by R. L. Wolf
Toran looked across the field at Blue team. Garth was talking with Clint, Gunslinger Rex's First Merit. Toran grinned. He would be looking for Clint during the game. He had gotten into an argument earlier that week over whose turn it was on the firing range.
"Let's go, that's all of us!" shouted Gideon.
By some unspoken agreement, Gideon, Duke's First Merit, took charge of Red Team and started moving everyone toward the Red Team Fort. Toran and Wes had no idea where they were going and followed the others.
Red Fort was to the North of the Camp. It wasn't much more than a bunch of logs stacked up in a square. A teacher was already standing at the fort and had put the red flag up on a wooden pole in the center of the fort. Gideon divided the forty Merits on Red Team into one defense team of ten, and three assault teams of ten each.
"Toran, this is your first time, so you stay with Zeke, and Wes, you stay with Travis,” ordered Gideon.
The horn used to assemble the students for roll-call sounded the start of the game. The Red Assault Teams moved out. One team went straight up the center while the other two flanked left and right. Toran followed Zeke down the center. They maneuvered through the trees and were almost back to camp when they saw Blue Team charging straight toward them. The Blue Team's tactics were the same as Red Team. They had mounted a direct assault.
"Charge!" yelled Will.
Blue Team fired the first volley, and Red Team returned fire. A purple splat appeared on a tree next to Toran, and he dove to the ground behind a fallen tree. Three more purple splats hit the tree, and Toran scooted along its length until he could peek through a broken section of the fallen log. Two boys from Blue Team ran straight towards him. Toran fired twice, easily hitting the two boys.
Will didn't make it far. Five purple splats hit his chest, and he sat down on the ground. Zeke dropped next, followed by two more boys from Red Team, but to their credit, they got two from Blue Team before being shot.
Wes was off to the flank with his assault team. The woods were clear, and they circled through the trees toward the Blue Team Fort. Wes was keeping a close eye out for Austin. Shooting erupted to the left. Travis started running, and the others followed, hoping to make it to the Blue Fort while Blue Team was busy in the center.
Red Team’s center unit was out in the open fighting toe-to-toe with Blue Team. Toran fired several more times and got two more from Blue Team. Red Team had the advantage. They were about to win a direct center assault when Blue Team charged out of the bushes, screaming a battle cry. Blue team had set up an ambush instead of sending their teams out to the flanks. The remaining Red Team from the center assault went down quickly, and only Toran remained. He fired again and got another Blue Team member.
"Hey, it's Toran!" shouted Clint. "Get that green-skinned frog!"
Toran only had a second to decide what to do. If he turned and ran back to the Red Fort, he would lead them right in. He stood and ran straight through the ambushers. He cut left and right and back again as purple splats hit the trees as he ran. He kept up the zig-zag pattern as he darted through the trees. Blue team wasn't leading their target, and the rounds kept falling behind him.
Jared's team could see the Blue Fort. There were ten boys guarding the Blue Flag from behind the Fort walls. Jared and Wes's assault team was in the open. Jared called for a direct charge. Six rounds struck Wes, and Jared took four rounds a moment later, but Jared's team got four of the Blue defenders before they went down. Wes spent a full minute dramatically dying to the laughter of his audience.
Blue Team applauded Wes's performance and called out. "Hey guys, we're playing bone dice, come on over."
Wes crawled over to the Blue Fort. "What are we betting?"
"Kitchen duty," said one of the boys from Blue Team.
"I'm in," said Wes.
Toran was running hard now, with at least twenty Blue Team members chasing him through the woods. He needed a plan, and quickly. The river was off to the left, and he had an idea. He hit the bank of the river and didn't slow down. The Blue Team was right behind him. Toran jumped up and arched gracefully into the river. The river was almost twenty feet deep here, and he swam for the bottom. A log on the bottom provided a place to hide. He could see the wavering shapes of Blue Team walking back and forth along the bank of the river, trying to figure out how to get the amphibian out of the water.
Toran waited until they moved down river from where he had jumped in. He put his feet on the log and pushed up for the surface. He broke the surface and fired three times before diving back under, hitting another two. The river current pulled him past the Blue Team until he was behind them again and he repeated the maneuver, pushing hard off the bottom and firing three times before diving back under the surface.
Toran watched as the Blue Team moved off. They had decided there was no way to beat an amphibian while he was in the water. Toran waited a few minutes and floated to the surface. He walked up the bank, carefully watching for an ambush. Blue Team had left one guard. It was Ella, and she had her back to him. He didn't want to shoot her in the back, so he called her name, and she turned around.
"Toran," said Ella, a hurt expression on her face. "You wouldn't shoot me, would you?"
Toran's knees went to jelly, and he lowered his rifle. "No, of course n…"
Ella lifted her rifle and shot Toran in the chest, knocking him on his backside. Ella grinned evilly and shrugged. Toran saw a boy from Red Team sneaking up behind her, but the boy needed a few more feet to be in range, and Ella was starting to turn around toward him. Toran put his fingers to his lips and blew Ella a kiss. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. The ploy caused Ella to hesitate just long enough. Toran gave her an evil grin and pointed behind her. The boy was in range and ready, and as she spun around the paint round hit her in the chest, knocking her back a step.
"Toran'Sar!" cried Ella, stomping her foot. "That was a dirty trick."
"I learned from the best," said Toran.
Ella came over and sat next to Toran on the riverbank.
"Where do you live on Carina?" asked Ella.
The two sat on the bank of the river talking until lunch when the cook started serving hot dogs and hamburgers from the outdoor grill.
Two hours before sunrise
Colt rolled out of bed. The cabin was dark, and his Merits were still snoring softly. Toran rolled over once as Colt dressed in the dark. The Merits didn't have to get up for another two hours, but the Gunslinger students were leaving early for a special training event.
Colt buckled his gun belt around his waist and checked his ammunition load, all purple rounds. He already knew the load he had in, but the teachers kept stressing the importance of checking your ammunition.
The front door of the cabin creaked softly as he let himself outside into the cool morning air. The woods were still and peaceful. Colt walked along the path next to the river that would take him to the Marshal's Office.
A fork in the path led to Brock's cabin. Colt saw Brock coming down the other path and stopped to wait for him at the fork in the path, but Brock stopped when he saw Colt and wouldn't come closer. Colt sighed and continued.
Most of the twenty Gunslinger students were already at the Marshal's Office milling about and talking to each other, some hopping around to wake up. The conversation stopped as Colt approached, so he went off to wait alone outside the group.
"Hey Colt," called Duke. "Come on over here with us."
Colt walked over to Duke and the others. Everyone was waiting to see what Duke would do.
"Good shooting yesterday," said Duke, lowering his eyes and tail.
"Anyone that can shoot that good is okay, even if you are a stuck up snob," said Cora.
"Be nice, Cora," said Duke.
"Will you show us how you draw like that?" asked Rex.
"I'll try," replied Colt.
"Good man," replied Rex.
Brock walked over, but stood away from Colt and glared hatefully at him.
&
nbsp; "What are we doing?" asked Colt, ignoring Brock.
"We have to confess our sins," said Sam, one of the older boys. "And by that, I mean you five. The rest of us ain't done nothing and are getting dragged up the mountain because Y'all can't play nice together."
"I recall running up the mountain when you and Levi couldn't get along and decided to start shooting at each other," said Rex.
"Cease this bickering," said Duke, his tail whipping to the side. "The Dragon has witnessed this matter settled in honorable combat."
"Duke is right," said Cora. "The more we fight, the longer the Marshal will make us run."
"I don't care about a little run," said Garret, standing next to Sam. "Least we get away from our Merits for the day. I get so tired of them following me everywhere."
"True there," said Cora. "I swear they can't do anything by themselves. We constantly have to hold their hands."
The others laughed at that.
"What do you suppose they do all day while we are gone?" asked Rex.
"No idea," said Houston. "I tried to get mine to tell me, but they won't say."
"They are as small hatchlings," said Duke, flicking his tail once. "I imagine they sit in the cabins and wait anxiously for our return."
The rest of the students arrived one by one and joined the group. The Marshal came out of his office a few minutes later and faced the students.
"Follow me," ordered the Marshal, and took off at a jog toward the trees.
The young Gunslingers fell into a long line behind the Marshal, running in the cool morning air. The run was easy at first, but soon the exercise began to warm them. Colt began to sweat and pant in the thin air.
The line of students began straggling out as the thin air started affecting more of them. Colt's lungs burned, and he found himself at the end of the procession, struggling to keep up. He had run long distances on the plantation, but the others had been here longer, and he wasn't used to the thin air yet.
The students were now spread out dozens of feet apart from each other as they tried to keep up with the torturous pace the Marshal was setting. Colt was certain the Marshal was punishing them for fighting. The run was getting to the students, and several started throwing up while they ran. Colt had run further and longer than this before, but his tortured lungs had enough, and he stopped, putting his hands on his knees.
Cora turned around and ran back to him, grabbed his arm and pulled. "Don't stop," said Cora. "He makes us run longer if anyone stops."
The Marshal ran for nearly two hours. The path became a series of cutbacks that went up the side of the mountain. The higher the path went, the further Colt tried to stay from the edge. The height was dizzying and made him feel sick. The cutback path ended and became a narrow track circling to the peak of the mountain. Colt pressed as far from the edge as he could. The distance down to the forest below was sickening.
Colt fell further behind, but Cora stayed with him, watching closely. The path ended in a gap with a natural rock bridge crossing over a straight drop to the ground hundreds of feet below. Cora ran across the bridge easily, but Colt froze, pressing himself up against the rock side of the mountain cliff. Cora stopped and looked back at Colt. He was just standing there looking at the rock bridge.
"Come on," called Cora. Colt didn't move, and Cora went back over the bridge and stood in front of him. "Well I'll be," said Cora. "The mighty Colt has a weakness."
Colt said nothing and Cora stepped right up and pressed herself against him, her face only an inch from his and her arms wrapped around his waist.
"You know, I don't hate you, Colt," purred Cora.
Colt tore his eyes from the dizzying gap in the path and stared into her eyes.
"You feel my leg against yours," whispered Cora. "Take a step with me." Cora took a step and Colt followed. "I like you, Colt," whispered Cora. "It's just you are so darn good at everything and you make me mad. Take another step with me."
Colt took another step and followed her. They were standing at the rock bridge now. Colt's eyes dropped to the ground below, and he tried to step back. Cora dug her fingers into his back and wouldn’t let him retreat.
"You're going to make me good babies," said Cora. "Take another step, follow me."
Colt's eyes lifted from the ground and locked on Cora. He followed another step and they were standing on the rock bridge.
"Yep, many good strong babies," said Cora. "Come on, keep following my leg, step again."
Colt's eyes widened as he tried to understand what Cora was saying, but the words were barely registering in his brain as the fear of the height from the ground threatened all reason.
"I want to name our first baby Gani," said Cora. "Take another step, my fearless hero."
Colt took another step, and they were in the middle of the rock bridge. He tried to look down but Cora kissed him on the lips, and his eyes darted back to hers in shock.
"I like the name Joth, also," whispered Cora. "Keep following me."
Colt took another step.
"You're almost there," said Cora. "One more step."
Colt followed, and they were across the bridge. Cora let go of Colt, turned and started running again. "Come on, don't stand there," shouted Cora. "We’re almost at the top."
Colt shook his head trying to figure out what had just happened and sprinted after her. He didn't have time to question her about what she had said to him. Colt rounded the path and came to the top. The class was standing in a large circle on the flat open ground at the top of the mountain. The Marshal was waiting for Cora and Colt to take their places. When they had joined the others, the Marshal stepped out into the circle and raised his hands.
"We are the Order of the Gunslinger," intoned the Marshal. "We hold the light during the long darkness. Purge all sin from your soul and speak your confessions."
The newer students that hadn't been here before didn't know what to do and looked to the older students. Roger stepped forward first.
"I cheated Tanner at Bone Dice," said Roger.
"We forgive," said all but the newest students waiting to find out what they were supposed to do.
Houston stepped forward next. "I made my Merits do my homework."
The younger Gunslingers now understood what to do, and joined in. "We forgive."
Others stepped forward, confessing their sins to their peers and receiving absolution for their transgressions.
Duke stepped forward. "I am guilty of arrogance and jealousy. I have wronged my brother, Colt."
"We forgive." Colt said the words as well and meant it.
Rex, Brock, and Cora also stepped forward in their turns, and also confessed jealousy towards Colt, and received forgiveness.
"I am guilty of pride," said Colt. "I enjoy being able to do what others cannot."
"We forgive," said the young Gunslingers.
Tanner’s turn was last, but he only shook his head and refused to speak any sins.
The Marshal frowned at Tanner, then ended the confession ritual and called the young Gunslingers to come closer and sit near him. The students crowded around the Marshal, and he spent the rest of the day reciting Gunslinger lore and telling tales of ancient Gunslingers from the past.
The sun was already setting when the Marshal led the students down from the mountain. Colt walked into his cabin exhausted and hungry, but he wasn't allowed to eat until morning. Fasting was part of the ritual they had performed on the mountain.
Colt's Merits were sitting in the main room cleaning their rifles. He stopped in front of the Vid-screen to check the schedule.
"Hey Wes, how come the schedule says you have three weeks of kitchen duty?" asked Colt.
The boys broke out laughing, but wouldn't tell Colt anything. Colt shrugged and went upstairs to bed.
CHAPTER NINE
War
Toran was in a foul mood and stomped down a path to the river. The team had gone to the dining cabin after the firing range to play Bone Dice before dinner. He f
ound his favorite spot along the river, a flat rock that he could lie on and stare at the gray sky. The water was too cold to swim in now, and the snows would be coming soon. Frost already covered the ground in the mornings.
A leaf crunched somewhere behind him, but he didn't bother sitting up. "I know you're there Colt, you can come out."
"It's me, Ella. Am I bothering you?"
Toran jumped up, startled. His face softened immediately, and he even managed a smile. "Oh, I thought it was Colt."
"Can I join you?"
"Of course," replied Toran, trying to brush the dirt off the rock for Ella.
Ella blushed at Toran’s silliness and thought her heart might explode—he was so sweet. She walked over to the large flat rock and sat down next to him. She dropped her hand in the water and smiled a lopsided grin.
"You aren't planning to jump in there are you? It's freezing,"
"No, I'm an amphibian, not a penguin."
"Aw, you'd make a cute penguin."
Heat rose to his face, and he quickly turned away. Ella wished he wouldn't always turn away like that. She liked his green eyes and imagined they must be the color of the ocean. Ella watched him for a moment. He was always so reserved, not shy, but always thinking things through before he spoke, and he didn't brag or prance about the way other boys did.
"I had fun last week during the game," said Ella.
"Me too," replied Toran. "I wish we could do it more often."
"I saw you walking down here and followed you, are you upset about something?”
"I am."
"What happened?"
"Colt happened."
"What did he do this time?"
Toran turned back to Ella. He needed someone to talk with, and he loved their conversations. And she had the prettiest hair. He liked the way the dark curls fell out from under her hat. Ella didn't judge, and she didn't mind that he was an amphibian. Despite the shared bond of being Gunslingers, there was still, not prejudice, but a tension that ran among some of the students.