“I can’t believe him!” Tohoak said once back at the cabin. Kyle frowned while Lacy nodded. Tohoak lay on her bunk bed her knees bent upward.
“Why doesn’t he let you go on patrols?” Kyle asked finally.
“Because he’s over protective!” Tohoak growled. She glared stubbornly at the bunk above her. “It isn’t fair,” she muttered quietly. Lacy stood in front of the bunk scowling thoughtfully.
“No it isn’t” she agreed. Kyle suddenly gave a sly smile. He was up to something.
“We’re going on patrol tomorrow night. You should come with us. You just can’t let anyone see you.” he suggested.
“Can we come on patrol to?” Tyler rushed into the cabin Emily right behind him. Kyle rolled his eyes.
“No,” he said. The last thing they needed was the twins causing trouble and that was exactly what the two would do.
“Please Kyle? Please?” Emily asked her blue eyes big. Kyle shook his head.
“No, means no,” he said. “Now go back outside,” he watched as they dragged their feet and sluggishly went back out side.
“Tomorrow then?” Tohoak asked once they were gone. Kyle’s eyes flickered back to her and he nodded.
“Tomorrow.” He confirmed. Tohoak felt excitement rising in her. She was going to sneak out on a patrol! The possibilities were near limitless. She would get to see the city up close and maybe even help in a fight with the Decimators!
“Hunter will be furious if he finds out,” Lacy said with a tentative smile. Tohoak quietly agreed. He would be very furious. The clicking of claws against the wood floor drew all of their eyes to the door.
“Rex,” Tohoak said. She stood up and stretched. The dog swiveled his ears toward her and padded over to her. Hunter’s dog: Rex was a big Doberman with cropped ears and tail. He was one of the few dogs left with an ability. Hunter had had him for a long time. The dog only came to the cabin when Hunter was out on patrol. Usually he went to sleep with Kydlin, but when she was on the patrol with Hunter he came to Tohoak. She could remember many nights he had joined her. “Hunter’s already left for another patrol then?” she asked rubbing his head gently. Rex gave a small whine in answer and leaped up onto her bed. Then he laid down and rested his head on his paws.
“Poor dog. Why doesn’t Hunter take him on patrol anymore?” Lacy asked frowning. Tohoak already knew the answer. Even though Rex was able to sense the intensions of others and change his skin to metal Hunter didn’t want to endanger him. A dog with those kinds of abilities was worth a lot on the market.
“It’s too dangerous. Rex is a walking target. Hunter is already in danger when on patrol. Everyone knows his face. With Rex they would be sure to get into a fight. Rex is valuable to Decimators and the Unabilitied.” she explained. Kyle nodded in agreement. There was a knock on the cabin’s door which was already open.
“Kyle,” a big, yet slim man leaned in the frame of the doorway. He had brown hair the color of dust and sharp grey eyes. Kyle straightened and nodded to his mentor respectively. Colter nodded back to him and to Tohoak and Luna.”You girls mind if I take Kyle away for a little while?” he asked with a kind smile. Both shook their heads.
“He’s all yours,” Tohoak said. Kyle glared at her playfully.
“I see how it is then. Just give me up,” he said with a smirk. He started toward Colter and they both left the cabin.
“I wonder what their up to,” Lacy said. Tohoak shrugged. Knowing Colter and Kyle they were probably practicing hand to hand combat. Since his power was one of flight Kyle had to be able to fight as well. Tohoak fell back onto the bed beside Rex. She sighed quietly. Kyle was a good fighter. She yawned and blinked her eyes sleepily. Before she knew it she was fast asleep.

“Tohoak, wake up,” Lacy stood over her. Slowly she blinked her eyes opened. Her body felt stiff and it took a lot of will power just to keep herself from going back to sleep.
“What time is it?” Tohoak asked slowly standing up. Lacy looked outside to where she could see the sun warming the ground.
“Five thirty,” she said quietly. Tohoak frowned. It had been sometime around three when she had got to sleep. It felt like she had slept much longer than that. “You went to sleep yesterday,” Lacy said answering her unasked question. “You were out cold. Hunter told us to leave you alone and let you catch up on your sleep,” she said quickly as Tohoak scowled. She had only been getting three or four hours of sleep each night. The rest she spent in a fitful state where she couldn’t fall asleep, but was exhausted. It was the result of living on the street and sleeping little. Even after all the time she had been here she still couldn’t sleep for very long.
“I slept that long without waking at least once?” she asked baffled. Lacy nodded.
“The only reason I woke you was because Kyle and I are about to leave for patrol. If you want to sneak along you need to head out now,” she said. Tohoak wasted no time.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll be right behind you guys!” she said suddenly feeling awake. Quickly she changed and pulled on a pair of boots. Lacy had already left. It would be easy to follow them. Hunter considered stealth to be a very important and valuable skill. As she left the cabin she spotted Kyle and Lacy leaving camp with Colter and Kydlin. Hunter’s best friends. If one of them caught her she would be in for it.
The camp was full of activity; the perfect cover. Tyler and Emily were working on schoolwork by the campfire with their mentor, D. Both of them wanted to learn to be medics and with that came a load of schoolwork. Younger apprentices were busy working around camp while older apprentices, like Tohoak, prepared for patrols. Trying to look inconspicuous, she made her way after the patrol, blending into the shadows of the lowering sun. When she had almost reached the edge of the camp Hunter appeared. He was speaking with Kydlin and Colter before they left on their patrol. Lacy and Kyle stood waiting patiently off to the side. Hunter nodded and left them to continue on their patrol though not before spotting Tohoak. Silently she cursed herself for not trying to hide better. Now her cover was blown.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked walking over to her. The patrol slipped out of sight and she stared after it longingly. She couldn’t follow them now. His eyes followed hers and suddenly he looked angry. “You were trying to follow them weren’t you?” he demanded shaking his head.
“I deserve to go on at least one patrol!” Tohoak said staring him straight in the eye. Hunter looked away his eyes filled with anger.
“When will you learn to listen!?” he asked. “I don’t send you out on patrols for a reason! The quicker you learn that the better off you’ll be,” he said. Tohoak looked downcast. She just wanted to be taken seriously. If she was given a chance then maybe she could prove she was stronger than Hunter thought. Suddenly Hunter sighed looking tired. “Fine! If you want to go on a patrol you’ll go! Tomorrow night I’m taking a patrol out to the Decimator base. Is that dangerous enough for you?!” he demanded. Tohoak’s eyes were wide. She was going to go on a patrol! He shook his head again and looked at her with almost sad eyes. “Tell Kyle and Lacy to come along as well. It will be you three, Kydlin and me. Colter will stay behind to take care of camp,” he explained warily.
“Thank you so much!” she hugged him but quickly let go embarrassed. She had hugged him a lot when she was younger, but she was too old for it now. Hunter looked surprised and he almost looked like he could smile. It quickly faded though and he nodded to her.
“Just be careful. I won’t be able to keep an eye on you all the time.” he warned. Then he turned and headed back to camp. Tohoak was almost shaking with excitement. She was really going on a patrol! An important one at that!

It was awhile before Lacy and Kyle returned from their patrol. The sun had just disappeared below the horizon and the air was getting cold. Tohoak had gone back to her cabin. It was lit by a dim over headlight allowing her to keep a watchful eye on the twins. They were bouncing around on the tops bunks and neglecting their homework, as usual. Kyle was the first to appear in the cabin doorway. He looked tired, but smiled lightly at Tohoak. Next Lacy came in. She yawned and went straight over to her bunk taking off her shoes and placing them neatly on the floor.
“Honestly I don’t know why you want to go on patrols!” Lacy shook her head finally looking at Tohoak. “It really wears on the feet walking around,” she muttered. Kyle looked about to grin, but ducked his head when he got a sharp look from Lacy.
“It was strange tonight,” he said looking at Tohoak. “There was defiantly more Decimator activity. We didn’t get in any trouble, but for a moment I thought we might. Colter was the only reason we didn’t. He’s pretty good with words,” Kyle laughed almost nervously. Tohoak knew Colter was very cunning, but he would fight when it was needed. The only reason she could think of why he had talked his way out of the fight was that they were out numbered. Even though Colter’s ability was that he could master any weapon presented to him, people swore he was a sliver-tongue.
“Yeah we got lucky there!” Lacy agreed. She leaned back and rested her head on her pillow. Her eyes flickered with the threat of falling asleep.
“Hunter’s taking us on a patrol tomorrow!” Tohoak suddenly blurted out. Lacy sat up her eyes wide.
“You mean he’s actually letting you come on a patrol?” Lacy asked bewildered. Tohoak nodded happily.
“Yes! He found out I was going to follow you, but he’s taking me on a patrol anyway. You guys too! He says we’re going straight to the Decimator camp!” Tohoak spotted the twins watching her with interest and quickly lower her voice. “It’s only going to be Hunter, Kydlin, and us!” she finished almost shaking with excitement. Kyle shook his head.
“Your idea of fun seems dangerous,” he said.
“That’s what makes it fun!” Tohoak laughed. Lacy was in agreement.
“Don’t worry Kyle, as Tohoak said; both Kydlin and Hunter are going to be there. We’ll be fine,” she assured him. Kyle still looked skeptical, but he didn’t say anything else. After all they needed to get some sleep. They had a big day ahead of them.