Spirit Animals

Spirit Animals:6 Hand To Hand Combat

"He-yah!" "Ya!" "Ugh!" "R-rah!" The noises filled the room with anticipation. The training room sounded like a war between only two people, Meilin and Conor. They were in combat training. Meilin threw a left punch at Conor's right shoulder. He forcefully blocked it with a counter of his right arm. Then he quickly threw a punch at Meilin's face with the other arm. Meilin tossed her head back and and arched her back to avoid the move. While Conor pulled his arm away to refire, Meilin regained her balance and tried to sweep him off his feet. Conor, just in time, jumped back. Meilin took the opportunity to jump towards him while spinning as if she was a tornado. Just when she was close enough she extended her leg out to kick. Conor saw and grabbed her foot making her unable to move. Meilin seemed to be hopeless. Hah, she thought. She gave Conor a devious smirk. Then with one powerful jump, she bent her free leg in the air over her grasped leg and as she jumped over she twisted her body to face her other side. This brought her other leg up to Conor's face. In a flash she outstretched her leg to powerfully kick Conor in the face.
Reese and Rollan were walking down the hall together. The team was suppose to train another day before they set off tomorrow for Ninani.
"Have you ever done hand to hand combat before?", Rollan asked her.
"Well not since yesterday", she answered with a smile. This got Rollan to chuckle.
"Oh yeah, forgot we trained yesterday." He rubbed his head. "You were pretty good for your first time so was Alyssa. I mean she finished first and helped Abeke."
"Thanks, but I'll never be as good as you all", she said back. Rollan punched her in the arm.
"Owe!" She screamed at him. "What was that for?"
"Dude you and Alyssa were way better than us at first. Especially Conor. He was terrible like he cou-"
"That was rude!", she interrupted him. "It was his first time. I bet all of you were bad too at one point, but who cares? We all have to start somewhere!"
"I like you", he said deviously. Reese stared at him with the widest eyes.
"You what?" She asked him. Hopefully she misunderstood.
"I like you. Like a little sister. Your like the innocent one who stands up for everyone", he said as they got closer to the training room.
"Uh- thanks", she responded.
"We are so in trouble for being late", he said amused.
"Ha, I'll blame it on you", she said back.
"I get a way with being late. Don't worry." He said reassuring. Rollan opened one of the giant doors. They were welcomed by Conor getting kicked in the face on the middle mat. Meilin stood and watched him as he let go of her leg and plummeted to the mat. Hard.
Abeke was sharpening her arrows on the bleachers. From Alyssa's view it looked like she hadn't been fighting for long. No spirit animals were allowed out today because it was physical training today.
Alyssa was on the metal bars on the other corner of the room doing summersaults on them. She was pretty hight up about seven feet above ground. She held on tightly afraid of falling.
Abeke heard the thud as Conor hit the floor. She looked up and gasped. Alyssa doing the same. Reese and Rollan stood like statues in from of the doors.
"Are you okay?", Rollan asked.
Reese began to sprint to him. Abeke did the same. Alyssa dropped smoothly then went to the commotion. Meilin just stood there looking at her opponent on the floor. As a trained warrior she was told, by her father, to never feel sympathy for her opponent nor them you. But father your gone and this is my friend. She thought to herself. Meilin held out her hand to Conor.
"I shouldn't have done an elite move on you. I'm sorry", she said.
"I-it's okay. It was just training." He said grunting as he got up.
"You're okay right?" Abeke asked him.
"Yes, I'm fine." He said with a smile. Olvan walked in behind them.
"What happend here?" He asked as if he were a master to his students.
"Meilin and I were training and I was kicked, but I'm fine, really." Conor said.
"I think we've had enough combat training. Let's move on to weapons. I set out weapons over there for you to chose. Chose your fondest weapon, the one you are the best at and we will train with them for today." He said as the kids walked over to a stand of weapons. There was swords, staffs, knives, shields, a wooden pole, nun-chucks, arrows, and what seemed to be the ninja, metal stars you throw.
"Abeke walked back to her bow and sharpens arrows. Rollan grabbed the ninja stars and the wooden pole. Meilin seized the sword and Alyssa chose a couple throwing knives. Reese grabbed a few arrows and released Lazarus.
"I just need my bow", she said softly to him. Reese took the bow from his saddle and the arrows already in the saddle. Then she held out her arm and the greenish light captured her eyes. She went to go stand by the others, but soon realized Conor wasn't there. He had gone to Olvan.
"I don't really have a weapon of choice, but I'm really fond of my cane. May I use that instead?", he asked politely.
"Sure, but I don't have one right now. I'll let you go get yours right now if you like." He said gesturing to the doors. That's what people like about Olvan, even if you mess up or do something differently he doesn't mind. He'd rather someone be different and special than all the same.
"Thanks", Conor said as he ran out of the training room to his own personal room.
"May I say", Olvan said surprised," this is a very well weapon choice for a group. Two archers, a swords man, a knives man, two canes men along with a stars man. A well variety." He said as her walked around the children.
"Now let's see how good you are at your best." He added. "Let's start with the archers." He guest weed to Abeke and Reese who happen to be stand ending side by side. "I'd like you to hit the target as best as you can from twenty yards.
"Abeke I think you should go first.", Reese suggested.
"Are you sure?" She asked hesitantly.
"I'm sure", reese said with a smile.
"Alright", Abeke said as she walked up to the twenty yard mark in front of the target. The whole group was to watch everyone's weapon use to see their strengths and weaknesses in order to help them unite better as a team.
Abeke loaded her bow and aimed. After a few seconds of concentration Abeke let go of the string and sent the arrow flying. She was actually really good. She made it to the ring just outside of the middle.
"Good job", Conor said to her as she turned around. W
"Thank you", she responded.
"Yeah good job", Reese said sacredly.
"Good luck", she answered.
"Thanks. I'll need it," Reese said real quietly. Reese got up to the mark and pulled out an arrow. Reese bow was way different than Abeke's. It was in fact a compound bow used mostly for hunting. It was defiantly heavier than Abeke's. She put the arrow into the holder and locked her wrist guard to the draw back string. Luckily Reese had a little thing that allowed her to pin point where to aim her bow according to the distance. It was determined by the yardage and it was measured by these glowing dots that are leveled for a certain distance. She aimed for the twenty yards. Then with the lightest touch of the hook on her wrist band the arrow was free. It pierced the target as if it was mad at it. She did it! She hit the bull's eye!
"Good job", Abeke said putting a hand on Reese's shoulder. The whole team showered her with compliments.
"I see the archers are already skilled", Olvan pointed out," I'd like to see what our other new member can do." He gestured to Alyssa. After Reese retrieved her arrow it was now Alyssa's turn to show them what she could do. Hopefully she could make an impression.
Alyssa stepped up to the mark on the floor, knife in her hand. She took a deep breath then drew back her arm. She carefully angled it and stared her target in the eye, the bull's eye. With determined look she straightens her arm and released. The world was in slow motion as Alyssa watched her knife get closer and closer to the target.
"Wow, who knew we had some skilled newbies to work with?" Rollan said with a surprised face.
Just like Reese's, Alyssa had hit the target head on. "I see both of the members are experienced. No need for teaching today. For the rest of the time if like you all to practice your skills. When the gong rings you are free to go", Olvan spoke as he headed for the doors. "And don't be afraid to challenge yourselves." He finished, the doors closing behind him.
"What's the gong for?", asked Reese.
"It's basically our school bell. When it rings that means we are done training for the day." Abeke answered.
"Normally we just go to our rooms and hang out or relax though." Rollan added.
"Good to know"Alyssa said pleased to rest for the day. The training lasted about a couple hours after Olvan left. Everyone was sweating and extremely tired. No wonder Rollan said they just relax, thought Alyssa, I'm beat! The gong rang loudly through the building. Everyone scrambled out of the training room to head to their rooms.
It was after sundown. The sunset was clearly visible through the windows and columns as they walked to the room filled hallway. Meilin released Jhi. She needed some peace after the hard day. After what happend to her, being controlled by the bile, she wanted to spend time with Jhi and have a true bond with her spirit animal.
Rollan slugged to his room as if his legs were about to give out. Abeke had also released her spirit animal. She and Uraza were chasing each other down the halls, leaving the others behind. Alyssa was walking beside Conor talking. Rollan made it to his room and came out with a sign that said 'Do NOT Disturb' with a cresent moon on it.
"Oh no don't wake up Rollan", Conor said sarcastically to Alyssa.
"Why not", Alyssa questioned.
"Because the sign's up. And when the the sing's up just be thankful he put it up as a warning." He said.
"Hey do you like Abeke?" She asked.
"Yes why?", he said slowly.
"Like a crush?" She said raising her eyebrows.
"What no! Abeke is my best friend. I could never like her like that!" He said a little loudly.
"Okay", she said deviously. Then pushed him off to his right bumping into someone. He stumbled a bit and said," I'm so sorry I was pushed."
"I-it's okay," Reese said as she regained her balance. Then she jogged off to her room before anyone could say a word.
"What was that fo-",Conor paused and soon realized he was talking to no one. Alyssa had run off to her room before Conor had apologized.
"Well never mind then", he said to himself. I'm just going to drop it he thought.
He went to his room and closed the door. Like all the others he too was exhausted, so he crawled up into his bed and lay there motionless until he was fast asleep.
A flash of Rollan's face appeared. Then Abeke, then Meilin, then Alyssa, and then Reese. Another flash of Rollan with Tarik across from them was Meilin and himself. Conor hadn't realized it was a dream until he saw himself in it. He saw another flash with all of their expressions when they met. After another flash he saw Abeke meeting Zerif and Shane. Then he saw when they first saw Arax and Abeke with the conquerors. A flash of the granite ram and then Abeke after she figured out the right side. Then another flash of them when they first trained with their spirit animals. A scene of the castle in Trunswick and the garden. A flash of the iron boar and Rumfuss breaking free from the garden. Then the temple. With Denish and all the swarming conquerors. The Rhino riders and Zhongese Worriors. Then a flash of Meilin beside her father's limp body. Tears rolled down from her eyes. A flash showed them in Artica seeing the ice city. Then a bunch of flashes as Suka fought them. Her talisman sparkled in the sunlight. Then a flash of Rollan and Meilin holding hands. Another flash and they were on the island with Kalani and her tribe. Then Tangoroa and his orangutang with Leopard, the baby orangutang Abeke rescued. A flash of a cave with crystals sparkling from the various light sources. The familiar octopus, Mulop, as he handed Conor the coral octopus filled Conor's mind. Meilin with the inhuman like snake eyes grabbed Abeke and boarded the conquerors ship soon followed. Then a flash of sun and vast desert took over. A silhouette of a great beast stood in the sun then focused into the familiar feline face. Cabaro and his golden lion with the flah of the sacred oasis. What soon followed was the worst to come. The battle of the conquerors and the Devourer against the greencloacks. Every then and now Conor could see a flash of the evertree as they battled the greatest enemy. Then he saw things that never happened or hasn't happen. He saw flashed of a waterfall along with warriors lined up along a forest. Then a small boy upon a rock. Then a horrifying scene set fear in Conor's mind. It was an eye, but it was blood red and not human. Then another flash showed Conor what seemed to look like a muzzle of a white horse. It snorted then another flash changed it into a massive, scaled claw razor sharp black as night. Then Conor's head began to get cloudy and blurry. He felt dizzy in his sleep. He opened his eyes and saw what seemed to be a scaly creature with a lizard like body that stood on all fours with wings. It had horns sticking out from its head and had black smoke around it. It was blurry and hard to see, but Conor could make out only the eyes. It was a deep indigo with slit pupils. Conor was motionless. Was this part of his nightmare or was this real.
"Sleep you child," said a voice of a raspy woman rudely,"you will forget everything you were shown!" The voice yelled at him. "SLEEP!" It screamed. Then conor was unconscious and he was back in his deep sleep, but forgot the whole nightmare.