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	[color=silver]Gabriel never did give too much attention to the other Cadets reactions to each and every thing that happened to them.  Perhaps they were quite pissed off with being given marching orders.  Or maybe they were just as glad to get a chance to get started as he was.  Nobody really knew except themselves and those who actually took the time to look for the signs of reaction.  To Gabriel, their thoughts were their own.  However, deep inside, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous that the rest of the Cadets were being given a chance to get settled in and greet their fellow soldiers.  Gabriel, as he realized prior, would simply have to make-do and get to know the others who had been unfortunate to be called out.[/color]

[color=silver]At first, the jog was rather standard; it came easily enough to the young man, having done rigorous physical activity countless times in the past.  Yet, the sights were utterly boring and devoid of any real scenery to keep one preoccupied.  As he moved the flask in his hand up to drink, it almost seemed like there was a sudden transition in the environment.  Wide open field was now making way to gigantic trees and lush greenery.  Had he been so preoccupied in his thoughts that he failed to witness this?  Even the the ODM Gear that the Instructors had placed on earlier appeared to escape his sights as they flew through the air, passing from branch to branch.  His eyes remained glued to the world around him, wondering about just how much was outside of the Walls for a place like this to exist... or if there even was anything as close as this out there.[/color]

[color=silver]Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice called out to him - it was Grant, one of his fellow 'punished Cadets'. [color=08A2C4][b]"So, hey..."[/b][/color] [color=silver]Grant started, trying his hardest to minimize his tone of awkwardness and instead flowing naturally as a conversationalist.[/color] [color=08A2C4][b]"Not exactly the best start to our training, huh? You'd think there'd be a sixth person with us."[/b][/color] Gabriel blinked, unsure of how to even respond to that.  He knew full well that he wished to speak, but now that he was in a position to do so, it was rather awkward for the lumbering giant.  After a short moment, he matched Grant's speed, and replied with a rather calm tone.[/color]  [color=00A651][b]"I think it's a rather good start.  Better to go straight into it ahead of the others.  Maybe we'll make Top Ten."[/b][/color]  [color=08A2C4][b]"Top ten? You've got aspirations, I'll give you that. Maybe that's all you need to get up there."[/b][/color] [color=silver]He stumbled for a moment, taking the time to catch his breath now that the jog was in full effect. Grant chuckled, looking up to him with a somewhat gentle gaze.[/color] [color=08A2C4][b]"Hopefully you can keep me going then, you look capable."[/b][/color]  [color=silver]Gabriel tilted his head to the side, before turning his attention forward.[/color]  [color=00A651][b]"You need to have some kind of goal when you do these things - how do you know where you're going and what you want if you don't have a finish line?"[/b][/color]  [color=silver]He turned his attention back to Grant as he tripped, keeping a close eye on him to make sure he wasn't going to fall, before focusing on where they were going again.[/color]  [color=00A651][b]"I've... got some experience with this, I suppose.  I'm not a soldier yet, though.[/b][/color]

[color=silver]From an outside perspective, it looked true enough - Gabriel looked like a fish swimming through water.  From the way he moved to the controlled breaths he took, it was clear that on close inspection, he knew exactly what he was doing.  Of course, as he said before-hand, he wasn't quite a soldier yet; he had no idea how he would fare in a situation that required the ODM, or if he would get the hand of it easily.  Deep down, he had hoped that he'd catch on quick... but something deep down inside of him was warning him that he was going to have a serious challenge in using it.[/color]
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