ATTENTION! So, I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate right now. I know none of you want to hear this and I don’t want to say it, but I’m going to be taking a week off starting Monday and lasting until the following Monday on ALL of my stories. Sorry guys, but the crap load stuff going on in my life off-line needs attention first and foremost. I swear I’m only going to be off for a week, no more and no less.

No one looked happy. As the group sat gathered around the stone table at the center of the ceremony grounds, not a single smile could be seen. For once, no one joked around. Everyone was silent and tense.

“We need to have those with more experience training the others,” Sori announced, “Jessica and I can start training Ravi.”

“I agree,” Jessica nodded, “Luhan, you can start training Hongbin.”

“I can do that,” Luhan nodded, “we’ve already been working together in class.” Hongbin nodded in agreement. He’d asked Luhan to help his around the time Sori started training Ravi. While healing Ravi during those practice session helped his learn to use his healing powers, his empath gifts were left unused. Thus, he asked the older fae for help.

“I want to help, too,” Hyuna said, “I’ve got even more experience than Luhan.”

“Ok,” Hongbin agreed, “we can all work together.”

“I can start working with N,” Suho suggested, “He’s already tapped into his dragon powers once. He might be able to use them again.”

“I can help N with his ghost whispering,” Sehun suggested, “and I can train on my own when it comes to my own gifts.”

“You don’t have to try using those gifts,” Kai frowned slightly at the necro, “we know how much using those gifts upsets you. You don’t have to use them.”

“I know,” Sehun nodded, “but an army of undead woodland creatures could be helpful later. We have to win this war, no matter what.” No one argued with him there.

“Heesun and I can start working with Kai and Hyuk,” Chen said, “speaking of which. Hyuk? When was your first change?”

“I was nine,” Hyuk replied, “why do you ask?”

“Most werewolves start changing at eleven or twelve,” Kai explained, “like me. Chen hyung started changing when he was seven.”

“Wow,” Hyuk blinked. The fact that he started changing so early, did that mean he was powerful? Sori and Kris’ powers activated early and they were powerful.

“I’m already working with Tao and D.O,” Xiumin said, “but I can add Taeyang into the mix, too.”

“Awesome,” the fifteen year old grinned. Tao had been helping him with his bloodlust, but getting help from the head vampire for everything else? That was pretty wicked to Taeyang.

“Baekhyun, Lina, and I can work with Ken and Soo young,” Chanyeol volunteered, hand raised to gain everyone’s attention.

“Yeah,” Baekhyun agreed, “we all use magic, so it’s a no brainer.”

“Um,” Sooyoung spoke up, “I think we need to hurry up. One of Jihu’s patrol groups will be passing by in around twenty two minutes. If we’re still here, they’re going to catch us.”

“Right,” Kris nodded, “Suho, Hyoyeon, and I can work out a training schedule based on the ISBIP schedule. Everyone else, just focus on finding training partners.”

“We can talk about that as we walk,” Sori said, getting up, “let’s head back to the dorms.”

Everyone nodded, doing as told.

Since the attack on Sori, Jihu had brought in around thirty more agents and started running patrols every half hour to an hour. Just leaving the dorms to get to class required a minimum of two security checks. In was both annoying and comforting to see how serious Jihu was taking the enemy threat. If he knew how bad the situation really was, he’s probably have the half the ISBIP agents in the world camped out around Dark Lake to prevent any attacks.

“Can I train with you, Kris?” Taeyeon asked, falling into step with the dragon.

“Why?” he replied, trying to think of a reason for the nymph girl to work with him.

“You manipulate fire,” she said, “and I manipulate plants. I think practicing against you would be really helpful.”

“Fine,” he nodded after thinking it over, “deal.”

“Krystal, Hyoyeon and I can work together,” Lay suggested.

“Good idea,” Jessica nodded, “you all have a similar amount of experience and training under your belts, so no one should be holding anyone back.”

“Maybe Lay should work with Leo instead,” Hyoyeon spoke up.

“Why?” Leo asked, joining the conversation.

“Nightmares can change forms,” Sori explained, “remember?”

“Yeah,” Leo nodded, “but I haven’t been able to do that yet.”

“Exactly,” Hyoyeon said, “working with Lay might be able to help with that. We’re probably going to need your horse form.”

“Alright,” Leo agreed after considering Hyoyeon’s point.”

The group started talking about things they could work on, trying to figure out what they all needed to work on. As they walked and talked, Sori noticed that Ravi had fallen silent, walking at the back of the group. Without a word, she slowed her pace until she was walking beside him. The pair said nothing, mostly due to the fact that Ravi was too focused on his thoughts to realize that Sori was there.

“Oh,” he blinked when he finally noticed her, “how long had you been there?”

“Long enough to know that you’re worried,” she shrugged, “mind telling me what’s wrong?”

“Can I keep quiet about it?” he asked, hoping that she would let it drop.

“You could,” she nodded, “but it will come out in time. Plus, I’m pretty sure I know what’s wrong already, so keeping quite is rather pointless.”

“I’m just worried,” Ravi sighed, “It feels like everything is moving so quickly. I’m not sure if I’ll be ready in time.”

“We probably aren’t going to be ready,” Sori shrugged, “we might never be ready. But the enemy isn’t likely to wait until we are ready. They’ll strike while they think we’re unprepared.”

“So we just train until then?” Ravi frowned.

“Yes,” she nodded, “whatever training we can get in could save a hundred lives.”

“I wish this wasn’t happening,” he sighed, “I wish everything was peaceful and no one wanted to attack anyone.”

“That will never happen,” Sori frowned, “conflict always exists. There will always be someone out there planning to take the lives of innocent people. There will always be at least one person too selfish to think of others.”

“That’s a dark way of looking at things,” he pointed out.

“I know,” she replied, “but it’s true.”

“Dark but true,” Kai commented, joining the pair at the back and walking on Ravi’s other side, “kind of the norm for Sori noona when it comes to her pearls of wisdom.”

“Hush,” she reached past Ravi to lightly smack Kai’s shoulder, “and don’t call them pearls of wisdom. They’re just observations about the world.”

“But don’t worry,” Kai told Ravi, ignoring the older girl, “we’re going to be fine.”

“How do you know?” Ravi questioned, wondering how the werewolf could sound so confident. Kai had to realize just how deadly the situation was, how was it that he didn’t look even a little bit scared.

“I don’t,” Kai shrugged, “but I have hope.”

“Which is a good thing to have,” Sori said, “hope is powerful. Hope can push you forewords no matter how broken you are, inside or outside.”

“That’s what my mom always says,” Kai nodded, “she says we should never lose hope because the moment we do, the whole world goes to hell.”

“Exactly my thoughts,” Sori smiled slightly, patting Kai’s head, “I always knew I liked your mother for a reason, Jongin.” The younger grinned back happily.

Ravi thought about both Sori and Kai’s words and found that he agreed with both.

A/N: and training will begin next chapter.