56th Day of Fall, 509 A.V.
Hatot began his morning with us usual practice. By now, Hex was growing used to the hours that Hatot was keeping himself, waking just around the same time. Instead of just watching, she stood just a few feet off to Hatot’s side, this time practicing the movements he made, mimicking them as best she could. He hands and nails especially now, had been strengthened enough that by the repeated training of thrusting her hands into dense, cold soil repeatedly for days on end. Her movements becoming swift enough that the blades of grass that her hands swiped at now bent under the strike, rather than bouncing back as they normally did when striking their tips.
“Your movements are improving rapidly.” Hatot commented, as a blurred motion of his own hand went through the blade of grass he struck at, sending the tip flying into the air for a moment before landing in the thick of it. “Eventually the blades will be reaped from your motion alone, and not just bend to your will. It is during these times that you must begin learning control. For not all opponents need be killed, after all. Sometimes, you need only strike to disable, but if you haven’t the control to hold back your strike, those that you merely intend to incapacitate could become crippled. The art that Akalaks like myself follow, is one of discipline. It’s whole practice is about control. To strike swiftly, accurately and with just enough force for the desired result.”
“However, for those such as slavers and brigands, who think of nothing but to steal, rape and murder?” Hatot said as he took in a slow, deep breath, drawing back both of his hands. His hands then thrust forward in repeated blurred strikes. Movements which Hex was now beginning to see more clearly, as his fingertips severed each blade of grass it aimed for, even as it swayed in the wind. “Let your hands strike without holding back. For I believe you know as well as I, that if they come towards you, they will not extend to you any form of honor.”
As Hex was about to speak, a rustling of the grass soon caught Hatot’s attention, as his head snapped towards the direction of the sound. He soon raised his hand towards Hex, motioning her to fall silent for a moment as he continued to observe the grass line. Then, as suddenly as the shifting had started, it had stopped. Hatot kept his gaze on the area, taking a step forward. Hatot’s eyes widened then as the grasses suddenly parted and a screeching cry announced the charge of a adolescent Glassbeak. Hatot’s eyes shifted back towards Hex for a moment before focusing once again on the Glassbeak. He quickly charged forward towards it, creating distance between him and Hex as he moved to intercept the predatory bird. It’s beak shimmered in the sun’s light and as soon as it got into range, it lunged at Hatot, it’s hind legs rising as claws extend. Hatot suddenly ducked down, veering off to the side as his hand went thrusting outward, catching the Glassbeak by it’s leg, lightly. “Tch, not a full hit.” Hatot muttered under his breath as he quickly turned around.
The Glassbeak veered his head around, lowering it as it began a slow hiss at Hatot. “Hex, find a hiding spot.” Hatot called out, kicking dirt up at the Glassbeak to keep it’s attention when it began to look towards Hex. “Remember what I said to you about my darker half. If he should surface, keep hidden until his rage passes.”
Hex got the impression that Hatot’s fear for her at that moment, didn’t stem so much from what the Glassbeak might potentially do, but what his other half, Radris would. Hatot slowly lowered himself, his fingers opening and closing into fists as his brow knotted into a frown. The last time he faced one of these beasts, was the first time that Radris had shown himself. As they slowly began to circle each other, a fear of something similar occurring ebbed at his conscious.
Hatot began his morning with us usual practice. By now, Hex was growing used to the hours that Hatot was keeping himself, waking just around the same time. Instead of just watching, she stood just a few feet off to Hatot’s side, this time practicing the movements he made, mimicking them as best she could. He hands and nails especially now, had been strengthened enough that by the repeated training of thrusting her hands into dense, cold soil repeatedly for days on end. Her movements becoming swift enough that the blades of grass that her hands swiped at now bent under the strike, rather than bouncing back as they normally did when striking their tips.
“Your movements are improving rapidly.” Hatot commented, as a blurred motion of his own hand went through the blade of grass he struck at, sending the tip flying into the air for a moment before landing in the thick of it. “Eventually the blades will be reaped from your motion alone, and not just bend to your will. It is during these times that you must begin learning control. For not all opponents need be killed, after all. Sometimes, you need only strike to disable, but if you haven’t the control to hold back your strike, those that you merely intend to incapacitate could become crippled. The art that Akalaks like myself follow, is one of discipline. It’s whole practice is about control. To strike swiftly, accurately and with just enough force for the desired result.”
“However, for those such as slavers and brigands, who think of nothing but to steal, rape and murder?” Hatot said as he took in a slow, deep breath, drawing back both of his hands. His hands then thrust forward in repeated blurred strikes. Movements which Hex was now beginning to see more clearly, as his fingertips severed each blade of grass it aimed for, even as it swayed in the wind. “Let your hands strike without holding back. For I believe you know as well as I, that if they come towards you, they will not extend to you any form of honor.”
As Hex was about to speak, a rustling of the grass soon caught Hatot’s attention, as his head snapped towards the direction of the sound. He soon raised his hand towards Hex, motioning her to fall silent for a moment as he continued to observe the grass line. Then, as suddenly as the shifting had started, it had stopped. Hatot kept his gaze on the area, taking a step forward. Hatot’s eyes widened then as the grasses suddenly parted and a screeching cry announced the charge of a adolescent Glassbeak. Hatot’s eyes shifted back towards Hex for a moment before focusing once again on the Glassbeak. He quickly charged forward towards it, creating distance between him and Hex as he moved to intercept the predatory bird. It’s beak shimmered in the sun’s light and as soon as it got into range, it lunged at Hatot, it’s hind legs rising as claws extend. Hatot suddenly ducked down, veering off to the side as his hand went thrusting outward, catching the Glassbeak by it’s leg, lightly. “Tch, not a full hit.” Hatot muttered under his breath as he quickly turned around.
The Glassbeak veered his head around, lowering it as it began a slow hiss at Hatot. “Hex, find a hiding spot.” Hatot called out, kicking dirt up at the Glassbeak to keep it’s attention when it began to look towards Hex. “Remember what I said to you about my darker half. If he should surface, keep hidden until his rage passes.”
Hex got the impression that Hatot’s fear for her at that moment, didn’t stem so much from what the Glassbeak might potentially do, but what his other half, Radris would. Hatot slowly lowered himself, his fingers opening and closing into fists as his brow knotted into a frown. The last time he faced one of these beasts, was the first time that Radris had shown himself. As they slowly began to circle each other, a fear of something similar occurring ebbed at his conscious.