"One, two, hya! Again!"
"One, two, hya! Lower, keep your legs steady. Again!"
"One, two, hya! Good, you're learning. Again!"
Reta was pacing around the young man, observing his stance and movements carefully. With each attempt, he would clench his fist and close his eyes with a concentrated look on his face. A swirl of gold mist would manifest around him and surge through his forearm before surrounding his hand, and then by her command he would throw his fist into the tree he was facing. He would wince again and again, feeling the pain jolt from the impact of his knuckles against the tree trunk. After the fifth punch, Reta took notice of his bloodied hand before raising her own hand to stop him. He obeyed and watched her step in between him and the tree, her eyes were fixated on his trembling hand.
"Does it hurt?" She asked.
Felix shook his hand, looking annoyed by her question. "You have me punching a tree, what do you think?"
"The objective is to enhance your concentration through pain and patience. You won't have the luxury of maintaining focus while in the heat of battle. I've seen your body, the markings embedded into your skin show me that you are no stranger to an attack. Am I correct in this assumption?"
Felix stayed silent, looking down at his bloodied knuckles before responding with a subtle nod.
Reta followed his glance and sighed. "Perhaps I am being too... what is the word? Strict, yes. Perhaps I have been too strict with you. I know those markings do not come from a warrior, I see it in you. When you lay asleep late at night, the way your body quivers with the lightest touch, and your legs recoil when your mind is haunted by nightmares. I see it for I have seen it before. It is the trauma that follows you after the bloodshed you have witnessed. Whatever happened in the past has left its mark and memories in you, that will not come to pass. It will always be there, today and tomorrow."
Felix looked away, his narrow eyes and pressed lips showed that he was not interested in her words. It was the pain of hearing a truth he did not wish to confront. His face softened when she reached out and held his face, stepping in closer as she looking longingly into his eyes.
"I have seen the mightiest warriors train all their life for combat only to never return, and those who do remain haunted by the memories of it. You may not be a warrior, Felix, but you are a survivor. There is strength in that too."
Reaching down, she held his hands with a soft touch, lifting them up with care. "You don't need to impress me or KuliKuli by being the strongest or the best fighter. Whatever troubles lie in your mind, you may speak to me. I have sworn to protect you just as you have protected me, Felix-san. Whatever happens today, whatever comes to happen, we will be here with you."
They share a moment of silence as he looked deeply into her eyes, only to smile as a thought appeared. "Why did you say my name like that?"
"Erm," Reta turned her head and stepped back in a look of embarrassment. "It is nothing, make no mention of it. Just a slip of the tongue. Now, let us try a different approach."
He paused as she raised her palm and waited for him to react. "What?"
"My hand, strike it."
"With Genki?" He recoiled in shock, giving her a look of concern. "It'll hurt, won't it?"
"Not if I catch you, and I will." Reta smirked. "Trust me, you know I can manage. Besides, I've caught you before."
He blushed and shook his head, closing his eyes to regain control of his breathing.
"Good, you may do this one last time. Today, we will see if you can maintain Genki for a longer duration." He heard her say as he flexed his arm and tightened his fist.
"Now, hold nothing back on my word. One, two, now."
Moving on instinct, he struck her palm with haste, feeling its impact as her fingers held his fist with an iron grasp. Opening his eyes, he was met with her smile as she released his fist. He looked surprised, watching her wave her hand with not a bruise in sight.
"Caught you." She teased, her playful expression shifting back into her familiar serious look. "Now, again."
Emyri and Na'Vi watched the two from the front porch, spotting KuliKuli as she walked up to them with a wave.
"Hey dear, tired after a bit of playing?" Emyri beamed, patting her daughter on the head.
"Mom." KuliKuli shook her head away, pawing her mother's arm off her. "It's not playing, it's training. Reta is teaching us how to fight so that we can beat the Hunter if we see him!"
Na'Vi snorted, staring at the couple with a judging look. "I don't get what the point of that is, you know how to fight. Or you knew before."
She turned to her with a smile. "You don't remember tak~tak do you? All of what they're doing is just fighting the way their kind do. Us cat girls fight in our own special way, right Mom? Much better then how they do it."
KuliKuli frowned. "No I don't remember and what's wrong with the way they fight? I think Reta is a good teacher and a good fighter."
Emyri chuckled and stepped between them. "What she means is that you shouldn't shy away from using your claws and tails, sweetie."
KuliKuli leaned to the side and gave Na'Vi a look, with Na'Vi crossing her arms in return. "Hmph."
"Are you still sure that this is the right choice though? There is still some time before we can... you know?" Emyri asked, looking uneasy.
KuliKuli raised her eyebrows. "Yes mom, I'm sure. You don't know them like I do, why don't you guys talk to them a little? You'd be surprised."
"Doubtful." Na'Vi muttered.
KuliKuli frowned and headed inside, closing the door behind her.
Emyri turned around and gave Na'Vi a disapproving look. "Was that really necessary? Would it kill you to be a little nice to her about them?"
Na'Vi sighed and leaned against the wall. "Sorry, mom."
Back indoors, KuliKuli fluffed her white hair while quietly moving up the stairs. She passed by Janette's room and noticed some movement before poking her head in. The door was left slightly open.
She leaned back against the wall with a determined look, closing her eyes as a gust of white magic surrounded her body before disappearing once she had returned to her cat form. Slipping through the door, she tip-toed her way around the room before spotting a pair of cat tails swinging from the bed. Hopping up on the mattress, she found her sister Dimyri with her head buried into Janette's magic book, flipping the page and struggling to write with her two paws.
Dimyri gasped and spun around, knocking the book down and kicking her feet away. KuliKuli meowed and jumped off the bed before reverting back into her natural form. "Hey, hey, it's just me!"
"Oh!" Dimyri panted, clutching her heart and sitting up. "Right, what was I expecting? Hehe, well then... hi. Is everything okay?"
"I should be asking you, what are you doing up here all alone when everyone else is outside?" KuliKuli asked, spotting the book on the ground. "What are you doing with that?"
"Just learning more, it's nothing." She said, brushing her brown hair back and picking it up. "Syri is gone so I just came up here after we finished cleaning the kitchen."
"I thought you couldn't read?" KuliKuli raised her eyebrow. "What did you ask?"
"Huh?" Her sister blinked, keeping the book on her lap. "I can read, Alma taught me remember? Oh wait, you don't remember her anymore."
The siblings sat around in awkward silence.
"What was it that made you forget?"
"Forget?" KuliKuli shrugged. "I don't know, Felix found me under some rubble so... maybe it was the tool shed?"
"Not likely." She responded quickly, correcting her. "You can't really remember us, huh?"
"It comes in small bits and pieces, like a puzzle." KuliKuli eyed her questioningly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's just... you would be taking this more seriously if you remembered. But then a part of me thinks it's better this way."
"What, and what am I suppose to say to that?" KuliKuli jumped up with a startled look.
Dimyri held up her paws. "I meant nothing against it! It's just... well you were different then. It takes some getting use to, having to call you a different name. I've known you all my life as Nityri, so this KuliKuli thing will take some practice."
"Well thank you for giving it a shot." KuliKuli sat beside her. "I'm glad you guys are here but there's something I've been meaning to ask."
"Go on."
KuliKuli leaned forward with a serious look. "Why is the hunter after us?"
Dimyri blinked before getting up from the bed, walking away before facing her. "Because we're Monsters, duh."
"So you say, but that's not all true."
"What do you mean?"
KuliKuli sighed and stood up to close the door, leaning her head against it as her sister stood back with a nervous look.
"Um, Kuli? Want to clue me in on what this is about?"
"You're not telling me the truth." She answered back, pressing her back against the door. "And I would appreciate it if you do."
"But I-"
"It's not just you, it's Mom and Na'Vi. We've noticed you all being shifty when we ask questions, and it's like this itch that won't go away. You're my family and I trust you're telling me the truth about that, but did you know we were attacked before? Someone said that there are people looking for me, people who want me alive. Master and Janette have told me things about what Monster Hunters do, but they don't usually bring Monsters back alive. And when I see Na'Vi, I get this... this weird feeling that she feels guilty about something. And I ask myself what that is, because if we use to be lovers then that would be that. Only this is more than that, call it a feeling."
She glared at her sister and repeated herself. "Now, tell me the truth. Why does is this Hunter after me?"
Dimyri's tails wrapped around her waist as she looked out the window briefly. "It's not just you he wants, it's us. Okay look, I understand that you have questions but I can't answer you. I'm your big sister, you don't get to pull this intimidating stuff and expect me to be all scared and small with you."
"I'm not expecting this, but the more you snoop around, the more suspicious I get. It's not just me either-"
"No, of course not. If you want answers, I can say that if you were thinking clearly, you would choose to keep running."
"What?"
Dimyri frowned. "I said you would keep running! This is a big deal sis, it's not just fun and games and I'm hoping it's just him that we have to deal with. You think we're all happy and confident about this situation but we're not. We're all scared here Nityri, and you should be too."
KuliKuli scoffed and stepped forward. "Okay so then what, you want me to just run away and leave my friends and mate behind?"
"He can come along too-"
"You know he can't!"
"Then I don't know!" Dimyri fumed, sighing loudly. "I don't know, I just... I hope for your sake that you know what you're doing."
She pushed the book back into KuliKuli's paws before pulling the door open. "You may not want to hear it, but it would help if you had a second plan in case fighting back doesn't work."
She closed the door, leaving KuliKuli alone with more questions then she had before.
"One, two, hya! Again!"
"One, two, hya! Lower, keep your legs steady. Again!"
"One, two, hya! Good, you're learning. Again!"
Reta was pacing around the young man, observing his stance and movements carefully. With each attempt, he would clench his fist and close his eyes with a concentrated look on his face. A swirl of gold mist would manifest around him and surge through his forearm before surrounding his hand, and then by her command he would throw his fist into the tree he was facing. He would wince again and again, feeling the pain jolt from the impact of his knuckles against the tree trunk. After the fifth punch, Reta took notice of his bloodied hand before raising her own hand to stop him. He obeyed and watched her step in between him and the tree, her eyes were fixated on his trembling hand.
"Does it hurt?" She asked.
Felix shook his hand, looking annoyed by her question. "You have me punching a tree, what do you think?"
"The objective is to enhance your concentration through pain and patience. You won't have the luxury of maintaining focus while in the heat of battle. I've seen your body, the markings embedded into your skin show me that you are no stranger to an attack. Am I correct in this assumption?"
Felix stayed silent, looking down at his bloodied knuckles before responding with a subtle nod.
Reta followed his glance and sighed. "Perhaps I am being too... what is the word? Strict, yes. Perhaps I have been too strict with you. I know those markings do not come from a warrior, I see it in you. When you lay asleep late at night, the way your body quivers with the lightest touch, and your legs recoil when your mind is haunted by nightmares. I see it for I have seen it before. It is the trauma that follows you after the bloodshed you have witnessed. Whatever happened in the past has left its mark and memories in you, that will not come to pass. It will always be there, today and tomorrow."
Felix looked away, his narrow eyes and pressed lips showed that he was not interested in her words. It was the pain of hearing a truth he did not wish to confront. His face softened when she reached out and held his face, stepping in closer as she looking longingly into his eyes.
"I have seen the mightiest warriors train all their life for combat only to never return, and those who do remain haunted by the memories of it. You may not be a warrior, Felix, but you are a survivor. There is strength in that too."
Reaching down, she held his hands with a soft touch, lifting them up with care. "You don't need to impress me or KuliKuli by being the strongest or the best fighter. Whatever troubles lie in your mind, you may speak to me. I have sworn to protect you just as you have protected me, Felix-san. Whatever happens today, whatever comes to happen, we will be here with you."
They share a moment of silence as he looked deeply into her eyes, only to smile as a thought appeared. "Why did you say my name like that?"
"Erm," Reta turned her head and stepped back in a look of embarrassment. "It is nothing, make no mention of it. Just a slip of the tongue. Now, let us try a different approach."
He paused as she raised her palm and waited for him to react. "What?"
"My hand, strike it."
"With Genki?" He recoiled in shock, giving her a look of concern. "It'll hurt, won't it?"
"Not if I catch you, and I will." Reta smirked. "Trust me, you know I can manage. Besides, I've caught you before."
He blushed and shook his head, closing his eyes to regain control of his breathing.
"Good, you may do this one last time. Today, we will see if you can maintain Genki for a longer duration." He heard her say as he flexed his arm and tightened his fist.
"Now, hold nothing back on my word. One, two, now."
Moving on instinct, he struck her palm with haste, feeling its impact as her fingers held his fist with an iron grasp. Opening his eyes, he was met with her smile as she released his fist. He looked surprised, watching her wave her hand with not a bruise in sight.
"Caught you." She teased, her playful expression shifting back into her familiar serious look. "Now, again."
Emyri and Na'Vi watched the two from the front porch, spotting KuliKuli as she walked up to them with a wave.
"Hey dear, tired after a bit of playing?" Emyri beamed, patting her daughter on the head.
"Mom." KuliKuli shook her head away, pawing her mother's arm off her. "It's not playing, it's training. Reta is teaching us how to fight so that we can beat the Hunter if we see him!"
Na'Vi snorted, staring at the couple with a judging look. "I don't get what the point of that is, you know how to fight. Or you knew before."
She turned to her with a smile. "You don't remember tak~tak do you? All of what they're doing is just fighting the way their kind do. Us cat girls fight in our own special way, right Mom? Much better then how they do it."
KuliKuli frowned. "No I don't remember and what's wrong with the way they fight? I think Reta is a good teacher and a good fighter."
Emyri chuckled and stepped between them. "What she means is that you shouldn't shy away from using your claws and tails, sweetie."
KuliKuli leaned to the side and gave Na'Vi a look, with Na'Vi crossing her arms in return. "Hmph."
"Are you still sure that this is the right choice though? There is still some time before we can... you know?" Emyri asked, looking uneasy.
KuliKuli raised her eyebrows. "Yes mom, I'm sure. You don't know them like I do, why don't you guys talk to them a little? You'd be surprised."
"Doubtful." Na'Vi muttered.
KuliKuli frowned and headed inside, closing the door behind her.
Emyri turned around and gave Na'Vi a disapproving look. "Was that really necessary? Would it kill you to be a little nice to her about them?"
Na'Vi sighed and leaned against the wall. "Sorry, mom."
Back indoors, KuliKuli fluffed her white hair while quietly moving up the stairs. She passed by Janette's room and noticed some movement before poking her head in. The door was left slightly open.
She leaned back against the wall with a determined look, closing her eyes as a gust of white magic surrounded her body before disappearing once she had returned to her cat form. Slipping through the door, she tip-toed her way around the room before spotting a pair of cat tails swinging from the bed. Hopping up on the mattress, she found her sister Dimyri with her head buried into Janette's magic book, flipping the page and struggling to write with her two paws.
Dimyri gasped and spun around, knocking the book down and kicking her feet away. KuliKuli meowed and jumped off the bed before reverting back into her natural form. "Hey, hey, it's just me!"
"Oh!" Dimyri panted, clutching her heart and sitting up. "Right, what was I expecting? Hehe, well then... hi. Is everything okay?"
"I should be asking you, what are you doing up here all alone when everyone else is outside?" KuliKuli asked, spotting the book on the ground. "What are you doing with that?"
"Just learning more, it's nothing." She said, brushing her brown hair back and picking it up. "Syri is gone so I just came up here after we finished cleaning the kitchen."
"I thought you couldn't read?" KuliKuli raised her eyebrow. "What did you ask?"
"Huh?" Her sister blinked, keeping the book on her lap. "I can read, Alma taught me remember? Oh wait, you don't remember her anymore."
The siblings sat around in awkward silence.
"What was it that made you forget?"
"Forget?" KuliKuli shrugged. "I don't know, Felix found me under some rubble so... maybe it was the tool shed?"
"Not likely." She responded quickly, correcting her. "You can't really remember us, huh?"
"It comes in small bits and pieces, like a puzzle." KuliKuli eyed her questioningly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's just... you would be taking this more seriously if you remembered. But then a part of me thinks it's better this way."
"What, and what am I suppose to say to that?" KuliKuli jumped up with a startled look.
Dimyri held up her paws. "I meant nothing against it! It's just... well you were different then. It takes some getting use to, having to call you a different name. I've known you all my life as Nityri, so this KuliKuli thing will take some practice."
"Well thank you for giving it a shot." KuliKuli sat beside her. "I'm glad you guys are here but there's something I've been meaning to ask."
"Go on."
KuliKuli leaned forward with a serious look. "Why is the hunter after us?"
Dimyri blinked before getting up from the bed, walking away before facing her. "Because we're Monsters, duh."
"So you say, but that's not all true."
"What do you mean?"
KuliKuli sighed and stood up to close the door, leaning her head against it as her sister stood back with a nervous look.
"Um, Kuli? Want to clue me in on what this is about?"
"You're not telling me the truth." She answered back, pressing her back against the door. "And I would appreciate it if you do."
"But I-"
"It's not just you, it's Mom and Na'Vi. We've noticed you all being shifty when we ask questions, and it's like this itch that won't go away. You're my family and I trust you're telling me the truth about that, but did you know we were attacked before? Someone said that there are people looking for me, people who want me alive. Master and Janette have told me things about what Monster Hunters do, but they don't usually bring Monsters back alive. And when I see Na'Vi, I get this... this weird feeling that she feels guilty about something. And I ask myself what that is, because if we use to be lovers then that would be that. Only this is more than that, call it a feeling."
She glared at her sister and repeated herself. "Now, tell me the truth. Why does is this Hunter after me?"
Dimyri's tails wrapped around her waist as she looked out the window briefly. "It's not just you he wants, it's us. Okay look, I understand that you have questions but I can't answer you. I'm your big sister, you don't get to pull this intimidating stuff and expect me to be all scared and small with you."
"I'm not expecting this, but the more you snoop around, the more suspicious I get. It's not just me either-"
"No, of course not. If you want answers, I can say that if you were thinking clearly, you would choose to keep running."
"What?"
Dimyri frowned. "I said you would keep running! This is a big deal sis, it's not just fun and games and I'm hoping it's just him that we have to deal with. You think we're all happy and confident about this situation but we're not. We're all scared here Nityri, and you should be too."
KuliKuli scoffed and stepped forward. "Okay so then what, you want me to just run away and leave my friends and mate behind?"
"He can come along too-"
"You know he can't!"
"Then I don't know!" Dimyri fumed, sighing loudly. "I don't know, I just... I hope for your sake that you know what you're doing."
She pushed the book back into KuliKuli's paws before pulling the door open. "You may not want to hear it, but it would help if you had a second plan in case fighting back doesn't work."
She closed the door, leaving KuliKuli alone with more questions then she had before.
