A Night Out

Hothead:

Bursting through the doors, I look around the nurse's station and find Shocker sitting on the bed with his team around him.

"Shocker," I yell, running toward him. Shoving and pushing his team to the side, I grab his arm and examine it. Groaning slightly as I pick it up, I let out a chuckle.

"Sorry about that, but are you okay?"

Shocker nods his head.

"He's fine," Jump says, pushing me out of the way. "You're fine, right?"

Again, Shocker nods his head.

"Oh, man," I say, wiping sweat beads from my forehead. "I can't tell you how worried we were when we heard a predalion bit you."

"I can't believe a predalion bit you in the first place," Jump says. "Yellow Sun Academy had predalions?"

"Of course Yellow Sun has predalions," Alodia says, walking in with Renee behind her. "It said in the brochure they keep animals here for training. "

"Brochure," I repeat. "You got a brochure?"

"Yes. Didn't you?"

"No," I answer with a shaking head. I turn to Shocker and Jump. "Did you guys get a brochure?"

"Yes," Jump says. Again, Shocker nods his head.

"So did we," Chadd says, pointing at him and Honey. "The brochure came in the envelope with the tickets for the hover traincraft. You didn't see it?"

I take a few minutes to think back to when the envelope came to my parents' house. I remember my parents handing me the envelope and me ripping it open. I reached in and pulled out the hover traincraft ticket and then threw the envelope away.

"Hmm," I say. "Okay, well. I didn't know there was a brochure but Jump didn't know about the live animals. So we're equal. Right?"

"What," Alodia asks.

"Never mind," I say, waving my hand. I shake my head and sigh. "This is crazy. This is nuts."

Tapping my shoulder, I turn around and look at Shocker. He points at the bruises where the predalion bit him and shrugs.

"I'm not talking about that. Well, I am but that's only partly. Anyway, as I was saying, this is crazy. This is nuts. You got bit, and my head is on the verge of exploding from all the studying Alodia is forcing us to do."

Despite not turning around, I can still see Alodia rolling her eyes and sighing.

"You know what we need. Just the three of us, not the rest of you but then again, since you're all here, I guess you can join us if you want."

"What are you talking about," Clementine asks.

"I suggest doing something the three of us haven't done since coming here. I suggest the three of us go outside and fight a bunch of animals."

"You're kidding me," Alodia says.

"Are you being serious," Clementine asks.

"He can't be serious," Honey whispers to Chadd.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I say, putting up my hands. "I know, I know. It's wrong, it's illegal. We're not fighters yet and don't have government approval but you know what? It's decent practice, it's amazing exercise, and it's help with your study."

"It does," Alodia asks.

"Well, it helps with my study. Anyway, who's in? Show of hands."

I raise my hand and as expected, no one else raises their hands. However, unexpectedly, Shocker and Jump didn't raise their hands either.

"Guys?"

"Hothead," Jump says. "Remember? We're on a floating island."

"Yeah," Renee says, squeezing his way through. "We're on a floating island. We can't just leave and come back. Besides, we all have class tomorrow. We can't stay out all night fighting animals."

"Hmm," I say, thinking it over while rubbing my chin. "You're right. We can't stay out all night fighting animals."

I smile as an idea forms inside my head.

"Why are you smiling so creepily like that," Alodia asks. "Stop that. It's freaking me out."

Still smiling, I turn to Jump and Shocker.

"Shocker, I heard that the combatant class uses a dome. Is that true?"

Shocker answers with a quick nod.

"In that case, Jump. Shocker. Meet me there tonight. Oh, and I guess you guys can meet us there too. Alright, let's go."

I clap my hands together and walk out of the room. However, after walking out of the room, I walk back in.

"It's not nighttime and we still have classes today. I head to the dome later."

Jump:

"Ahhhh," Hothead says, stretching his arms and cracking his back. Smiling as he falls to the ground, he smiles and looks up.

"Okay," I say, crossing my arms as Shocker and I walk into the empty dome with Hothead. "We're here. Now what?"

"Now this," Hothead says, kicking his legs and jumping up. Reaching behind him, Hothead pulls out some sheets of paper and snacks.

Shocker and I watch as Hothead throws the papers onto the ground. Now pulling out his sword, he uses his gift and ignites it. Setting the final paper on fire, Hothead throws it onto the pile and starts a small campfire. Scattering the snacks around the fire, Hothead sits back down and pats the empty spots beside him.

Shocker and I smile as we walk over to Hothead. Taking up the empty spots, we all huddle together.

"This was your plan," I ask. "Just have a little camping trip."

"Well, no," Hothead answers. "I planned to have us relieve some stress by fighting each other."

"What!"

"But then I thought 'Nah'. This is better. Just us, sitting around a fire, stuffing our faces."

Reaching and grabbing a bag, Hothead opens it and pulls out some breadsticks. He hands one to Shocker and me. Shocker takes it but I shake my hand and head.

"Thanks but no thanks," I say. "Not hungry."

Hothead shrugs and puts the breadstick back in the bag. He and Shocker start eating while staring at the fire.

"It had been a very long week," Hothead says with a mouthful of bread. Shocker nods his head.

"Yeah," I say, "I still can't believe we made it through."

"Barely," Hothead adds. He places his hand on his head. "Ahh, my head is killing me non-stop. All day, every day, all I can hear is that girl going blah, blah, blah. Yes! I know! Yellow Sun Academy is the most prestigious fighter academy in the world. You do not have to say it every time we talk."

"Alodia isn't that bad," I say.

"She isn't that bad to you or Renee. She hates me. I don't know why. Ouch."

Bumping him with his elbow, Shocker looks at Hothead.

"Okay," Hothead sighs. "So I may know a little why she hates me but it's not like I need her to babysit me. Despite my neverending headaches, I still manage to turn in all my assignments and pass all my tests."

"Barley," a voice from the dark says. The second we hear the voice, Hothead, Shocker, and I jump to our feet. We pull out our weapons and prepare for a fight.

"Calm down," Chadd says, he, Honey, and the rest of our teams walk out from the dark hallway. "Remember? You invited us?"

"Well yeah," Hothead says, putting away his sword. "But didn't think any of you would come. I was being polite."

"So do you want us to go," Alodia asks, uncrossing one of her arms to point behind her.

"Yes."

Again, Shocker bumps Hothead with his elbow. This time though, I think I see a little bit of electricity.

"Ouch," Hothead screams as he rubs his arm. "On second thought, sure. Join us. We have enough snacks. Probably."

Everyone joining us, all eight of us sit around the campfire and share what snacks Hothead could get.

"More breadsticks," Renee says.

"Don't blame me," Hothead shouts. "It was all the cafeteria had. You know, for being such a famous academy, you think the food would be a little better. Nope. It's not."

"I know what you mean," Clementine says. "Back home, my mother baked the best cakes. No other places can even compare to her."

"Oh," I say, "Did your mother own a bakery or something like that?"

"No. She likes to bake. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if she could sell her cakes. They're just that amazing."

As Clementine laughs a little, some of us join her.

"Please don't talk about cakes," Hothead begs while laughing. "You're making me hungry."

"Sorry," Clementine says.

"You know what I miss," Honey says, all of us turning to her now. "Chadd, do you remember that old playground we used to go to when we were smaller?"

It takes Chadd a few minutes to remember.

"Yeah," he says. "With the slide and the climbing wall."

"Yes, but in this case, I'm referring to those rides where we would sit down on them and then rock back and forth. I remember one of them being an awesome-looking motorbike. That was my favorite ride."

"Yeah, yeah," Chadd says, nodding his head. "I remember that one. You were always running to get it first. I remember you even tripped me once to get it."

"I didn't trip you," Honey says.

"Okay, but someone did. After all, mudballs don't make themselves and throw themself at my head."

Again, we all laugh. As we sit and laugh around the campfire, I start to cough.

"Hey," Renee says, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I answer. "Just need some water. Hey, I'll be right back."

Getting up, I leave the fire and head into the hallway. Wandering around, trying to remember where the water fountain is, I start hearing footsteps

"Oh shoot," I think. Covering my mouth, I slam my back against a wall and try to blend in. As I hide in the dark, I see the Headmaster and Assistant Headmistress walking into the hallway. Sucking in my breath, pulling in my stomach, I try even harder to blend in the darkness.

"Headmaster Noah," Assistant Headmistress Amaya says, showing the Headmaster her holo-display. "We will need to hurry. Otherwise, we may be late to the meeting."

"I know," Headmaster Noah answers. "That's why we're taking this shortcut through the battle dome. Come on."

Walking fast, I slam my mouth shut, biting my lips.

"Is this more news concerning the animals in the Wild," the Headmaster asks.

"Yes. The government had asked for our assistance again. The animals have attacked three cities, breaking through their defenses and destroying countless houses. The fighters in those cities managed to force them back into the Wild but were badly wounded. If the animals attack again, they won't be able to fight back."

"I'll see what I can do, but with Yellow Sun in session, the government knows I can't do much."

Walking right past me, I breathe a little through my nose. However, the moment I do, Headmaster Noah stops walking.

"Did you hear that," he asks, putting up one of his hands.

"Hear what?"

Standing still, only his head turning left and right, Headmaster Noah pulls out his bow and a single arrow. He pulls back and fires the arrow in less than a second.