1.10

“So you three are Michael’s latest recruits huh?” Hunter, Jimena and Silas had met up with Stick at the designated spot. They were deep among the trees of Primal Lands.

Primal Lands had once upon a time been called Maine Meadows. It used to be a normal, run of the mill park. However, close to thirty years ago, some strange experiments with science and magic transformed it into a primal haven. Full of gigantic trees, human eating plants, tar pits and even dinosaurs. There were talks to turn it into a tourist attraction, but it was deemed too dangerous.

Stick was pacing in front of them, her weapon over one shoulder, she carried an intimidating aura about her. She refused to look at them as she spoke.

“Yeah. You’re meant to train us?” said Silas, unsure of himself. Stick hocked a loogy and stared him straight in the eyes.

“Think you can keep up?” Stick asked.

“Yes,” replied all three teens, they sounded confident.

“We’ll see about that.”

“So what are we going to do?” Jimena asked.

“A little team building exercise.”

“What will it be?” Jimena asked again.

“The three of you need to try and land a hit on me.” Stick spun and pointed her staff at them. It pulsed purple.

“Is that it?” Hunter asked.

“Yep.” Stick moved into a squatted stance. She swung the staff back across her shoulders and motioned for the three of them to come at her.

Silas backed up to a tree, inflated himself and kicked off the tree, launching himself straight for Stick. Jimena stepped back and started to blast slime balls at her, and Hunter emptied his flask of dust.

Stick twirled and spun, dodging each one of Jimena’s projectiles with ease. As Silas came toward her, she swung her staff and whacked him away like a balloon. Hunter hung back, unsure of what to do.

Silas spun and launched himself from another tree and rocketed toward Stick yet again. Jimena shot slimeballs as she strafed, and Hunter continued to observe the chaos.

Hunter noted the way Stick moved, it looked inhuman, the way her body flicked and moved. Dodging everything coming her way.

Jimena changed her tactics, she now moved toward Stick, firing faster than before. As the balls of slime hurtled faster toward Stick, the tempo of her body increased. Hunter watched, with each movement Stick made, the staff she carried pulsed.

“Hold up!” Hunter called out. Silas and Jimena immediately stopped what they were doing. Silas floated down next to Hunter and Jimena walked over to the pair.

Stick stopped and looked at them, curious.

“What’s up?” Silas asked.

“We’re clearly not going to get her head on. Silas, you’re a bit of a know it all with heroes and villains. What do you know of Stick?” Hunter asked.

“Not much. She is one of the best hand to hand combatants around. Her weapon is unnaturally durable. Blades don’t cut it; flames don’t set it alight.”

“Hey, you gonna come at me or what?” She was beginning to look irritated.

“I want the two of you to go at her with everything you’ve got. I’m gonna hang back and use a little dust.”

“Yeah, all right,” said Jimena. She started to strafe again and blasted away with her slime balls. Silas inflated and ascended into the trees.

Hunter watched as Stick danced around the projectiles and saw the staff pulse again. Silas came crashing down from above and just as Stick was about to counter Silas, Hunter ran forward and let fly his cloud of dust.

Stick looked confused for a moment as the dust floated around her face. Being distracted, Silas collided with Stick and she collapsed into the ground. Silas bounced off and deflated and Hunter and Jimena approached her.

“That was good. How’d you manage that?” Stick laughed as she pulled herself up off the ground.

“I watched and waited. Your name is very literal, giving away where your power comes from.” Hunter answered.

“So you know it’s the staff hey?”

“Yeah, what is it exactly?”

“It’s a branch from the Elder Tree. As long as I hold it, it turns me into this unstoppable weapon. It guides my movements, attack and defence. How’d you get around it though? You did that a lot faster than most groups.”

“My powers. I think I confused you or your weapon. I distracted you with dust.”

“Is that your power is it? Seems a little underpowered. But hey, you got me. Good job.”

“So what are you like without the staff?” Jimena asked.

“Just an ordinary person. Sure, it may seem like I rely on this a little too much, but it makes me who I am.” Stick clicked her tongue and popped a piece of chewing gum into her mouth.

“Powers don’t make the person,” said Silas.

“What did the three of you rely on when trying to get me? Hunter was really the only one that did anything other than trying to attack me. Heck, he was the only one that observed me and thought of what to do.”

“What if I held that staff?” Hunter asked.

“It wouldn’t do anything.”

“Why’s that?”

“I have a connection with the Elder Tree.” Stick cracked her fist into her chest, feeling proud.

“Can anyone have a connection with the Elder Tree?” Jimena asked.

“No. Why, do you want a cool weapon like mine?” Stick poked out her tongue and wagged a finger.

“Nah. So is that the end of our training session? Michael said it was going to be tough.” Said Silas.

“You wish jellyfish. That’s only the first one, for today. Get ready for the next one.” A tremendous roar echoed through the forest and they could hear birds erupting in panic as they took off.

The kids turned to the noise of cracking trees. They turned around to see a mighty triceratops, jumping around in excitement like a puppy.

“Hey guys, meet Stampy.” Stick approached the dinosaur and patted Stampy on the neck. “He’s your next training exercise.”

“Are you serious?” the three teens exclaimed in unison.