The Darwin Chronicles, Book One: The Mountain Ranges

Emmett awoke to see that Isaac was gone. On the vacant bed was a note.

Went back to Blackfire to scavenge. Tell your parents if they ask.

-Isaac

Emmett got up and dressed and went to breakfast, His mother was cooking breakfast on the stove, Norie was playing with her cat on the floor, and Darren sat at the table reading some papers, sipping some coffee. Darren's head shot up, and he stared at Emmett.

"What?" Emmett asked.

"I can sense that your abilities have finally awakened. Did Amelia teach you?"

"Yes." Emmett thought of his father teaching Amelia. He wondered how she had acted, out in the forest at night. He wondered who had helped his father. "How did you get yours, Dad?"

"Her father." His face darkened. "He died helping me. To activate another Legend's powers, you must give them some of your own energy. Some require more than others. Of course, after a short time you regain that energy back. But if you lose all of your energy at once...well..."

"Oh."

"I required lots of energy, so I used all of his. Not intentionally, of course. You always risk your life when you help other Legends. I told myself afterwards that I would never meet his fate, and I wouldn't help others meet his fate. But later I found out that his own daughter was one, so I felt obligated to him to help her."

"Oh," Emmett said again. Eliza put a plate of bacon and a pot of leftover stew on the table, which silence them for a bit. "Dad, if it takes energy, then how come she didn't seem at all tired when she helped me last night? Did I not require a lot of energy?"

"It depends. How long did it last?"

"Uh-" Emmett thought for a moment. "Only around five minutes."

"You needed a lot. Most people only require one minute, on average. But she's extraordinarily powerful. She has lots of potential."

Emmett silently pondered this as he ate. He thought of Amelia, and, for some reason, a strange, strong yearning filled his heart, making it ache in an alien desire. What was happening to him?

A conch horn sounded. It was a signal for everyone fit to fight to gather in the square. Emmett and Isaac shuffled along with everyone else to where Joseph was standing on a podium. It was silent as the crowd waited for him to speak. Emmett found Amelia in the crowd, the yearning in his heart growing stronger yet. She watched Joseph intently.

"Good morning, soldiers," He began. "To the soldiers of Blackfire, welcome to Briarlight. I have decided that because of the recent attacks on Blackfire, training will be more frequent. You will be separated based on your age. Everyone age fifteen will train in the plains. Ages sixteen to nineteen will train in the fields. Ages twenty to thirty will train in the hills. Ages thirty-one to forty will be training in Blackfire's meadow. Ages forty-one and up will be in Blackfire's mountains. Please disperse to your designated training areas now, quickly and orderly. Bring your weapons and be dressed properly for physical exertion." The crowd began to disperse, everyone heading towards where ever their respective age groups were assigned, or home to fetch weapons or to change into better suited clothes.