Young Writers Society

*Okay then hope this works.

Anna~

Before Jade and Irik could argue any more Karana pushed her way to the front to add her thoughts. . .

***Thanks, bonnie and chinchilla.***



Karana shoved her way to the front of the line, standing only a breath's reach from the brothers.

"Either way! Kenji may be connected to the Empire, but who cares! He obviously isn't with them, otherwise we'd be dead by now," she snapped, hoping it would settle the argument. "And however much I like your enthusiasm, Irik, I do agree with Kenji on one thing: we need to get out of here, just in case the Empire does come charging over that hill. If they're like any totalitarian state I know, they won't take too kindly to having a break-out and goods stolen."

(Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I've been caught up in a new game I just got called Mount and Blade. It's so fun. It's a medieval RPG where you build an army up from scratch and fight along side your troops on the battlefield. I played it all day yesterday.)

Irik smiled and said, "Well, I guess the people have spoken." He turned to his younger brother and asked, "What's the closest village from here, Jaden?"

"Uh, Reika Village I think."

"How far?"

"About thirteen miles due north."

Irik jumped into the back seat of Zephyr and said, "All right, listen up! Our first mission as the Phoenix Brigade is to escort these villagers safely to Reika!" He pointed at Karana and opened his mouth to speak, but froze before the words came out. He scratched his head. "You know, I don't think you've told me your name yet."

"It's Karana," she said.

Irik pointed at her again. "Karana! You, Kenji, and Kasey will drive the trucks. Jaden and I will ride in the Zephyr in case any bad guys decide to show up."

"But brother, I barely even know how to pilot this thing," Jaden said.

"You did a great job last time, didn't you?" Jaden shuddered at the memories from back at the base, of him clinging onto the control handles while the mech flew wildly through the air, and how he held on for dear life as the machine spun out of control while launching a hail-fire of missiles in every direction. Irik took notice of his brother's sudden stillness. He gave Jaden a pat on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Jaden. As long as you have me here you've got nothing to worry about."

Iriks words calmed him down a bit. Jaden nodded and said, "I'll try my best."

Irik nodded back before looking back up at everyone else. "All right, everyone. Let's move out!" The Zephyr began its march forward, with Irik standing in the back seat. As everyone made their way to the trucks, the sun began to rise. The light from the sun seemed to cascade around him, giving him and the mech a heavenly glow.

Before they left, Irik said, "The sun rises, giving birth to a new day. The Phoenix Brigade will make sure everyone has the chance to see the next one, too."

Jaden was the only one he heard his words. He looked over at his brother, who was still standing on the seat. He was going through with this brigade idea, there was no doubt about that. "I wish I had your courage," he said.

Irik smiled down at his little brother. "Jaden, you don't have to believe in yourself. Believe that I believe in you."

(Is anyone going to post?)

***I can't think of anything...***

(Hmm... I guess I didn't give a solid enough jumping off point for the next person with my post. Give me a little while, and I'll make another post.)

It was still dawn when they made it to Reika Village. The group didn't get a very warm welcome when they came rolling into the town center. When the people of the village saw the imperial trucks and mech coming into the village they all ran away to hide someplace.

Irik didn't seem to understand why the people were so scared, even if it was so blatantly obvious. "Why are they so freaked out?" he asked.

"Because they think we're with the Draknor Empire," Jaden explained.

"Why would they think that?"

"We're using their vehicles, remember?"

"Then I think our first priority is to give Zephyr and the trucks a new paint job," Irik said. "I'm thinking something with red and yellow..." Irik's thoughts were interrupted by a small stone that hit him in the head. "Oww! Who threw that!? Jaden, stop the mech!"

Jaden brought Zephyr to a halt. The trucks behind them stopped as well. Irik stood up on his seat so he could get a better look at his surroundings. Another stone hit him, this time in the jaw. "Oww! Dammit! Whose throwing those!?"

There was a woman and a child standing by a nearby fountain. The child was holding a stone. "Get out of our village!" the boy yelled before throwing another rock.

Irik ducked to avoid being hit in the head again. He didn't look too happy. "Why you little punk!" He hopped out of Zephyr and began to march toward the boy and his mother.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Jaden asked.

"I'll be right back," Irik responded.

Kasey, who was in the truck closest to Zephyr, saw Irik hop out and head toward them. She didn't know him very well, but from the time they met in the fortune teller's tent she knew he had a short temper. She turned to Anna, who was sitting in the seat next to her, and said, "Stay here, Anna. I'll be right back." She got out and ran after Irik to stop him from doing anything stupid.

The woman kneeled down to wrap her arms around her child as Irik got closer, as if to shield the boy. "Please, don't hurt us!" she pleaded.

Irik ignored the woman and looked at the kid. "Those rocks hurt, you little brat! You'd better apologize!" The kid answered by sticking his tongue out at Irik. "Why you little..."

"What do you think you're doing!?" Kasey shouted as she approached.

Irik pointed at the kid and said, "This little brat threw rocks at me!"

"How old are you, five!?" Kasey yelled back.

Karana, who was sitting in her truck, sighed as she watched the two start to argue. She decided to let the two argue while she opened up the trucks to let the people out. It seemed Kenji was thinking the same thing, because he was already out of his truck and opening the back door for the villagers.

Karana got out of the drivers seat and called over to Jaden. "Hey, Jaden!"

Jaden climbed into the back seat of the mech so he could peer over the back. "Yes?"

"Help me get the villagers out of the trucks."

Irik and Kasey were in a full-blown yelling contest now. It seemed two of them had completely forgotten about the boy and his mother in their argument. The boy noticed people coming out from the back of the trucks. His eyes widened when he saw a man within the group. "Dad!" he shouted, breaking from his mother's embrace to run to the man. The mother chased after him.

The boy's father's eyes lit up with joy when he saw the boy. "Jake!" He scooped the child up into his arms and hugged him.

"Michael? What are you doing here?" the woman asked when she came over. "I thought you were selling your wares at Jirachai."

"Dad, why is the Empire here?" the boy asked, nervously.

"You've got it all wrong," he said. "These kids aren't with the Empire. In fact, if it wasn't for them I would never have been able to come back!"

The father explained to his family how the Empire had attacked Jirachai and taken them all prisoner. Then he told them how Irik broke them out of captivity, stole a mech, and helped them all escape. People slowly started coming out of their houses. One-by-one people started filing into the village center, until there was a crowd. All the while Kasey and Irik continued their heated argument, totally oblivious to their surroundings.

The man finished, "Because of these brave youngsters, we were able to come here safely."

The boy looked over at Irik. He frowned before turning his attention to Jaden, who was standing with Karana, Kenji, and Anna. The three of them were also watching Irik and Kasey. "Is Irik always like this?" Karana asked.

"Unfortunately," Jaden said with a weary sigh.

"Kasey is pretty much the same," Anna added, sounding just as weary as Jaden.

The boy pushed his way out of his father's arms and ran over to Jaden and the others. "Thank you so much for saving my dad," he said.

(Sorry if it seems a little long and dragged out. Hopefully you guys can think of something to post in response to this.)

Kenji

The little boy rushed over to us, "thank you so much for saving my Dad!"
The villagers rushed over to their families and then to the group who had saved their lives; thanking them.
Before the grateful crowd could move on to me, I excused myself and walked out of the village to be on my own. I needed some time to think.
I looked at the scenery around me, so different from the place I had grown up in. I saw a solitary tree not too far away, the others wouldn't come after me for a while I thought.
Once I got to the tree, I slumped down and leaned against it, slowly I began to unravel my scarf.
The air felt fresh and gentle against my exposed face and I traced the scars that that man had given me on my two cheeks, my own flesh and blood, my big brother, the one who had promised to look after me always had done this to me. I took out one of my knifes and looked at the reflection of my face. My two cheeks, disfigured my those horrendous marks, I was the first he had put them on. I smiled for a moment, happy that the others had only been marked on their shoulders and that they had only received a tattoo. I sighed and put on my scarf, watching the clouds go by, and pretending not to notice as Jaden sat beside me.

*OK dudes, I probably wont post for a while (I'm going on holiday) but do not worry! I have asked Dynamo To look after Kenji for me! I will post whenever I get back (is still not sure when she will get back..... )*

Karana watched Jaden follow Kenji's example, leaving the crowd before getting swamped with attention. Too bad she hadn't gone with them, but she knew somebody here needed her. She began to wander through the crowd, greeting random people and asking if there was anything she could do for them.



***Sorry...it's way past my bed time. ***

Anna~

When the little boy ran up to us and thanks us for saving his Dad, Kasey and Irik stop fighting to look at him.

"No problem kid that's what my team The Phoenix Brigade does." he smirked as he pokes his chest.

"Why did you name it?" Kasey glared at Irik.

"Cause I started it, which makes me leader and the naming person." he huffed.

"What! That's not fair we should have a say in this!" Kasey shouted, soon another fight started up. I sighed to myself this was going to be tough.

(Looks like I'm going to be away for a while now, too. My family and I are leaving for a week long camping trip tonight and won't be back until Sunday. Everyone get along while I'm gone. )

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Jaden asked as he settled against the tree.

"I don't like big crowds," Kenji told him.

"Listen, I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I was just scared of the whole situation, I guess I still am."

"You should be," Kenji said. "After what we did, the Empire will most likely execute each and every one of us if they catch us."

"I know, but whenever I'm with Irik I feel like we can take on the world together, that nothing can stop us as long as he's around."

"He'll get himself killed with that kind of attitude," Kenji said.

"Don't say that. I know he's a little quick to jump head first into things, but he's still a good person. I also know he was serious about asking you to join. I don't know what that man did to ruin your life, but I do know that you can't take him on alone, at least not while he has soldiers under his command. If you join us, I know Irik will do everything he can to help you get your revenge."

Karana finally ventured out of the crowd and headed toward the trail Kenji and Jaden had taken. Ah, why not? There was nothing else to do, and the two were probably in need of some kind of comfort or something...unless they were just talking. She made her way along the trail, finally coming out on the hill where they had taken shelter under a tree.

"Hey, guys," she called.

* This will have to be super fast because I need to go to catch my boat in like 15 minutes*

Kenji

I stood up and barely glanced in Karanas direction. I watched as the branches of the tree swayed slightly in the cool breeze. I looked at Jaden and spoke calmly, "whether Irik is a good man or not will not determine whether he will or wont die. Face the facts, Your brother has just chose two incredibly powerful enemies with thousands of trained men on each of their sides. What does he have?" I walked away from the pair, "You all will die. I cant see anyway else this could go."
I left them to ponder on what I had just said.

Karana frowned at Kenji as he began to walk away. She looked down at Jaden, who seemed equally as shocked. "Did he say what I think he just said?" She hoped to God she was wrong...

Jaden nodded.

And her temper snapped. She took off after Kenji, moving at an alarming rate. When she finally caught up to him, she took his arm and spun him back around, to face her. Her palm connected with his cheek.

"Can't you be optimistic for one second?!" she screamed at him. "Just because we're outnumbered and probably under-experienced doesn't mean it's hopeless! Sure, I can agree with you on the subject of Irik - that idiot will get himself killed - but that [i]doesn't mean the rest of us will die! I[i] for one have enough sense to know when to run, when to fight, how to go about doing it! I'm sure the others are just the same!"

She panted. She was still fuming at him, but her screaming had helped.

Jaden ran after Karana and caught up to her just as she finished yelling at Kenji. "Karana, that's enough!" he said.

Karana was still fuming. She had to turn away because looking at Kenji's face any longer would have made her hit him again.

Jaden turned to Kenji, who had just shaken off the slap to his face. "Look, you don't have to join us if you don't want to. We won't force you. I don't want to die or anything, but I'll follow my brother wherever he goes. His offer won't be closing anytime soon, so you'll have some time to think about it. Sure we'll be making a lot of enemies but let me ask you this, if we save at least one life in the process, won't it be worth it?"