The Six

Lulu

I watched as he fell asleep. I smirked, he said I couldn't help the six. He never said I couldn't watch them. How would I risk it and take to the trees, or would I be half-intelligent and stay on the ground. Well, if I was being stupid and not listening to Zabe, then I may as well be stupid and climb the trees I can hardly see. The colder something is the harder it is for me to make it out. I walked forward, keeping a close eye on the changing heat pattern in front of me. I could feel the grass on my toes. I could hear the sounds of night critters. I could taste my dry mouth in the dry summer's air. I could smell The flowers, closing up for the night, but I longed to see the colors of everything around me. It was like, putting food in front of a starving person, but telling them they can't eat it.

I walked into a tree, I rubbed my nose before jumping up and wrapping my arms around the tree. I could see a lot of heat patters from up here. I saw a family of what was probably birds. I saw a deer not to far in the distance. I saw one of the six, which I wasn't sure, but one of them.

Cypress

I sat up, bolt straight. Taking in quick breaths, I pushed out with my mind.

Nothing.

That might've been because I wasn't a mind freak, but still... something was off. There was no breeze, no sense of someone close by. I let the cocoon evaporate and got up, a little air stirring around my hands. "Hey! MMV! Mind telling me what's going on?"

No answer.

I shivered and picked up the wind speed. I looked around. It was starting to get chilly.

"MMV! Why can't I tell where you are anymore?"

Nothing.

I kicked straight out, fists pulled in. The air rippled, and a path was knocked down in front of me- clear cut, and riddled with cracked earth. I did need to take care of that, and quick. But first, I did the only thing I could think of.

I called, loudly, for Barke.

Barke

Walking back, the warm night air is soothing and refreshing. A rustle in the trees that I would have dismissed as a forest critter, if not thinking what it is.

Everything seems beautiful, I wish I could see it... Oh look, one of the six.

Was that Lulu? What does she mean by she wishes she could see it? Then I remember how she touched my face and only afterwards thought about my good looks. I snicker quietly at the memory, thenhear my name yelled in a panic.

"Cy, is that you?" I call.

"Yes!" comes the faint voic.

"I'm coming, you hear me?"

Cypress

"Yeah, I hear!" I shouted. I didn't know why I called him- I just wanted someone there who I was somewhat familiar with. A few agonizing minutes later, he stumbled into my self-made clearing.

"Jeez, any tornadoes come by lately?" he said. I laughed.

"Nope- a wild rampaging Cypress! Very rare."

Barke laughed. The moon peeped out, and his eyes, skin, and hair seemed to glow. He himself seemed to radiate light. I lost my breath for a moment, which is quite a feat for an air freak. I shook myself.

Bad, bad, bad, bad, baaaad Cypress. No crushing. Or blushing. Or noticing when a guy is considerably attractive. Or... being a girl. Yeah.

And then, realizing Barke could probably hear my thoughts, I began mentally rattling off every swear I had ever heard.

Oh, lord.

Chiekh

Nothing compares to the feel of blood on your skin. That invigorating power, that makes you feel like you could do anything. Like you had a reason to be alive. I hadn't killed in a while. I haven't felt my reason for living and this walkers shall become my reason for living.

I walked behind my sister. I always walked behind Charna. It was because I respected her, I respected her enough to let her take the lead.

"When do you think we will get there?" I asked.

"In a while." She replied. I pulled my knife out of its compartment and played with it.

"I want first kill, okay." I said. She nodded although she knew that wasn't really a request it was more like an order.

I watched the distant land, all that green. All that life and frivolity was shown in them as they swung in the wind. All that beauty, and as I walked through them I smiled.

Beauty itself was created to be destroyed.

Charna Serkan|Leaving the South:

Chiekh followed me as I headed towards the stables. I knew he was watching the north and grinned. This was going to be fun. My brother was laughing to himself by the time I reached the Taragroh (an animal much like a horse, except with horns like a goat or ram, downy, green-brown feathers like a bird and a mane and tail of peacock feathers).

"Time to go," I said and waved Chiekh over.

The boy walked over and I handed him the reins to the first Taragroh. We led them out into the courtyard. I stepped off a nearby wall and onto the back of my own Taragroh. My brother and I shared a small smile, and then we kicked the Taragroh into a trot.

We turned the creatures towards the north and kicked them into a gallop, grinning all the while. This was going to be interesting. The land was beautiful, and my brother and I were created to destroy it.

I sighed and looked down at the creature I sat upon. There were wild Taragroh but they were vicious. It took months jsut to time one, and the one I rode had taken almost a year. Smiling to myself, I looked over at my brother, who was playing with his knife again.

"Time to destroy some beauty, eh, little brother?" I said and he grinned, flicking the knife around again.

ZABRIEL

Zabe shot up, cold sweat dribbling down his neck. He was breathing heavily, trying to remember what he had just dreamt about, and finding he couldn't. All he could remember was that it had been horrible. He wiped away the sweat with the back of his sleeve and rose on shaking legs. That was why he didn't sleep.

Zabe peered through the forest for any sign of Lulu or a straying member of the six. He saw nothing, but Cypress was already asking for help. Too bad for her. Unless they were in mortal danger, Zabe didn't plan on saying anything.

A small breeze lifted, sending shivers down Zabe's spine. There was something not quite right... Learning to control the wind meant learning to read the wind. It was strange really, it seemed to carry emotion from time to time. There was something very wrong here, but Zabriel couldn't place his finger on it.

He scanned the trees more frantically now, searching for Lulu. She was there, up in a tree. How on earth did you manage to get yourself up there? he asked her silently.

Great difficulty. You haven't been sleeping long enough.

Zabe frowned. Nightmares. He wouldn't be sleeping any more tonight, this much he knew.

His stomach growled quietly, and Zabe noted a small berry bush by his side. The berries weren't rype yet, but that wouldn't be a problem for him. He rested a hand on the bush and focused, the berries rypening quickly. Zabe smiled and plucked a few from the branches, shoving them into his mouth and chewing contently.

Bad, bad, bad, bad, baaaad Cypress. No crushing. Or blushing. Or noticing when a guy is considerably attractive. Or... being a girl. Yeah. Oh God, he can hear my thoughts! Ermmm...

I've gotta say, lately I've been feeling a little cocky. Lulu thinks my face feels handsome, Cy thinks I'm considerably attractive...and I didn't even mess with their minds the least.

That ended last year that one time I got that woman to agree to marry me. Two days later her husband came home...I didn't even know she had a husband. Now I only screw with minds when I need to.

Like when I'm about to be hit.

By Lulu.

For some reason the thought of being hit makes me stare at the ground, and I feel my cheeks warm. I try not to smile, and end up with that weird feeling of my cheeks lifted and my lips turned down.

Cy laughs at my expression. "What?"

I give in to the smile. "Just thinking about Lulu," I murmur. Her smile fades.

"Who is Lulu anyway?"

"I can't tell you, but she's a girl I know. A really cute, evil girl." All I can hear is her thoughts screaming DON'T THINK! over and over.

"I've...gotta...go" she mutters, and a moment later her mind comprehends what she just said. I can't be here, I can't be here... Cy stands up and bolts into the woods, not stopping, not thinking anything different. A crack apprears in the ground and a tree falls. What did I do?!

Cypress

God, god, god, god, god! I was such an idiot! I mean, obviously he liked this Lulu chick- she was probably better than me, anyway. She'd better be, if Barke cared so much about her. I kept my hands clamped over my mouth, tears blurring my vision. I... I... I didn't know! For the first time in my life, I found someone who made me feel like having no family was fine, that I was still whole!

And that person had to be torn away from me.

I shook my head. I tripped over a root and skidded on my knees, bruising and scraping. The ground was trembling and splintering beneath me, and it was all because I couldn't keep myself guarded. There was only one thing I could do now- only one option.

I had to go home.

I let out another shuddering whimper-ish wail and scrambled up. Be a big girl, Cypress. Go back to what you know, Cypress... Cypress Evergreen. I wailed as I thought my last name, the one I had avoided, hated, all my life. I sprinted again, not stopping to think, to plan.

Just breathe.

I ran. It was all I could do. Through the trees, stumbling over roots and lumps and rocks. Not once did I think. Not once did I question whether I was doing good or bad.

Just run.

I tore through greenery, the ground splitting and branches falling wherever I passed. Under the unforgiving dome of night, mocking me with happy stars and a regal moon, mocking my pain, mocking my foolishness.

Just go. Your lines have been said, your scene completed.

Your heart broken, your spirit crushed, your dreams shattered.

You are nothing. And now you know that.

Lulu

I sat in the tree, watching as a small beacon of heat faded away. What was that? I couldn't make it out. I looked towards the ground, or where it should be. I couldn't see it. Shit, how was I going to get down? Zabe? Zabe?! Zabe!! I thought in panic. Something we were trained not to do. I took a deep breath, relaxed. Zabe still wasn't answering. Zabe! I'm stuck, please! Come help get me down! I pleaded. Still no answer. Where did he get off to! I clutched the branch, now of all times, I was suddenly worried about falling!
"Zabe!" I whispered, not wanting to alert the six of my whereabouts. I swear when he got back he was so dead!

Charna|Northern Forests:

Something cracked. The sound was distant, but it echoed through the trees. I held up a hand and my brother and I exchanged looks. What was that? I thought, smiling. Chiekh shook his head, glancing down at the knife he still had in his hand.

I sighed and tilted my head to one side, listening. There was another crack, louder and closer than before. My smile turned into a maniac's grin. Beside me, my brother laughed.

Sharing a secret smile with him, I slid off the back of my Taragroh and onto the ground. A glance around us told me that we were alone, but we wouldn't be alone for long.

Another crash that was even closer and I motioned for my brother to back up so that he was out of sight. I sent my Taragroh to him and then crouched down in the shadows, drawing them close.

A girl ran into the clearing moments after I'd vanished. She looked like a boy, but she acted like a girl. Interesting... The girl fell to her knees and started sobbing. I grinned. Was this one of the supposed six? Honestly, it was just a kid. A young one at that, and clearly way too emotional for anything. I heard on of the Taragroh's growl and the girl stiffened, looking up. She almost looked scared.

Still grinning like a maniac, I let the shadows drop and stepped out into the clearing, laughing. "Well, well, well," I called, approaching the girl. "What do we have here? A poor, little, lost Shukan. Where's the rest of the flock? Or did they kick you out?"

She shot to her feet, eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

ZABRIEL

Zabriel followed Cypress quietly, contemplating on how to get her back to the group. He just might have to go back on his little strike to comfort her. She was too young to go at this alone, she needed a real guardian, somebody not Zabe. Zabe figured that he could only protect her from the big things, but he couldn't save her from herself. He needed one of the Six to do that. Or at least help Cypress in saving herself.

Lulu was calling for him... Keep going. She'll be fine.

Cypress stopped suddenly, falling to her knees and sobbing. Zabe bit his lip, forcing himself to remain in the Shadows. Had he been maybe a little too harsh? She was young, a little bit of arrogance could have been expected...

Somebody walked out from the trees. Zabe craned his neck for a better view. Human, female, that's all he could get from his position.

"Well, well, well, What do we have here? A poor, little, lost Shukan. Where's the rest of the flock? Or did they kick you out?" Her voice made Zabriel shiver. This wasn't going to end well...

Cyrpress was on her feet in an instant. "Who are you?"

Zabe crept towards Cypress, smiling. "Lost, not kicked out by any means. Ungreatful to say the least, but I couldn't kick her out," he answered for Cypress, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Who are you?" Cypress squeaked.

Zabe put a hand on the girl's shoulder and pulled her back. "I do believe you've taken to calling me MMV. It can remain that way for now." What was he doing? This would be the third of them that knew who he was... Half of the six had figured they existed and it was still only their first night! But that didn't matter. He had sworn to protect them and that's what he was going to do, he could cover up for it later.

Chiekh

I hid myself in the forests watching my sister get in the stance for a fight. I was a little bit envious, I mean I did call first kill. I pouted and I remembered what happened when I was five. I had just lost a battle and I was crying. My father had said 'Che, real men don't pout.' and then he had proceeded to give me a long and very painful beating for crying. That was the last time I cried.

I watched Charna intimidate the little girl. She put up a bold face but I could see the fear in her eyes, she reminded me of flies......they knew they were going to die but they still fought.

A guy appeared from the forest. He looked like my next opponent, he seemed quite confident and was able to stand before Charna who the best of warriors feared.

"Lost, not kicked out by any means. Ungrateful to say the least, but I couldn't kick her out," And as he said. I knew i simply had to fight him.

I was jumped into the clearing and stood next to Charna.

"Dibs on the smart guy." I whispered smiling. As i readied myself for the battle i remembered something I had been told all my life. 'There's a time for everything.'

A time to life, a time to die. And right now it was my time to kill.

Cypress

I clenched my teeth. "All of you. Out of my way."

The girl smirked. "Well, now that I've got both of you-"

"NOW!"

I didn't know what came over me. I just knew that one second, MMV and my soon-to-be kidnapper are upright, inches from me. The next, they're several yards away, sprawled on the ground, the earth beneath me split open. That's when I bolted again.

I was controlled now- no sobs, no tears. Well, a few tears. But I could see sharply, jumped gracefully over rocks and roots, cut through a path that fell into shape before me, and resurrected itself after I had passed, winds whipping around me, propelling me.

I climbed up the city wall, still invisible. I jumped over, using the air to cushion my fall. I didn't stop for breath. I kept running. Down Smith's Street, Design Lane, East Boulevard, and then into the urban area- my domain. I swerved down, back into an alley, where my hammock still hung.

And then, I curled up and cried as hard as my systems would allow.

Barke

While I'm sitting, pondering what went on a few minutes ago, panicked thoughts make their way to my head.

Zabe? Zabe?! Help me! Oh God I can't get down... Lulu. I close my eyes and see what she does; heat patterns and no way down from the tree. I'm going to fall, I'm going to fall... I'm up in an instant, and run towards where Lulu's thinking. What's that rustling? Zabe?

I close my eyes and think to her, No, it's Barke. Zabe's busy right now. I'm going to help you, so long as you promise not to hit me. Surprisingly, her thoughts are relieved that anyone is coming to get her at all, and shockingly, a little happy that it's me. Just a little.

Lulu is clinging to a branch high in the tree, looking scared as hell, poor girl. She's probably a lot higher than she thinks she is. Somewhere around one hundred feet up. I grab the nearest branch and start climbing.

"Your heat pattern looks really small," she whimpers, sounding even more scared than she did before.

"I know, don't worry about it." After a minute or two, I reach her and pull her into my arms. I have to pry her fingers from the branches. Coming back down takes a little longer, but I manage and set a shaking Lulu down against the tree. "You okay?" I ask nervously. She nods, looking defiant. Much better, although she's still shaking and her breath is still ragged. "Get some sleep, okay?"

"No."

"You need to sleep, what's so important that you need to stay awake?"

"Um, I need to look after all six of you?"

"I'll look after us! You need to sleep!"

"No!" This girl is too damn stubborn.