Six

Entering the large clearing used for group training, Morrigan finds that she’s one of the first ones there, and the most awake. Everyone appears to be asleep on their feet, except for the Royal Guard, of course. They look less intimidating now without their uniforms, instead taking on casual t-shirts and pants. Morrigan notices the two guards she had listened to the day before standing side by side, clearly mind-linking each other. 

The Summit Keepers don’t mind-link much since they’re all so close to each other. Oskar could have mind-linked Morrigan a reminder to make dinner the day before, but he didn’t actually care about dinner. The Alpha could mind-link all the warriors to make sure they’re on time for training, but Morrigan guesses that their punctuality is a test.

Looking around, she realizes that she doesn’t see Ander anywhere. Her brows furrowed together, but she doesn’t have much time to dwell on the absence of her brother before Amira appears at her side.

Her hair is still in the intricate braid Jasira had done, but the bags under her eyes give away the fact that is not all put together. Morrigan simply raises an eyebrow at her.

“Father didn’t wake me up, but he definitely made a point of being loud enough to wake me,” Amira says.

As more members start arriving, Morrigan and Amira get lost in conversation, until they’re called to attention by the same male guard Morrigan had listened to the day before. Morrigan quickly stands to attention like she sees the members of the Royal Guard do, and Amira follows her lead. 

No one even noticed the female guard from the day before behind them until she started yelling at people to stand up straight. For being so quiet yesterday, she sure can be loud and intimidating.

“My name is Nicholas, and I am the head of the First Division of the Royal Guard,” the man announces. The woman makes her way to his side. “This is my second in command, Takota,” he introduces. “She and I will be observing and training you for the next few weeks. These weeks will be more intense than you’re used to, and when we leave, you will be stronger than you are now.”

Morrigan listens intently. If she hopes to leave with the Guard at the end of the month, she’ll have to give everything she has in order to prove herself. 

“We will be doing warm ups for a few hours before we will have a break for breakfast, and then we will begin the real training,” Nicholas announces. 

The Summit Keepers exchange nervous glances.

- - - - -

By six o’clock, Morrigan feels the familiar burn in her muscles and lungs from the warm ups. She’s shed her outer layers, now wearing leggings and a sports bra, as the bruises from last night had healed by the time she woke up. Her skin has a sheen of sweat as she harshly swallows the cold liquid from her water bottle. 

They began with some basic stretches before moving into workouts. These included but were not limited to push ups, sit ups, and squats. They were tested on both their muscular strength and endurance. Then Nicholas led them on laps around the territory in both human and wolf form, which even put some of the Guard to the test with the rough terrain. It was only after multiple laps that he dismissed them for breakfast.

Amira all but collapses onto the grass near the commons. Those who had finished their laps quickly had already claimed the benches, and though Morrigan had been one of the first, she had decided to wait for her cousin before sitting down and eating. 

Jasira comes up to the two girls and hands them plates of food, raising an eyebrow at her daughter, sprawled out on the ground. Next to her, Morrigan sits cross-legged and digs in.

“You seem to be taking this very well,” she comments. 

Amira glares at her mother.

“Rigan makes it look so easy,” she complains.

Morrigan reaches a hand out towards Amira, which she takes, and Morrigan pulls her up into a sitting position. Amira grimaces.

“Everything hurts,” she groans, burying her head into her knees.

Jasira holds back a smile at her daughter's antics before looking at Morrigan. Her niece is undoubtedly one of the strongest female warriors in the pack, only below herself and the Luna. She gives Morrigan an encouraging nod before walking away.

Morrigan offers her cousin some supportive words and encourages her to start eating her food. She isn’t sure when Nicholas is going to start training again, and the longer the food has to settle in their stomachs, the better. Amira eventually dials down her dramatics and the two go quiet as they eat their breakfast. Having not had dinner the night before, Morrigan is starving.

The two girls suddenly raise their heads when another person takes a seat in front of them. Morrigan quickly recognizes the lead female guard, the woman from earlier in the morning and from the day before. There’s barely any sweat on her amber skin compared to the soaked bodies of Morrigan and Amira, and her hair hangs limp, coming to end right at her chin. She doesn’t have any food in her hands.

Morrigan’s jaw nearly falls to the ground at the sight of the woman sitting with her, and she stumbles over her words as she tries to think of the right way to address her.

“Second in command Takota,” Morrigan gets out, quickly rearranging herself into a kneel.