by C A Ardron
Jay’s face set and he forced himself into a jog. Casting his mind out, it wasn’t hard to latch onto the girl’s growing fear.
Weaving through the crowd, Jay caught sight of the man just as he was disappearing up a street leading away from the market.
Not really knowing how to be stealthy, Jay did his best, keeping his distance but ensuring he didn’t lose sight of his target.
The girl was already beyond the next corner and as the man followed her path Jay felt her fear intensify. He rushed forwards, praying he wasn’t too late.
‘Leave me alone!’ the girl exclaimed in a higher pitch than her voice probably was.
‘Light,’ Jay breathed. She’d made the mistake of entering an enclosed street. There was nowhere left for her to run.
Images of that rainy night burst upon Jay, Jackal cutting off all escape in a narrow alley.
The man held up his hands. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. Commander Gyrfalcon just wants to speak with you.’
Jay mouthed the word Gyrfalcon silently. Oh no, this man was some kind of medallion warrior. A Sarpien? Jay’s mouth went dry at the thought.
‘I told you before, I’m not interested in the Dakkonin.’
Relief flooded Jay. Dakkonin, not Sarpiens - but why was he being so aggressive towards her?
‘You could at least hear what he has to say,’ the man answered.
Jay frowned, he had to help her. ‘Leave her alone,’ he said, stepping forward. He really wished he had a medallion right now. He didn’t care what kind – a worm would be better than doing this as he was.
The man turned towards him and Jay saw his medallion. The bright yellow coin was hard to miss, as was the aggressive-looking bug in the centre of it.
Jay could still feel the man’s confidence, he was oozing with it. As the man’s sharp gaze pierced him, he noted his oily-looking black hair and boyish face. The man didn’t look any more than eighteen.
He tried to set the thought to one side. Tiger and Lion looked really young too, but were both in their twenties.
‘Excuse me?’
Jay didn’t need to hear his tone of voice to know he was amused more than angry at the interruption. The Dakkonin thought of him as a fly he could just brush off.
Jay swallowed, it was too late to back down now. ‘She’s not interested so just leave her alone.’
With a start, Jay realised the girl’s fear had changed course. She was now more scared for him than for herself.
‘Walk on, citizen,’ the Dakkonin told him, voice icy cold. ‘This is none of your affair.’
Jay caught the girl shaking her head at him. ‘Go,’ she mouthed. She bit her lip as the warrior turned back to her.
Jay’s eyes narrowed on the Dakkonin’s back. He was starting to believe Tiger’s and Falcon’s tales of the Dakkonin being more a nuisance than a help. Who did this warrior think he was? He couldn’t just bully girls on the street!
Jay needed to do something, to stop this somehow. He remembered Falcon’s lessons. Once he’d begun learning about combat properly, she’d trained him specifically to face heavier warriors with confidence and cocky attitudes – like the Red Jackal.
Jay settled his feet into the Avian Standard, the first stance he’d ever learnt. It was also the least obvious of the ones in his collection. Hopefully the man wouldn’t notice the shift.
He took a deep breath and pretended it was Jackal he was dealing with, gathering every bit of courage he had inside.
‘What are you going to do, attack me?’
Jay counted to three. That’s how long it took for the Dakkonin warrior to turn around and recover from his surprise. Jay had to stop the grin wanting to spread across his face, from the man’s emotions he was guessing teenagers didn’t call him out like this often.
‘Do you really want to find out?’
Jay could already feel the emptiness in those words. The Dakkonin wouldn’t actually attack him.
‘Yeah,’ Jay shot back, summoning up as much heat as he could in his voice. ‘I do want to find out.’
The Dakkonin’s mouth was working and Jay felt his uncertainty. He had no idea how to deal with the situation Jay was creating.
He decided to push a little more. ‘I need to know what to say when I tell the Predgarians there’s a Dakkonin warrior molesting teenagers on the street.’
The Dakkonin finally recovered, his face twisting in a sneer. ‘As if any Predgarian would believe you over me.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ Jay countered. ‘City folk don’t know all that much about Dakkonin. When I tell them it was a warrior with a wasp medallion, they’ll be suspicious at least.’
Wasp’s eyes flickered and something in his emotions shifted. Jay swore in his head, using every word he’d learnt from Hawk and Leopard over the last six months. He would’ve used some of Falcon’s vocabulary too but she tended to switch to Unician.
Jay had gone too far. He realised it was the term “city folk” that had done it. Tiger, Dove and Lion used it a lot to describe the people living in Steiron. Now he thought about it though, people outside the Orders probably didn’t call themselves that.
Get ready to run, Jay spoke to the girl using his mind. She jerked but thankfully, Wasp was too busy staring at him to notice.
Wasp stepped forwards, closing the distance between them, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. ‘Are you-?’
Jay didn’t give him time to finish and leaping up, delivered a Fly-Kick to his chest.
As Wasp staggered backwards Jay kept pace with him, ignoring the girl as she sped past. He needed to stay focused on his target.
Jay tumbled Wasp with a quick Stop-Kick to the knee and followed up with an Avian Strike, hitting him in the chest again.
Jay turned on his heel and ran, finding the girl at the end of the street, waiting for him. H grinned when he remembered that day on Lister Road when Falcon had told him to run. He hadn’t been willing to leave either - Falcon must’ve been as annoyed as he was right now.
As Jay passed the girl he grabbed her hand, yanking her along with him. She let out a small squeal of surprise but didn’t try to dislodge the grip.
He could feel her fear still, but there was hope now as well. Jay couldn’t help his surge of happiness at her gratitude.
As he led them both down a few small, twisty streets, heading back towards the centre of town, his breath caught as he felt her relief that he was a good person and hadn’t helped her for his own ends.
Wait, how could she know that? Stopping in a small alley joining two streets, Jay turned to her, staring into her intelligent eyes. He didn’t let go of her hand - he couldn’t.
Jay could tell she was a good person too. Her eyes brightened and he smiled, knowing she’d picked the feeling up. Something akin to an emotional giggle passed between them and the girl finally pulled her hand away.
‘You’re…empathic,’ Jay managed to get out after a few seconds.
‘So are you,’ she replied with a smile.
Jay remembered the Dakkonin and glanced back up the street. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, ‘but you shouldn’t have done that, it was dangerous.’
‘I couldn’t just leave you there.’
She flashed that charming smile again. ‘I’m Jenna Mar’Corri.’
‘Jay Morgan,’ he replied.
‘So…you’re empathic and telepathic.’
‘And you’ve got Dakkonin chasing you,’ he countered.
Jenna smiled, but her face soon grew serious again. ‘They want me to join their Order,’ she shivered violently.
‘Here,’ he said, realising it was still snowing and she was only wearing a dress and sandals. Jay took his coat off and gave it to her. ‘Why are you outside without a coat? It’s winter you know?’
‘Wasp saw me alone in the library, I’d taken my coat off because it was so warm in there.’ She looked up at him, ‘what about you? You’re telepathic and you can fight.’
/> Jay didn’t think he could get away with a lie if she was empathic, but he couldn’t tell her the truth either.
‘I…learned to protect myself. The Sarpiens are after me because I can use the Power.’
‘The Sarpiens?’ She gave a short laugh, ‘I suppose I should count myself lucky it’s only the Dakkonin after me then.’
Jay’s head jerked at the sound of heavy footsteps. He recognised that metallic thud. The Canine warrior, head-to-toe in bronze armour stopped, gazing at them.
For a single moment Jay took note of the medallion. The Canine head pictured within was identical to Coyote’s back at the Predgarian Centre.
Jay grabbed hold of Jenna’s hand again. Run, he thought at her as he started to pull her out of the alley.
A large shadow skimmed across him and Jay glanced up, briefly catching the sight of large grey wings - an Avian. He was willing to bet both warriors were Dakkonin. Running down the high street, Jay lurched to one side and took them into a department store.
Chapter Six
Jay released Jenna’s hand when they were inside, the large room was filled with racks upon racks of clothing.
‘Come on,’ he said, making for the escalator at the back. Jay had no idea what he was doing. Falcon had drilled him on not running without thought – that’s how you ended up in a dead end.
His eyes darted about again when he reached the next floor. He began to stride in amongst all the washing machines and freezers. He could see a lighting section further up.
‘Jay,’ Jenna spoke, sounding breathless, ‘this is ridiculous. We can’t outrun medallion warriors, we might as well give ourselves up.’
Jay dragged his eyes from the red blobs in one of the strange lamps and shook his head. ‘He was threatening you, Jenna. There are lots of entrances out of this place, we should be able to slip out unnoticed.’
‘I’m impressed,’ Jenna replied, amusement clear in her voice. ‘From your emotions, I assumed you'd led us here out of sheer panic.’
Jay’s shoulders hunched, wishing he could truthfully say he’d thought things through. The truth was he’d got scared and let “the fear rule him instead of him ruling the fear.” That’s how Lion put it on some of the occasional lessons he gave Jay.
Jay glanced back and from Jenna’s grin knew she’d picked up his emotions. She knew there’d been no strategy in his decision to enter this building. He swallowed, uneasy in her presence.
‘Sorry,’ she murmured. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it.’
‘It’s okay. Guess I’m not used to someone reading me as well as I read other people.’
That wasn’t precisely true, Dove did it to him too, but Dove never really commented on the emotions she felt from him.
Jay noted another set of escalators beyond the lighting section so began to make for it. ‘If we can get to the Predgarians, I’m sure they’d protect you.’
Jenna shook her head, ‘I need to get back to the market. Ibex and Chaffinch will be looking for me.’
Jay turned to her, barely believing his ears. ‘Chaffinch?’
Jenna’s chin came up as she frowned at him. ‘Chaffinch is a great woman, don’t disrespect her because she has a gentle name.’
Jay blinked at her defensive tone. He wouldn’t ever judge a warrior on their name – he’d met White Dove.
‘Sorry, I wasn’t, but this Chaffinch and Ibix-’
‘Ibex,’ Jenna corrected.
‘Ibex,’ Jay repeated. ‘They’re medallion warriors?’
‘Of course. Once I’m back with them, the Dakkonin won’t dare approach me.’
Jay stared, he knew she had to know exactly what he was feeling, so why was she staring at him like that?
‘Uh…how do you know them?’
Jenna giggled. ‘I’m sorry, Jay. You looked so confused I couldn’t help but lead you on a little. I’m a candidate, I’m training to become a Unician.’
A candidate, just like him. Jay couldn’t tell her though. It made sense with how strong her empathy was, he felt a little stupid for not guessing. ‘You say these Unicians are waiting for you at the market?’
‘Yes, all we have to do is get there.’
Jay sensed the intent stare upon his back and turned.
‘Oh no,’ Jenna gasped.
As Jay glanced over the warrior’s gleaming armour, he thought again how similar to Coyote he looked. ‘Head for the escalators,’ he told Jenna in a whisper. ‘Go down.’
‘What about you?’
‘I’ll be right behind you.’
Jay followed Jenna, walking backwards so he could keep an eye on the approaching Canine.
He waited till Jenna’s head had disappeared beneath the floor. It’d been hard enough evading her questions without her seeing what he was about to do.
Jay glanced about as he gathered the fire within him just as Tiger had taught him. This wasn’t an ideal place to use his power, but he didn’t see any other way to slow the Dakkonin warrior down.
Clawing his hand, Jay pushed his will outwards a tiny bit and the fierce fireball grew in his palm.
The Canine warrior stopped in his tracks and Jay couldn’t help flashing him a tight grin. He wished the Dakkonin wasn’t wearing his full, dog-faced helm, he would’ve loved to see his reaction. Jay could feel the burst of incredulous surprise and stab of wariness radiating from him though.
Jay threw the ball of flame, knowing the man’s armour would protect him from being badly damaged. It might not affect him at all, it wasn’t like a fireball thrown by an armoured warrior, after all.
The Canine dove to the side to avoid it. Even as Jay spun towards the escalator, he let the ball fizzle out, not wanting it to catch anything in the store on fire.
Running down the escalator, he found Jenna at the bottom. ‘Come on,’ he said, grabbing her hand.
‘What happened?’ she asked. ‘I felt fear from the Dakkonin.’
‘I gave him something to think about.’
Jay didn’t want to explain but all thoughts of that left his head as a man barred their path. Jay skidded to a halt, his eyes roving across the stranger’s dull, dark grey jumper and loose-fitting nomad trousers. His breath caught, noticing the grey medallion against the man’s chest.
It wasn’t as noticeable as Silver Falcon’s, but the raptor on the coin was identical in the way its wings outstretched and its claws were open to grab prey.
Jay had noticed before that Falcon and Hawk’s pictures were slightly different in shape of wing, claw and beak. He became sure he was looking at another falcon warrior.
He gulped, noticing the man’s face. His hair was a silvery-grey, his face though holding a polite friendliness, was lined. Jay had been reading only recently about the benefits given to medallion warriors – the greatest perhaps being the slowing of age. Just how old was this warrior? Even Falcon and Dove looked to be in their twenties and they were both over eighty.
The warrior folded his arms. ‘Well, you two have led us a merry chase.’
Jay realised he was clutching Jenna’s hand and released her. Could he fight this warrior? Get the jump on him like he had Wasp?
The Canine warrior crashed down the elevator and cut off any escape. They could run in between the clothes racks on either side, but Jay knew it’d be pointless. The two Dakkonin would catch them almost right away.
‘Careful, Commander Gyrfalcon,’ the heavy-armoured warrior’s voice was tinny through his helmet. ‘The boy can use the Power – fire.’
Even as Jay surged with satisfaction that he’d guessed the un-armoured man was a falcon, it was instantly washed away by the knowledge he was stood in front of the commander Wasp had mentioned.
He tried not to shy from the incredulous stare Jenna was throwing his way.
What? She mouthed at him.
Gyrfalcon was arching one eyebrow. ‘Can he now?’
Jay shuddered at the commander’s gaze, feeling the shift in interest. His intake of breath was hoarse, realising they
meant to take him and Jenna away with them.
Against his will, Jay’s power surged, coming to life in full force. He tried to stop it, his brain screaming this was the worst place ever to lose control but all he could think about was that horrible cell in the Sarpien tunnels, rats scurrying in the darkness.
Jenna squeaked in fright, jumping backwards as he became wreathed in flame.
Jay wasn’t sure what the Canine behind him was doing but directed his focus on Gyrfalcon since he was there, right in front of him. He let a tongue of flame flow out towards the warrior.
He gasped, feeling it ignite in an angry way he hadn’t intended. Jay realised no matter what happened now it was more important to get a hold on the fire. He tried to calm himself, to let it die. The effort left him gasping, utterly spent.
‘Impressive,’ Gyrfalcon spoke from a few feet away where he’d retreated to safety. ‘But you don’t have control of it – not yet.’ He stepped closer again. ‘The Dakkonin can help you with that.’
Jay clenched his teeth, there had to be a way out of this. His jaw dropped as someone pounced out from between the clothes stands. He just had time to glimpse the man’s dark Oldeiran skin and long, bright red-dyed dreadlocks.
Appearing nondescript in his brown trousers and white t-shirt, the newcomer assaulted the commander with a Tigerspin.
Jay recognised it for one of Leopard’s favourite Feline moves, he hadn’t been able to pull it off successfully yet.
The stranger struck Gyrfalcon with his feet, sending him flying before he had a chance to activate his medallion. The dark man splayed on the floor in the Gecko-Dodge as the Canine lunged. Jay watched entranced as the stranger then rose and tripped the warrior with the Claw-Sweep.
‘Get gone, kid,’ the man told him.
Jay shook himself from his shock. ‘What about you?’
‘Hah,’ the stranger replied, kicking back with one leg and his arms stretching out in front, a perfect Lizard-Stretch. The kick hit Gyrfalcon’s knee and he fell over again. ‘These guys ain’t got nuthin’ on me.’
Jay grinned and swerved to the right, swiping Jenna’s hand as he passed. Together they ran for the department store doors.
