“Seriously, guys,” Andre spoke as they walked back on familiar campus grounds after being teleported near the Diner by Rexel’s WardNav. “I can’t thank you enough for the save.”His eyes rested on Bones the longest, which the brooding boy noticed.He scoffed quietly. “Once is enough.”Andre’s smile didn’t waver a single inch. “I don’t know much about you, but I know you wouldn’t go out of your way for no reason. So, thanks again.”It made the dark-haired first-year stop short for a millisecond, his expression shifting with surprise before he hid it with another huff. “Again, I was there at the Diner when I saw you get kidnapped and figured I’d… ‘pay off a debt’?”“Oh, yeah!” Joe perked up. “Rafe told me about how Andre saved you from getting crushed during their orientation.”Bones’ lips pursed in growing indignance, although, a slight blush tinted his cheeks. “And now we’re even. I’m minding my own business from now on.”Rudy chuckled as he saddled up to the young engineer, giving him
Tiny, black ants crept ever so slowly across her arms and back. That was the best way to describe the current state of Lindsay Warlane’s nerves as she anxiously maneuvered through the large space of Ironward Academy’s main building. Seriously, who could find anything in this place? Not only was she a dainty, little thirteen-year-old freshman, but she was surrounded by older, mean-looking upperclassmen who paraded around in massive groups, obviously knowing the ins and outs of the place and were probably internally laughing that the first-years getting lost like lambs.Lindsay sighed and brushed her blue hair back, trying to calm herself in some way. It had been cool in elementary school, using magic to dye it indigo because she loved the beach as a kid, hoping to reflect its waves in her style, but now there were girls with snakes for hair – the gorgons – and others that could literally shift into gorgeous-looking animals. She wondered if there were any liger-“You lost?”Despite the
News truly did become old quite fast in Ironward.The next afternoon, the main building cafeteria was bustling with activity, but, according to Andre’s ears, hearsay of the burning of the first-year dormitories was apparently a thing of the past. More interesting rumors have made their way to the forefront.Now, Rafe, Andre, Joe, Daeran, and Frodd were seated around each other, attempting to shape the coming days of the fight up ahead.“No.”The redheaded barbarian pouted at the blond superhuman. “Come on, lad!”“I dunno,” Joe chuckled as he chewed on his meal – something called moonberry waffles. “Sounds pretty cool. Strength in numbers and all that, right?”Rafe rolled his eyes as he responded to Frodd’s whining. “Dude, I barely know anyone not sitting at this table right now. I don’t think making a big speech about ‘tearing down the status quo’ just a month into starting our first year here is gonna pan out.”“Plus, those guys showed that they were willing to stoop to…” Andre swall
I just wanted to look at the plants.Andre repeated this to himself even as his pursuers howled and growled behind him, taunting as five rowdy teenagers looking for a victim to beat on chased their prey through the soggy vegetation of the forest. Coming out here all alone was already a bad idea, already knowing in the back of his dark brown-haired head that they would follow him, but he couldn’t be afraid forever.Plus, as long as he was compliant, they never went too far with extracting their jollies from the eventual thrashing.“Ye aren't aff tae git far, bleeder!”That heavy Scottish inflection belonged to Jarekid Fenrisulfur. Son of the alpha of the Graybite Tribe and Andre’s longtime tormentor. It was almost like an obsession the way the burly eleven-year-old went after his nine-year-old tribemate. Of course, he sounded way closer than the others.Still, the younger boy galloped on all fours, hurriedly weaving through the famous twisting trees and curling shrubs. The edges of Gra
4 Years Later Dock town afternoons were chockfull of noises that got every busybody rolling. The purposeful and purposeless chatter of workers and neighbors. The drumming of wood as the residents moved down the waterfront boardwalk. The rushing waters as boats sailed to and from the harbor. But what really livened up the day was the sounds of brawling. Thwack! Fwoosh! Zoom! The spectacle that accompanied these noises was a sight to behold. It was not often the populace of Outville Piers got to watch a thirteen-year-old kid duke it out with three robots. However, over the year, since there wasn’t much for the youth to do in the harbor, it became one of the few entertaining things others tuned into to alleviate the boredom. “Let’s go, Rafe!” “Rip them apart!” That’s exactly what happened as Rafe sprinted upon the water like a stone skipping across the lake to lodge a foot into an automaton in the guise of a middle-aged veteran male with a missile launcher for a right arm. The bo
The Graybite Tribe.Also known as the most powerful and dangerous tribe in all of werewolf history. The Northern Claw Nation, which included Graybite and the eleven other tribes in the vicinity, was formidable as a whole, but Graybite reigned at the top in terms of its military prowess and the ability to enforce the will of the Majestic Moon Monarchy, the royal court that ruled over all of wolf-kind.In the Canadian Rockies was the notorious Graveltara Woods, where the Graybite Tribe prospered. There existed the largest bristlecone pine trees known to man and magi, the spiral of each bole twisting high into the sky until they burst into branches that imitated strikes of lightning. Even as Rafe rode upon Beau, who was currently loping in his humongous, maroon-colored wolf form, he could see buildings and homes that looked like a bunch of bungalow birdhouses crammed together. And each tree had that same crowded layout. It was nearly impossible to tell which was a house and which was a s
A mouth-watering waft of cinnamon invaded the room as Jan marched in with a plate of rolls, disapproving eyes laid on Andre. Said omé’s eyes flitted between his caretaker and the plate of delicious cinnamon rolls, tapping his foot with a whimper. Rafe had the sudden need to soothe his friend and shoo Jan out but ignored it this time. He hoped the old woman had a better chance at convincing Andre’s stubborn ass than him.“Yup. You gotta go. No questions asked,” Jan said matter-of-factly as she grabbed a storage cabinet from the corner of the room with one hand and carried it over to them, setting the plate of cinnamon rolls on top of it.Rafe’s eyes widened a bit before remembering the fact that she was a wolf.“But Jan-” Andre began to whine, but Jan cut him off with another glare.She crossed her arms sternly. “Nope. You’re going, Coeur pur, and that’s final. I won’t let you waste you your life away like th’ rest of us here.”“I’m helping out taking care of my brothers and sisters! I
“Inbred…?” Andre’s brows raised in puzzlement, but then lowered in recognition when he saw the approaching trio. “Oh, you mean Axel.”Rafe gave the omé a stern look. “Don’t tell me he harasses you, too?”“No. Well, um, if passing comments don’t count.”Silver eyes narrowed further. “And?”Andre’s shoulders sagged, suddenly exhausted. “A slap or shove here or there.”Rafe had an inkling his friend was treated worse than he was letting on. It was like these groups of egotistical assholes designated him as the tribe punching bag. Somehow, the superhuman was going to have to teach the omega how to throw a punch. But for now, Rafe turned to the three incoming gammas, pounding his fist into his palm.“Looks like we’re ordering takeout on the way.”“Maybe we should just-”“I knew it!” Axel glowered at Rafe. “I knew you weren’t just any random monkey!”The human rolled his eyes, fed up with the accusations the idiot seemed to pull out of his ass. “The hell are you going on about now?”Instea