Chapter 15: A Lull in the Storm

Rory was absent from training the next day. I hoped she was out of the pack altogether, but I'd never been the lucky sort. Jun was gone as well. In his place stood a shorter, stocky female with dark brown skin and eyes so dark they were almost black.

Unlike Jun and his fancy joggers, she wore the same gear we did, but her expression was foreboding as she examined the class. Her gaze fell on me for a brief second but passed over before coming back to me.

"You are Aspen?"

I nodded.

She motioned for me to join her in the center of the ring. I hesitated, but after she lifted an eyebrow, I hurried over to stand beside her. She adjusted me until I was in front of her.

"Aspen is human," she said to the other students.

I didn't correct her and say I was kind of human. After the events of yesterday, I didn't think anyone wanted to hear it. The other students gave me wary looks, though some of their hostility seemed lessened.