49 The Gates

"This is the gate room. The only people that can operate the gates here are the Combat Professors, advanced survivalists and of course Headmaster Raven Clof." Hogswell paused next to the interior gate.

The gates here were hidden inside the gate house, unlike the other gates out of the city. This exit through the wall was protected by two gates. A mechanism kept both hates from being opened at once. And on illusion kept it invisible from outside the wall.

"Stay with your teams and don't go too far. We'll meet back up at tree line in fifteen minutes to check how things are going." Hogswell paused as he surveyed his class. Some of his students were grasping their bags with shaking hands. Other were watching the gate's in anticipation. And fewer still were waiting calmly. "Get ready. We're leaving."

Hogswell reached out and placed his hand on the authentication tablet. It flashed from blue to green and the first gate started to open.

The students walked through and Hogswell closed the first gate. As the they waited Hogswell felt the need to remind his students of a very important point, "Do not eat anything you've gathered until I've checked it. That includes things you think you've gathered and received an okay on before. Many plants look similar to an edible one but aren't edible. So don't eat them." Hogswell glanced at his students, maybe he'd get lucky this year. But then his eyes landed on a pair of guys who were nudging each other in the ribs. Nope, he'd definitely be using some od his anti-toxins this afternoon. Hogswell turned and placed his hand on another tablet next to the outer gate. It flashed green and began to open.

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie picked a red tinted and ribbed berry from a bush. He rubbed it clean and popped it into his mouth. "Yum." Kyrie reached back to the plant and picked a few more of the delicious red barriers.

Liza and Centra watched with shock and worry. Did Kyrie really just eat that? It hadn't even been five minutes sinceHogswell told them not to eat what they'd gathered.

DJ don't do it if you want to sleep with me tonight," Centra said with a stern look and a shake of her head. She wasn't going to let DJ risk dying over a few stupid barriers when they'd just had lunch.

DJ's cheeks warmed as he sheepishly put the barriers in his bad. He could wait to eat them until after Hogswell checked them.

Kyrie ate several more of the barriers as they wandered through and studied different plants. He picked a glimmering blue berry. This one might be fun to eat later. Kyrie grabbed only one of them. They were a fairly strong aphrodisiac.

So far they'd had no trouble. But some of the labor's were nearby clearing the trees ready for harvest. There was only five guards to keep the twenty labor's safe. Being able to increase security for those working near the city had been one of the hopes for the Tries.

A hope they couldn't fulfill right now.

Kyrie paused as he watched a teen that was the same age as him. The teen's muscles had the bulk of one who moved heavy things regularly. The youth paused in his work to glair at kyrie. He spat on the ground and mumbled, "Damn hero. Ain't done a thing for us." Before he moved on to the next area.

But Kyrie hadn't looked in the youth's direction to watch him. He'd looked that way because he'd sensed something moving quickly. With its speed and aura it could be a person, or a young Jaculus. A winged serpent that lived in the trees being felled.

Kyrie turned around and looked for the closest person he knew would look after his teammates. He saw James near a suspicious looking ivy plant. "James, can you watch over the others?"

James voice broke with nervousness as he said, "Yep!"

Kyrie paused as he went to turn around. "Did you?"

James nodded. It might not've been his smartest move, but he'd gathered some poison ivy. It'd make for one hell of an itchy attack.

Kyrie quickly turned around. He'd just have to remind him self to stay far away from James's vines. They wouldn't be a threat if he kept his aura up until after he showered. That and if he didn't give James the chance to break through his aura. But the second one was never really a choice.

Syra watched as Kyrie left the group to go further into the forest, trouble and injures always seemed to follow that guy.

♢ ♢ ♢

Kyrie could hear the snapping and cracking sounds of footsteps behind him. He took a quick right around a tree. Then a left around another and waited.

The footsteps grew closer. Than paused at the same tree he had.

Kyrie circled around. He stood behind his stalker. She looked very familiar.

Kyrie moved forward and placed a hand on Syra's shoulder. "What do you think you're doing?"

Syra jumped and spun. Her baton headed for Kyrie's aura.

Kyrie slipped past her guard and grasped her wrist.

"Seriously, why are you following me?"

Syra yanked her hand back as she said, "You were acting weird."She swept her hands out towards the lush forest surrounding them. "Sneaking out here when we're supposed to stay together."

Syra dropped her arms. "You usually listen to our Proffs. So what are you doing out here?"

Kyrie's eyes widened and he spoke in a small voice, "You know that much about me?"

Syra rolled her eyes. "Of course. James associates with you more than I'd like." After you've hurt him so much.

Kyrie calmed himself. Of course, she was only watching him so closely because of James. It wasn't because she wanted to be his friend. Wait, she cared about James enough to keep tabs on Kyrie. He smiled as he said, "Do you have a thing for James?"

Syra's eyes widened. "What?! I do –"

"Ahhgh!"

"Shit!" Kyrie turned and ran towards the scream. He'd screwed up and let himself get distracted.

Kyrie's pounding steps shattered branches under his feet as he moved unnaturally fast through the trees. He'd left Syra behind. But he'd left a clear trail. Hopefully, she'd follow or head back. Just, please let her stay safe.

Kyrie didn't want to have to tell James he'd left her alone. That she'd died because he'd left her in a forest where something was attacking.

Syra had tried to keep up. But she quickly fell behind. She was following Kyrie.

They were headed deeper into the woods.