They enjoyed themselves for the first time since escaping and it felt good considering they're circumstances. Damon told Raya of his ability to create rain which surprised her as well, but after learning he was only 10 years old and had awakened three years early.
Raya couldn't believe it, she made just as big a deal as Jasper when he learned about it.
"You awakened three years early and your ability is rain?" She asked with raised brows and her mouth partially open in surprise.
"That's amazing, I've never heard of someone that could make it rain, that's actually insane. "
"Seeee, I told you Damon. All your ability needs is a little grooming. " Jasper chimed in saying.
"Hmph, if you say so. Im not saying I won't attempt to make use or find out more about my ability, its just...." Damon twisted his lips and rubbed his head nervously.
"Just what. " Raya asked placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Like I told Jasper, I've been at it for years, my rain does almost nothing." He Responded leaning back letting out a frustrated exhale.
He then explained to them everything he remembered about his awakening and the time he spent trying to figure out his power.
"In the end, what i remember most is disappointment and shame. I mean, I dont really remember my family thanks to whatever that man did to my memories, but maybe that's who was ashamed and disappointed in me. He'll maybe they gave me to that man to sell or to kill. I dont know, all I know is there is this deep feeling of disappointment I cant seem to shake."
Jasper and Raya eyes darkened a bit as they tried to recall what exactly happened to them before waking up in chains. Compared to Damon's memories, theirs were far worse. Unlike Damon who could remember events, they couldn't remember the simplest thing about their previous life which was only a few weeks ago.
"It's clear whatever he did to us targeted certain memories, mainly the memories of our family and friends. He literally erased pieces from our lives. I cant help to think he wasn't done. I think whatever he was giving us was going to make it even worse if we didn't get out. Im not sure, but that's what my gut tell me. Someone always told me to trust my gut." Damon's said with a sadend face.
"It's crazy I don't even know who gave me that advice. " he added.
Raya and Jasper briefly shared what they could remember about their old life, but it wasn't much at all. Jasper remembered working with his hands a ton, hard laboring work, throwing rocks in some kind of mine with many other people he couldn't recall.
While the main memory Raya could conjur was some kind of lance and spear training in a courtyard of some kind. The courtyard was huge and on one side was a training area and on the other was a large garden with carved out stones that were partially in the ground with names engraved on them.
Many other memories were so hazy they couldn't get a clear picture of them in their heads. As they talked, the conversation shifted back to Damon's ability.
"Well, we got time. I say we start training everyday. We can get better with hunting and protecting ourselves. We have shelter now. When we feel we are ready, we move on and find a way out of this dump." Jasper said while tossing the bones of the bird beast in the fire.
"Train! you two have abilities already. Im eleven and half years old. I doubt ill be a early awakened like Damon." Raya Responded.
"Are you serious, where the hell was your mind when you were throwing that spear. You don't have to have an ability to train. Train your body. You said that's one of your most memorable memories right?"
"Training with a spear, I say you have exceptional talent with that thing. Who knows, it may trigger more memories as well." Jasper said trying to encourage her.
"I agree with Jasper, you have a wicked arm on you and I believe your body and muscles remember how to handle a spear. It seemed so natural and comfortable to you earlier today. Like it was almost second nature."
Raya looked at them both with a thankful smile.
"Ok, count me in. On another note, I agree Jasper..... i am exceptional. " she said smirking in a way that made Jasper face turn annoyed.
"I was talking about how you throw a spear, not that you are. " Jasper responded rubbing his forehead as he could clearly see where she was going with it.
Damon chuckled a bit before telling Jasper to leave it alone. With the way Raya was smirking, it was no way she would let him play his words down.
The night ended and a new day began.
"It all makes sense now, the heavy rain when we're escaping, and the sudden rain when running from that spider beast." Raya said looking up at the clouds watching the light sprinkles.
Damon was sitting on tge ground concentrating. Numerous of thoughts flowed in his head as he tried making tge rain do something other than rain. It was frustrating, the rain just came down. No special effects or hidden skills besides his small power up whike being inside it.
"Red Fist." Jasper shouted punching the ground creating a small ripple of red waves.
Sucking his teeth in aggrevation, Jasper sat down in Indian style and began tapping his leg while slowly rocking back and forth in thought.
"Tsk, that name won't do, red fist. It's so stupid. Come on think, what's a good name for my punch." He asked himself.
Raya had begun practicing with her spear after playfully bathing in Damon's rain. With little effort, she was able to hit a mark on a tree 10 meters away like it was nothing. Over and over she planted her rigged spear right on target.
It was incredible how much strength she could put in a single throw considering she hadn't awakend. Her body well toned and the outlining of her muscles could be seen, but she wasn't big by any means.
Hours passed and they all were still at it. While Jasper had zero success thinking of a name he liked for his special punch. Raya had increased her throwing distance to 15 meters in which she discovered wasn't so easy as it was beyond her limit.
Damon fumbled around with his rain shrinking and enlarging the clouds which would simply decrease and increase the radius of his rain. If was nothing new, he wanted to just stop, but seeing Raya and Jasper still going strong made him continue.
Usually when someone awakened they would naturally gain the instincts and awareness of how to use their ability. It was like information of their ability would be downloaded in their brains and new skills and how to use them could be discovered.
Training and simply bringing forth their ability Usually triggered a link to help them understand things about they're awakened power, but not with Damon. He had been hopeful for weeks after awakening, but after a month of almost zero sucess he determined his ability was weak and after three months had given up on it almost completely.
More time passed and they decided to go hunting back in the same area before it got too late. Raya effortlessly did her thing hauling in five birds. They didn't get over five because they're eyes were bigger than they're stomachs yesterday. Three of the grilled birds went untouched as they were full. With no proper way to store them, the meat went bad by the time they had waken up.
Damon noticed more of the same dirt trails, this time he decided to follow them. Most of them overlapped each other, but a few were going in specific directions. After following them for fifteen minutes. Slow running water was heard, or at least that's what it sounded like to them.
Raya had all five bird beasts wrapped by they're necks with a vine and carried them over her shoulder as they inspected the area. It wasn't long before they came to a small, but incredibly dark blue river. The river was only fifty meters wide, but looked incredibly deep.
"Fresh water." Jasper excitedly shouted running towards the bank. Raya followed after hanging the vine of birds on a tree limb while Damon focus remained on the dirt trails that seemed to end just before the river.
He didn't know why the dirt trails were so interesting to him, but his intuition was practically screaming at him to pay close attention to them. Inspecting further, he slowly kicked the disturbed dirt and then placed a hand inside digging out a handful of soil.
"Hey man, stop messing around and hop in, the water is great." Jasper shouted before diving under.
Damon ignored his words, but did look back and saw Raya was getting in the river as well. Digging his fingers back in the dirt, he could feel it was a small tunnel as he wiggled his fingers around.
"Damon come on, Jasper's right, the water is amazing. " Raya added, while swimming in place. Her wool white hair was way longer than it actually looked. The water made her hair heavier which straightened it making it reach the middle of her back.
Her milky porcelain doll skin looked to be increasingly glowing as the dirt spots and excessive grime was being washed off. Looking at his skin and the ragged out shorts along with his feet which were nearly charcoal black all around, he smelled himself and frowned in disgust.
"Damn, I smell like ass and with a foot fungus." He thought to himself.
Raya laughed seeing his facial expression.
"Yea, that's exactly why you should hop in, we smell horrible."
Resurfacing after a quick dive, Damon instantly felt more refreshed. His short locs shriveled up making him look like a spiky porcupine. Later they all sat on the bank relaxing on a few large rocks.
Jasper and Raya was stretched out without a care in the world enjoying the sun rays while Damon stayed vigilant. He felt someone should always be on the lookout for the worst. After the incident with the spiders he never stopped being on edge.
Looking at the glare of the sun bouncing off the river, his eyes drifted to the other side where he saw something that made him jump up with inspecting eyes.