“Come on! Get up sleepy head!” She shook Taya’s shoulder. “The sun is nearly up, and we have a long day ahead of us.” Taya rolled over to face J’vonte’.
“But we had a long day yesterday.” Taya had spent several weeks practicing with Zenith while J’vonte’ instructed. The days were long and tiring, but when Taya and Zenith landed on the soft green earth they felt accomplished.
“We’re giving Zenith time to rest, so today we are going into the forest” J’vonte’ said.
“What exactly are we doing?” asked Taya.
“You will just have to wait and see.” J’vonte’ smiled at Taya. Taya knew this smile all to well. It would be a challenging day.
As the two friends began to reach the west side of the village, where the forest was most extensive, J’vonte’ dashed toward what appeared to be an animal trail.
“If you can find me, we will call it an early day!” she called out to Taya. The forest was darker and thicker than most, its trees and vines intertwined with each other making it the perfect labyrinth. Taya decided to enter the forest from a different side, a ways from where J’vonte’ had entered. She knew that her friend could be anywhere in the forest by the time she entered it, and that it would be better to take the chance of approaching from another direction rather than attempting to track one of the quietest hunters that Yelya had ever seen.
Taya found a slight opening between a large boulder and an oak tree which was covered in vines. She slipped through the small gap, her hands gently sliding across the rough surface as she moved silently into the forest. The large canopy encompassed her and she was overcome by the beauty of the trees twisting together to form a protection from the sun. She refocused herself, scanning in-between trees and through the branches. It was hard to locate any movement, and no sound could be heard. A large sycamore towered in front of her reaching up above the surrounding foliage. Taya climbed to the highest branch that she trusted her weight on, almost effortlessly; climbing had become natural to her like flight is to a dragon. Once Taya was crouched she began to scan again. Nothing. J’vonte’ was good, but Taya knew that she would always be moving, which made her easier to spot, yet harder to catch. Taya maneuvered out further unto the branch and leaped out catching another branch with both hands. She swung up, her feet coming in contact with a branch higher than the first. The momentum carried her body and she reached out to grab the trunk with her right hand.
Suddenly a hand reached out, grabbing Taya’s ankle.
“You aren’t fast enough” a voice said. Taya found herself sliding down the trunk to be flung to the ground. J’vonte’ stood above Taya.
“I heard you the moment you broke the tree line” J’vonte’ said. “Remember, use your toes and the front of your foot. Rocks and harder ground will help with lighter steps. Always assume that I know where you are and that way you will always be on your guard.” When J’vonte’ had finished going over several other techniques regarding moving in silence they did the same exercise over and over again. By mid-afternoon Taya was showing a fair amount of improvement, and even managed to catch J’vonte’ off guard once, by swinging in behind her and wrapping her legs around J’vonte’s neck. J’vonte’ simply caught Taya’s arm and threw her to the ground in a single motion, but Taya knew that it was still at least, a small victory.
“J’vonte’, teach me how to fight, I can move through a forest unnoticed, I know I will get better, and I know how to get better, please, show me how to fight.” Taya was persistent, and after a while, J’vonte’ gave in.
J’vonte’ began with showing Taya simple hand to hand combat. She explained blocks and defensive maneuvers first, and then showed Taya the proper techniques to throw, strike and off balance an opponent. They practiced for the rest of the day; they sparred hand to hand, as well as with branches cut to the length. Taya quickly learned to use the forest to her advantage, by gaining height on fallen trees and rocks as well as using the trucks to stop oncoming blows.
J’vonte’ would wait until Taya came on the offensive to defend and then counter attack. Taya preferred to start off an attack with a right kick, accompanied by a left elbow jab. J’vonte’ quickly shut down Taya’s offensive by ducking Taya’s kick, blocking the elbow and striking Taya in the stomach with the palm of her hand.
“Taya, do not be predictable; I don’t want you to do the same sequence twice.” Taya nodded. Combat was about being creative and fast on one’s feet, thinking of new combinations to bring the opponent down. Taya faked a right jab, ducked J’vonte’s left hook and aimed her right elbow into J’vonte’s stomach. J’vonte’ easily blocked the elbow and returned a high right kick at Taya’s head. Taya caught J’vonte’s ankle with her right hand and in an instance changed hands so that her left hand held J’vonte’s ankle while she struck with the side of her right hand. J’vonte’ blocked Taya’s effort and used her left leg to leap, gain enough momentum to yank her right leg free and land a left kick to Taya’s back. Taya stumbled forward as J’vonte’ quickly moved behind her and began to choke Taya out.
“Alright!” Taya called out, gasping for air. J’vonte’ released her grip with a smile and a soft laugh.
“You’ll beat me one of these days, I’m sure. Just not today.” At that, the two friends decided to call it a day. They were covered in bruises and dirt, but they were both happy with the progress Taya had made. Taya knew that over the course of the next few weeks, J’vonte’ would continue to push her abilities in every respect.
As Taya began getting faster and lighter on her feet she became recognized as a valuable member to the village. J’vonte’ knew Taya was ready to put her skills to the test. The two were to set out on a round to secure the area, making sure any danger was quickly dealt with. All day Taya thought over everything J’vonte’ had taught her, using any free time she had to go over some combination attacks where ever she happened to be. J’vonte’ approached behind Taya partaking in meditation before the trip. Slowly and quietly she crept closer, trying to catch her off guard, but the training had paid off. Taya spun around quickly and low to the ground and with a sweeper kick she took J’vonte’ out. Standing up, with a smile usually painted on J’vonte’s face, Taya looked down at her friend offering a hand back up.
With a full moon high in the sky and the stars gently tinkling in the nights’ blanket, the girls set out. Taya knew the route from training and was not worried about finding her way with the little light the moon permitted. With her knowledge on how to read the stars, she knew exactly where she was in relativity to the camp at any point. J’vonte’ and Taya separated to sweep the area more efficiently, far enough that they wouldn’t mistake each other for a threat, but close enough to allow the other to quickly back the other up. Almost half way done the patrol, Taya heard some stray sticks that lay on the forest ground begin to snap slowly behind her. Swiftly darting behind a bush she rounded back, in attempt to turn the predator into her prey. Listening closely she did not hear a noise, sticking low to the ground she stayed completely still. Minutes passed and still not a noise to be made, Taya was quick to assume whatever it was, was doing as she was to be undetected. She grabbed for the nearest stray stick, and roughed it against the forest floor to make it sound like she was on the move. Exactly as predicted movement came from the her far left. Taya silently moved behind some large boulders in an effort to flank the mysterious person. Taya quickly leapt into a tree. Peering through the leaves she spotted the maker of the noise. It was a man, with dark hair and a harsh face. A face that had seen many winters and suffered much pain. The man reminded Taya of Zoeloft, and a cold sensation swept over her. His movements were fast and quiet, but unlike J’vonte’ they were audible. The man turned his back to Taya and she seized her chance. She swung to the ground, landing without a sound. The man’s back was still turned away. Taya approached the man, unsheathing her knife as she did. Her movements had vastly improved since the first day J’vonte’ had taught Taya the methods of stealth. Just as Taya was lifting her knife to the man’s neck she felt her foot upon a small twig; the twig snapped and in an instant the man had spun around to face Taya drawing a long dagger as he did, slashing Taya’s bone knife away from his body. The man immediately lunged at Taya swinging the knife towards her neck. Taya blocked the attack with her knife but was then met with a right kick to the side. She was knocked down, but using her momentum, she flipped onto her hands and sprung back up, landing on top of a fallen tree.
“You don’t scare me.” Taya said, crouching in her attack position.
“Zoeloft sends his regards” said the man, as he chuckled.
“I will not go back to him” Taya hissed.
“You don’t have much choice I’m afraid.” The man spun throwing a knife which had been hidden in his boots. Taya jumped from the tree, doing a backflip as she did. The knife skimmed her leg drawing blood. Taya winced from the pain, as she landed. As Taya’s right foot hit the ground, she carried her weight and connected a left kick which knocked the man’s knife to the ground. She hooked in a right fist catching the man off balance and he stumbled backwards. The man was bleeding from his nose and looked fairly stunned at what Taya had just done.
“You think you can beat me little girl?” The man said.
“I will beat you.” Taya responded, an expression of utter seriousness crossing over her face; Taya’s eyes were a piercing red. The man was startled, but came at Taya nonetheless using a combination of left and right jabs, Taya ducked and blocked. Taya had been taught a strong defense from J’vonte’, and knew how to be patient; to be able to defend until the perfect opportunity. There it was, Taya’s mind was several moves ahead of the action. The opportunity was only there for a split second, and Taya wondered if she was fast enough. She didn’t have a choice, she had to take it, she had to try. The movement felt like slow motion, as she ducked a kick, struck the man in the jaw with the handle of her knife spinning behind him reaching her arm over his shoulder and holding the knife to his neck. The man instantly stopped and put his hands in the air. Taya realized that right now, she had the man’s life in her hands. He was the only one that knew where she was, if she killed him right there, no one would blame her. The man was sweating.
“Please, please don’t kill me, I have a life, I’m not a bad person.” The man pleaded. Taya lowered her knife, but raised it again quickly tighter to the man’s neck. It began to bleed.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you live.” She whispered in his ear. Just as Taya was about to slit the man’s throat, an arrow was shot from the side going straight through the man’s head. He dropped to the ground. Taya looked around startled. Between a few trees stood a young man, who looked to be similar in age to Taya, holding up a bow which resembled the bow that J’vonte’ had carried on the first day the girls had met. The two locked eyes, J’vonte’ came out from between the them. She looked at Taya whose eyes were still fire red as she stared down the man who stole her kill. Taya was panting, but now much more angry and ready for another go. Walking towards the man standing with his bow now dropped, Taya gripped her knife tighter. J’vonte’ put her hand upon Taya’s shoulder and held her there trying to break the eye contact.
“Taya, that is Bastian,” J’vonte’s said calmly to her fired up friend, “He’s my brother.” She dropped her hand to her side as she felt the tension in Taya’s body fall. Taya looked at her in awe.
“Your brother?” Taya looked back at Bastian who stood there with the same smile she knew so well from J’vonte’s face. Confused she turned back to her friend, who confirmed the question with a slight nod and identical smile. He approached the two with the moon reflecting ever so slightly in his eyes, and as he spoke, his voice was that of a voice similar to his father’s. Warm but fierce.
“Thought you were in need of some help,” he said, his smirk mocking Taya. “You’re welcome.”
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