Renee Eamon:
The vultuzzard roars at us as it flaps its wings. Generating a sandstorm, it knocks us off our feet and into the air. I land in the sand with a loud thud.
Falling on my face, I split some sand out. Pushing myself up, I watch as the vultuzzad flies into the air and circles us.
“Are you okay,” I say running over to Jump. Helping Jump up, she also has to split some sand before dusting it from her hair.
“I’m fine,” Jump replies. She readies her crossbows and looks up. Aiming at the massive vultuzzard as it circles back, she loads a tiny crossbolt.
“I think you’re going to need something a little bigger.”
The vultuzzard dives down toward us. About to hit Jump and me, Hothead runs from the side and swings his flaming sword. Bright red and orange fire shoots out, lighting up the night sky as it forces the vultuzzard back.
“Plan,” Hothead says, looking a
Headmaster Noah: "And to Maximus Beor, Griff Beolagh, Durmad Gerald, and Alice Astrid, I present this crest." Using the game pieces the four received, I combine them into a single crest before holding it up for everyone to see. Once I do, I award the crest to Maximus and his new team. "This crest represents strength," I say after handing it over. I place my hands on the podium and face the hundreds of students with their eyes on me. I look past the blinding lights and stare right at the students. "Strength means more than just how strong a person is," I start, "It means how strong you make others, and how much stronger they will make you. Maximus Beor, from this point forward, you and your team will be known as Team MGDA (mega)." The students cheer as Maximus and his newfound team walk from one end of the stage to the other end. They disappear from the lights as I reach over for the next crest in line. "Corentin Keanu,
Hothead: "I am the greatest fighter ever," I yell, raising my sword high into the air. There, below the mountain of defeated animals is the whole village of Norwood. Everyone is there. Even Headmaster Strictcon. They are all chanting my name over and over. "Hothead! Hothead! Hothead!" "Hothead," Headmaster Stricton yells, shooting his fist into the air. "You are indeed the greatest fighter ever!" "Hothead," they chant. "Hothead! Hothe--Riinggg!" "Ahh," I say, turning away from the sound. "What in the world? What was that sound?" "Hothead! Hothead! Hot--Ringgg!" "Ahh!" This time, the strange noise is so loud I have to cover both my ears. "Riingg! Riingg! Riingg!" My eyes snap open. When they do, I don't see the mountain of defeated animals or the village of Norwood. Instead, I see the wooden bottom of the bed above me. "Ringg!" "Ahh," I moan when I hear the most an
According to history books, the day the world changed was when the sun exploded. It was just one day. One day like any other day, except something extraordinary happened. Something that no one thought they would ever see. At least, not for a few billion years. The sun had exploded. The once bright-yellow sun, shining high in the sky, given the planet warmth and light had exploded. As the sun exploded, it shook the very Earth. People were scared and panicking. They feared for their lives, but once they calmed down, and looked up, they saw it. They saw a new red sun. Everyone was stunned and amazed. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Their eyes were glued to the sun. Scientists all over the world immediately started to study it. They took thousands of notes and recordings, detailing everything. The scientists wanted to know everything they could and moved with haste. Even the people were interested in their new sun. For a while, it seemed magnificent. Then, it started to happ
Hothead: "Watch out," Jump yells. Turning and looking behind me, I see a black and brown boreback charging toward me. As it charges, it leaps into the air and starts to spin. Spinning faster and faster, it turns into a blur before shooting toward me. "Oh crud," I say, lowering my sword and holding the blade with my hand. The boreback hits my sword and pushes me back. Despite my best efforts, the boreback knocks me to the ground. Screaming as my back hits the dirt, I look up to see the boreback snarling as it lands back on the ground. It splits before charging at me. Jumping and about to hit me with its sharpened tusk, a pair of metal hands shoot out from the side and grab them. "Thanks," I say, shooting Shocker a nod as he pushes the boreback away from me. Shocker nods back at me before raising his hand and slamming it down on the boreback's head. The beast snarls one last time before it dies. Hearing something coming from above me, I look up and see Jump falling down from the lea
Jump: "Come on," I scream, running as fast as I can. I sprint down the sidewalk, jump over the street, and skid against the sidewalk as I turn around the corner. I only stop when I realize I'm alone. "Uh? Where are you guys?" I run back to see Hothead and Shocker slowly following me. Shocker doesn't look so bad but Hothead looks like he's about to faint. "Come on," I scream again, running back and grabbing Hothead's arm. "Move faster. We're already 20 minutes late to class. Come on!" Hothead pushes me away and bends over. "Give me a second," he pants, "Give me a second to catch my breath." "Now?" "I used a lot of fire during the fight with borebacks. Okay. Fire uses a lot of oxygen." I roll my eyes and shake my head. "Come on," I say, dragging Hothead through the busy city street. I drag and drag him all the way until we reach the front of the local fighter academy. Once there, I let go and peek around the corner, through the gate. "Okay," I whisper, looking back at Hothead
Hothead: "Attention all passengers," the announcer says through the speakers above. "The hover traincraft to Yellow Sun Academy will be arriving shortly. Please remember to stand behind the barrier until the traincraft had come to a complete stop." Looking at the blue barrier as it keeps everyone away from the tracks, I shake off the weariness in my arms. It's early in the morning and the hover traincraft station is crowded with a bunch of other students. Unlike me, they look happy and awake. Surprisingly, even Jump and Shocker look awake. "Ahh," I cry out, "I hope the traincraft gets here soon. My bags are getting heavy." Besides the two large bags I'm already carrying, I also have to shake the weariness off my back. "I don't get it. Jump and I are both at least carrying a few months' worths of clothing. How come you only have a small bag on your back?" Shocker replies with a shrug of his shoulders. He shows me the strap across his jacket and the small black bag on his back. It
Shocker:"Hey," Alice says, tapping my shoulder as I get up and leave the hover train. I turn toward her. "I really hope to see you again."Alice smiles as she nods her head. I nod my head as well before we both leave. As I get off the hover traincraft, I look for either Hothead or Jump. The platform is very crowded so I can't see them right away. It takes a while but finally, I see Jump rolling her luggage around. I wave at Jump and she waves back at me."Hey Shocker," Jump says with a smile. "How was your trip?"I shrug my shoulders before pointing at Jump."My trip was fine," Jump says while shaking her head. "The student I was traveling with was very quiet. I mean, not as quiet as you, but still. A lot of awkward silences.""I forget what silence is," Hothead says, sneaking up from behind me. He drops onto my back and lay there. "The person I traveled with wouldn't stop talking about how smart and intelligent she is. Let me tell you this. It was the longest trip I ever had to take
Hothead: "Uhhh," I start, looking out the window of the room. As far as I can see, there is nothing but sand, sand, and sand dunes, all under a light-blue full moon and stars-filled night. "Should we be concerned that it's nighttime now?" "What," Alodia says with crossed arms and legs. "Are you afraid of the dark?" "It's not the dark I'm afraid of," I reply. "It's the Wild desert and every animal in it that concern me. Concern me! Not scared me! The only thing that scared me is when people cry." "What!" "I'm scared of crying people but only because they make me very uncomfortable! I'm not actually scared of them. Also, I'm not big on being freezing cold." "Could've fooled me," Alodia says. I look at Alodia but she's not even looking at me. Instead, she's checking something on her wrist. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Jump: "Do you have any experience with desert survival," I ask. I look out the window and see the academy's private desert. It's a literal sea of sand and a lot