice enough I guess."
"Thank you, miss." Xavier replied to Carmine.
The leader paced up and down, worried.
They grit their teeth and looked over at Reens, who looked back at them, her golden eyes curious.
Carmine gave Xavier a smile before lowering her eyelids and looking at Reens. "I don't trust this. As far as I know, you haven't done any research on the locals. Until we know that they don't want us in cells, I think this isn't the smartest idea."
"He was a dragon living in a cave. As far as I can tell, he just wants to be left alone."
"How do we know he isn't dangerous?" The leader said, joining Carmine. "He could have any number of dragons living near him, and I don't want to live near a hoard of fire-breathing lizards!"
"And let's not forget people who want to hunt people like him. If they ask us, we lie, and he rats us out, we're gonna be busted."
"He's not gonna rat us out," Reens retorted, narrowing her eyes. "He just wanted us off his territory; I doubt he would tell anyone where we went."
The cat looked between them and frowned. "So are we going or not?"
"Still, what if people find us? Are you certain it's secluded?" Carmine questioned, both to check for safety and simply to challenge Reens.
"It's as secluded as anyone would want to be," Reens answered, holding one arm in the other. "We have a small group there right now, and they're doing well."
"What?! You have a group there unsupervised?!" The leader yelled, getting in Reens' face. "What if Kabletech's found them already?"
"They may find us here if you don't keep your voice down," the cat warned, looking around.
"You know what we need?" a peppy voice behind Carmine said. "Drones."
"Oh my Chaos, Crymson, can you stop?" Carmine said with a sigh. "Ignore him."
"Drones?" Reens asked uneasily.
"I've made up my mind," the leader said with a grunt.
"We won't be going anywhere until the whole area is scouted out and made sure to be secure," they continued. "If for any reason we deem it insecure, we will not be moving from this spot."
"Carmine," the leader continued, "go back with Xavier and scout the area thoroughly. Report back to me when you've finished."
They turned around, their tail swishing back and forth. "The hydro will stay here."
Xavier seemed uneasy at this. "W-why's that?"
"She left a group there unsupervised, obviously we can't have her putting the two of you in harm's way," the leader said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Look, I didn't leave them there without a means to protect themselves," Reens tried to defend herself.
"I'm confident, what was her name, Cinder? Tha-that she's keeping the other three in-check."
"Why so uneasy, Xavier? Carmine's more than capable of scouting an area for danger, aren't you Carmine?"
"Sorry, but... I know you don't like her in the slightest," he said, glancing at Reens, "And you blame her for everything th
at's happened... So you suddenly wanting her to stay here seems... off." He turned away, taking a second to breath. "I'll trust you with leadership, but I... I won't trust you with her." His face reddened slightly.
Reens looked down, rubbing her arm.
The leader turned and got into Xavier's face. "We'll discuss it later," he said under his breath. "I'm trusting you to go with Carmine and make sure the area is safe. If it isn't, then we can't move forward."
The other members of the large group whispered amongst themselves, eyes focused on Reens and the argument. Reens lowered her head and walked away from them, to avoid their eyes.
The cat who had spoken earlier walked up next to her and passed her. "Honestly, I wasn't as excited as I appeared to be," he said with a scowl. "Especially since it's you and all. But still, I wouldn't be surprised if he left you behind."
The lights on Xavier's gauntlets glowed brighter as energy lightly crackled around his clenched hands for a few seconds. "With all due respect, I would still prefer her to come with too. She knows the way back better than I do anyway."
Ugh, what a blind guy! Carmine thought with an eye roll. "Well, I'm definitely going. I don't care about if anyone is joining, or whoever does," Carmine cynically stated.
Reens looked down and blushed.
"Fine, whatever," the leader said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Just make sure you bring a report back to me."
Reens let herself be tugged by Kelsie briefly, then accidentally bumped into Xavier's chest. "Oh, er, sorry. Well, if we've got everyone let's get a move on, right?"
She started walking towards the valley before looking at the leader in her peripheral view. He was tense, muttering to himself in a low tone.
Xavier simply folded his arms and followed too. Though, his face was still a little red...
"Xavier, are you feeling okay?" Reens asked as they walked. "Your face looks like a berry."
"I-I-I'm fine, just a little heated, I guess..." He said, avoiding direct eye contact as his face reddened slightly more.
"Oh, alright. Do you want some water?" she asked, forming a small orb with one hand.
"Not just Xavier, I mean, anybody can have some," Reens corrected herself quickly.
Reens blinked, confused, then dissipated the orb of water. "We're going to the valley to explore some more, ya know, for 'safety' reasons," she said, using her fingers as quotation marks.
"Stop faking, kid," Carmine said, not even looking up from her phone. "It's so obvious it hurts."
Reens' ears folded back and she winced. "Um... okay, then..." she stammered, clearly uncomfortable. "Why don't you guys just, er..."
"Temper tantrum, much? Calm down and get yourself together. And don't yell so much, I like being able to hear."
They passed by Servius' cave again, but this time Servius was a bit near the entrance, scratching some rubies off the wall.
He didn't notice them, or if he did he acted as if he didn't care. He picked off a ruby and grunted, flicking it to the ground.
Picking off another ruby and flicking it, Servius kept doing his thing as the group passed him.
"That's the local we met earlier," Reens explained to the others as they passed by. "He's nice enough, if he wants to be."
Servius raised his head slightly as he heard his name, but let it down again after picking out another ruby. "They just aren't being made right," he mused.
===Trouble In Paradise===
When they finally made it to the valley, Kris stood up from the flower crown he was making with Kelsie. "Hey, they're back you guys! And they brought some more friends!"
"I'm no friend of Reens. I'm here to scout the area," Carmine stated coldly.
"Kelsie, geez. Keep your excitement to like a two, okay?" Kris rubbed his temple. "Sorry about my sister."
Cinder and Elizabeth were further down the valley where it was more flat, looking like they were trying to build something out of some logs and branches.
Kelsie teleported again and settled on Reens' back. "So, are they comin'?"
"Not sure," Reens replied. "What are the others up to?"
"They're makin' houses!" Kelsie said with a giggle. "Or at least I think they're houses."
"What are you so excited about, anyway? We're just people, nothing special. Your everyday citizens."
Kelsie shrugged, grinning. "What isn't there to be excited about? New friends, new houses, a new family!"
Kris groaned and kicked a rock with one shoe. "We don't know if everyone else is actually gonna come, Kelsie."
"But when they do, we'll all live together!" Kelsie retorted, playing with Reens' ear.
Reens gently let Kelsie off of her back and stretched. "Well, while you guys keep doing whatever you were doing, I think it'd be best if Carmine and Xavier checked out the rest of the place. I'll come too but behind them."
Kelsie scampered off and came back, holding a flower crown in her hands. "Miss Reens? Wear this!" she said, placing it on her head. "Don't you look pretty! I'm gonna make some more!" she chirped, going back to get more flowers.
"I'll be going," Carmine said before starting to walk forward.
"Guess I'm going with you," Xavier said, following the fox.
Reens looked up at the flower crown and straightened it on her head. She followed behind the two, at a safe distance.
Why is everyone I meet so fond of the catalyst of this all? It's ridiculous! Carmine thought, grumbling. I swear, when she's finally exposed, people aren't gonna keep seeing her as an angel. "So, Xavier, where should I go?"
"I have no idea," the hedgehog answered bluntly, "I guess... we make a perimeter around the valley and see if there's anything of interest around? I don't know..."
Reens sighed, walking behind them still. She looked at Carmine, then frowned. 'I know she doesn't like me, but then again not many do,' she thought to herself. 'If I could prove myself to her...'
A soft rustle in the grass caught Reens' ear. She looked down and saw a rabbit chewing on some grass.
"Aw, hey there little guy," she said, bending down to look at the rabbit closer. "You're so cute!"
The rabbit nibbled on some more grass before hopping away. She looked after it and smiled.
Reens' eyes widened. "Oh... goodness..."
There was suddenly a sound of crashing wood coming down from Cinder and Elizabeth. It appeared whatever they were building had collapsed. The tenrec then screamed in frustration, and set the wood up in flames.
"What happened?" Reens asked, running in the direction of the crash.
She readied orbs of water just in case on her way to the site. "Is anyone hurt?"
Dousing out smaller fires around them, she checked Cinder and Elizabeth over for injuries.
"We're fine..." Cinder huffed, sitting down in the grass. The fire began to die as she calmed down. Elizabeth tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but was too scared and withdrew. "I... I'm... sorry..." the great horned owl said fearfully. "I... I told you... I-I'm no good with... architecture..."
"What happened over here?" Carmine said, running over with speed. "Did you guys escape people who wanted to experiment on you?"
Reens moved out of Carmine's way, then let her water dissipate.
"We were trying to build a shelter," Cinder answered with an aggravated tone.
"Well, it's okay! We can always build another one, right?" Reens asked. "I'm not great at building stuff either but I'm sure we can figure it out together."
"....are you guys good at building shelters? Because based on what I'm seeing... y'all don't look the most experi-" Carmine was cut off by Reens, and she clenched her fists and growled at the hedgehog.
Reens looked over at Carmine and gulped. "Sorry, did I interrupt? I didn't mean to."
"Sure you didn't..." Carmine said before glaring at the hedgehog.
"If I'm being honest," Kris said to no one in particular while looking over at Reens, "I don't trust the 'leader' at all."
"Why not?" Kelsie asked, popping into existence in front of him. "He may be a meanie but at least he's letting us stay here."
Reens finished putting out fires, then started walking over to the woods. "Well, if we're gonna build more shelters, we'll need more wood," she said. "It'll give us an excuse to explore these wooded areas too, just in case, yeah?"
She then turned to ask Cinder. "Did you guys use an axe or something to get wood or did you just break it down?"
"Do you see an axe around here?" The tenrec replied sharply.
"Um... no," Reens replied, shrinking back. "Sorry, I'll just, er, kick it down I guess," she sighed, leaving them to do so.
She stopped in front of a tall tree, looking up at it. "I mean, I could use water to break it down," she mused to herself. "But I don't wanna get carried away."
Reens shrugged and created some blades out of water, starting to hack at the tree.
Reens jumped out of the way, ready to get the tree when it fell.
"Okay, now, just a bit more... okay stop!" The tree groaned and creaked, then finally fell over on Reens' side. "Timber!"
Reens' ear twitched and she smiled. "Alright, which one's next?"
As she began cutting, shouting could be heard from a distance. "I heard something!" someone called. "Keep weapons primed and ready. That Gifted cat could be around here somewhere."
"Roger that!" Another voice called back.
Above in the tree, a figure looked down in panic. It was an orange cat with electric blue eyes and a dark blue jacket with gold accents, white shirt, and dark blue and black shoes.
Of all the trees he had to hide in, it had to be the one someone decided to cut down for lumber.
Reens paused in cutting the tree down, perking her ears up.
The tree began creaking from it's trunk being partway cut. The orange cat quickly made a leap for the nearest tree, landing among the branches. Unfortunately, the momentum of his jump was enough to make the tree give in, causing it to begin it's fall with a loud crash. The tree fell away from the group, but still drew the attention of the passing patrol.
Reens jumped at the crash, a few feet in the air. "Just great..."
"We're not going to fight them, you idiots! We need to retreat!" Carmine yelled.
"That would take too long," Reens said hurriedly.
"I'll make an obsidian wall," Carmine said.
"Okay, then! Do what you have to do. If any of them get too close then we'll retreat," Reens agreed.
A black obsidian wall rose out of the ground when Carmine stomped her foot.
One K-tech soldier had flanked around. Peeking behind a tree, he took aim at the group, aiming for Reens. "Target aquired." he said, with a red dot appearing on Reens head. Before he could do anything though, a sudden bolt of electricity shot out of a tree above Reens and co, shocking the soldier and causing his weapon to fire off target. He then dropped to his knees before falling unconscious.
"Now, since you've been properly shut up, let's get moving," Carmine said before turning around and running.
Reens yelped and turned, water orbs formed and ready, then noticed the soldier on the ground. "What..."
"Two confirmed!" Another K-tech soldier said, but before she could fire, another bolt of electricity hit her gun, causing it to spark in her hands. She dropped it out of reflex, and the gun crackled and smoked, rendering it unusable. "Up there, in the tree!" she shouted, and her squad mate fired at where the bolt came from. Meanwhile, the feline quickly jumped from tree to tree, avoiding enemy fire. "I lost sight of the gifted!" the second soldier said. He let out a frustrated grunt.
Hearing the soldiers, Carmine asked, "Should I make a dome so that we can plan?"
Reens kept hidden behind the wall, her orbs still at the ready just incase.
"Reens! Did you hear me? I think we could have a better defense layout!" Carmine whisper-yelled.
Reens was too scared at the moment to respond, and she was starting to shake. "Uh... um..."
"I can't let them see me right now," she whisper-yelled back to Carmine. "Just put up the dome, I'll be fine!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?! We can't lose a quarter-decent member cause they were acting foolhardy!" Carmine said to Reens.
"Would you rather they shoot me on sight?!" Reens replied, slinking lower.
Carmine slapped her forehead hard before grumbling, little lava bubbles exploding behind her. "This is supposed to be easy! Stop making things complicated, we just need the guy in the trees to do his job and we're safe! Now, let's get moving!" Carmine said, making the wall larger and starting to walk the other direction in order to head home.
"We need to call for backup." the male soldier said.
The female soldier gritted her teeth. "We can't wait for backup to arrive. That gifted will end up long gone before they arrive."
"Then I'll come to you!" the feline said, landing on top of the third soldier. As he landed, he fired an electric blast at the other two soldiers, knocking them back and against the downed tree, rendering them both unconscious.
Reens blinked, then slowly started to stand up, moving slowly from behind the wall.
Carmine turned around, realizing nobody was following her. She walked back and saw a feline and a soldier before walking over to them.
The feline saw him reach for the rifle and kicked it away. "Hey, you could really hurt someone with that thing." he said bluntly.
The orange cat moved his foot a bit, so the soldier could at least lift his head. But he kept him pinned.
"You should knock him out. No point in wasting time," Carmine said to the feline.
The feline jumped back, startled by Carmine's unexpected appearance. He quickly regained his footing, though. "Who are you? I don't want any trouble." He said quickly.
"We don't want any trouble either," Reens said, pushing her hands out in front of her as a gesture of peace.
Static took a moment to collect himself, and slow his breathing. "That's reassuring." he said.
"I'm one of the people who thinks these guys should be knocked out. Then, my group can escape," Carmine explained.
Static nodded. "Sorry, this is going to sting a bit." he said to the soldier before placing his hand on the soldier's back. He sent a short electric shock though the soldier, knocking him out in a couple seconds. He then dragged the soldier to position him in a sitting position against a tree.
"Electro, huh?" Reens asked, lowering her hands. "Er... thank you."
"For you know, saving my life."
"No problem." The feline replied. "I've been chased by these people for a while now. And for what? Because I have powers?"
Reens' ears drooped. "You aren't alone in that," she said, trying to make him feel better. She took the flower crown off her head and held it in her hands.
Carmine rolled her eyes. "Enough with this, we should start heading back."
"Heading back?" The orange cat asked. "You have a camp close by or something?"
"Perhaps. That's classified information," Carmine replied.
"Why don't you come with us?" Reens asked, putting her flower crown back on. "Even if this place isn't as safe as we thought I'm sure we can find somewhere even better."
The feline thought about for a few moments. "I . . . I don't know." he said, hesitating.
"I'm sure they'll be more than happy to have another Gifted in our ranks. And besides, you... fight really well," she continued, with a subtle grin.
"Oh, uh. Well, thanks." He said, caught off guard by the compliment. "I guess it couldn't hurt to tag along. I don't really have anywhere else to go." he added, somewhat quietly.
"That settles it then," Reens said with a smile. "By the way, my name is Rain but everyone calls me Reens. That's Xavier, Carmine, Cinder, Kelsie, Kris, Elizabeth." She gestured to each person as she said their name.
Kelsie grinned at Static, then looked him over. Kris just nodded in recognition and flicked his ears. "I think we should go before Jakob gets too anxious," Kelsi said with a shrug.
"Nice to meet you." the cat said, smiling slightly. "Everyone just calls me Static, for obvious reasons." he added with a shrug. He then followed. "So, you mentioned someone else?" Static asked Kelsi.
"Yeah," Kelsi said with a nod. "Jakob's our leader!"
"I don't trust him at all," Kris said sticking out his tongue.
"Why's that?" Static asked.
Kris looked over at Reens, who sighed.
"He basically blames her for everything that's happened."
Static looked at Reens in surprise. "You're kidding?" he asked. "Why would he blame you?"
"Well she did cause all this..." Cinder said somewhat sharply, then turning back to the pile of charred wood that would have been a shelter.
Static raised an eyebrow. "I find that hard to believe." he said
"Look, I couldn't control my powers. I didn't know they were going to capture you and torture you. How could I have known that?!" Reens defended herself.
Static put a hand on Reens' shoulder. "Calm down. You couldn't have known." he said. "This is NOT your fault."
She clenched her fists. "Everyone keeps blaming me for what Kabletech has done. I'm getting tired of it."
"If you didn't lose control of your powers, then someone else probably would have." Static said. "Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think this "kabletech's" been planning this for some time."(edited)
"All they needed was an excuse to turn people against us. You were just unlucky enough to be that excuse." he added.
Reens turned away, wiping her eyes quickly.
Kelsie and Kris looked at each other.
"Forget what your leader said." Static added. "This isn't your fault. It's Kabletech's. End of story."
"I think Static should be leader!" Kelsi piped up, as Kris looked at her.
"Wait, what??" Static said, completely caught off-guard by this.
"Kelsi, why?" Kris asked with a facepalm. "Nobody knows him."
"No. I- I am NOT leader material. I appreciate the thought, though." he said, scratching the back of his head trying not to chuckle at the idea.
"Which is why he should be leader!" She teleported onto Reens' back again. "He can help us!"
Static jumped back, startled by Kelsi's teleporting. It took him a moment or two to regain his composure.
Reens grunted and shook her head. "I don't know if Jakob would like that idea..."
"I- I don't know how much help I could be." he said, not sure if he was comfortable with the idea Kelsi suggested.
This little girl's got more energy than I do. Static thought whimsically
Xavier then returned from scouting out the area by himself. "Well that was uneventful," he muttered, glaring slightly at Carmine. He then looked to Static. "And who's this?"
"This is Static!" Kelsi said excitedly, wriggling up and down on Reens' back. "He saved Reens' life!"
"Aw, all the fun happened without me?"
"I wouldn't call it fun," Kris said lowly. He glared at Kelsi.
"He was chased by Kabletech," Reens explained. "They were in the woods where I was chopping wood for more shelters."
"Funny thing is, I was lucky enough to be hiding in the very tree they decided to cut down." Static adds, with a hint of sarcasm about it being a good thing.
Xavier stiffened. The lights on his gauntlets brightened "You brought Kable Enforcement here!?"
"I was being chased!" Static said, taking a step back. "It's not like I meant to bring them to you."
"Static took them out though," Reens said, trying to defuse the situation.
The hedgehog took a breath and loosened up a bit. "Well at least you took care of them... Did you at least relocate them, though? We don't them stumbling in on us once they wake up... Or others who might be looking for them."
"Not really sure where I can relocate them to." Static said. "I also didn't realize we were close to where your group is."
'Well, I'm not sure if they're still knocked out or not," Reens said with a worried tone. "If they are we can just move them further away from us."
"Servine might know a good place to put them..." Xavier suggested. "Or we just kill them," Cinder said dryly.
"Absolutely not!" Static said.
"We can't kill them!" Kelsie said in fear.
"Why not?" Kris countered. "They wanted to kill us!"
"What good have they done us!?" The tenrec retorted, standing up. "They've killed dozens of us, for no reason!"
"If the world is going to view us as monsters, I'm not going to give them any reason to prove them right." Static said.
"They did one good thing," Reens said, moving closer to her. "They brought our group together."
"Just because they've done horrible things to us doens't mean we need to drop to their level." Static said.
Cinder's only response was a 'Hmph' as she turned away.
Kris lowered his eyes and clenched his fists.
He breathed in and out, holding himself back.
"Believe me, I have every reason to hate them." Static said, his fist tightening. "But I won't let myself become as bad as they are. Most of them are grunts anyway. They follow orders and that's it."
Kelsi hopped down from Reens' shoulders and joined her brother, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Kris?"
"Leave me alone, Kelsi," he grumbled, pushing her away.
Static frowned. He felt like just by being there he was making things worse. "Maybe I shouldn't come with you." he said.
"It's not you, okay?" Kris told him, straightening up. "It's nothing, really. Let's just go back to the main group and we'll take things from there."
Static nodded. "Alright. Lead the way." he said. He then looked at Reens. "You okay?" he asked.
Reens blinked and nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm alright."
"Okay, as long as you're sure." he said.
Kelsi teleported again and sat on Reens' shoulders.
"Let's go!" Kelsi cried excitedly.
With Reens, Xavier, and Static leading the way, with Kelsi on Reens' back, the small group started walking back to the main group. Kelsi played with Reens' hair as they walked, and Kris simply walked next to Xavier.
They passed back in front of Servine's cave, where Servine was snoozing on the side of it.
Static was uneasy seeing the dragon, but soon noticed the group's non-chalant behavior. "I'm guessing he's friendly?" he asked Reens, motioning to the sleeping dragon.
"Friendly enough," Reens said with a smile. "As long as we leave him alone, he won't bother us."
"Good to hear." Static said with some relief.
Servine muttered something in his sleep and turned over as they passed by. "I should've warned them... zzz... I'm sorry..."
Kelsie scratched her head. "Aw, he's sleepy."
As they passed, Static decided to make a little more small talk. "So, I know she teleports." Static said, refering to Kelsie, "But what do the rest of you do?"
Reens looked over at Servine curiously. '*What did he mean by that?' she thought to herself.
"I don't just teleport," Kelsi said with a giggle. "I can move things with my brain!"
"So, telekinesis then?" Static asked.
"Yup," Kris said with a sigh. "I don't know what my powers are; they haven't come in yet." "Maybe they'll be just like me!" Kelsie said with a thumbs-up.
Reens let go of one of Kelsi's legs and formed a small orb of water. "I'm a hydro," she said, throwing it up into the air and letting it dissipate.
"I can heal also," Reens continued, her heart necklace briefly glowing.
"Nice." Static said. "I'm basically just a walking lightsocket. Can shoot lightning and do some electromagnetic stuff."
"Huh," Xavier said. "Well, I produce energy. And that's what these are for," he gestured to his gauntlets, "to regulate my output."
Kelsie played with the flower crown, which had started to dry out, on Reens' head.
"I can make fire," Cinder stated.
"What kind of energy?" Static asked Xavier.
"I'm not sure, but it's extremely potent but unstable, and definitely isn't electricity."
Elizabeth shrunk slightly as she realized Static had asked what their powers were, and she had not answered. "U-um... I..." she stuttered, "I-I can... ma-manipulate... tech...nology..."
"Man how much courage'd it take for you to get that out?" Cinder asked. "Too much..." the owl replied, lowering her head.
"Maybe you can fix Reens' arm," Kelsi said with a tug on it. A small piece of metal fell off and rolled to the ground.
Static picked up the piece and handed it back to Reens. He soon caught himself staring at her arm and looked elsewhere. "I hadn't even noticed that until now." he commented.
Lizzie's head suddenly shot up upon hearing Kelsi, with a fire in her eyes previously unseen. Like something had sparked inside her. "Fix... her arm...?" She looked to Reens. "Would you like me to?"
Reens looked over at Lizzie. "Well... if you can do something about it," she said hesitantly. "I just made it out of bits and pieces I found lying around."
Static looked at Reens in surprise. "You built your arm out of spare parts?" he asked.
Reens blushed. "It's not that great. It's held together with duct tape," she said, placing the piece back onto it.
"Well, I would absolutely love to see what I can... do," Elizabeth, her sudden burst of confidence beginning to fade, "But I... I-I-I think it'd be... best to... w-wait until we're done... done moving..." She shrunk into her shirt, slightly embarrassed.
"It's okay, you don't have to do it now," Reens said quickly, trying to ease Lizzie's worries. "When we get back to camp."
"A bit of a gearhead?" Static asked Elizabeth. "I can see that being useful."
Carmine sighed, and a large hand of molten lava came out of the earth and made a peace sign. "I can control lava, magma, and obsidian, I guess."
Kelsi grinned. "That's awesome!"
"I try my best," Carmine replied.
Kris looked at her. "Maybe I'll have cool powers like that, or maybe I won't have powers at all."
"Aw, don't be sad Kris! I bet you'll get your powers soon!" Kelsi said, climbing down from her perch.
Reens nodded. "I was a bit of a late bloomer too. You're gonna get your powers soon, I promise."
"So, if I may ask, how many people are in your group?" he asked.
"Honestly, I'm not sure," Reens said with a scratch of her head. "Around... 100 or so? Maybe more?"
"A hundred??" Static asked, caught off-guard.
"That's. . . that's a lot of people." he commented quietly.
===A Rift and a Rise===
When they got to the campsite, a lot of the Gifted had made temporary shelters out of their clothing and some large logs. Jakob was directing the setup of a tent until he saw the group out of the corner of his eye. "Well, you're finally back," he said, his tail twitching behind him.
"And you've brought more people here," he continued, looking Static up and down.
"So, what's your report? Is the area safe for us to move?"
"Well, it was at first..." Reens said, with a sheepish scratch of her head.
Jakob walked over to the smaller group and stopped in front of Reens, looking her in the eye. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's my fault." Static said.
"When I met them, I was being chased by Kabletech."
"Kabletech?!" Jakob said, shocked. Some others around him started murmuring.
"Did they follow you?" "Are they still around?" "Did you fight them?"
"I knocked them out." Static said. "So, no we weren't followed."
The murmuring slowed down a little, but the tips of Jakob's ears turned red. "At least you weren't followed! There's no way that place is safe enough for us!"
"Again, I'm sorry." Static said. "If they don't find anything, they may withdraw and leave the area."
"Or, I could lure them elsewhere." he suggested.
Kris clenched his fists and gave Jakob a death glare. Kelsi looked over at him worriedly as Jakob scoffed. "What?"
"Why do you even care?" Kris snapped. "You should've came with us and checked it out yourself. If you had you would've known."
"Why should I listen to you?" Jakob said, pushing past Kris and knocking him over. Kelsi caught him before he hit the ground.
Reens huffed and walked up to Jakob. "You can't just push around kids like that! He's right, you know."
Static tensed, but didn't say anything. Yet.
Kelsi helped Kris stand back up and he sighed.
Jakob sneered at her, his eyes lighting up. "What, you're going to defend him and usurp my authority? You caused this whole mess and I'm going to finish it!" he declared, swiping a foot under Reens' legs and sending her to the ground. He then pulled out a smooth silver dagger. "What do you have to say for yourself, defect?"
"ENOUGH!" Static shouted, appearing in front of Jakob and sending him back with an electric blast.
"You call yourself a leader?!" Static asked, electricity crackling down his arms. "I've known you for not even five minutes and can tell you're just a two bit tyrant!"
Jakob slid back and regained his footing. "Oh, now you're defending her too?" He formed a fireball in his hand and threw it at Static.
"Yes I am!" Static said. "You've used her as a scapegoat for long enough!"
Reens got up slowly, then dusted her legs off.
Kris and Kelsi stood off to the side, their faces agape.
Xavier stood by Static's side, energy crackling around his hands.
"She's not a scapegoat," Jakob retorted, jumping into the air with his aerokinesis and firing another fireball at them. "It's the truth! Anyone here can see it!"
Kelsi eventually grabbed Reens' hand and led her away from the fight as the rest of the group made a large circle to give them some room.
"No it's not!" Static said, sending a ball of lightning to collide against the fireball. He quickly dashed forward to close the distance and stretched his hand towards Jakob, sending an arc of electricity to stun him. "Think about it: Kabeltech had to have been planning this for a long time. How do you think they got set up so quickly? If Reens hadn't lost control of her powers, then someone else would have. This was going to happen one way or another!"
Jakob dodged the arc of electricity by using his aerokinesis to fly over it. "I'm not the only one who blames her. Sure, it could have happened to someone else, but just look at them!"
Jakob then pressed his hands together and sent out some strong winds, in order to blow Static and Xavier away with them.
Xavier wound up flying back and colliding with a tree. He looked up at Jakob with a sharp glare, his eyes beginning to glow.(edited)
Static crouched down, digging into the dirt with one hand and using his other arm to block the wind from his face. He then fired a bolt of lightning at Jakob. This time the attack was too fast to avoid, and because it was a bolt of lightning, it was hardly effected by the strong winds.
A lava hand rose from the earth, and another one followed. "Guys, stop this or I'll take all of you out. Sure, I hate Reens, but this is nothing to be fighting like this for."
"Tell that to him!" Static shouted.
Jakob was hit with the lightning, then stopped the winds, falling from his position and to the ground, slightly charred.
A large obsidian wall rose in front of Jakob.
Many more followed around him to make a square dome.
He coughed, then formed another fireball, throwing it at the walls to weaken them.
Static stood up, prepared to move if Jakob attacked again, or to dodge the lava hands that had risen up out of the ground. "Look, I don't want to fight you." He said. "But you're kind of forcing me to."
Carmine put one of the walls, the one in front of him, down. "Jakob, if you don't calm the hell down, a boatload of lava's coming your way."
"You hate her just as much as I do, maybe even more!" Jakob said with a chuckle. "Why are you even fighting against me when you could join me and take her out for good? We both know she's no angel."
Reens, watching everything go down, clenched her fist.
"Reens?" Kelsi asked her, worried. "Are you okay?"
"Do I want her kicked? Yes. Her recklessness made my life hell. Do I want to start a civil war right now? No. Not yet. Not while we've been put in this war against these normal people. I'm all for kicking each others' ass after, but right now, we need peace. She's not an angel - not even close - but you're one hell of a devil."
Reens' ears lowered, and a dark shadow started to come over her face.
Jakob huffed, then formed a few more fireballs along with heavier winds. "Who cares who's a devil or an angel? We're all going to die whether by Kabletech or not!"
"You know what you are?" Static asked, dashing so quickly that he almost appeared to teleport to Jakob's side and deliver a swift electrical kick to his stomach. "You're a coward!"
"Stop attacking! Use your brain and not your feet!" yelled Carmine.
Meanwhile Xavier approached Reens and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. She would be able to feel the energy surging out of him, but not to any painful degree.
"All you do is intimidate others into falling in line, and push around those who have a spine to speak up." Static continued
Jakob stumbled back, flat onto his bottom, then fumbled for his dagger.
A lava hand grabbed his dagger, slowly absorbing it. "How about no," Carmine teased.
"And for what? Just because you think 'we're all going to die anyway?'. You don't care about these people at all! You only care about what you can do for yourself until the end comes!"
"These people need someone to look to for guidence. Not someone to bark orders at them and push them around!"
Reens blinked and looked up at Xavier, smiling at him and mouthing 'thank you' as she calmed down.
"Not my fault you're too slow," Carmine muttered back.
"And what do you do when things go wrong? You take the easy way out: blaming someone else that's an easy mark."
Jakob hacked and coughed, then glared. "So you think you could do so much better than I?"
"That's where you're wrong, Electro," Carmine said.
Static gave a quick glance to Carmine, as though to say Not now. "Honestly, I think almost anyone here could." Static retorted to Jakob.
Jakob looked over at Carmine, then back to Static. "Go ahead then. Take over and lead them all to hell."
"Wasn't that your plan?" Static remarked.
"Or were you going to run for the hills last minute?"
He stood up shakily, his hands on his knees.
A hand reached for his throat and started holding him aloft, color draining from his face.
The hand belonged to none other than Reens, who had changed into a darker hue.
"Reens, no!" Static dashed forward, attempting to break Reen's grip on Jakob's neck.
She stared Jakob right in the eyes, then growled. "Leave here, and take your shriveled butt far away. I never want to see your face ever again, you hear me?! Leave me, and everyone else, alone!"
Xavier stepped back, shocked at her outburst.
Jakob swallowed thickly as Reens let go of his neck, then turned tail and ran.
He ran past everyone, who were shocked and whispering in fear.
"R...Reens...?" Xavier asked.
Reens turned around and saw everyone staring at her, then reverted, and gasped.
Static looked at Jakob as he ran before looking to Reens, at a loss for words.
Her eyes welled up with tears, and she started running in the opposite direction.
Static watched Reens as she ran off. He wanted to follow her and console her, but, with Xavier already running after her, he was stuck with a lot of eyes on him. Oh great, everyone's looking at me. Static thought. I guess since what's his name is gone, somebody's gotta take charge. Static had a lot of doubts about being a leader, but it didn't seem like he had much choice. In a twist of irony, Fate had decided to thrust the role of leader upon him. He took a breath to calm down and turned to Carmine. "Well, what now?" he said. Given Carmine's actions, he guessed that she was the closest thing to a second in command.
"Reens was reckless. She could've done anything! It's like puking - you feel the urge, and you decide what you do after that. I wonder if she even freaking tried! I bet she just let it happen. Meanwhile, freaks like me noticed my ability and was able to find out how to use it well instead of exploding like a maniac!" Carmine sighed. "That's why I have it out for her, Sparky. She's not perfect. Not even quarter-perfect. And I'm sick of everyone kissing up to her like she's a freaking god! She messed up, and everyone's giving her all their love once she gives 'em puppy eyes. God!" Carmine ranted for a bit before sighing. "Jakob wasn't completely wrong. And that's not even it!"
"Who's going to be our leader now? We can't decide it with this tiny group of people. Reens said it herself - we have at least 100 people in our group. Just deciding our 'leader' now would be selfish. And you, Electro. Why are you already starting to look like you are our leader? You just got here! With those other 100 people, we should make a better decision. But if we're not going back for a while, then I say that it's best if we have an election instead of just deciding based on who talks the most." Carmine gasped for breath.
"Let me make a few things clear." Static said. "First, I am not looking to take over or be leader. At all. And I agree, who takes charge should be up to the majority vote."
"Second," Static continued. "Cut Reens a break. Not everyone can control their powers as well as you think they should."
"I wasn't there, so I won't judge her and act like I know wether or not she tried."
"It's not about completely controlling them. No one's perfect. But they can try, and I felt like Reens didn't even do that much! And because she ran away, we can't get her input. Why did she run, anyway? Save for me, this group is really accepting - maybe too much for its own good. It's just like not only she ran away, her sanity did too? Where's the logic in that? 'I yelled at someone who most people hated, I need to run away!' Ugh!" Carmine ranted again, more of her dislike for Reens showing.
"Are you even capable of empathy?" Static asked. "She ran because she was embarassed and felt ashamed. She wasn't herself when she grabbed Jakob. Whatever made her do that, it wasn't within her control."
Static sighed. "Look, we can argue about this later. We have a few things to deal with first."
"That just sounds like an excuse. She had every right to yell at that fool, but there was nothing to be embarrassed and ashamed about. It's simple - she got frustrated, and al of emotions bubbled-" Carmine heard him say they should stop. "Fine. I yield."
"I'm guessing you were something like a second in command when Jakob was around?" Static asked.
"What, me? I was more the girl who just asked important questions to clarify important stuff. The 'second-in-command' title would probably go to Reens or Xavier," Carmine answered.
"Given how Jakob hated Reens, I find that surprising." Static said. "Anyway, where do you think we should go from here? If it's too dangerous to stay here, that is."
"I say that we should either go find Reens, which is a task Xavier would be best for, or go group up with another squad - one with a competent, actually sane leader," Carmine replied.
"I think he already went after Reens." Static said, "but I'll go to check on her too."
"You do that," Carmine said dismissively.\Reens had ran as far and as fast as she could, but now she was getting tired and slowing down. Her face was slightly red from crying, and her eyes were puffy.
'It happened again,' she thought to herself, hugging her sides. 'It took over me again... I don't know what came over me...'(edited)
The flower crown she had worn was now discarded on the ground, the flowers beginning to wither.
'Now I get why Carmine hates me,' she continued. 'I'm a coward. I caused this whole thing and everyone looks at me like I did nothing wrong. I'm just trying to be kind and it's backfiring in my face.'
She decided to take deep breaths and tried to calm down, pacing slightly.
Servine was doing a usual flight when he saw Reens below him. He considered landing in front of her, but decided against it and landed a few feet away from her.
"What are you doing back here?" he asked her, picking his teeth with a claw. "You seem... troubled."
Reens turned and blinked. "I could ask you the same thing," she said.
Servine simply flapped his wings. "I was taking another flight around my territory when I noticed you," he said nonchalantly. "Not like I would be one to get involved in your petty drama."
"Right," she said, looking down. "I get it."
He looked at her again, then walked back inside his cave, tossing a ruby at her. "Here, take this trinket. I have no use for it, so you can dispose of it."
Reens barely caught the ruby, then looked at it before putting it in her pocket. "Um..."
"Don't thank me," he continued. "Leave my territory."
Rubbing the ruby in her hand, she started walking back to the camp.
"Reens!" Xavier exclaimed when he saw her, running up to her. "What-what happened!? What was-- A-a-are you okay?"
Reens gasped and ran to Xavier, wrapping him in a hug. "Xavier? You came for me?"
"O-of-of course," he replied, his face turning red. After a few seconds he hugged her back.
She pulled away, slightly red herself. "I'm sorry about that; I just... didn't think you would come after me," she admitted with a sigh.
Static came up, having run as fast as he could after he finished talking with Carmine. "Reens, are you okay?" he asked, taking a moment to catch his breath.
He would be bearhugged by Reens as well, slightly knocking him off his feet.
"Static! You came too?"
Static feel backwards, not expecting the hug. "Whoaa!" he had tried to hug Reens as he fell, but ended up taking her down with him by accident, landing with a slight thud.
"Oof!" he gasped. "Of course I came. I was worried about you. Are you okay?" he asked again.
"Ah!" Reens ended up momentarily straddling him, but jumped up quickly to help him up. "Oh, sorry about that! I'm just excited to see you both."
Static accepted the help. "No worries. I get knocked down more than you'd think." he joked.
"But, I wanted to make sure you were okay. What happened back there?"
"Me too, and, yeah..."
Reens' eyes lost their momentary spark, and she calmed down. "Well... that's the thing." She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "You won't... judge me... will you?"
Static shook his head. "No." he said. "Of course I won't."
"And I don't think he would either, right?" he added, looking at Xavier
"Absolutely not," Xavier said with dead seriousness.
Breathing in, Reens began. "Well, you noticed when I, er, attacked Jakob I wasn't myself."
Static nodded, listening closely.
She held the ruby in her pocket tight, rubbing it. "It was because he reminded me of when I was captured. When I was captured, there were three soldiers. They were young, almost my own age."
"I was scared. I had no idea what they were going to do to me. I fought them off at first, but they kept coming. One of them shot at me, and I was hit in my side."
"That made me angry. Angry at myself that I had been hit so easily. The sadness of being by myself without anyone near me, plus the anger of being so easily hurt, kept building up."
"Then, they started to drag me away. Something in me... something dark... rose up, and I snapped."
"I..." She paused, chewing on her lower lip. "... I drained the moisture out of their bodies and left them for dead."
Static cringed a little when he heard that, but didn't say anything.
"After that, I tried my best to be happy even in my circumstances. I tried not to get angry, I tried not to act on my feelings, but Jakob... he just made it go too far... I would've drained him too if something hadn't stopped me." She finished, then clenched her fist. "I'm such a coward. Carmine's right to hate me."
"You're not a coward." Static said.
Xavier idled for a second, then leaned in and gave her a hug. "It's okay..."
"We all lose control at some point. All we can do is move forward."
Static would've hugged Reens too, but since Xavier was already hugging her, that'd have made it awkward.
Reens smiled and hugged him gently back. "Well, I think it's time for us to head back. I'll have to endure a good tongue-lashing from Carmine, but honestly I deserve it. Thank you both for coming after me. It means a lot."
Reens took a deep breath and stretched, releasing some tension.
"Anytime." Static said in response to Reens thanking them for checking on her.
"Of course."
"So, we should start getting back," Reens said, letting go of the gem in her pocket and beginning to walk forward.
"Yep." Static said, walking besides Reens.
Xavis followed on Reens' other side.
Static put his hands in his jacket pockets. He opened his mouth to say something, but then decided against it.
Looking at him through her peripherals, Reens cocked her head slightly but didn't say anything.
Eventually, the trio returned to the mai  camp, where Carmine was waiting.
===Accusations, Apologies and Anger===
"Well, well, well. Look who gathered the courage to come back," Carmine said, glaring at Reens when she saw the trio return.
"Give her a break, Carmine," Xavier retorted.
"Xavier, it's okay. Just let her talk." Reens said, looking at her. "Go ahead."
"I'm sorry if I'm annoyed that someone who's practically worshipped around here ran away with her tail between her legs for being a decent Mobian for once," Carmine shot back at Xavier.
"For once?!" Static asked, annoyed.
"But anyway, I really can't believe you. People look at you like a leader, and you go and send a very useful member off? Couldn't you see I was very clearly trying to get him to stay? Because of your recklessness, we have one more target on our back!"
"Having him stick around would've been putting a target on our backs, regardless." Static said.
"We're better off without him."
"Oh, and that's just the first part. After you do that, you run away like you just killed a bunch of people! Like, seriously, it's so annoying! Anyone else runs away, they're expected to get over it eventually and come back, but when you run away, you have a bunch of people who're going to treat you sooo special. What makes you different, huh?"
Reens said nothing, but simply took it without showing any resistance.
"Enough, Lava lips." Static said. "I'm getting sick and tired of you constantly whining about every little thing. At least Reens is trying to make up for whatever she did in the past. Meanwhile, you just keep finding every excuse to complain and run your mouth."
"And you, Electro, whether he was annoying or not, he's Mobian. And you know, Mobians have feelings! Reach out to things he knows to try to get him to relate to our cause, don't just send him off to cry to the people who treat us like freaking guinea pigs!" Carmine continued.
"What would you know about feeling?!" Static said. "You seem pretty heartless to me!"
"And I was trying to make sure he didn't kill someone else!"
"Or are you overlooking that just because it's Reens?"
Kelsi and Kris were about to go and hug Reens, but held back because of the intense shouting match.
"We get it. You hate Reens. We got it. Loud and clear."
"What would you know?! Been here for less than a day, but you think that you've been here for a freaking month?! How long do you think I've been thinking this, but put it away because I was smart enough to know that it would've ben a ginormous nuisance to the mission?"
The two looked at each other in fear, holding one hand in the other.
"What mission?" Static asked.
"Our mission to stay alive!"
"I'd say getting rid of Jakob improved those odds."
Xavier simply stayed quiet, not knowing what to say.
Reens bit her lip, about to reply, but stopped herself before she said anything.
"And you're right! The fact that I hate Reens is obvious! But as you have just proven, when people see me take a shot at her, they think that I'm just a bratty teenage girl going through a delayed emo stage!" Carmine shot back. "People treat Reens like an angel. What has she done that's so great, huh? The reason our lives are hell is because of her, and everyone loves her!" Carmine continued.
"Because she tries to make the best of a bad situation." Static said. "And honestly, what she's done is nothing compared to-" he stopped himself.
"Look, arguing isn't going to get us anywhere." he said, trying to calm down.
"And you think that I'm overlooking Jakob 'cuz of Reens? As if! I stamp my feet into the ground, and you get a layer of protection, he couldn't have touched us!" Carmine said. Static saying they should stop only made her face flush.
"So now you're trying to prove me wrong, only to say we should stop? What was the point of you getting involved then?!" Carmine yelled.
Kelsi and Kris moved over to Reens and the others quietly. "Um... could you... please stop yelling?" Kris asked with a shaky tone.
"We'll discuss it later." Static said.
"Unless you'd rather do it now."
"Really? Seems to me that it's just me, him, the twins, and Elizabeth who treat her with respect. And speaking for myself, it's because I care about her," Xavier said. "She's the one who set me free, and I feel like I owe her that." "As far as I'm aware, nobody else treats her with such high regard as you say."
"Fine. I'll end all of my points in periods now," Carmine said to the twins before shooting a fierce glare at Static. "And you really think, after everything I've said, that I'd like to 'do it later?' What are you thinking? I want a debate. I want Reens to tell me a flaw in my argument."
"She messed up, and ruined tons of lives in the process. I had friends, you know. But when I saw that bit of lava spurt out of the ground, I knew that my social life was over. Maybe I could've hidden it. Maybe, if Reens didn't make a show of the fact that some people had powers, everything could've been normal. But she didn't, and everything changed," armine went on.
"And if it wasn't for her, someone else would've screwed up." Static said.
"And we'd be here regardless."
"Besides, Kabletech's the one that took it too far."
"Do you really think those hundred people in our group want to be here? People have parents, kids, friends, and people who depend on them. And Electro, you have a fair point there, but it doesn't change the fact that Reens was the one who did it, and she's the reason we're here."
"And she's been trying to make up for it ever since." Static said.
"You think she does this to be some sort of angel. You're wrong."
"And as much as I want to step all over Kabletech, what were they supposed to do when they learned there were people with powers? They definitely could've toned it down a hundred notches, and-" Carmine looked towards Static. "You don't know what I think."
Reens took a deep breath and sighed. "Carmine, to be honest... everything you've said is true. I can't tell you a flaw in your argument because there aren't any. I've been a coward, and I understand why you hate me. I'm not trying to be an angel. I've just been trying to be kind, and it's blown up in my face. If you want me to leave, I understand that, too. But I think I should at least try and rectify what I've done. If I can't, then you can force me to leave. I can understand either way."
Static stared at Reens, almost unable to believe what he heard.
Xavier simply pat her on the shoulder.
"Feh. I can't force you. I hate you, but I don't want you dead. I'm not Jakob."
"Speaking of Jakob," Static said. "If you agreed with him so much, why did you help us instead?" "Except for the "wanting Reens dead" part".
"But what I can say is that there is one thing that has pissed me off about you for so long?" Carmine turned towards Static, seeing he'd asked a question - an important one. "Because I'm not a mentally insane bimbo. Plus, he was a jerk who couldn't calm down... or maybe he could've if you let me do my thing instead of sending him off, but whatevs."
"Anyway, Reens, have you ever thought of apologizing?"
"To whom?" Reens asked. "To everyone here?"
"You and others keep saying you're trying to 'make up for your mistakes,' but I haven't even heard a 'sorry.' And yes, to everyone here. People who had to leave everyone and everything they loved because you couldn't help yourself. You could at least apologize. Because you say you're trying to improve, but you haven't shown anything. Actions speak louder than words, Reens, and if that's the case, you're practically silent."
"Do you really think he'd actually go to Kabletech and try to tell them where we are?" Static asked.
"We told him we found a valley and its general direction, that's about it," Xavier said.
"They'd lock him up before he could," Carmine replied to Static.
"Exactly." Static said.
Static looked at Reens, Xavier and the twins, seeing they were staring at him and Carmine for agreeing on something for once. "What?" he asked.
Reens sighed and turned to the group as a whole. "Um, everyone?"
"Yes?" Carmine asked, starting to cool down.
Some of the others turned toward her, ears perked.
She took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I... I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry that I ruined your lives. Took you away from your families and friends, and your jobs, and your homes."(edited)
"I'm sorry I've been such a coward. I'm sorry I ripped your lives apart just to try and save mine. In being kind, I was also being selfish."
"Why are you telling us this?" Crymson asked cluelessly, having missed the whole argument.
"If you don't forgive me, I understand that. If you don't respect me, I understand that. If you want to hate me, I understand that too. I just wanted to rectify my mistakes, but I caused more damage than I cleaned up, and even then I hardly cleaned anything up."
Reens took another breath. "Just know that I want to try making up for everything I've done. And if that means everyone in the world hating me, then so be it."
Xavier patted her on the back after she finished.
Murmurs started popping up among the group.
Crymson, thinking that he wasn't heard the first time because of the fact he didn't stand out, ran and jumped on another members' shoulders to yell "WHY ARE YOU TELLING US THIS?!"
Reens was startled momentarily. "You didn't... you didn't hear the arguments?"
"What arguments?" Crymson asked. A large rock of obsidian fell from above, knocking him off the other member and causing him to fall on his face. Carmine simply whistled.
"Sorry about him."
A few of the members started talking among themselves.
"Do we... believe her?" "Honestly, I don't know who to believe." "I don't." "I kinda do..."
Crymson ran through the crowd, all the way up to Carmine. "Hey, did you have any part in this? Did you make Reens sad?"
"Happy?" Static asked Carmine. "Well, happier?"
Carmine chuckled. "I guess she's been knocked down twenty percent on the Hate-O-Meter."
"YOU HATE REENS?!" Crymson asked before gasping.
Reens looked over at Crymson wiih a slight bead of sweat on her forehead.
"I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry 'bout my sister!" Crymson said, looking at Reens. "She's all emo, 'I was taken from my life,' 'I hate being here,' 'I wish everything was normal.' She's just so... blah."
"She has every reason to be angry." Static said.
"Anyway are we gonna get moving or what?" Xavier asked somewhat impatiently.
"Even if it's not directed at the right person."
"Moving... where?" Reens asked curiously.
"Well there's the valley."
"Why do we have to move? Didn't it take us a while to find a place where it could fit all of us?" Crymson asked..
"Before moving is considered," Static said. "Don't you guys need to decide on a new leader?" he asked. "I'd suggest that owl. I. . . can't remember the name, though.  In fact, I'm terrible about remembering names in general."he admitted.
"You mean Elizabeth?" Reens asked, with a cock of her head.
"Yeah." Static said. "She's smart. I'm sure she'd be a good addition."
"I don't think she'd be too fit for it," Xavier said, "Especially with how nervous she is."
"Where is she, anyway?"
"I thought she was still with Cinder," Reens said, thinking.
"Well, I suggested at least three." Static said. "So even if it's just the three of you, that should work out fine for you."
"Wait, you're the one suggesting things," Reens said with a glance at him.
"Why shouldn't you be part of this?"
"Yeah."
"I kind of just got here." Static said. "Would that really be a good idea? Nobody here even knows me." he added with a frown. That and I don't deserve it. he thought bitterly. "Besides, I. . . I'm not sure I should stay." he hesitantly said.
"Why not?" Kris said, piping up. Kelsi looked over, surprised.
"I. . I dunno." Static said. "I think I might cause more problems just by being here."
"Why?" Kelsie asked, joining in with Kris. "We like you, and Reens likes you, and Xavier likes you, and I dunno about the fox girl..."
Static stayed silent. He wasn't sure what to say. Part of him wanted to stay; he had nowhere else to go after all. And at least a few people here did like him. But another part of him felt like he didn't belong. That all he would end up doing is causing more trouble than he already has caused.
A few people looked back and forth between each other.
A screeching roar suddenly echoed through the area.
===Wyvern Worries===
Static jumped at the sound, almost clearing enough vertical distance to hop a bus.
Jakob was hanging from the creature, screaming at the top of his lungs. "I'm gonna die! Help me! I'm gonna die!"
"This doesn't look good!" Crymson said, running forward. Carmine followed after him.
Carmine stamped her foot into the ground, and a tiny pillar of obsidian appeared where Crymson was about to step, causing him to fall. "Crymson, don't be reckless!" she said before turning around. "What are we gonna do about that thing?"
"What can we do about it?" Static asked.
"I could try messing with the dragon's blood," Crymson said with a shrug.
"From here, or would you have to get close?"
"A bit closer, but it's practically nothing," Crymson replied.
Static crossed his arms, thinking. "I know you probably don't want to risk going after it just for a stranger." he said, "But we can't just do nothing. Right?"
Reens looked up at the wyvern, blinking. " I say we get as close as we can and then figure out what to do from there." She looked at the others and shrunk back. "I mean, if you think it's a good idea."
"Sounds good to me." Static said. "At least assess the situation, so to speak."
Reens looked at Carmine. "Alright with you, fearless leader?" She also looked over to Xavier.
"I guess so. I don't have a better plan," Carmine replied.
"Okay, then. Let's save that person!" Reens said with a slight grin.
Kris and Kelsi jumped up. "Yeah! Let's do it!"
"I have no objections, but I want to make sure where Cinder and Elizabeth are," Xavier said.
"Where were they last? I thought they came back with us from the valley," Reens mused.
Kelsie nodded. "I thought they came back with us too."
Kris just scratched his head. "Did that monster get them too?" "I hope not! That was scary," Kelsie said with a slight whimper.
"Maybe we should split up?" Crymson suggested. "With that beast on the loose, that'd be a really ballsy move," Carmine replied.
"True, but if we split up then half of us can go after the creature and the others can find Cinder and Lizzie, then meet back up," Reens thought out loud. "It's risky but it could work."
Static thought this over. "On the one hand, there's some safty in numbers." he said. "On the other hand, we can get more done by splitting up."
"I say we split up," Carmine said. "If we work together, there's no way we'll lose!" Crymson argued. "Though that by itself is in no way a good point, it could pick us off one by one, if we do split..."
Xavier wasn't sure how to contribute to the situation. "I'll go look for them myself," he said, preparing to head off.
"I'm sure we'll be fine if we split up in groups." Static said to Carmine. "Reens and I can go after that thing, while you two and he go looking for the others." he finished, refering to Xavier.
"I swear they came back with us, so they couldn't have gotten too far. Really doesn't seem like more than a one-person job," Xavier replied, "Meanwhile you're gonna need all the help you can get against that thing."
"So is it settled then?"
Reens asked, fidgeting a little. Kris and Kelsi cocked their heads, also wondering.
Static looked at Carmine, waiting for her answer.
"Yeah. We can take care of this. You guys head on ahead - I'll be thinking of a strategy," said Carmine, looking worriedly at Xavier.
"Okay, then. We'll meet up with you here once everything's been taken care of," Reens said, shaking off her nerves and walking in the direction of the creature.
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