Blisa in training, part 2
Redwall Abbey Cavern Hole
Nightbreath the ermine. Blisa the cat and Ferdinand the ferret.
Ferdinand is not a happy camper. When not in training, Blisa is practicing...mostly with/on her bodyguard. Right now, to protect himself, he has tied cushions around his body and has wrapped the kitten up in a quilt. Muffled shouts can be heard from therein, mostly threats and pleas.
Nightbreath, watching from nearby, stifles a chuckle as he watches before calling a halt. "Blisa, that is enough, do not kill your bodyguard please."
Neither of the young creatures had been aware that the Seer was in the room....either that, or they forgot. Whatever. They both jump, then Ferdinand glares at the quilted package. "Yeah, killing me ith /not/ an option. Do I need to ground you?" Blisa manages to wriggle out of the quilt and sniffs. "No. I'm sorry, Ferdy." The ferret nods. "It'th alright. No more practithing with me." The kitten nods, gently holds his paw, and they both make their way over to the Seer.
"Well done but you need more control, little one," Nightbreath says softly. "It is the dance of war. Remember, you are a weapon and anything is a target."
Blisa nods and kicks a footstool, then yelps and starts jumping around in a circle, holding her foot. Ferdinand sighs and covers his eyes. "The'th been doing that all week. It'th getting kind of old."
"I shall teach her an elbow strike, then," Nightbreath says, his eyes gleaming. "Blisa, stand before me please."
Ferdinand rolls his eyes. "Great. Jutht what I need." Blisa hops over to in front of the ermine, gritting her teeth in frustration and slight pain.
"Fight the pain," the Seer says sharply. "Crush it in your mind. Spread your footpaws slightly."
Blisa frowns and just ignores the pain, spreading her footpaws apart slightly. "Can I crush somebeasts' face with this next move?" Ferdinand shakes his head and sits down in a chair. He needs a vacation.
"Probably," Nightbreath says seriously. "Form thine left paw into a fist, please. Then rotate so you face to the right."
Blisa makes a fist with her left paw and rotates her body at the waist and hips so she can face to the right, gasping slightly as her back pops. Ferdinand leans back, crossing his arms. No, he's not tired. He's just yawning because, um, well, uh....for the fun of it, yeah, that's it...
"I meant to turn your feet as well, Blisa, but this technique works as well," Nightbreath says. "Clasp the fist in your right paw after bringing your fist to your chest, so that the knuckles aim back towards your right hip."
Blisa blinks. "Um.....okay." She brings her left fist to her chest and clutches it in her right paw, wrinkling her nose, hoping she got it right. Especially since she really didn't understand it...
"Now pivot to the left at the waist quickly but smoothly so that your momentum sends your left arm--still held by the right--flying to your left," Nightbreath calls.
Blisa screws up her mouth, then shrugs slightly and manages to follow the command without falling over, doing a decent jab that would at least bruise.
"Harder, and more stably," Nightbreath instructs. "Spread your feet so you don't fall."
Blisa sticks her lower lip out a little, but complies, doing an even better job than last time. Suddenly, Ferdinand lets out a slight snore. The kitten looks over at him, suddenly contrite. "Did I do that?" she whispers.
"No, the beating you gave him did that, methinks," Nightbreath says. "Again, harder."
Blisa looks like she's about to cry. "I didn't mean to!" she hangs her head, but tries the move again, but it is awful now that she's about to sob. She actually hiccups. Yeah, that's totally terrifying.
"That's not what I meant," Nightbreath says swiftly. "He is most likely tired out." He stands and walks to Blisa, crouching so they're eye-to-eye. "It is okay."
Blisa sniffs and looks down, not meeting the Seer's eyes. "But why would he be tired out unless he'd been chasing after me so much?" she scuffs the floor with her foot as a lone tear trickles down her cheek.
"Later in life he'll appreciate the strength that let him do so," Nightbreath says softly. "And better to be tired out by watching joys of youth than to be awake, depressed by the torments of age."
Blisa wrinkles her forehead and looks up a little. "I don't quite understand that." Ferdinand, meanwhile, looks peaceful, content and relaxed, propped up by cushions and an armchair.
"See, he's happy enough," Nightbreath says, gesturing at Ferdinand. "Now I want you to try reassuming the stance as fast as you can."
Blisa sniffs, nods, and jumps back into the position for just before she jabs with her elbow in about 3 seconds flat.
"Perfect, now faster!...." The session drags on, a bit more learning dispensed every time, Blisa getting a bit better at it everytime. "Good, try again...!"
Blisa actually smiles, getting faster and harder and more vicious with every go. She should be able to defend herself soon...
Thanks for reading!
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