Specialty?

The plants were of different sizes and different levels of growth. Anywhere from barely out of the ground to eye level were these plants, some of which were saplings bright and starting life and others were withered and close to death. These plants didn't seem to fit in this area at all, this region was dry and dusty yet these plants grew strong and healthy, well most of them.

Franny walked up to one that was withering away and put her hands around it. The plant miraculously started to grow brighter, greener, and even seemed to dig deeper roots, all from Franny's 'power'? Frost watched closely and from her hands a golden sparkle seemed to travel to and in the plant. That must be power.

"Now you try. Pick one and push yourself out into it. Once you can do it, it's easy." Franny looks up anxiously at Frost.

He walks up to a plant that looks close to normal to him and places his hands like he saw Franny do and waited. Nothing happens... "My mom told me that you should think of the people or things you love, and that feeling will bring out your power." Little did Franny know that Frost had no such memories. Instead he focused on his feelings toward this helpful young girl he just met, of a sudden a white glare shoots out from his hands and the plant becomes engulfed in what looks like a white fire. It burns the plant to a crisp, not but ashes are left as he pulls his hands away.

"Oh my, your an attacking specialist," Franny starts to say, but of a sudden a new plant grows in the old ones place. It shoots out of the ground and towers two or three times as high as any plant in the row. "Hmm, well a new plant would be a creator but burning a plant down is an attacker. Maybe you have two specialties, I didn't even know someone could have two. You're really lucky Frosty."

"What does it mean?" Frost still doesn't know what is happening let alone what it means. "Is it good or bad?"

Franny just smiles at Frost. "I don't know, but it can't be bad to have a lot of power, so I'd say it's good. I think it means you can create and attack as a power user. The chiefs will all want you to join their clan, I'm jealous, I wish I could choose from all the clans. I think I'm destined to be yellow, but you could be black or even red. They are the strongest clans."

"How about we stick together for now?" The thought kept going through his head 'silver and gold' 'take silver and gold with you'. "Would it be acceptable if I choose the clan you end up going to?"

"Really, you'd stay in the low clan for me? You can make much more money in red or black, they usually win the wars." Franny's bright eyes started to fill with tears again, "I am just a poor peasant from an outlying town, you could run a clan some day. You'll want to be a part of a strong clan."

"Nonsense my dear, I'll stay by your side until I understand why I'm here." Now the tears were flowing, "Come now, do you have family here in town? Do you think they'd allow me to stay? I have no residence in your town."

"Yes, of course, my aunt Trina will let you stay for sure since we were chosen together." Once again Franny grabs his arm and pulls him along. They head for the building she shot out of when they first met. As they step through the door, "Auntie! I'm home, I brought a friend. Guess what! I got chosen today!"

Something crashes in another room in the small building, really the only other room in the building, and out pops a matronly lady in browns and grays with steam coming from behind her. "You what? I never expected anyone to get chosen from our town. I really didn't think it would be you, what will they use a healer for, you can't fight." She then notices Frost, "And who is this?"

"Good evening my lady, my name is Reginald Frost the third, I guess I was chosen too. Though to be honest, I'm quite lost in this land." Not sure if he should say more he left it at that.

"Well if Franny likes you, you must be a nice person. She only makes friends with good people. When did you arrive in town?" She motioned Frost to the door of the other room, inside he could see a kitchen like room, stove and wash stand and cabinets. He leaned against the door.

"I arrived just today, maybe not an hour or so ago." Confusion came to aunt Trina's face.

"What is an hour? I've never heard that word before." Frost then knows he's not where he belongs, 'they don't know hours, how do they track time? I have to figure out this situation before I look too out of place.'

"Hmm lets say I arrived right before the meeting took place at the town square." Frost hoped that this would change the subject. "Franny seems very proud to be selected."

"She is, we are all proud of her. Franny go get your cousins, it's almost dinner time." Aunt Trina waited for Franny to leave before continuing, "I'm very worried about her, the wars are very dangerous and she doesn't have any power to defend herself. I am proud of her, but I don't want anything to happen to her." The fear that aunt Trina was showing was very real.

Without hesitation, and without knowing how he would fulfill this promise, out it came. "I will keep her safe, she has helped me out since I arrived here and I owe her at least that much. I don't know what we'll have to do in these wars, but she told me I can attack and create, so I will protect her during the war." Amazement flashed over Trina's face.

"You have two specialties? Well then I will believe you. I've never heard of anyone, not even a chief, having two. You must be very strong." After the amazement vanished, a sense of relief flooded over her, Trina went back to her chores, getting food ready for many.

In through the door, a handful of kids come tumbling. Each one with red hair that matched their mother's. All that is but the golden hair of Franny. As they came through the door they moved all the random stuff off the floor and place a short table into the middle of the room and they sit around it anticipating the meal to come.

Franny was the oldest, around 15 or so, the next closest to her is her cousin George at 12 all the way to the youngest 6 year old Megan. 4 kids and Franny all lived with Trina and that seemed like the whole family. No one talked about a father or Franny's parents so Frost thought it best to keep any questions to hisself.

"Sit here beside me Frosty, there's always a spare place right here." Franny motioned for him to sit to her right. Two cousins on two sides and Trina by herself on the fourth. When Trina say down on her side and all was ready, they all put two fingers on their foreheads above their nose and said, "Thank you for the food." In unison. Then they all dig in like they were starved. Even with the mayhem around him, Frost kept his dignity and ate properly, taking his time and not allowing any of his food to hit his clothes. After the meal the sun had set and the table was moved. All of a sudden there was multiple blankets scattered across the floor and the kids were all vying for spots near the center. The only two who didn't seem to mind where they'd lay was Trina and Franny, both waited for the kids to get their places and then moved out to the sides to get some rest.

"Frosty, you can sleep here or in the other room if you need privacy. We don't have much but your welcome to stay." Even in the dark it seemed like Franny glowed.

Frost said softly, "I will sleep in here my dear, just give me a moment to clear my head of today's trials, I still know not what it means."

"Ok, sweet dreams. Thanks again for what you said, I hope we can do some good for everyone." Then Franny slowly drifts to sleep as Frost sits and stares into the night, wondering, ever wondering.