]
Disappointingly, Nya’s question went unanswered. In fact, most of her comments were not commented on by the girl. It was as if the girl just numbly trudged after her, determined to survive the ordeal with the Kelvic and not really take any learning from it or even enjoy it. Nya was put off by the whole thing. Her interactions with Randal in the jungle had been a lively exchange of questions tumbling out of her and Randal alternatively being amused by them and answering them or telling her he didn’t know. Nya would have liked at least to have Jade acknowledge what she was saying instead of having the girl pause, cough, hurry to catch up, and then not even (at least in Nya’s mind) trying to learn from what Nya was saying. Jade was stiff, even with her arms out, and finally said something… even if it was just an ‘okay’. Okay what? Nya wanted to growl. She wanted to kick something out of the way because her temper was getting the better of her.
The woman reeked of nervousness. She didn’t smile. She didn’t laugh. Did Jade ever have any fun at all? The Jungle was dangerous, but it wasn’t something to fear outright or be so quiet as to make the Kelvic feel uncomfortable. Did she even believe her? Maybe the Drykas was secretly laughing at her because she wasn’t going to laugh with her. Jade held the Kukri as Nya had instructed, but didn’t say anything when she started to tell her about staves and how important they are.
Finally, a question came, and Nya cocked her head and listened. “It’s an animal that can grow very big. They have scales like a lizard and like the water. They mostly live in it. Sometimes they are small like your hand but those are babies. They grow bigger, dog sized, and even bigger like horses but they are flat and fast with a long-pointed snout full of teeth. They eat meat and are mud brown or greenish brown. Its hard to see them in the water… because they can hold their breath for a long time.” Nya learned this from Randal on one of their walks where he was talking about the dangers of predators and why she shouldn’t follow waterways unless she absolutely had to or was lost. Maybe she should tell Jade the information too? Nya frowned, unsure, and decided to tell her about survival thinking first. If she could tell Jade how her mind could kill her and how she had to control her mind, maybe it would be easier to give her further lessons on such things as why not to follow game trails or waterways.
So when Nya talked about it and Jade said nothing, the Kelvic just sighed. Frustration welled up in her and she decided then and there that Jade had probably better find a different teacher. She was an unresponsive and unengaged student. First she had DEMANDED Nya teach her with no other good reason than Jade wanted to learn. Then she’d said they could go today… so Nya had given in. Well, Nya was tired of women like that… entitled, acting like they were helpless when mostly they were just calculating. She curled her lip and shrugged, frustrated and wondering why the woman acted the way she did. Ravok had been full of such creatures. They looked down on the Kelvics, treating them like pets or worse – slaves. Was Jade one of those? Most likely she was. Nya didn’t know what a Drykas was… which was what Jade had introduced herself as initially.
She’d have to do some research, perhaps ask someone that knew. But for now, she wanted to get Jade out of the jungle and out of her hands.
Surprisingly, a second question was forthcoming, which was delivered in a rather odd way. Should she ask what? Nya followed the direction of Jade’s gesture in the distance. The Kelvic narrowed her eyes, lifted her head and scented deep. “Its not a meat eater.” She said in response, not sure what else Jade wanted her to say. To Nya, what an animal ate really helped determine how dangerous the creature was. The only exception was the waterhorses with funny heads that she didn’t know the name of. They were grumpy on good days and down right deadly on bad days, but they didn’t eat meat. Nya was convinced it was because they shared the water with crocodiles and the crocs left them alone unless they were very very young.
“This has probably been enough for today. I’ll take you back.” Nya said, not sure what else she should say or what else she should do. Spending time with the young woman was frustrating. She never talked. She never said anything in response to the Kelvic’s teaching. Nya was convinced it was because Jade felt she was better than the Kelvic and wanted to be anywhere but trudging through the beautiful jungle with her.
Fine by her. The Kelvic would take her back.
Disappointingly, Nya’s question went unanswered. In fact, most of her comments were not commented on by the girl. It was as if the girl just numbly trudged after her, determined to survive the ordeal with the Kelvic and not really take any learning from it or even enjoy it. Nya was put off by the whole thing. Her interactions with Randal in the jungle had been a lively exchange of questions tumbling out of her and Randal alternatively being amused by them and answering them or telling her he didn’t know. Nya would have liked at least to have Jade acknowledge what she was saying instead of having the girl pause, cough, hurry to catch up, and then not even (at least in Nya’s mind) trying to learn from what Nya was saying. Jade was stiff, even with her arms out, and finally said something… even if it was just an ‘okay’. Okay what? Nya wanted to growl. She wanted to kick something out of the way because her temper was getting the better of her.
The woman reeked of nervousness. She didn’t smile. She didn’t laugh. Did Jade ever have any fun at all? The Jungle was dangerous, but it wasn’t something to fear outright or be so quiet as to make the Kelvic feel uncomfortable. Did she even believe her? Maybe the Drykas was secretly laughing at her because she wasn’t going to laugh with her. Jade held the Kukri as Nya had instructed, but didn’t say anything when she started to tell her about staves and how important they are.
Finally, a question came, and Nya cocked her head and listened. “It’s an animal that can grow very big. They have scales like a lizard and like the water. They mostly live in it. Sometimes they are small like your hand but those are babies. They grow bigger, dog sized, and even bigger like horses but they are flat and fast with a long-pointed snout full of teeth. They eat meat and are mud brown or greenish brown. Its hard to see them in the water… because they can hold their breath for a long time.” Nya learned this from Randal on one of their walks where he was talking about the dangers of predators and why she shouldn’t follow waterways unless she absolutely had to or was lost. Maybe she should tell Jade the information too? Nya frowned, unsure, and decided to tell her about survival thinking first. If she could tell Jade how her mind could kill her and how she had to control her mind, maybe it would be easier to give her further lessons on such things as why not to follow game trails or waterways.
So when Nya talked about it and Jade said nothing, the Kelvic just sighed. Frustration welled up in her and she decided then and there that Jade had probably better find a different teacher. She was an unresponsive and unengaged student. First she had DEMANDED Nya teach her with no other good reason than Jade wanted to learn. Then she’d said they could go today… so Nya had given in. Well, Nya was tired of women like that… entitled, acting like they were helpless when mostly they were just calculating. She curled her lip and shrugged, frustrated and wondering why the woman acted the way she did. Ravok had been full of such creatures. They looked down on the Kelvics, treating them like pets or worse – slaves. Was Jade one of those? Most likely she was. Nya didn’t know what a Drykas was… which was what Jade had introduced herself as initially.
She’d have to do some research, perhaps ask someone that knew. But for now, she wanted to get Jade out of the jungle and out of her hands.
Surprisingly, a second question was forthcoming, which was delivered in a rather odd way. Should she ask what? Nya followed the direction of Jade’s gesture in the distance. The Kelvic narrowed her eyes, lifted her head and scented deep. “Its not a meat eater.” She said in response, not sure what else Jade wanted her to say. To Nya, what an animal ate really helped determine how dangerous the creature was. The only exception was the waterhorses with funny heads that she didn’t know the name of. They were grumpy on good days and down right deadly on bad days, but they didn’t eat meat. Nya was convinced it was because they shared the water with crocodiles and the crocs left them alone unless they were very very young.
“This has probably been enough for today. I’ll take you back.” Nya said, not sure what else she should say or what else she should do. Spending time with the young woman was frustrating. She never talked. She never said anything in response to the Kelvic’s teaching. Nya was convinced it was because Jade felt she was better than the Kelvic and wanted to be anywhere but trudging through the beautiful jungle with her.
Fine by her. The Kelvic would take her back.
