The Tracker Hive Academy Year One - Avery Song Page 0,48

want the tree, you can have it, Shadow Jade. Just make sure you water it," I encouraged. "How did an apple tree grow from a pebble?"

"I imagined the pebble would morph into soil and would grow something manageable to feed a person. The increase in water heightened the speed of growth, using it as a substitute source of light with that added boost. I also like apples."

"Impressive," I replied, using my finger to pop the bubble.

It didn't splash out like a normal bubble would when popped, the tiny droplets instead remaining in the air and floating around.

Shadow Jade giggled, taking on a new challenge: popping them all with her fingers.

I looked at Alaric, Bianca, and Tanner. "Why does this happen? Since the day I met these guys, their elements tug at mine like they want to connect."

"I feel offended that she used 'these guys,'" Zackery mumbled.

"We haven't been upgraded to friend status yet." Zion had a sad expression on his face.

"Don't care," Zeus shrugged.

"I'll just slide into the more-than-friends department." Zeke winked.

"Cheater!" Zackery accused.

"You had every opportunity to make that situation yours," Zion suggested.

"And failed," Zeus concluded.

"Zackery makes this too easy," Zeke determined.

I waited for them to end their debate. "Yeah. These guys," I emphasized with a teasing grin.

They all sighed, but Bianca took the opportunity to speak. "We're going to have to look into it..." she trailed off, glancing at Alaric, who appeared deep in thought.

"You're not thinking what I think you're thinking," Tanner spoke up. "They can't be a match."

"It's possible," Bianca replied. “Quadruplets and Jade. Makes sense."

"Me!" Shadow Jade declared.

"And Shadow Jade," Bianca acknowledged with a smile.

"What are you guys talking about?" I questioned, unsure what they were referring to. "What match, and where do we," I pointed to Shadow Jade and myself, "belong in this apparent equation?"

Alaric sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You five may be a Hive."

"A what?" the four brothers asked in unison.

I glanced around them. "That's totally weird."

"From the girl who’d rather experience pain than pleasure," Zeus sighed.

"I never said that," I pointed out. "I like both."

"Kill!" Shadow Jade added.

"I feel as though exacting pain on others outweighs any chances of pleasure," Zeke noted. "Sign me up."

"Someone cock-block him," Zackery complained.

"Admit you hate losing," Zion replied.

"Can we get back on topic? This thing is interrupting my nap."

"Aww. Zeus is a big baby who needs nap time," I squealed in delight. "Can I come and cuddle?"

"No," he grumbled.

Zion leaned in. "That means yes. You can't feel it, but his heart is beating really fast."

I giggled, noticing Zeus's face growing redder by the second.

Bianca shook her head and Tanner rolled his eyes. "Focus, Trackers," Tanner declared.

We all returned our attention to Alaric, and I took the lead to ask the question again.

"What's a Hive?"

"The reason we go by Tracker Hive Academy. Being a Tracker is normally a group effort that brings people together to resolve evil that happens, for example, in the Black Market," Alaric recapped.

We intently listened as he continued.

"Hive is a term used for bringing people together as a cluster. It demonstrates that such unions can work as a group to complete one unified goal. However, there is a uniqueness that comes with the term Tracker Hive."

He lifted his right hand out to the side, placing it in front of Bianca. A tiny flame emerged in the palm of his hand.

"On rare occasions, individuals are connected to one another, and that connection heightens when they find one another. Think of it like a bond with one or more individuals that can complement your element."

Bianca placed her hand beneath Alaric’s, the small flame growing dramatically and shifting in colors from red to a gorgeous pink that matched Bianca's hair.

"These connections are, again, rare, but they occur between individuals with immense power or various elements. That is why Tracker Hive Academy was created: to gather those individuals who either struggle at pulling out those potentials, or those who have too much and are rejected by the standard schools."

"But...it’s only with one person? Not multiples, right?" I questioned. "It's based off intimacy, correct?"

"It can be," Alaric noted. "Touch is the primary base for it, but the more intimate you are, the stronger the connection," he declared, placing his left hand to his other side where Tanner stood; a tiny ice shard formed and hovered above his hand.

"The more intimate one is, the stronger their connections?" Zion questioned. "Doesn't that mean for Hives with three or more members that there has to be a connector? Like