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Hey guys two chapters in as many days, awesome right?

I was going to post this right after chapter four but then decided to wait a week... then changed my mind again and now I'm posting it :P

So don't expect this kind of update speed from now on, i had been sitting on both of these chapters for a little while before i posted them, the next chapter will be out soon, I'm more than half way through it right now but after that it will be back to a chapter a month unless you're lucky and i decide to do more.

For anyone who is eager for more adult based stuff, you may like to keep an eye out for the next couple of chapters ;)

Chapter 5: The Spring

"That thing makes me sick to my stomach," Josh muttered, as he stepped off of the magic circle that Hale and James had just used to transport the group of recruits from the island to... what appeared to be another island. Looking around, the various recruits weren't entirely sure that they had really moved anywhere. They were stood on a stone platform identical to the one that they had landed on when Hale had transported them from Fortis to the first island. Instead of being surrounded on all sides by forest, though, this platform was built atop a cliff over looking an ocean. From what they could see of the island, it seemed to form a rough circle from the way the cliff curved.

A few hundred yards away from the cliff face was a tree line, almost exactly like the one that had surrounded the small lake that they had used as a place to build their camp on the other island, expect these trees were far larger and there was a single lone mountain deep within the forest. There was a large wooden house built in between a beach and the tree line, not too far from the magic platform.

"Welcome. This is where the second stage of your training will take place," James said, stepping off of the stone platform to stand in front of the group. "I will tell you now, that this stage will not end in a week or even a few months. It can take anywhere from two years to decades for a prospective sentinel to complete, but that can come later. First, you need to get acquainted with your new surroundings." James smiled at the group and pointed over to the large wooden house. "That is where you will be staying."

"However, before we begin," Hale said, his tone surprisingly serious and formal in a way that got the entire group to listen to him. "There are a few things that we must make absolutely clear to you all."

"Yes, while this island is the place where the majority of a sentinel's training is undertaken, it is a very sacred and important place. Aside from some of the deepest levels of Fortis, this Island holds some of the most important and valuable secrets and resources that the sentinels possess," James said, looking at each recruit in turn.

"There are also some very real dangers to this place," Hale carried on, also looking to each recruit, before grinning broadly at them all. "But there is no reason to start being paranoid about those kinds of things. No student of ours has ever stumbled across something that they shouldn't have."

"Yes. There is another far more likely danger that you may face, but even that should not concern you as long as you do as I say," James said taking over again as he pointed past the house to what looked like a bridge leading out into the ocean. "That bridge leads to another island, similar to this one, that powerful and experienced sentinels use as a training area for new and potentially dangerous magics. If you cross that bridge you will almost undoubtedly be killed in one horrifying form or another. That being said, if you ever see someone come across that bridge to this island that we have not specifically warned you about ahead of time, do not attempt to confront them."

"The kind of people that can survive in that area could tear all of you apart with their hands, legs, and minds bound, and that is no exaggeration," Hale said with another surprising amount of honesty and seriousness before he grinned at everyone again. "But the security of this island is second only to the security of Fortis itself, so the likelihood of anyone not friendly appearing is next to impossible."

"Yes. We only tell you this so that you will not be harmed out of ignorance, but onto lighter topics," James smiled again, pointing to the house, before Hale cut him off.

"Yep, lighter topics, like sex."

"I beg your pardon?" Ana cried, actually moving to hide behind Michael a little when the large wolf just grinned at them all and laughed, while James shook his head lightly.

"Yes, sex. You're all teenagers with certain physical needs, there are no rules in the sentinels prohibiting relationships between each other, no matter the species or gender you can screw whoever you like." Hale chuckled as he jabbed a thumb towards the house. "There's only one dorm in the house though, so no privacy, but that doesn't matter."

"Why do you enjoy telling the new recruits this?" James asked, Not for the first time, he questioned his partner's mental health, but just sighed loudly and continued the induction. "Myself and Hale will not be here for a lot of the time, but the reason for that can be explained later, along with other things. For the duration of your training here you will live in that house. There are cornadons and other animals that can be hunted in the forest for food, and the house has its own fresh water supply and a small garden. Food, water and shelter are not an issue here."

"The majority of your training here will be developing your magic skills and your combat skills. The Sentinels are a military unit at the core, despite all of the political stuff that our order deals with. You will be expected to fight and defend Sentalia when the occasion calls for it. James and I will be here to teach you the skills needed to used different weapons, and to guide you with your magic studies, but you must each practice and develop your own kind of magic. Even if two magics are inherently the same, they are different for every person that uses them, so even if we wanted to help the best we can do is guide you loosely."

With their introduction and explanation finished, the two senior sentinels guided the recruits down to the house. The humans of the group stared in awe at the sheer size of the house when they moved closer to it. In design there was nothing abnormal about it, but its size was another matter entirely.

"I know exactly what you are all thinking," James chuckled, looking back over the house. He had been in their situation thirty years ago and to this day he still remembered how he felt when he saw a building like this for the first time. "This house was built to house sentinel trainees, but some of our recruits are feral dragons, who are far larger than any other terran or human in size. This place was built to accommodate to that."

"So its a big ass house?" Josh asked, snapping out of his wonder fairly quickly as he strode inside after Hale and James.

"Yeah, its a big ass house," Hale said stopping at the foot of a set of stairs that were almost directly in front of the door. "Okay, the house has a very basic layout. Sleeping area is on the top floor along with spare clothes and bed sheets. There's a kitchen and eating area to my left and a rec area and bathroom to my right. The basement is the library."

"The library can only be accessed after we have given permission, though. Not one of you is to enter it until then. Is that understood?" James demanded, even going so far as to flex his potent aura at the assembled recruits to get his point across. Skylar couldn't help but stare at the human sentinel after his aura washed over the group, they were all able to feel how different the aura was from Hale's. The wolf's was like a giant weight crushing down on your chest, while James' was just suffocating.

There was a mixture of nods and sounds around the group to confirm that they did understand, satisfying both James and Hale as they stood back to survey the trainees. "Good," James nodded. "Now, you'll be left here for a week by yourselves to acclimatise. We'll return after that to see how you're progressing, and begin your tuition."

"As another reminder," Hale added, with a definite growl to his voice, "you are not to go onto the neighbouring island. If one of your friends is stupid enough to ignore me, you do not go after them. You shouldn't throw away your lives, especially not for an idiot."

An uncomfortable silence settled for a few seconds, before James clasped his hands together, apparently wanting to skim over Hale's words. "That's everything you need to know right now. Does anyone have questions?"

The group exchanged looks, before Termal shook his head. "No questions," the elder dragon replied.

"Good," James smiled. "As long as you stay away from the other island, you should enjoy your time here. Get used to your surroundings, take time to know each other out of a survival situation. There's food in the house, so no need to hunt right away." Everyone heard Cayden's stomach rumble loudly at that, getting a few smirks. "Alright. You're dismissed. Hale and I will return to Fortis."

"Hang on a second." Ian stepped forward, looking between the human and wolf sentinels. A couple of things were still bothering him, but discussing them in front of the group was something he would rather avoid. "Can we quickly have a chat?"

Glancing between each other, the senior sentinels nodded their assent to the request and stepped back outside with Ian in tow. The other trainees exchanged glances before heading into the house to look around. No one was surprised when Cayden headed straight for the kitchen.

"Is there something in particular that you wanted to discuss?" James asked.

"Yeah, two things I'm not overly comfortable with," Ian nodded, wringing his hands. The sentinels weren't making their auras known, but the sheer presence of them was enough to make him feel nervous. "First off...I'm a little worried about Kyle. Maybe not a little worried. Extremely worried."

"Ian," James started before sighing and looking past the human into the house. "I know what you're about to say, but Kyle chose to be here."

"That brat may not look like it, kid," Hale grunted, looking directly into his newest recruit's eyes as he did. "But he could outsmart any one of us at a moment's notice. He acts like a child but challenge him to a game of chess or something and you will see a difference."

"He has the aptitude and the want to be here," James finished, looking at Ian. In truth, Ian wasn't the only one worried about Kyle's age, both James and Hale had brought up their concerns and been over ruled on the matter. They had their orders and they were going to follow them.

"But it's not like he's going to get dumber over time," Ian pointed out. "Why put him in now? A few more years and he could actually defend himself." Feeling emboldened, Ian looked between them both. "And like hell did Kyle 'want' to be here. When he came into the meeting chamber when we first met, he was scared out of his mind. Termal's the only thing keeping him together, from what I've seen."

"Is he?" Hale chuckled, looking over to his partner before laughing out loud. "That brat knows how to manipulate people, I'll give him that. Scared out of his mind. If anything we throw at him scares him anymore, I'll be surprised." The wolf muttered the last bit as he glared down at Ian. "He's here brat, and he will be staying. In a few years he won't be able to join and I am not going to explain why!"

Not exactly satisfied, but realising that pushing the point wouldn't get him anywhere, Ian looked back at James, assuming more sympathy from the human. "Alright, second point. The bridge between islands isn't guarded. We can cross over there...what's stopping whatever lives on that side getting a bit hungry and hunting us down?"

Actually smirking at that question, Hale leaned down into Ian's face with a sadistic gleam in his eyes. "Nothing." Chuckling at the look on the recruits face Hale wandered off towards the portal.

"So...you're putting untrained recruits onto an island where we could just die. And then leaving us," Ian said. "Do you guys actually think this programme through?"

"He was telling the truth," James sighed, shaking his head at his partner's antics. "There is no guard because the island does not require a guard. We said that you would die if you crossed onto it, and you would, but not from what dwells there. You are in no danger from that place, so long as you remain on this side," the human reassured Ian kindly, before standing a little straighter and asking if there was anything else.

"No. Wouldn't say my mind's at rest, but it's better than it was before," Ian replied, trying a little smile. "Thanks."

"You are welcome. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to deal with my partner's manners... again, I refuse to believe that he is a lost cause," James said, as he followed after Hale.

Leaving James, Ian turned and walked back towards the house, trying to calm the nervous feeling settling in his stomach. Kai was here to look after him, and the island couldn't possibly be worse than the forest. He wasn't entirely sure he believed that, but it was the best he could manage, heading into the kitchen to see Cayden already eating whatever the wolf had managed to get his paws on. "You didn't waste any time," Ian chuckled.

"Why waste time?" the wolf managed around a muzzle full of food, only to get a half hearted slap from Ana.

"Idiot, just because we're in this house, don't think that you can just go eating everything in sight," she reprimanded, looking through the various cupboards in the kitchen to see what the damage was. "You heard those two, we still have to gather our own food, so you can't just binge eat all the time."

"Ana, you worry too much," Josh said, sitting down next to Cayden and tearing up some bread to hand out to the others. "Just enjoy the moment, we're out of that forest, enjoy yourself for a minute."

"He's right," Skylar said refusing the bread offered him as he looked out of the window. "Things are just going to get harder from here, you should relax while you can."

"No one asked you," Ana mumbled, but did actually sit down and seem to relax as she leaned up against Michael. "I have a point though, don't I?"

"She does," the gryphon conceded, looking around the group as everyone who could sit down on a chair took one up.

"Yeah, but right now, after a week of living on whatever island we were actually on... I could use a little break," Josh mumbled, as he leaned back in his chair and seemed to almost fall asleep right then and there.

"Wouldn't call it living," Ian muttered. "Surviving, maybe."

"Don't be so negative," Shiro said frowning at the human. "Tell me that it wasn't a little bit fun for you?"

"Yep." Cayden chuckled grinning at the windragon as he did. "Scared the hell out of me but it was a thrill."

"Again. I got eaten by a giant fucking snake," Ian replied. "Then possessed by something. It's not fun."

"On the flip side of that, you have a fucking powerful guardian angel," Skylar pointed out, unable to keep the hint of resentment out of his voice as he looked over at Ian. "You're only alive because of that possession, don't be so quick to knock it."

"I'm not knocking it, I'm just saying. Not being able to control myself isn't something I'm exactly keen on."

"You should be glad to be here then, Ian," Termal said, laying his head down on his front paws and looking very content with his position, despite Kyle playing with his horns.

"Why?" Ian asked, finding it harder to keep a frustrated tone when he looked at the elder dragon. Termal's presence and obvious wisdom had a way of causing Ian to listen to him.

"It's actually very simple," Michael picked up as he nodded, obviously picking up on what the dragon was trying to say. "The stronger your own magic becomes, the stronger your own essence becomes. Basically it'll become harder to control you the stronger you become magically."

Ian nodded quietly, mulling it over as he leaned back against Kai.

"So anyone have any ideas on what the training is going to be like?" Shiro asked, leaning back in his chair and stretching his wings out, he hadn't been able to fly much in the last week.

"The tracker training that I went through was formed around being on Earth most of the time so... nope. I got nothin." Michael shrugged looking around at the other Terrans, each of them shook their heads at the silent question before Kyle spoke up.

"Well, if Sentinels are the best... then what will make us stronger?" the youngest of the group asked resting his chin on Termal's head.

"There are exercises that will slowly increase your magic," Shiro muttered, he had been doing small exercises that would test his magic since he was old enough to actually understand what magic was. "But you would think that a military order like the Sentinels would have something special?"

"Maybe not," Skylar said before shrugging. "Not that it matters, we'll find out in a week one way or another. I'd prefer not to spend the week wondering about what that bastard of a wolf is going to put us through." With his piece said, the redhead got up and wandered out of the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Shiro called after the human only to scoff when he got no answer. "He really confuses me."

"He confuses all of us," Ian shrugged, watching Skylar leave. "Guess he just isn't feeling that chatty."

"Well, he has a point," Cayden said, getting up as well. "No point worrying about what we can't change, might as well enjoy the week that we have."

"Here, here," Ana mumbled, leaning a little further into Michael's chest. None of them wanted to admit it but they were all exhausted. Spending so much time on an island that was potentially hostile had taken its toll on them all.

"I think I am going to see if they have a bath," Termal declared as he got up slowly, getting Ana's eyes to spring open. Everyone chuckled as the human ran a hand through her hair and grimaced. "I do not mind company."

"And I don't mind bathing with a bunch of guys if I can get even half of this crap out of my hair." Just as Josh was about to tease her about that, Cayden came running back into the kitchen with a huge grin on his muzzle.

"Skylar said that there's a hot spring in the bathroom bit!"

Kai exchanged a look with Ian, both the dragon and human smiling at the thought of a hot spring. "Sounds good, don't you think?" Ian asked the dragon, causing Kai to nod.

"I think we could all do with a good soak," Termal smiled, looking back at Kyle when he asked what a hot spring was.

"We can take it in turns or something," Ian suggested. "I'm still relatively clean after Termal's tongue bath...and to be honest, I'm exhausted. Bed sounds good right now."

"Nope," Shiro said, grabbing Ian's hand as he walked with the others to the bathroom. "You may not smell as bad as the rest of us, but you still smell."

"Kai, I need you to be my floaty then," Ian chuckled. "In case I fall asleep in there."

"Yep," Kai chirped back happily as they all walked into the bathroom. The room itself was divided into two sides with a door leading to another part of the bathroom set into the wall, most of the room was taken up by a massive hot spring that could easily fit all ten of the recruits in at one time. The other side however looked to be a long line of shower stalls, one of which was clearly occupied by Skylar as they could all hear running water.

"You not going to join us Skylar?" Shiro called down the stalls as most of the recruits stripped off, their modesty completely forgotten in favour of soaking in the heat from the hot spring.

"Don't like baths," was all the redhead said, getting Shiro to shrug. He didn't usually like baths either, as it made his feathers go all funny afterwards, but he was more than willing to suffer that to deal with all his aches from sleeping on hard ground for over a week.

"What, is he self conscious or something?" Ana smirked, even as she covered her breasts from the boys' view. "God it feels so good to just have a bath again," she sighed, sinking further down into the spring. She could almost feel her fatigue being washed away.

"Well, it sure beats having to scrub ourselves clean with water from a bucket," Cayden sighed, already scrubbing at the patches of his fur that had begun to stick together over the past week of improper washes. "I think I'm going to be missing some fur after this," the wolf moaned, hissing as he pulled out a bit of clumped up muck from his coat.

"Here, let me help," Josh offered, taking the brush from the wolf when he tried to get to his back. Cayden muttered a thanks as he let the human brush his back, wincing every so often as a knot of hair was pulled out. "You remind me of the old cat at the orphanage." Cayden's ears twitched a little as the human muttered the last bit, but he pretended that he didn't hear anything.

"Need any help?" Michael asked, as he drifted a little closer to Ana. Unlike the others, he was able to keep himself relatively clean thanks to being able to control the water with his magic.

"You could help with my hair," Ana said, as she held up a small bottle of what she had discovered to be shampoo. The gryphon smiled a little as he spread some out on his hands and ran it through Ana's hair.

"Mal, this is nice, isn't it?" Kyle muttered sleepily. The young boy was just floating on the surface with the dragon giving him a nudge every now and then to keep him from drifting close to the others.

"It is nice to clean my scales properly, yes," the dragon admitted, with a warm smile that made Kyle giggle.

"Everyone seems to be relaxing," Kai mumbled, looking round at the various other members of the group that were soaking in the pool.

"Yeah," Ian nodded, looking around before his eyes settled on Shiro, floating by himself. "I guess I should thank you for 'persuading' me to get in here," Ian said to the windragon, trying to help get him involved.

"No problem, I didn't actually think that there would be this much room," the windragon chuckled, dunking his head into the water so that he could wipe at his ears. "Just wish..." Sighing a little to himself, Shiro perked up when he heard the shower stall turn off and threw Ian a big grin and jumped out of the water. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Ian chuckled, resting against Kai as he watched Shiro go.

"What did he want luck for?" Kai wondered as he followed the windragon with his eyes until he couldn't see him anymore.

"I'm not entirely sure," Ian murmured, frowning, then suddenly raised both eyebrows. "Actually, Skylar was in those showers. He's probably following him around again."

"So why does he need luck with Skylar?" The dragon asked, looking down at his mate curiously.

"Probably because Skylar doesn't seem to like having his own windragon follower," Ian chuckled.

"I wonder why Shiro is trying so hard to be Skylar's friend?" Michael wondered as he ran his talons through his girlfriend's hair, according to Ana they were now official. Why that was, the gryphon had no idea, but he knew that he didn't care one bit. "Skylar hasn't exactly been friendly with any of us, he's helped the group but..." Shrugging at his own question, Michael went back to work on Ana's hair as she pondered over the question.

"Skylar's got a stick the size of a rocket up his ass," the girl grumbled, attempting to preen her boyfriend's feathers as he washed her hair. It was a lot harder than he made it look when he was doing it in the forest. His feathers were a lot heavier and thicker than she thought they'd be.

"No, that's not it. Trust me, I've seen guys like that," Michael chuckled, pouring some water over Ana's head. "He's... I don't know, but he's not like that. Just, driven I guess."

"Driven by the rocket in his behind."

"You know you have quite the mouth."

"I thought you liked that?" Blushing furiously at her remark, Michael smartly remained quiet and concentrated on Ana's hair. "You're right though," she conceded, glancing over to the bathroom entrance when the redhead walked out. Not giving it any more thought, the girl just relaxed back into Michael's chest and let him play with her hair. She didn't want to think about troublesome redheads right now, she just wanted to relax.

Following her lead all of the recruits soon just lent back and relaxed in the hot spring, letting whatever worry or doubt that they had just wash away as they enjoyed the company and warmth offered to them.

"I could do this all week," Josh remarked, voicing the thoughts of the others.