[Flashback]Mind over Matter[Open/Training]

[Nil'kayn]

Timestamp: 31st Day of Spring, 494 AV Location: The edge of the Bluevein River, few miles further east of Riverfall It had been a good day for the eagle. A fish in the early morning and the day was still young. Though the eagles belly was full, so it felt like just gliding through the air, his eyes straying over his large domain, large tracks of grass as far as even his eyes could see, with the river making its way through the grassland to, fall off the cliff near the city-of-color-men. Soon his eyes caught site of a large cloud of dust moving quite fast along the bank of the river. Curiosity over took the bird, so it flew lower trying to figure out the cause. He soon saw that a large group of the color-men, had large pieces of rock strapped to them and they where running with them. The eagle thought these color-men where crazy, but he flew over head calling to them in a attempt for them to explain why they where doing this, and to also ask why they where doing it on his land.

[Nil'kayn]

Kayn stumbled slight as he heard the piercing cry from over head. Regaining his rhythm, he glanced behind and overhead trying to find the source; a regal looking eagle flew over head, it must have made the cry. "It seem's we have a cheerleader lads! Or is he to enter the race!?!" yelled out Krong an Akalak of sum 28 years. The group as one let out a bunch of whoops and howls, they then forgot the eagle who seemed to loose interest. Kayn pondered (as he ran) the strange turn of events that had transpired to lead them to this. About a month ago Kain (Kayn's father) had fashioned for him a bunch of led weights, that could be strapped all over the body. The idea was that Kayn would train with these weights on, it would be hard , but worth it as when he took the weights of his strength, speed, and agility would be increased, Kayn had thought that maybe if he could learn to fight as fluidly as he did with normal clothes, with these weights. He could do the same with plate armour when he was older. So for days he had trained at home or the training grounds. The other boys had laughed at first thinking it comical, but after the first week he had taken the weights of and trained again, and the other boys where amazed by the strength and speed he had shown. So most of the boys had adopted the weights into there training. Soon after his father had devised a running course for him, which followed the river up to a shallow crossing, then through the river and back to Riverfall following the river again. So when he had first attempted it all his friends had joined in and together they ran the course and the next few days it showed itself in there bodies; seeing this a large number of the younger, Akalak's that had yet to pass the second Trial (or had just passed it), had joined there group, until they had a full pack of young Akalak's running with weights, along the Bluevein river. Kayn came out of his thoughts as he noticed he was lagging behind slightly so he, dug deep and surged forward.

[Nil'kayn]

The weights seemed to get heavier as time went on, the chaffed away skin, that would regrow to become tough. Kayn could tell that the others where feeling it as well, but they all had determined looks on there faces. He smiled as a thought came to him. He cleared his throat and started to hummed to himself until he remembered the words to a song his father had taught him, and in his voice raised above the huffing he started to sing, and the others soon joined in. Northern wind, hail and thunder, blackened sky All my mind like seagulls soaring high All these eastern ways lock our minds in darkened halls Ride to fight it now my chieftain calls There's a fire in his eye As he holds his hungry sword into the sky We ride for the battle, my brothers by my side We fight, we were still standing by the morning light They died, well at least those who didn't run to hide We ride for the borough where mead and wenches bide We ride, we ride Lesser men hope for freedom when they die Home is where the heathen banners fly And this eastern king laughs at us in darkened halls Ride to fight him now your chieftain calls There's a fire in his eye As he holds his hungry sword into the sky We ride for the battle, my brothers by my side We fight, we were still standing by the morning light They died, well at least those who didn't run to hide We ride for the borough where mead and wenches bide We ride, we ride We ride for the battle, my brothers by my side We fight, we were still standing by the morning light They died, well at least those who didn't run to hide We ride for the borough where mead and wenches bide We ride, we ride His lunges burned, but he continued to run, if anything the song seemed to have increased all of there speed. His eyes strayed forward and he saw before him that they where nearing the crossing. As soon as they came upon the water, they stopped to catch there breath. They each collapsed on the ground, some running to the water for a drink, others just laying there trying to slow there breathing. OOCsong=Ride by Tyr

[Nil'kayn]

The older Akalak's started to set up camp, as they where planning to stay the night here and run back in the morning. After camp was set up a few of them, had decided to do some wrestling. Kayn glanced over, strolling over near a pair of twisting bodies. Krong stood as referee. The match soon ended, Krong turned to Kayn a smile on his face, "Like to learn how to wrestle Kayn?" Kayn nodded a curious look on his face. "Ok, we start with the stance, stand like this." He stood his, feet apart, his back arched, and knees bent, and his hands forward. Kayn attempted to mimic Krong, he had to adjust himself a few times as Krong pointed problems out. "Alright now try to take me down." Kayn glanced over the much bigger Akalak, he surmised he could not beat him in strength or size, his only option was speed and agility. Crouching down he barreled forward, his hands shooting out to encircle his waist pushing with all his strength against the large body; Krong didn't budge. He smiled, "I think you've got the idea though you need someone thats more your size, Zohn would you like to have a try?" Soon, Zohn was ready and they where facing each other in a mirror image of each others stance. Kayn did the same thing a he had done to Krong; and just rushed forward into Zohn's stomach. Zohn just encircled Kayn's waist and pushed down his eight from above. Kayn saw a chance, so he lunged forward grabbing Zohn's calf, and pushing forward then up, he flipped Zohn right over him onto his back. Zohn got back up and charged towards Kayn. Kayn turned just in time to catch the incoming body straight in the chest, sending both of them to the ground, with Zohn on top. Kayn gasped, but without thinking wrapped his arms around the other boys head getting him into a head lock. He clenched his legs around, his opponents body using his body weight to roll over both of the switching there places. Zohn pushed himself up, sending both of them sprawling. The both got up slowly and started to circle each other slowly. Zohn rushed forward, Kayn leaned down his arms outward and has Zohn slammed into him he grabbed Zohn's thighs and pulled them towards him making Zohn fall flat on his back. Zohn got got slowly, a grim smile on his face. They practiced a few more times with both Zohn, and Kayn winning rounds.

[Nil'kayn]

"Now lets have a try at boxing." Kayn felt his clothes stick to him, from the sweat that dripped from his body. Zohn was bent over double, in worse shape than Kayn. They both glanced up at Krong, who stood hands on hims an "evil" grin on his face. "Come on, get up you slackers." The boys got up slowly takeing there time, just to spite Krong who stood there laughter in his eyes. "Alright, there are three main stances for boxing. The upright stance, as well as half crouch, an crouching stances." After showing both of them an example of each stance, the boys attempted it themselves, which Krong then adjusted until he was pleased. He then explained each stance to them. "Upright stance is offensive, crouch is defensive, and half crouch is halfway between the two. Your arm positioning is based on which arm you use the most, I'm guessing you are both right handed?" The boys nodded. "Alright then your left arm is the one in front, and your right arm is behind." Once they had mastered each stance, he started them on the offensive move. "Now the main four punch for boxing are the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut. Now I'm going to show you each punch, but remember after each move always bring your arms back into guard position." He motioned for Kayn to step forward. "Ok get into your stance, and put your arms in guard position." Kayn did as he was told and got into the upright position, as well as putting his arms in guard position. "Alright, now the jab is a punch with your left arm, and it is typically what you think of when you think of a punch, now the jab is straight forward propelled by your shoulder, and your palm faces down..." As he explained each punch, he demonstrated on Kayn but without using much force, and doing it very slowly so the boys could see what he was explaining. "Alright so those are the offensive moves, now to move on to defensive. Kayn I want you to try and attempt to do any of the punches I just show you, and I will defend from it."[/b] Kayn nodded. First he attempted a clumsy jab towards Krongs head, which Krong simply moved his head to the side and ducked, bringing his fist to tap Kayn's ribs. [b]"That is called a slip, simply you move your hips and shoulders and tilt your head so the punch "slips" past your head. The one thing to remember with slips is to never move your head back into place after you have moved it, you just need to move the rest of your body to wear your head is..." It continued with Kayn attempting to attack and Krong showing an example of a bob, block, cover-up, and clinch, and after explaining. Finally when he was done he straightened up and glanced over towards the rest of the group who where setting up camp as the sun started to settle. "One thing to remember with boxing is all about foot work, positioning, and force. Now, I think we should go help set up camp, but you guys can practice this some other time." The boys nodded and walked off to help with setting up camp.

[Nil'kayn]

A few hours later, Krong and Kayn crouched in the middle of the ground, Krong was explaining about wilderness survival. "First thing to remember when trying to survive is to use your senses to get a feel for the environment, and try to get a feel for what is going on around you. Now Kayn, do this and tell me what you sense." Kayn nodded glancing around as he talked "Well, right now we are in Cyphrus and we are in a very dry climate, with lots of long grass and shrubs. We have a river to our right and we are setting camp in a dirt patch next to the river, to our backs are lots of grass." As Krong talked, they dug in the dirt trying to create a firepit. Kayn helped, and listened. "Second, you tend to any wounds or health issues." They soon finished, and placed some rocks around the fire pit, that Kayn had fetched from the river. "Third, make a list of all your equipment, and be sure its usable Obviously, there are to many of us to do that, but remember that. Anyways, once you know these two things make a plan to get food, water, and shelter. Take your time to do anything, and do not risk injury, or loss of your precious resources or equipment." Finally, they finished and started to build the bonfire with large pieces leaving room for oxygen and filling it with grass. "Now you you have a plan, you need to find out where you are if you have a map, you need to find out where you are. I'm guessing your father has shown you the basic geography of Cyphrus? He probably showed you a map." Kayn nodded as he worked, he liked to listen and learn from Krong, who he looked up to as a older brother. "Good. Now, its best to know potential food and water sources, as well as ares for shelter, concealment, and cover. Now always improvise, and try to find out all uses of your equipment, and try to make things out of whatever you can find. Its also good to know as much as you can about the area you are trying to survive in, about the native peoples, plants ,and wildlife. Learn things from the native peoples if not the native animals, but you must be careful because what might be deadly to us could be harmless to them." They finished building the wood pile, and fire pit. Krong got out his flint and steel and started to strike them against each other. "Anyways just remember to keep your wits about you, the wilderness will test you." He had a spark, and soon the bonfire was roaring with flame. "Alright, enough of this les go get dinner ready."

[Nil'kayn]

Kayn sat in the dirt his belly was full, and he was content to watch the other 25 Akalak's finish there meals as they started to talk. He pulled his cloak around him to ward of the night air. He lay there his eyes tracing the heavens, his eyes ensnared with the beauty of the stars. He lay there as the hours wained, his brothers slowly each went of to there own rest, while the fire burnt down to embers. Kayn eyelids started to feel heavy, the task of keeping the open becoming an enormous one, he finally gave in to sleep, and closed his eyes to the night. Battle. The smell of blood was in the air as Kayn started awake. He heard battle cry's, and the sound of steel being drawn and the wet sound of blades finding there mark. He opened his eyes, as his mind tried to comprehend what he was seeing. The whole of the camp had been torn apart, and thrown all over the place. Strewn around the camp where corpses of beasts that he had never seen before, but as soon as he saw them, a lump formed in his throat. Glassbeaks. His head turned around as he saw his brother Akalaks, engaged in battle with the beasts. Reaching down he picked up his bow throwing the quiver over his shoulder and strapping it around his body. He glanced around and saw Krong engaged in combat with one of the beasts. He knew at once what he must do. Thu-thump. Time seemed to slow down, and he felt his heart hammering in his chest. Thu-thump. Gripping his bow, he pulled a arrow from his quiver slowly drawing it across the string. Thu-thump. Pulling the arrow back until the string touched his cheek, he focused his site along the shaft, and holding his breath he let go. Thu-thump. The arrow whistled away. but before Kayn even saw the arrow hit its mark, Kayn had sent another arrow on its way. Thu-thump. Finally he lowered his bow just in time to see the large glassbeak fall over from two arrows to its chest as well as numerous wounds from Krong. Letting himself a slow smile, he started to sprint forward, but he din't look down and he slipped on something wet and sticky falling onto a body of a glassbeak. Wait this is not a glassbeak. Kayn looked down into the dead eyes of one of his fellow Akalaks the man had numerous wounds on his chest and his eyes stared back at Kayn unblinking. Kayn looked down and saw that he had slipped in the akalaks blood, he started to get up, but his eye caught something that was held in the corpses vice like grip. A Lakan. He knew that this was quite despicable a thing to do, but summarizing that he would probably need it more than him he pried the weapon from the corpses finger, stuffing it into his pocket. He got up slowly, and ran more carefully over to Krong.

[Nil'kayn]

Most of the Glassbeaks started to flee as Kayn sprinted towards Krong. He ran up to Krong, "What happened where did they come from?" Krong had a grim expression on his face, "Thanks for that. As to what happened or where they came from; I summarized that we entered there territory so they attacked us thinking we where a threat." He glanced around a bloody spear in his hand, he hoised it and started to jog over to where everyone else seemed to be gathering. Kayn followed. The group seemed to be arguing about whether to hunt down the rest of them, or head back now. "...we have lost 4 men tonight. We need to head back." "Exactly, we have lost 4 men we need to avenge them, and get rkid of this threat so they cant hurt anymore of us." Krong walked up, the other looked to him as the leader so what he said would be the course of action. "We did not prepare for this, but it is probably best if we hunt down the rest of those beasts. But I'm only going to take those that wish to go." The akalaks looked at eachother, each not wanting to be the one to act cowardly, so they all nodded in consent. Krong ordered some to make some mud, others to cut some grass. Once they had both he explained. "Rub the mud all over your body, and cover yourself with the grass so you can blend in with the plains." The akalaks nodded and did as they where told. Once they where all camouflaged, he told them to brink only light weapons, and to carry all the food with them. Once they where all ready the struck out led by Krong. They soon came to an open are with no grass, and a small outcrop to there right. He ordered them to open the food and ump it in the middle of the area, and told them to find cover, and conceal themselves. It was obvious to all of them that they where laying a trap. Kayn nodded as Krong pointed out a spot in the tall grass, he lay down on the ground his bow in his hand and in the other; 3 arrows. He waited as the others found there place and waited. Finally falling asleep waiting for the glassbeaks to show themselves.

[Nil'kayn]

Crunch. Kayn started awake, his whole body as tense a spring, slowly attempted to calm himself by slowing his breathing and taking long deep breathes. His body slowly relaxed while his mind tried to remember where the noise had come from. Crunch. Kayn didn't tense this time, but he heard where it had come from...behind him to his right. Crunch. Kayn's eyes pierced through the darkness making out the forms of other Glassbeaks, making there way through the grass towards the pile of food. Crunch. Kayn tensed, a large foot landed just to the right of his head a foot more to the left and it would have squished Kayn. Crunch. He could now see the form of the glassbeak just in front of his to his right. He started to get up slowly, rising to a crouch he placed an arroow to string, and drew back aiming, and waiting. Crunch. Sweat made his clothes stick to his body, the mud, grass, and sweat mixed together to create a disgusting small, it took all of Kayn's willpower to stop himself from retching. Crunch. The sweat, and mud clung to his body, and the night air nipped at him, making him extremal cold. Crunch. Finally they where all out in the open, they started to pick at the food pile. Drawing arrow to string he heard a small whistle and loosed his arrow, followed by a second aimed at the cluster of birds. He could hear the wistle of other arrows, and then a wet thunks, as they hit there prey. The birds squawked and scattered, a few dead from arrows. Kayn loosed a few more arrows, but finally gave up as only one actually hit a mark. Throwing down his bow, he grasped the Lakan from his pocket, wiping the blood off, he rose to a crouch and stalked through the grass looking for his prey. He caught site of a head of one of the bests heading for him. He waited in a crouch ready to spring at any moment. The glassbeak rushed by, and Kayn sprung forward jumping onto its back. That caused the bird to stop, and let out a squawk. The bird turned its head and attempted to bite Kayn, but Kayn was to fast as he grabbed a hold of the beasts neck, plunging the Lakan into the beasts neck. Over and over, until the beast shuddered and collapsed. Kayn jumped away as the creature collapsed rolling when he landed, he sprung up in a ready position.

[Nil'kayn]

Kayn glanced around, and caught sight of the remaining glassbeaks fleeing. He went back to retrieve his bow, he then walked over towards where the survivors had gathered. “There are 20 of us left and 7 of them. We will need to split up into groups of three, and follow them.” The survivors, nodded each heading off in the groups, until all the remained was Kayn and Krong. “Well it looks like it’s just you and me, lets head out.” They followed of the last remaining glassbeak, and Krong spoke in a soft tone as the made there way through the grass, trying to stay low to the ground, as well as making as little noise as possible. “Alright Kayn, when tracking one must remember to keep ones senses aware, particularly ones sense of smell, sight, and touch. One must try to find all things that look out of place in the landscape, a ripped piece of cloth, a patch of blood, foot prints, and any crushed or disturbed flora. Right now it is quite easy to track this glassbeak, its leaving much for us to find, point out everything you can see.” Kayn nodded, and glanced around paying particular attention to the ground listing everything as he saw it. “I see lot of bent grass, large three toed foot prints which I assume are glassbeaks. I also have seen a feather or two, and quite a bit of blood on the ground.” Krong smiled, and nodded “Very good, we’ll make a tracker of you yet.”