Rainbow Magic (Dragon Rider #1) {EDITING}

Chapter Twelve: Planning is the Key to Success, Somewhat

Sora sighed, already knowing she'd have no choice but to pull all the stops out to keep those two from ripping into each other, both with their words and their fists.

Beatrice placed a hand on her shoulder. "Good luck," she mumbled. "I think you'll need it."

"Tell me about it." Sora folded her arms, watching as her team milled about the courtyard, waiting for their beloved instructor to turn up and show them to their test site. None of them had any idea where exactly it was – aside from the fact it was in a gigantic forest somewhere. Surely it couldn't be that hard to miss?

Apparently it was.

A clap of hands pulled them out of their daydreams, or, in Silver and Raelynn's case, the argument going down. "Right, my cute students," Oz said, standing directly behind Sora, and she just knew he was smirking at the slight tense in her shoulders. She hadn't sensed him at all... most likely because he'd just got there, but still...

"About damn time you got here!" Raelynn harrumphed, folding her arms across her nice new black coat, looking rather pleased with herself as their instructor eyed them sceptically. "We've been waiting here for hours!"

"Stop exaggerating, peasant," Silver hissed, elbowing the blonde sharply. "You're just making us waste more time."

"Come on, my cute students," Oz said, turning on his heel, striding out through the stone archway leading to their usual meeting point. "You've got a forest to stumble through, and some cloaks to grab... because you're going to get them – whether you like it or not... unless you want to experience the lovely ideas I've thought up for a delightful training camp to bring you all up to scratch."

The twins shuddered, Eisa biting her lip as she stared at the ground.

Sora simply smiled, trudging after Oz, knowing her team would follow. None of them wanted to be forced to endure whatever hell Oz called training and missing the test would be a sure-fire way to ensure that happened.

"We're dead," Callum whispered, Sora's sharp ears twitching as she caught wind of his quiet voice. She'd compliment it too, if only to give the poor boy some confidence, but she had the strangest feeling Beatrice wouldn't like it. Her instincts warned her against angering the taller girl, and Sora trusted them.

Beatrice patted his head. "There, there."

"Come on imbecile," another voice hissed.

"I'm coming, OK!"

Sora sighed. The two idiots were still arguing, and she was honestly surprised Oz hadn't quietened them down already with his fists. He'd done it for less.

"Where is this forest we're going to?" she asked, stumbling to catch up with their instructor – and no, no matter what that Beckett guy might've said, she didn't look like a duckling.

"It's in the West Quadrant – that's the blue strips on the street signs, in case you couldn't guess," he added, pointing at the nearest street sign, which unsurprisingly had a blue strip running down its side. "Most of the forests and training grounds can be found in this part of the city, but there are a few in the Northern Quadrant too... though you're best staying away from those ones. They're far more dangerous for cute little minions such as yourself."

"I look forwards to the challenge," Sora said, scuffing her shoes against the smooth tiling of the street. The stone tiles were worn down from constant use, numerous pale grey brick and wood fences lining the sides of the complex maze of paths they were wandering down. Actual buildings were few and far between, and Sora prayed they contained toilets and other hygiene facilities.

No doubt they'd be using one of those training grounds soon enough, and she didn't particularly want to trek halfway across the city just to use the toilet. She didn't feel particularly invigorated about the idea of peeing in a bush either. That would be far too unhygienic for her tastes.

But if a push came to a shove... she'd deal with it.

Somehow.

"Is that it?" Callum asked, raising his voice slightly higher than what Sora had thought him capable of, his eyes fixed on the trees just about visible over the next set of fencing along.

The fencing surrounding the forest was ridiculously tall from what she could see, almost four times the height of the walls around it, made from that same pale weathered brick. It concealed anything and everything from view. Well, aside from the treetops, and those didn't look particularly inviting – thick and murky, the leaves a surprisingly dark shade of green.

"Of course," Sora muttered. "We just had to get the creepiest looking forest possible."

Oz patted her on the back, guiding her and the rest of his minions to the gateway. "All part of the fun of it, Truant."

"We are so visiting one of those fancy bath houses after this fiasco," Beatrice mumbled, eyeing the muddy grass waiting for them on the other side of the gate.

Sora smiled. "We could even turn it into a team bonding session, you know..."

Beatrice grinned. "Sounds fine with me."

"Baths?" Eir perked up. "Count me in."

"I'll probably need one after this is over," Silver said, folding her arms as she stared determinedly away from them all. "So, I suppose I could tag along."

"Awesome!" Raelynn yelled. "Now that's something we get to look forward to!"

"I'm a guy..." Callum mumbled, face bright red.

Raelynn stared at him blankly. "Your point?"

"Um... you have to take your clothes off to bathe..." he stuttered, ears burning a bright red to match his face. "And... like... they're separated by gender..."

"It's fine." Beatrice pulled his arm into her chest, smirking widely in a way which had Sora worried. "You can be an honorary girl for the night."

"But—"

Eir glanced over at him. "Just say yes."

"Yes."

"See?" Beatrice smirked. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"