ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 84: Pack Initiation

Chapter 84

Pack Initiation

Monday

Time Until Integration: 1 Month, 26 Days, 6 Hours…

Extra curriculars, team contests, and every other event normally scheduled for after school hours was cancelled. Normally this would have led to teens with abundant time on their hands getting into mischief. However, there was a somber tone that seemed to cover most of the campus.

Everyone looked at Alexa like she was some form of monster, or worse.

On such a small campus rumors ran wild.

Stories ran through campus like wildfire, each crazier than the rest. Each filled with a portion of the truth. Some claimed that Alexa had slain the Red Countess with some type of soul stealing power. Others claimed that Alexa had defeated not only the Red Countess, but a demon as well. Then a few corrections were made when some of the students realized that in Spanish Demonio meant demon and that they were likely talking about Gina’s father. Yet, that only spurred on more stories of people knowing that what they had heard was correct.

As for Alexa, she had a plan.

With one text message to twenty-one people, she set off a string of events that would forever cement the start of what she saw as her faction.

Alex: Pack meeting tonight, campout off campus. Bring camping gear, we sleep under the stars. Meeting Point: Women’s Dorm meeting room 1900.

That was it, a command that quickly blew up in the personal message group that Alexa had created. The group consisted of every member of the Sophomore class and Gina. Jittering Gina who had not left Alexa’s side since the event.

“You do want to come with us, right?” Alexa asked.

“With you and the girls?” Gina asked, her voice a little flustered at the thought.

Alexa nodded.

“Yeah, I would like that.” Gina then paused as she realized what Alexa said. “I have a few camping supplies. How big of a tent do we need?”

At that Alexa shook her head.

“No tent, we do this naturally or not at all.”

“Natural?” Gina blushed.

Alexa looked at Gina for a moment, trying to figure out what she was hinting at. Gina of course took the look to mean get your head out of the gutter.

“Right, you mean just under the stars, natural?”

Alexa nodded.

“Right, well probably for the best.”

“Yeah, especially since Luke will be there.” Alexa added.

“Bleh! Okay, good thing it isn’t au natural then.” Gina added.

With that Alexa and Gina waited, one sleeping bag each waiting by their side at the entry way to the woman’s dorm.

Alexa had only expected a few people to show. She knew for a fact that Luke and Julie would come, but soon felt relieved to see that every member of her former pack arrived, each carrying one sleeping bag each. A few having backpacks full of food and other essentials.

Realizing that while she had the food and water taken care of, there might be a need for plates and cups. Fortunately, it seemed that not only did others think about other needs, but everyone took the message seriously.

Within short order the girls came in in clusters. The first two to arrive were Kylie and Lilly who were apparently roommates. Next came Alison, Callie and Erin all of which had backpacks of their own that had their sleeping bags attached.

“Thank you all for coming.” Alexa said, as she was grateful for the chance to try to make amends.

With that the girls all began talking amongst themselves, while Alexa waited to get a head count. Sure enough, the last group to arrive was by far the largest group, led by Alecia.

“Sorry, we were almost late, but we wanted to make sure we had a sleeping bag for everyone, so we made a quick run to town and back.” Alecia said, handing out sleeping bags to some of the girls who didn’t have one at their disposal.

At the end, the entire pack was here: Alecia, Kylie, Lily, Alison, Kay, Callie, Erica, Erin, Liz, Veronica, Rachel, Leigh, Yulia, Zara, Sarah, Tracy, and Jane.

Well, the entire pack, except for Julie who was with Luke who also needed to get a new sleeping bag.

“Luke is outside, since it is after hours he didn’t want to come in and get zapped.” Julie said a few minutes before the scheduled 7 PM meeting time.

“Well, it looks like we are all here. Thank you all for coming as tonight we will be going over a lot.” Alexa said, then she picked up her sleeping bag and began walking.

That was her speech, short and to the point.

As they approached the border, to where the school boundary ended Mr. Mackie of course appeared.

Whoosh.

At his sudden appearance Alexa paused and gave a slight bow of recognition. “Good evening.”

“Good evening to you Ms. Thyme. Might I inquire as to the nature of your departure?” Mr. Mackie said, looking back and seeing the complete gaggle of Sophomore class students, and Gina.

“Indoctrination to the faction.” Alexa said, succinctly.

Mr. Mackie stared at Alexa for a moment, then nodded in understanding. “Ah very good, will you be needing any assistance?”

“No, please don’t bother us, this could get intricate.” Alexa said.

At that, Mr. Mackie nodded. “As you wish.”

At that Alexa nodded, glad that her emotions didn’t show the cringe she had at the idea of Mr. Mackie trying to confess his true feelings for her.

With that Alexa continued her march out over a mile away from campus and the protective range of Mr. Mackie.

There in an open field, that was far off the beaten path, the girls all set up their camping equipment. For Alexa this was as simple as dropping her sleeping bag on the ground and claiming a spot. Gina was next, taking up a spot immediately next to Alexa, followed closely by Alecia and then the others of the pack all made their own locations known.

With camping situations taken care of, Alecia asked “we should split up into teams to get firewood.”

“No need.” Alexa said.

“You can create fire?”

Alexa shook her head. “No, but I can do every other part leading to fire.”

With that she held out her hand, a completely useless gesture but one that made it clear where she was intending to direct her magical energies.

From there, she focused her mind on many short trees growing and then withering away almost instantly as all moisture was pulled from them once they were to the correct height. Then Alexa did the same thing with grasses and shrubberies, letting them also grow to an acceptable length, before letting them get desiccate. She had been sloppy during her battle with the Red Countess, and she endeavored to do better, to be better prepared for her next battle. Her title all but guaranteed she would be forced to compete in such battles.

Then once everything was good and ready, she created a small chunk of magnesium to get the fire started.

Whoosh!

The flames began to burn and grow quickly, showing a shocked pack of teenagers who all seemed to be at that special age when they were still enchanted by the power and beauty of dancing flames.

“Everyone.” Alexa said, her one word enough to break the hypnotic effect of the flames, if only for a moment.

“I am really bad a speeches, so I apologize if you want to hear something grand or inspirational. Instead, I will tell you the truth. We are going to be integrated shortly after midnight on the first of the year. I don’t know the full ramifications of that, or what this ultimately means. I have looked and only found more questions. What I do know is that we are not alone.”

Alexa paused as she let that first part sink in.

“What tonight is, will be an initiation of sorts. Know that as of this moment you are free. You are free to choose and do what you want. But to stay here after this warning will mean that your fate and my own will forever be intertwined. I know I am not worthy of such a commitment, but I ask that you all join me nonetheless.”

A hush filled the area, as only the crackling of the great fire could be heard for a moment.

“As you might be aware, I am a Countess for the new system that will be coming. A system that you are all now a part of given your brief brush with Lykanthropy. To remain here is to remain on the side of my faction. I ask that everyone who is willing to stay and join form a line over here. Everyone who is not ready to place their faith in me as a leader, know I hold no grudges or ill will and wish you only the best in your future, but I also ask that you leave.” Alexa said, pointing to an area to her right for those who wished to stay.

Gina was among the first to swing around and be right in front of Alexa. She appeared nervous, but her smile showed that she was also excited for the future. Kylie and Alecia were among some of the first to join from the pack. Followed shortly by Julie and the others. Of everyone Luke was the only one who looked a little lost.

When Alexa turned to see Luke, he just had a strange look on his face. “You are doing it now?”

Alexa tilter her head at the comment, but then just nodded. “Yes.”

“Oh,” was all Luke said, as he too made his way over to the gaggle of students that were all in a wide arc before Alexa.

“Thank you all for putting your trust in me. Before we begin, I will perform the rite of cleansing on us. This should sever our past allegiances and allow us to form stronger bonds in the future.”

With that, Alexa again held out her hand, a gesture merely for theatrics. With her mind focusing, a glowing ball of white light began to appear and form before her. This time the ball was easier to congeal at first, and almost instantly began to form into the interconnected patterns of runes and markings that made up the intricate pattern. Just seeing the mark appear caused a moment of awe and wonder to form in everyone. As just being this close to the strange alien magic caused goose flesh to form, as the spark of creation was being ignited in everyone present.

“Then let this begin with the true power of change. A spark that will help us change the world for the better. HOPE.”

WHOOM!

A shockwave of force and energy erupted from the symbol creating a burst of energy so fierce that it caused the mighty bonfire to flicker for a moment. Wind rustled, leaves blew wildly, camping gear rolled, but everyone gathered felt the spark of something grand form within their chests.

As soon as the sensation was over, many grabbed at their chests as they all felt like the wind had been sucked out of their lungs, that they were now filled with a new sense of purpose and energy.

“Tonight, I will tell you the truth about what awaits us. About what I have found, and most importantly what I have done to counteract this. Know that what I ask of you all here and now is to trust me. What I am about to ask will be dangerous, it will put you all at risk from factions of people so powerful that they have conquered entire solar systems to follow their will. We will be put into a war we had no knowledge of, one that by happenstance we all were inadvertently drawn into by chance. Or by fate. The true reason why we are here does not matter. What matters is that you all are here now by your choice. A choice I greatly appreciate. A choice that I will now try to explain to you in full detail. Please hold your questions to the very end, as I will try to explain everything as best I can.”

Alexa said, and a hush fell over the crowd of onlookers as everyone especially Luke was mesmerized by the speech and cadence that Alexa was able to deliver her speech.

“On the time of integration, you will likely be given a choice to join one of three factions. The Orcs, who if you all were still under the control of Lykanthropy would have made you their instant slaves. There are also the elves who control the vampyrs as their willing servants. Finally, there are the dragons, who control people like the Red Countess who many of you experienced earlier today.”

Alexa paused.

“But I am here to tell you that there is a fourth choice. A choice that is so obvious that few even realize it even exists. This is the choice I have taken. A choice that has now given me the title of Countess. A title that allows me to add hundreds of people to my own faction. So far that faction has two people, Luke my brother, and Gina…my…”

“Girlfriend.” Gina said, a little too excitedly.

HAHAHA!

At that, Gina’s outburst caused many to laugh, breaking the strange tension that had been building since Alexa first called this meeting.

Alexa smiled slightly, as she continued, “now I offer the same choice to you. Will you join me in my faction?”

“What faction is it?” Alecia asked.

Alexa paused and stared at her, as if it should have been obvious, but answered the question nonetheless, “The Human faction.”