BLOOD GIFT

CHAPTER 02: BLOOD MOON 2

What an amazing story! Too bad it's the hundredth time we've all heard it," a small boy yelled, and a choir of smaller kids followed immediately. Jon winced, feeling a familiar flush crawl up his neck. He was standing in front of the kids, a bit taller now, with more well-defined features and a sharp face. His jet-black hair was neck-length, but still couldn't hide his embarrassment at being called out. Both Isabel and Holst were behind him. They were also older now and seemed to be teaching the kids in front of them something.

The Promise had grown, its cluster of tents and ramshackle houses expanding under Miss Kai’s watchful eye. Being part of the eldest kids, Miss Kai had tasked them with watching the younger ones and talking to them about the Blood Moon and the reality of getting a Bloodgift, your entire anatomy changing in a night to accommodate an ability. They were here to tell the kids that not all Bloodgifts are combat-oriented like they'd hoped, but every single one was practical in its own way. Other teens were there too, including Connor; he had dark blue hair, glasses, and lost a leg somehow, having a stick in its place, though he still used crutches, moving with a surprising, quiet agility. Also, Eve, who had puffy blonde hair that covered her entire face, leaving only her mouth exposed. There were little flowers poking out of her hair, and a small creature that looked like a scaly squirrel on her shoulder, constantly twitching.

"Yeah, Jon, I don't even know why you tell this story. I mean, I was literally there," Mercy said, rolling her eyes. She was fifteen but taller than most, still not as tall as Isabel, but she was getting there.

Jon couldn't speak, wishing the ground would swallow him. 'One day, I'll be respected. One day, I won't be the butt of every joke,' he thought.

"The purpose of Jon's insufferable story," Connor spoke up, adjusting his glasses, "is that Bloodgifts aren't always what you expect."

"And you have to keep your cool even if you turn into some hideous were-dog," Isabel said with a smirk, her spike tail giving a playful flick that rustled the tent fabric.

"Jon's Bloodgift was able to replicate Isabel's and mine. This reminds you that you're not alone, and when your powers begin to manifest, you have to be careful not to negatively affect those around you," Holst chimed in, making sure to look all the kids in the eye, his gaze unwavering. At only eighteen, he was the ideal adult to them, a steady anchor in their chaotic lives.

"Alright, we promised not to take much of your time. Who wants to help me with the town's Blood Moon decorations?" Eve finally said, her voice soft but clear. At this, the kids rushed out of the tent, a joyous cacophony of small feet, following her, leaving the teens who wasted no time poking fun at Jon.

The air hummed with celebration. The cold night was warmed by a thousand flickering candles and lamps, casting dancing shadows on the makeshift homes. The scent of spiced stews, sweet berry wine, and burning wood mingled on the wind, a comforting blanket. Kids' laughter, bright and expectant, filled the spaces between the quiet murmurs of adults, all looking up at the sky. They clutched their chests, shared nervous jokes, or held hands, a collective anticipation for the twice-a-year miracle.

The gang sat on a small hill overlooking The Promise, its lights now a vibrant tapestry below. They'd be leaving soon; they'd made a promise to each other to go out into the world, to find their places together.

"Argh, what's taking so long?" Mercy moaned, picking at a loose thread on her white gown. "It should be here by now."

"Don't worry, Mushroom," Holst rumbled, using the nickname she hated, ruffling her hair. "Maybe you're a late bloomer like Jon."

"Hey!" Jon squawked.

They giggled, the sound light and free.

Isabel was gearing up to comfort her little sister when:

"S#¡t, Mushroom, your eyes are green!" Holst's voice cut through the jovial air, sharp with surprise.

"Language, Holst!" Isabel snapped instinctively, before her words died on her tongue. It dawned on her. "Jon, that's normal, right???" she asked, her voice laced with sudden puzzle.

Jon, forgetting his ire, got into full 'nerd mode,' his brow furrowed in concentration. He gently but firmly turned Mercy's head, analyzing her eyes. "Yes! Someone finally has lasers on the team!" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face once Mercy wrestled herself free.

"How are you sure it's lasers? Might be a vision thing," Isabel said, also peering into Mercy's eyes, a nervous flutter in her stomach.

"Well, be careful, Isabel, if it was lasers, you'd be fried to crisps by now," Holst warned, coming closer. "But yes, I also think it's a vision thing."

They all kept making observations and arguing, their heads close, until:

A searing, sizzling burst of heat erupted from Mercy's hands!

Everyone took a startled step back. The air around Mercy shimmered, smelling faintly of ozone and something sharp, almost like burning leaves.

"Damn, that's new," Holst breathed.

"You mean cool," Jon corrected, his eyes wide with excitement.

Mercy stood there, wide-eyed, a thin, shimmering green plasma sword now pulsed in her hands. It felt hot, vibrant, an extension of herself, yet utterly alien.

"Oh my goodness, Mercy, are you okay??" Isabel gasped, her voice thick with concern.

"Of course I'm not," Mercy sounded annoyed, shaking her head. "You weirdos were literally shoving me!" Her brain hadn't yet registered the existence of the glowing blade, the source of the strange heat in her palms.

"What the f*k! Look at this baby!" Jon exclaimed, reaching for the blade, a look of pure awe on his face.

"Language!" Isabel couldn't resist being a mom, swatting at Jon's hand.

Mercy, still in a daze, poked her tongue out at her sister and then, with a natural grace she hadn't known she possessed, swung the plasma sword in a wide, shimmering arc. The air hissed.

"Mercy, be careful with that thing!" Isabel's rage was interrupted by Jon's squealing. He grabbed Holst out of excitement. "This is the second member of the team to have a weapon! I'll call it the Green Kiss!"

"Who said you could name it, and not the actual owner?" Holst replied, massaging his shoulder. "Besides, that sounds a lot like my weapon." He pulled out his crossbow. It was metallic and shined, with the single distinctive feature being the small 'H' written in cursive on its side. He looked at it admiringly. This was Stone's Kiss, his pride and joy as an Ironsmith.

"Of course I can name it, Holst, I'm the leader!" Jon boasted, puffing out his chest.

"And who died and gave way for that?" Isabel argued, hands on her hips.

"What about Green Ending? Green Reaper? The Z-sword...?" Holst muttered, mostly to himself, already lost in thought.

"Okay, the name doesn't have to have 'green' in it, Holst. I like that last one a bit, though—" Jon was saying, but was cut off.

"Viper's Tongue."

Mercy suddenly said, her voice quiet but firm, staring at the blade hypnotically. Her connection to it felt ancient, absolute.

"Oh, that's that then," they all affirmed, a bit scared by the intensity in her eyes.

"Now let's take you to Miss Kai so we can test this ability." Holst took a step forward.

"ATTACK!!!" A booming voice warned, stopping Holst in his tracks. The very air seemed to vibrate, carrying the urgency of the unknown speaker.

Jon's smile widened. "Why do textbook tests when we can do the real thing?"

'What's the situation?' Isabel's thought was a sharp, telepathic question, sent out into the night.

'A pack of nightwolves has been spotted in the territory, and they're coming in fast!' A voice, clear as crystal yet only in their minds, echoed back. This was Mal, the telepath who served as the watchful eye of their village.

'And do we have permission to take care of this threat?' Holst's mental query was calm, strategic.

'Standby for permission... permission granted by the village elders. You lot are closest to the threat anyway. Miss Kai warns you prioritize your safety.' The telepathic voice added a note of subtle concern, an almost imperceptible flutter that made Isabel's gut clench.

"Don't worry, Mal," Jon said aloud this time, a confident grin on his face. "When have we ever

failed?"

************************************************

"AWUUUU!!!"

A night wolf howled, its cry a raw, guttural challenge, as Isabel dropped down on its head before landing gracefully. They were tiger-sized wolves with crazed, glowing eyes and wickedly sharp claws, their fur like shadows against the dim moon. Her beast form , seven feet tall, cobalt-blue scaly skin, claws tearing at the earth, and webbed feet for explosive jumps—made her a terrifying force. Her eyes, like a crocodile's, burned yellow, and along with her pointy long ears, she could smell, see, and hear ten times better than in her human form. Her precious, spike-tipped tail whipped against the air behind her like a weapon seeking its target.

"Oh, it's getting up," she growled, looking down on the struggling wolf, a faint snarl in her throat. Before it could recover, an arrow, crafted from polished stone, pierced its head with a dull thunk.

Holst was positioned atop a gnarled tree, firing rapidly at the numerous threats. Specks of dust and stone gathered from beneath his hands, compressing into deadly projectiles that whistled through the air.

"Something's wrong here," Jon observed, his voice tight. He was cutting the wolves down with brutal efficiency, one of his hands now a beastly claw, perfectly mimicking Isabel's. He had always preferred Isabel's Bloodgift; it felt so direct, so powerful.

"You're telling me," said Mercy, a blur of white and green, slicing through the wolves with an unnatural grace. Only a small, shimmering green point, the after effect of her Viper's Tongue, was seen as she passed. The white of her cloak, stained with shadow, gave her the look of an angel of death. 'Was she always this fast?' a flicker of thought went through Jon's mind. They were in the Outlands; everyone knew how to fight. It was either adapt fast or die, and Mercy was adapting terrifyingly well.

"I've noticed a small flower at distinct parts of the wolves' bodies!" Holst shouted from his perch.

"Damn, Holst, your eyes are sharper than mine," Isabel commented, deftly tearing through a wolf's flank. "I've also noticed that."

"Same here," Mercy and Jon chorused, a rare moment of unity in the chaos.

"Could it be...." Holst began, his voice tense. "Guys, keep them back; reinforcements should be here soon—"

"Did someone say reinforcements?" Connor's voice boomed, a crackle of lightning accompanying his descent. He came down upon them, a torrent of electricity dropping the surrounding wolves. Eve also arrived, her puffy blonde hair obscuring her face, her scaly squirrel-like pet launching its tongue with surprising speed, paralyzing the wolves it struck. This gave Isabel, Jon, and Mercy the opening they needed to dispose of the stunned creatures.

"Eve," Holst shouted, "I'm sure you already know what's wrong."

"Yes," the girl said softly, her voice carrying an unsettling resonance. "These creatures are being controlled. Forced."

"Well, who's pulling the strings?" Jon cut her off, grunting as he blocked a swipe.

"I'm not sure, but I can sense their alpha, and I can have one take you to it," Eve offered, gesturing to a nightwolf that was now twitching under her pet's paralysis.

"That'll do, thanks, Eve. You guys can take care of everything here?"

"Sure we can," Connor said, a grim smile on his face as more lightning crackled around his stick leg. "Go end this."

At that, Isabel picked Mercy up, tucking her under one arm. Using her long, powerful legs, she launched herself through the trees with incredible speed. Holst and Jon followed on boulders of earth, propelled by Holst's gift, all following the nightwolf whose eyes had suddenly turned an eerie green before it deserted the fight, leading the way.

************************************************

All the greenery around them had disappeared, leaving a dry, desolate patch of land in the middle of the forest. The air here was still, oppressive, and smelled of decay. The gang stood in awe. The nightwolf they followed now stood alongside a larger alpha wolf, easily twice the size of a tiger, with long, grotesque horns twisting from its skull. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent green.

"Let's go!"

Jon swung into action first, a brutal efficiency born of desperation. He quickly disposed of the smaller, controlled nightwolf with a swift, borrowed claw, while Holst sent a barrage of heavy boulders at the bigger one, impacting with dull thuds. The alpha howled, a deafening roar that vibrated through their bones, and tried to lunge at him, quickly realizing it was incapable of moving. Isabel had skillfully caught its beastly tail mid-strike, and her impressive strength held it down. Before it could shrug her off, a sharp pain: Mercy, now free from Isabel's grasp, had cut the heel of its two hind legs with precise slashes of Viper's Tongue, quickly reaching for the back ones. Jon mimicked Mercy's Bloodgift again, feeling the wild plasma surge through his veins. He rushed at the alpha with a plasma blade of his own, two, in fact.

The alpha howled again, a cry of fury and pain, and burst out with a powerful wave of kinetic energy, leaving the group disheveled and vulnerable. They would have been injured if not for Holst's timely stone barricades that erupted from the ground, absorbing the shockwave. But instead of the alpha capitalizing on this moment, it scrambled back, its injured legs dragging, towards a single, mutated plant they hadn't noticed before, making a desperate defensive stance in front of it. The plant itself was tall, with thick, gnarled tendrils and a sickly, pulsating purple glow at its base.

"Damn, I've got it now! It's the plant! Everyone aim for the plant!" Holst shouted, gaining an immediate, furious snarl from the wolf. The alpha's glowing green eyes fixed on him, making Holst priority target number one.

The group charged. The alpha swiped its massive paw at them. Isabel held its strike with a primal roar, her scaled arm absorbing the impact, and Mercy slashed a vein or two from the wolf's forearm with Viper's Tongue before it could retract. The wolf was truly pissed now, its howls echoing through the dry patch, but it never stopped guarding the plant behind it. They kept distracting it, drawing its rage, while Holst dug like a mole, tunneling silently through the earth. He popped out of the ground behind the commotion, directly behind the plant. Immediately he entered its range, the alpha, despite its injuries, turned its back and almost bit Holst's head off, its jaws snapping inches from his face, but he escaped back into the earth.

Mercy, fueled by adrenaline, tried to cut the alpha's neck, but her strength failed her. The blade hissed against thick hide, barely scratching. She might have been a natural, but the Bloodgift was new; it needed time to master. Isabel instantly caught her, letting her pass out in her arms from exhaustion, and bolted into the woods. She gave Jon and Holst the 'you'll be okay, right?' look, a silent plea that transcended words. They both nodded, though this was bad for Jon, who now had fewer powers to juggle. But the plasma he copied would be enough.

Holst burst out of the earth once more, a massive, rock-covered fist hitting the wolf square in the chin. This was an opening. Jon leapt up, fusing his two plasma blades into one, which shined a dull, furious pink. He swung it at the exposed throat of the alpha, killing it instantly. At the exact same moment, Holst dropped a massive boulder on the pulsating plant, severing the psychic control. The alpha's crazed green eyes softened, losing their malevolent glow. It twitched, finding peace before it finally died.

"Damn, that was something," Jon said, crashing into the ground, breathless, while Holst chuckled, a tired, relieved sound. He carefully took pieces of the mutated plant and stored them; he'd show it to Miss Kai and the other village elders later. "What in the hell could take control of a whole pack of wolves? I've heard of evolved plants, but I didn't think they'd be this OP."

Before Holst could answer... "Guys!!" It was Isabel's voice, surprisingly close. 'She dropped Mercy in the village and made her way back already? That was fast!' Jon thought, impressed despite his exhaustion.

"Wow, you guys were really able to take care of that oversized dog. Well done," she said, punching Holst in the shoulder lightly. Both of them laughed, a mix of exhaustion and triumph.

"Let's get back to the village. I'll make dinner."

"Carry me, Mommy!" Jon whined playfully, flopping onto his back.

"No," Isabel laughed.

More laughter, light and weary, filled the dry patch of land.

**********************************************

Author's note: I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! 🤗

OP: overpowered