Twelve glanced up at the Ygrex head glowering above her and swallowed hard. It leered back at her sightlessly. Ygrex were notoriously difficult to defeat. They got inside your head, twisted your own memories to ensnare you. The story went that Silver had battled this creature in the Frozen Forest during her Blooding at the tender age of fifteen. It was a feat previously unheard of in one so young and the foundation of her fearsome reputation.

“And you don’t think you’d struggle with that?” Silver asked, her expressive eyebrows shooting up into her hairline. “There’s no part of the task that concerns you?”

“If I have my axes, then I can do anything,” Twelve said stubbornly, glad of their reassuring weight on her back. Neither of the Hunters needed to know she had no intention of ever taking her place in a Blooding.

“Do you think I managed to defeat an Ygrex by myself?” Silver asked, jerking her chin at the mounted head. Twelve hesitated. According to the stories, that was exactly what she’d done. Silver sighed and shook her head.

“Stories have a tendency to take on a life of their own,” she said eventually. “I wouldn’t be here without the team I had with me that day. That’s the truth. And that’s why I worry for you, Twelve. Who will be on your team?”

Twelve groaned inwardly as Silver came to the point.

“Fighting is only one of the skills a Hunter must possess,” the Elder said carefully “It’s necessary against dark creatures of course, but our role in the world is shifting. We spend more time peacekeeping between the clans now than we do hunting. For that you need teamwork, patience, diplomacy, an open mind. You have none of these qualities and seem determined to remain that way. Last time you were in here, as I recall,” Silver went on, “you promised me you’d make more of an effort with your fellow students. Have you done that?”

Seven’s face flashed into Twelve’s mind and she quickly pushed it away, examining the floorboards instead.

Beside her, Victory sighed. “No, she hasn’t. She’s always as good as partnerless in my classes.” Her voice rose in frustration. “She should be pushing herself with the toughest opponents out there. She has more skill than even I did at her age.”

Shame flooded Twelve, thick and sour. She’d let them both down.

Silver nodded and made a calming gesture at Victory. Raising her voice, she called, “Five, come back in here, please!”

The door opened and Five edged in to take his place beside Twelve.