"Woo hoo!" Devon whooped, sprinting along the beach at blinding speed. Now that his dreadlock electricity was recharged, he felt unstoppable. Tanya chased behind in fox form, yipping playfully.
Devon glanced back and grinned. "Yuh not catching mi today!" He poured on an extra burst, blazing across the white sand and kicking up a rooster tail in his wake.
Tanya barked indignantly at the showboating but couldn't match Devon's enhanced pace. She finally flopped down on the beach, panting and transforming back into human form. "Okay Blur, we get it - yuh di fastest thing on two feet," she called out teasingly.
Chuckling, Devon circled back and helped his friend up. "Sorry, couldn't resist once dat rush kick in. Mi have so much voltage and speed to burn lately, yuh know?"
"Clearly," Tanya remarked, brushing sand off her clothes. "But just remember, powers ain't no race. This journey about learning control and purpose."
Devon nodded seriously. "Yuh right Cocoa Fox, mi will stay humble."
They had finally embraced code names befitting their abilities. For weeks now, the two friends had faithfully trained their skills in this remote strip of beach and rocky cliffs. It became a refuge to hone their gifts away from prying eyes.
"Race yuh to di big coconut tree over there!" Tanya suddenly challenged with a mischievous grin. Before Devon could react, she took off across the sand in a blur of tan fur on four legs.
"Hey, no fair!" Devon shouted, bolting after the giggling fox. But Tanya had too much of a head start. She scampered up the towering palm and peeked down smugly from the crown of fronds when Devon arrived seconds behind.
"Alright, yuh got mi that time," Devon admitted, peering up and shielding his eyes. He watched Tanya crawl out to the end of a bending palm branch.
"Uh, yuh know foxes don't climb trees right?" Devon pointed out. In response, Tanya just swished her bushy tail and scampered even farther out on the precarious perch.
"Show off!" Devon scoffed, but couldn't help smiling. He admired Tanya's growing bravado with her shape-shifting abilities. She was already mastering aspects of the animal forms she assumed, even retaining some enhanced senses and instincts temporarily after changing back.
"Yuh aguh hurt yuhself up there!" Devon called half-jokingly as the branch bowed under Tanya's weight. But his warning proved prophetic - a loud crack resounded suddenly!
"Tanya!" Devon shouted in alarm as the branch snapped. But she was already twisting her body in mid-air as she fell, fur rapidly sprouting. Tanya landed nimbly on four feet, having using her three tails to soften the impact.
"That was close!" Devon gasped in relief, jogging over. "Yuh alright Cocoa Fox?"
The tan-furred feline chuffed smugly at him before slinking off towards the shade of some palms. Chuckling and shaking his head, Devon followed. Leave it to Tanya to turn a terrifying fall into a chance to show off more shifting skills.
They spent the afternoon testing their abilities against one another in mock battles and contests. Devon discharged precise shock darts from his dreadlocks that Tanya dodged. Trying to match her keen feline sight, Devon tapped his specialized Hyper Rush breathing to achieve bursts of superspeed. The world appeared frozen while he raced about unchecked.
Unfortunately, the great speed came at a costly price. Devon soon grew exhausted with each Rush. It drained the electricity from his locks completely.
"This...ability...got its limits," Devon panted, hands braced on knees after blurring around at impossible velocity for three seconds. His dreadlocks now hung limply as the last sparks fizzled out.
Tanya frowned, back in human form. "That power burn through yuh charge crazy fast. We'll need to be strategic using it."
Bending forward with his hands still braced on his knees as he caught his breath, Devon replied through strained lungs, "No...doubt.... Shortly I'll....Master managing....My energy reserves....during Rush."
The setting sun coloured the western sky in vibrant hues. Sensing Devon was spent, Tanya finally declared, "That will do for today. Yuh making serious progress, Blur. The real fight awaits when we ready."
"Soon come, Cocoa Fox." Devon grinned wearily. "These duppies and villains nah stand no chance against us."
They fist-bumped before parting ways. Heading home, Devon detoured to a busy shopping plaza. Finding an electrical outlet outside a clothing store, he casually rested his palm against the wall while allowing his dreadlocks to subtly channel currents to recharge. To any passerby, he would appear lost in thought.
Within moments, Devon felt his internal batteries hum with renewed power. He grinned. With the skies now a dusky indigo, Devon couldn't resist testing his night vision skill while Hyper Rushing.
Ducking behind some bushes, he inhaled deeply then held it. The world decelerated to a crawl. Laughing, Devon sped through the frozen street scene, plucking items from people's loose grips or peeking into restaurant windows at meals suspended mid-bite.
"Rhaatid, Ras must never know how I misuse these powers sometimes," Devon thought guiltily. But the exhilaration was undeniable. He vowed to stay mindful of his responsibility though.
Nearing the end of his breath's limit, Devon rushed back to the discreet bushes just as time resumed normal flow. People blinked confusedly at their empty hands or toppled drinks. Chuckling at the harmless prank, Devon slipped away unseen.