[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ6FYytu1pM][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][COLOR=ORANGERED]A I D E N   M c K E N N A[/COLOR][/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][/URL][hr][INDENT][sup][color=silver]Friday evening, [i]Orlaith Valley Trail & Park[/i][/color][/sup][/INDENT]

"[i]I could fucking kill you right now.[/i]"

Aiden smirked at Sebastian's apparent rage. It was amusing to see the infamous troublemaker, whom earlier had been so keen to cause a fuss, now shake with visible fury. He opened his mouth, but had little time to speak before Sebastian surged forward, putting that superspeed of his to good use. Reacting instinctively, Aiden's hands rose to protect his head as the blur that was Sebastian sped towards him from across the meadow. In the seconds between Sebastian's words and action, it had become soberingly clear to Aiden just how much weight his threat had carried. Aiden was preparing himself for the worst; bracing for the inevitable impact of Sebastian's wrath, eyes shut tight.

And yet, it never came. A strange tongue echoed across the clearing, and Aiden slowly opened one eye, lowering his shivering hands in trepidation. There, just centimetres away from his throat, was Sebastian's determined hand, each finger bent into a claw  that betrayed the severity of his intent. And yet, Sebastian didn't move at all: he seemed frozen, even his hair locked into a windswept position as he seemed to have been stopped dead in his tracks. Suspended, motionless, by some unseen force. 

Jonas Lehrer made himself known, by barking another foreign word and sapping every trace of Aiden's handiwork from the area; only the harsh scent of smoke in each nostril remaining as a testament to the blaze. Aiden didn't speak as Jonas explained his role in the evening's activity, and he remained similarly silent as Winter rose to challenge him. Not the best move, he thought to himself, after seeing the feats Jonas had just performed. He eyed the inanimate form of Sebastian cautiously, before deciding it best to walk over to join Brynn away from his incapacitated attacker.

It was demanded that Mr. Lehrer explain to the class exactly what was going on, and to give the teacher due credit, he did indeed explain. He explained the origin of Hyperhumans, stating their birth from the greed of some sort of wizard many years ago. He explained the role of Crestwood Hollow, and the implications this had on them as modern Hyperhumans. Someone out there was hunting them; someone powerful. And, he explained, in putting together the class, Jonas' goal was to teach each student not only how to protect themselves; but to protect each other, and the ones they love. It was a lot to take in... But every word of it made sense, and it was a relief to finally have a satisfying amount of light shed onto their shared predicament. 

He felt similarly relieved as Jonas revealed he'd had the situation under control all evening. It would be hard for his fellow students to hold a grudge, now that they knew Jonas had apparently been pulling the strings. Even Aiden recognised that his actions had been beyond reckless, but he stood by his belief that he had taken the most efficient route into getting them to this point. Without him taking the initiative, they could all well be sat back at the camp, none-the-wiser to what lay in store for them back in Crestwood Hollow. 

And yet, he could still feel the disproving looks of his peers; a weary look of caution or an angry glare seemingly passed in between each of Jonas' revelations. It would seem that, as Mr. Lehrer stood there lecturing them on the importance of allies, Aiden found himself surrounded by new enemies. He sighed quietly to himself, slowly moving away from the group to sit on a nearby boulder. Here, he could listen to anything Jonas had to say, but not be quite so enveloped in the tension that whirled around the group. 

Gazing out into the night, and doing his best to look callous and disinterested, Aiden wanted nothing more than to return home to Crestwood Hollow. Whoever - or whatever - this 'Draoi' was, it looked like he would have to face it alone. But, he realised, glancing back at his classmates discreetly, that was the way it always had been.