It was a hot August day, if anyone was counting anymore. The air was as dry and dead as the endless farm fields stretching out in every direction away from the cracked and broken road. No birds chirped, no animals called. It was absolutely still. The yellowed sky was covered in clouds, but one could guess it was about early afternoon in the broken society of Iowa.

A group of seven teenagers stumbled down the once- populated highway, all with tattered bags or purses slung over their shoulders. They broke the silence only with their footsteps.
The girl in the front had long blonde hair reaching just past her shoulder blades almost matching the sky. Her blue eyes flashed with determination and she marched with a purpose. She wore a white T-shirt with a blue overcoat and dark blue jeans.

"Ryft, can we stop?" A girl near the back whined. "My feet are tired."
This girl had shoulder-length dyed red hair with purple bangs. The dye was fading into her natural hair color, an orange-brown.

"We stopped an hour ago, Skipper." Responded the girl in the front, Ryft. She didn't look back. "The more ground we cover, the sooner we'll get to Des Monies."

Although the red-haired girl's real name was Atlas, everyone called her Skipper for reasons forgotten.

"But it's so far." A girl walking close to Atlas-or Skipper- protested. "Can't we rest for a few minutes?" This girl had long wavy silver hair and forest green eyes. She had paler skin and wore a light blue flowy shirt that was now faded and ripped.

"We've been walking for nine days, Silver." A male closer to Ryft countered. "It can't be that far anymore." The boy had black hair that needed a trim and dark blue eyes. He wore a dark red sweatshirt despite the dry heat surrounding them on all sides. Despite his positive words, he didn't sound at all optimistic.

"Lighten up, Fang." A girl with dark brown hair just past her shoulders sighed, also not believing her own words. She wore a green sweatshirt that was unzipped and hanging loosely. Her name was Cricket.

The group continued in silence for a good few minutes until it was broken by Ryft.

"Hey, Jade and Raven? You've been quiet." She slowed down to turn around. "How're you guys holding up?"

"As good as you can after you've been traveling for nine days on foot in an apocalyptic wasteland." The girl named Jade responded, absentmindedly brushing some of her short hair behind an ear.

"I'm alive." The girl named Raven said in monotone. She had long curly brown hair just past her elbows and ice blue eyes. Freckles were dusted under her eyes and on her nose.

"That's a start." Ryft turned back around, avoiding any more awkward conversation.

It's gonna be a long day...

-> <-

Hours later, the group had finally stopped to rest. Atlas had been limping and made sure to establish her pain vocally, glaring in Ryft's direction.

Raven stayed to the edge of the group, staring off into the fields. She had been like this since the fight with the self-titled "Fallout Freaks" in which she had killed two boys by accident. It was in self-defense, but she was still shaken up by it and probably would be for awhile.

Nearly everyone bore healing wounds like reminders from that fight. Cricket was an exception, as she had not been in the skirmish. Atlas's black eye was finally fading, Jade's neck was nearly free of a large bruise, and the gash in Silver's knee didn't even exist anymore.

"What's bothering you, Skips?" Silver sat down near the other girl. "I know it's not just your legs."

Atlas watched her for a bit in surprise and sighed. Without saying anything, she reached out towards a rock on the ground and stared. The rock didn't move.

"My power isn't working." Atlas sighed sadly. "I don't know how to activate it anymore." Her hand dropped back to her side in defeat.

"Don't worry, it will come back." Silver smiled comfortingly.

"Maybe it's restricted to certain materials." Ryft suggested, watching the pair.

"I dunno." Atlas shook her head.

Raven absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder blade at the talk of powers. She'd been complaining of pain there.

Suddenly, Cricket and Jade stood up quickly.

"Guys!" Cricket whisper-shouted through clenched teeth.

The rest of the group stood and turned to see what Cricket was talking about.

A grey and black animal with fur on it's tail and shoulder blades like spikes, was crawling towards them, hissing.

"What kind of animal is that?!" Jade exclaimed, backing away from it.

"It looks like a mutated raccoon?" Ryft's answer was more of a question in itself.

The creature lunged at the nearest person, which happened to be Cricket.

"Watch out!" Jade shouted, throwing herself at the raccoon creature.

The raccoon easily dodged around Jade and latched onto Cricket's sweatshirt sleeve, pulling and ripping at the fabric while emmiting loud growling noises.

"Crick!" Atlas shouted, thrusting her hand at the creature to no avail.

Cricket let out a scream that spilt the still air and stumbled forward, trying to shake the creature off.

The group began to run closer to Cricket, wanting to save the girl but not knowing how.

Suddenly, a flash of light from behind the raccoon appeared and Jade was stabbing through the attacking creature's back with a double-edged sword.

The air was quiet and ringing with the aftermath of the commotion. The raccoon slid to the ground, dead.

"W-what di-" Fang, unable to finish his sentence, stood with his mouth open in shock.

Cricket stumbled backwards, letting the raccoon's body thump the rest of the way to the ground. "Jade, you-"

"I found my power!" Jade squealed, taking the sword out of the raccoon and holding it in front of her.

The blade was about twenty-one inches long and a dark silver color. The handle and hand guard were both a dark navy blue. Blood lightly dribbled down the weapon, the aftermath of impaling the wild creature.

"You summoned it out of thin air!" Ryft was mentally throwing all of the rules of physics out of her head.

"You saved me.." Cricket stared. "Th-thank you!"

"That's rad." Raven's eyes were huge.

"That's awesome, Jade!" Atlas gave the girl a shaky smile.

Jade grinned widely, soaking up the feelings of pride. She'd finally proven herself worthy. She'd done it.