[Sanctuary] Body and Souls(Raiha)

[Hatot]

20th of Summer, 510 A.V.

A subtle wind blew along the land, cooled by the waters of the sea. The sun had just been rising when he had awoken, subtly sliding out of the bed filled with both Kelvics and Konti. He was surprised that Kavala hadn’t woken up yet herself, but at the same time, the work they had been putting into the forge of late was likely exhausting her. His bare feet ran silently along the floor as he moved over towards the corner of the room, picking up his pants and slipping them on. Radris, again, decided that it would be a pleasant surprise if all the other bedfellows woke up to find a naked blue ass to greet them. He soon reached out, grabbing his lakan, slipping it into it’s sheath behind his back before stepping out of the room entirely.

Light steps then took him down the stairs and through Sanctuary’s ground level as he grabbed a waterskin hanging by the door. A quick drink was taken before he laid it along the table in the veranda and stepped out into the open grounds behind Sanctuary proper, stretching his limbs out slightly. A deep breath was taken as he tipped his head back slightly, taking in the cool morning air, balling his toes up along the ground as he got a feel for the earth underneath. His morning ritual was something he had developed starting at an early age. It had been something he had done ever since his father took him to his first class at the Tuvya Sasaran. He was only five years of age on that day, and was just beginning to comprehend how hard life would be.

His training had prepared him for many of life’s dangerous hurdles, but not all. In a way, he was still learning, and in learning, he found that he did not share his life alone. It was at age seven when he first heard what he could only consider voices in his head. What they said and the tone they said them in scared him, made him believe there was something wrong with him. He kept quiet about them, and tried so hard to ignore them all together, fearing that if others learned about them, it would shatter his life from what they thought and said. It was the Grandmaster of the Tuvya Sasaran that he had first opened up to about it, rather than his father, and it was him who first explained to Hatot that those voices were natural among his race, that they weren’t, in fact, voices all on their own, but a brother soul which resided in Hatot’s body along with his own. That was all he would speak of it, however, much like his father had in several inquiries after. It was during his Rite of Trial, tasting his first real encounter with pain, that his dark brother, Radris, had finally came to the surface. Things did not go well after, and it seemed the more he asked those he knew for a solution, the more they remained silent about it.

It wasn’t until many years later, that the solution would be presented in a very simple suggestion from a Konti woman. “Let him out.” Kavala had suggested. At first, he feared such an act, feared what Radris might do, but there was something that was just so simplistic about the suggestion, where every other attempt had failed, the he eventually did. It was true enough that Radris was angry and confrontational when he was first released voluntarily, grasping onto his control of their body so strongly, trying to stay in control for as long as he could. The more he was released, however, the less that attitude shifted to a more controlled negativity. He was still confrontation, and likely always would be, but overall, he became less rage and just more, for lack of a better term, of an ass.

Thanks to that subtle suggestion, Hatot had learned why no one would answer him. He discovered that it was something that each of his race would have to discover on their own. For every paired Akalak souls was unique in their own way. All anyone else can ever do to help them with balance, was offer suggestions. “Are you petching contemplating life again?” Radris suddenly echoed. “Knock it off, it’s annoying.”

“Good morning to you too, Radris.” Hatot echoed back. “Wake up on the wrong side of the body, did we?”

“Eat Shyke and die, you petching butterfly.” Radris then echoed. “Get to your training, I’m doing my wake up growls.”

Hatot then simply smirked, as he took on his martial stance. He knees bent slightly at the knees as his feet spread to shoulder length, his right foot leading the pair. Hands were slowly raised as fingers extended and locked. His left hand was kept close to his side, midway up his upper body. His right hand was then extended, almost reaching out fully with only a slight bend at the elbow. His eyes closed as he began to slow his breathing as he began relaxing his whole body, nudging himself only slightly towards a meditative state. With a final exhale then, his eyes once again opened as his body began to move fluidly, hand jabbing out in blurred motions towards an imagined opponent that stood before him.

[Raiha]

Raiha had never been one for sleeping late. Not in Mura, and certainly not here, not now that she had a job (and was vastly overpaid for it, as far as Raiha was concerned). Laziness had never suited her, and it wasn't something anyone would ever be able to call her, if Raiha had her way about it. That was why she was up and hunting. The pastures had to be kept clear of moles and groundhogs and any other digging, burrowing pests like skunks and rabbits. Raiha hated it when the skunks came out. So did Asim. Oh, did Asim ever hate it when the skunks came out to play. Bears had ridiculously sensitive noses, and skunks, well... skunks had a very natural bear repellent. And unfortunately, Raiha had found, the pests were back. On one hand, at least it wasn't skunks. But on the other, moles were coming back in - she caught two in the first half of a bell that she and Uzima were out scouring the pastures with, and had put them away into the pouch for eating later. When they found no further game in the fields, Raiha summoned Diallo with a long, low whistle, bringing the Deerstalker running, and headed off into the forest beyond the paddocks.

She trotted through the woods, goshawk on her arm, dog at her side, and just marveled at the cool air that came in the twilight. Uzima's pupils shrank as she pinpointed, and Raiha froze, hissing at Diallo. The dog stopped short, looking up at her as she undid Uzima's leash from the jesses and let the bird go. "Go hunt," she told her in a barely audible voice as the bird flapped her wings and took off in a hurry. Raiha counted to twenty, giving Uzima a head start, and then set off a trot after her. She was in range to see the bird dive, to hear her shriek of triumph as she cut through the trees an landed hard on a pheasant. Hunter and prey rolled as the pheasant flapped uselessly, trying to get away, trying to flee.

She shooed Uzima off of the struggling pheasant, forcing silent the panicked pain of the bird as she reached her hands for it, grasping its head and getting a good hold on the rest of it before giving a sharp and sudden twist, snapping its neck. There was nothing for it. You couldn't leave an animal to suffer. You treated your quarry with respect, and letting it die a slow, painful death - because Uzima wasn't partial to killing her prey quickly - was just cruel. But with the audible snapping sound, that was the end of its struggles, and she picked up Uzima, who ruffled her feathers expectantly, well pleased with her efforts. Now she could eat it, right?

...

Just what did she mean, no?

"Go on," Raiha told Uzima standing up to her full height again, and started walking, carrying the dead bird in her hand. Soon, they'd go a little further, and she would send her hunting again when they found something else. They went perhaps another half a mile, making their way slowly back towards Sanctuary from yet another direction, letting Uzima have a bit of a break. Finally, she lowered her arm and before moving it up in a slight motion, giving the bird a boost into the sky. "Go find," she told Uzima then as the goshawk let out an answering cry and took off. She had heard something, Raiha knew, and the bird would be hot on the prey's heels. All she had to do was follow. She started in the direction the bird had gone, pleased with how the morning had gone so far.

She paused in her walking, the dead pheasant dangling from her hand. It was too big to put in a pouch, and she didn't mind carrying it as she trailed after Uzima. Besides, she already had a mole in one, and she was saving the second for any plants she could find that would be useful. Cyphrus had a wealth of medicinal plants that she had studied at the Medicinal Library of Mura before leaving there, and she was working on which ones were edible and which ones were poisonous... at least around Riverfall. Going out into the Sea of Grass to hunt for plants was an entirely different issue. Raiha wasn't stupid. She wasn't ready for that... not anywhere near ready for it. But one she thought she recognized, and it was a green plant growing in the shade that she almost missed, had it not been for the white flowers. The pungent scent hit her nose and Raiha took a deep whiff appreciatively. "Bear's garlic..." She was delighted to see it. She loved that plant. It had so many useful properties, and to top it off, you could take the whole plant by digging it up, and more would regrow. It had simply too many bulblets and seeds to kill by digging it up once. "Go find Uzima," Raiha instructed Diallo as she crouched by the plant. It made for great eating, was wonderful for cleaning out the stomach, worked as an antiseptic, and kept away the mosquitoes. Besides, you could eat every part of it in salads or potatoes or use it as seasoning - the sky really was the limit with this perennial, and she stood up again, bringing the Djed into concentration, bringing the swirling auras, each of them begging for her attention, into focus. She could see a triumphant Uzima perched on the ground in the distance, the bird's aura long since having become familiar to her, perched on top of something else. Diallo was approaching there. Good.

She studied the aura of the plant, fascinated as her fingers touched the leaves, watching the way the colours of the broad-leafed, bright green plant's aura changed as Raiha's own fingertips caressed the smooth herbage. Beautiful. She shut blinked, bringing back the real world as she felt down along the leaves to the roots, and stripped off her gloves, digging her fingers into the cool, moist earth, and began to feel and work her way around the roots, shoveling dirt free like a dog, as she sat on her knees, feeling around carefully. She loved this part. It always took a while, too, but oh, she enjoyed it. In a way, it was as much a matter of thinking it through and tactile skill. At last, though, her leather trousers dirty as all get out, Raiha triumphantly held what had amounted to almost a bush of bear's garlic. It was huge, and she couldn't fit it in the pouch she had on her waist for it. She pursed her lips, and without another thought, began to work the roots into the pouch. They barely fit, and parts were still peeking out, but, Raiha figured, that would do until she got it home to Sanctuary. There. Now she had to go find her hawk and dog.

She set off in the direction she had heard Uzima in, one arm against the bush of bear's garlic in her plant, the dead pheasant dangling by its feet her hand. When she found them, the goshawk was happily ripping away at the feathers of her prey, and Raiha picked up her pace. She crouched beside them, and lowered her hand to Uzima, exerting just the slightest amount of pressure against the back of the bird's feet from behind, setting the first pheasant down as she crouched beside the goshawk. "Good girl. Up," she told the goshawk simply, pressing a little more when Uzima didn't want to give up her prey too readily. She was hungry! And that was the fourth time today that Raiha had taken her kill, and she wasn't very happy about it. "We're done for today," she told the goshawk as she attached the leather leash to her raptor's jesses, leaving the other end looped to her belt. Uzima shook her head and ruffled her feathers, sending a smattering of blood over the Akontak's simple shirt to join the dirt there before reaching out and wiping her beak on her handler's stomach. Uzima had had enough - she was annoyed, hungry, and getting tired. Raiha sighed and looked down at the bird. "I get your point. We're going home, not to worry. Here," she unwrapped the wad of waxed cloth from the raw meat she had rescued before it had been cooked for last night's dinner. Uzima looked offended, but took it anyway with a quiet cry as if to say, 'you could have given me this ages ago'. Diallo came back to them, wanting a piece of his own, snuffling at the dead pheasants and looking like he was going to mouth one and take off with it. "Never mind those," Raiha told the dog warningly, tossing him a scrip of meat instead. His jaws clamped shut with an audible thump around it, and the Akontak was certain he'd swallowed it whole and wanted another piece once it rattled down his gullet. "Never you mind. Let's go home. More food there," she got up from her crouch, gathering the two pheasants by their feet, and turned to go home.

That was a good haul, Kanikra spoke up finally, approvingly. She usually left Raiha to it when she was hunting, and just went along for the ride.

It was, wasn't it? Raiha was pleased with Uzima's efforts. She made her way back to Sanctuary, Diallo galloping ahead, only to come back, head high, tail up, a giant stick clenched in his jaws. She shook her head at him. He was like a puppy. She didn't mind. He'd earned it, after all. As long as he didn't leave that stick in the pastures for some poor foal to trip over, he could do what he wanted with it. Raiha actually had a growing accumulation of sticks in the mews, most of them being Diallo's... some of them making useful perches for the fights. Besides, he liked to chew on them, and there was something oddly satisfying about watching the big lug splinter wood into nothing. They reached the far pasture, and scaled the fence, which took a bit of doing with a goshawk on one arm and dead pheasants in the other hand, but with her long legs and some patience, Raiha managed it, landing neatly on the ground on the other side. None of the horses that were stalled over night were out yet, which told her she was still in good time. She could deposit the birds in the veranda and give Uzima her rewards in the form of a fat, sleek-furred mole, deposit her herbs and hang them up, head down to the stables to get busy there, and then go fill in the holes in the paddock...

All of this was running through her head when movement caught her eye in the courtyard. That could only be one person, really, and that was Hatot. She hadn't spoken with him much... but Raiha hadn't really spoken to many people in the season she had been there. Oh, she talked to Kavala, and she was fine with Akela, but the Akontak was happy being in the background, out of the spotlight. She'd been meaning to speak to the Akalak, though - he was good with his fists and fighting, and Raiha knew without a doubt she could use some more lessons and practice and training. So she stopped there, at the fence, and watched as his hand jabbed out. She was content to be quiet, unnoticed, and see how he did and what he did. Watch and learn. Kanikra remarked. This is how they fight. This isn't just about hitting with your fists. This is hitting with your fingers. It takes far more finesse.

I bet. Raiha watched. And when those fingers get broken, then what? Gods help you and hope you're just as well with the rest of your body? She couldn't help but be impressed, though, as she observed in silence, the pheasants dangling by their feet from her gloved hand. Uzima rested on her other arm, her talons digging into the thick leather of the gauntlet, the leash attached to her jesses. "You're up early," the Akontak remarked, speaking up enough to cross the distance between them, only once he stopped, smiling at Hatot She didn't give any indication of how long she had been standing there watching him, the enormous white and grey Deerstalker standing at her side, and she certainly looked like she had been out and about that morning, with the blood and dirt on her grey shirt and arms, the smell of garlic permeating the air. She looked like a wild thing with the enormous plant that was literally spilling out of a completely stuffed leather pouch on her belt and the mud on her pants with the very dead birds in her hand with their heads rolling and wings askew. "That was great."

[Hatot]

Hatot’s movements continued as Raiha approached, coming to her lean along the fence as she observed him in his practice. He had heard her approaching, always vigilant of his surroundings, but at the same time it didn’t distract from his training as his body suddenly arched backwards, almost bending at an ninety degree angle in a defensive evasion. “We’ve got company.” Radris suddenly echoed in his head, giving a slight yawn.

“I’ve noticed.” Hatot echoed back in reply, as his body swung around for it’s bent position and a hand hooked at what Raiha could only conceive to be the spleen if another figure had been standing in front of Hatot.

“It’s the quiet one. The one that normally just talks to Kav, but gives most everyone else nothing more than a passing “hello” when she sees us.” Radris then echoed as Hatot’s legs spread out slightly, his foot swinging around along the dirt as his hand was thrust upward.

“Her name is Raiha,” Hatot then corrected, “and don’t tease her.”

“Bah, you’re no fun.” Radris then said. “She’s got Akalak blood in her, she could take it.”

“If she instigates, then you have my permission to poke back.” Hatot replied as he came to a stand, turning his body slightly while bending back while immediately throwing a hand strait towards where an arm would be on a foe. “Until then, don’t tease.”

“Fine, fine,” Radris said, “but I’m going to the tavern and picking a fight later on if you’re going to rob me of this.”

“You would either way anyhow.” Hatot replied.

Just as Raiha had commented on the breaking of fingers in her own inner discussion, Hatot’s body ducked down into a crouch, his hand sweeping at what Raiha could imagine to be a leg of an opponent. His body then took a small leap, spinning one full rotation to put more inertia into the strike that inevitably saw his hand being buried into the earth up to his knuckles. The action itself seemed to take very little effort on Hatot’s part, his hands, wrists, fingers and forearms strengthened enough that he could likely have pushed his fingers through wooden surfaces now. Hatot’s gaze then rose to meet Raiha’s as she commented on the early hour. His hand was pulled free from the earth then, as dirt that clung to his skin and between his fingers fell idly back to the ground as he stood. “Morning is generally the best time for practice.” Hatot then said, dusting his hands off against one another. “It distracts others less from their work here in Sanctuary, plus most of the animals are still tucked away in their own resting places. Less chance of them getting spooked and running scared.”

“I see your up early as usual as well.” Hatot said as he began approaching Raiha, subtly motioning to the slight blood spatters and dried earth along her shirt. “Procuring breakfast?”

Hatot then looked back to the area he practiced as Raiha complimented his display. With a hint of humility in his voice, he slowly shook his head. “That was merely practiced movements. Ones to help my body remember, so they become instinctive in a real confrontation.” Hatot explained. “If you wish to witness great, you should see a master at work. They generally fell an opponent in one move that generally can’t be followed by the untrained eye.”

Hatot then fell silent for a moment, studying Raiha’s face and body language as he stood the opposite side of the fence from her. An intrigued expression appeared on his own face as his hands cupped together behind his back. “Would you, perhaps, be interested in learning?” Hatot then suddenly offered, seeing what he read as curiosity in her eyes.

[Raiha]

Does that, Kanikra remarked as Hatot spun, lashing out with his foot, look like he only relies on his fingers? There was a touch of smugness in her tone.

Fair enough, Raiha admitted. Akalak are not one-trick ponies, not that I ever said they were---

Of course they're not. They don't have a reputation for being the best fighters in Mizahar by not being prepared for eventualities.

You sound like you study Myri when I'm sleeping, Raiha teased.

She can kick her share of ass. It might be something to look into as well, Kanikra dismissed the notion.

Raiha grinned at the question of procuring breakfast, and held up the pair of pheasants. "Something to snack on... maybe lunch or dinner," she admitted. She had no idea if they'd be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It was summer, it would be a warm day, and Raiha generally didn't care too much for a warm breakfast. She certainly didn't care if the others wanted it, but she could be happy with a slab of bread smothered in honey and a handful of fruit. Sure, she'd tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night (and often did, anyway), knowing she was well matched with Asim, whose stomach and appetite were legendary, and Laeraix was always game, too. Besides, the hearty fare and hard work were beginning to add much-needed pounds to Raiha's frame, letting her fill out properly. "Pheasant sandwiches. Got some moles for Uzima and the barn owl... they were making a move in on the pasture again," Raiha shook her head, her hair from her braid wispy and askew. "And this, well... this is just bear garlic," she patted pressed the plant a little more with her elbow. "Salads, soups, seasonings... antiseptic, good for the stomach, keeps the bugs away..." she smiled a little at that, aware that she was, well, rambling.

She nodded solemnly at his words about a master's capabilities. Raiha didn't doubt it. Despite her guarded, slightly tense stance that was familiar to young Akalaks everywhere, there was curiosity there, and interest - Raiha knew that these were things she needed to learn... needed to improve at, and become capable of defending herself. She wasn't so stupid to think that Asim would always be around to protect her... or that she should rely on anyone to defend her. Her eyes lit up a little bit at the offer, and she smiled. "I'd like that very much... if you would be willing to teach me. If you'll give me two chimes... I'll get these put away," she held up all three birds - the goshawk on her wrist, who had been watching Hatot intently, reddish eyes unblinking, and the two dead pheasants hanging from her hand. She deftly climbed over the fence without using her hands, and whistled at Diallo. The big dog, still clenching his... well, that was definitely a log... backed up and came sailing over the fence with the ease of a hound who had been doing that for a long time as he trotted after his mistress.

Raiha got Uzima in the mews, removing the leash from her jesses, and letting the bird settle on a perch. The bear's garlic was set in a large, low-rimmed bucket - she'd cultivate it later. Her falconry gear was set aside, and she didn't bother changing, though she took off her belt. Her pants were held up by laces anyway - the belt was just useful for holding things. Her clothing would get dirtier, anyway. By the time Diallo had climbed the stairs to the mews, Raiha was taking them four at a time back down, and hit the ground running, her hair streaming out behind her like a horse's tail as she ran the pheasants to the veranda, well and determined to meet her self-imposed two-minute deadline. Diallo just gave up on following her, and waited by Hatot, crunching his stick while he looked up at the Akalak. Raiha stopped a few feet short, tucking her hair behind her ears as she looked up at him. The difference in height didn't bother her unduly - she had gotten used to the tall Akalak denizens of Riverfall, and she wasn't craning her neck or anything, so the position wasn't hardly uncomfortable.

Well. This will be fun.

I just hope I'm still going to be able to do my work after it... Raiha eyed Diallo, who had insisted on coming up to stand beside her. "Go lay down," she told the Deerstalker, scruffing his fur and giving him a slight tug in the direction of the fence. He went, though he sat down at first, and their eyes met. The dog laid down. Raiha smiled at him. "Stay," she warned him as he crunched his stick. She just hoped he would. The last thing she needed was the dog and Kanikra working in tandem against her new teacher. She turned her attention back to Hatot, then, and looked up at him. There wasn't anything Kanikra could do to him... physically... that had Raiha worried. It was more about what she'd do later that kept Raiha on the edge. Still, she tried to push it out of her mind, and waited to see how Hatot would want her to start.

[Hatot]

Hatot stood there, silently looking to Raiha as he didn’t say a word for the longest moment. He then slowly began stepping around her before his hand reached out, grasping her wrist lightly and raising it level with her shoulder. He then began to inspect her hand and fingers, observing for those tell tale signs of hard labor. Hatot then released her hand before moving over to the veranda, sill silent for the most part. He eventually came back with a large, iron bowl in one hand and a heavy looking hemp sack in the other. “Your hands and fingers are strong, but not quite strong enough.” Hatot then said as he laid out the bowl in front of Raiha. Opening the sack, Hatot then began pouring said from within it into the bowl. “The hand to hand form that I use employs use of the fingers primarily in it’s attacks. It aims for pressure points through out the body with precision, and to ensure that you don’t break your fingers when making these strikes, a daily exercise must be performed until the bones of your hand has become as hard as iron.”

Hatot then tossed the sack to the side, waiting for Raiha to look up at him again. With a blurred motion, his hand then quickly shot out towards her. His fingers, already extended, stopped just short of her throat, hovering there for a moment as she felt the heat that radiated off of his hand. “Hmm. It seems we will have to work on your reaction and evasive abilities as well.” Hatot then commented as he lowered his hand back down to his side. “That can come later however.”

Hatot then slowly crouched down towards the bowl, grasping the rim slightly as he looked back up to Raiha. “The first part of your training will involve this exercise, to be done daily.” Hatot said as he drew back his hand, straitening his fingers and locking them at the joints. His hand then plunged down into the sand itself, meeting little resistance with the force he put behind the strike. He then slowly withdrew his hand from the sand itself, standing back up. “One hundred times with each hand. Doing this on a daily basis will harden the bones in your hands and wrist, as well as strengthen the muscles in your forearms and shoulders especially.”

“I’d suggest using the table so the bowl is raised.” Hatot said, motioning to the table at the veranda. “That way you can grow accustomed to the way your body moves with the strikes. Don’t try aiming for the bottom of the bowl, either. The point of this training isn’t entirely about the force, but the repetitions.”

Hatot then slowly began moving towards Sanctuary’s entrance, his hands cupping behind his back. “While you’re beginning with that, I need to grab some literature from within that you will study during your spare time.” Hatot then explained. “Don’t forget to keep hydrated. It is summer, and the next bit of your training will be especially taxing.”

[Raiha]

An inspection of Raiha's hand showed that the Akontak bore calluses and a few scars, though there were more of the latter further up along her arm... one of the hazards, it seemed, of working with birds with sharp talons. Raiha would have dismissed anyone who called themselves a bird keeper or a falconer if they didn't have at least half a dozen scars. That's how you knew it was love at first bite. There was strength there - not as much as one might expect from an Akalak of her age, surely, but it was there nonetheless. "Vantath, isn't it?" she asked when there was a break in his speech after he explained a little bit about his style. "No, there's a second word to it... Ralo. Vantath Ralo," she corrected herself. Soryn had mentioned it to her when he had taught her some of the basics of unarmed combat when she was little. When he left her alone to go to the veranda, Raiha let her arm fall, making a fist and relaxing it, just watching to see where he went.

When he returned, she was practicing locking and unlocking her fingers of both hands, but the Akontak otherwise hadn't moved from the spot. She stopped working with her hands to study him as he poured sand into the bowl and explained its purpose, watching the way he moved with a calm confidence - it wasn't the overconfidence of someone trying to show off, but the aura of someone who was genuinely comfortable in his own skin. That was something Raiha wouldn't mind learning, as difficult as it was with Kanikra always lurking there. It wasn't always the fighting for control, for who would be dominant, but it had become more about preventing Kanikra from being able to take her abuse out on someone or something. It was more relaxed here - Kanikra wasn't entirely stupid, after all, unlike the Konti, most Akalak were well-versed in how to defend themselves - but that didn't mean she wasn't waiting for it and wouldn't attempt to seize the chance if one presented itself.

She blinked when his fingers were just off of her throat, her eyes slightly widened, but she didn't duck her chin or move to step back. There would have been retribution from Kanikra if she stepped back. The best defense is a spirited offense. You can't attack if you're backing up, can you? Kanikra reminded her. Though if it ever comes to that, you make them too scared to consider following you if you have to back up. Besides, if they think I'm letting you back up and away from a fight, I will never hear the end of it. Still, though, her eyes flicked from his fingers back to his face, and back and again, and she didn't know she wasn't breathing until Hatot pulled his hand away and she actually let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. You're a wimp.

Shove off, Raiha told Kanikra sharply as she nodded at Hatot's assessment. She definitely couldn't argue with that. "I'll do it," she had placed a hand on her hip as she watched him drive his hand into the sand. She could appreciate how much strength that actually took. Shoveling sand back home in Mura hadn't ever been something she enjoyed, much less driving her hands and feet into it, and the idea of doing this one hundred times a day (per hand!) wasn't particularly appealing, but then again, no pain, no gain. Hatot knew what he was doing and what he was teaching, and she had asked him to teach her. She wasn't about to quit now, and she sure as anything wasn't about to slack. Her eyes followed his gesture towards the veranda and she nodded again. Made sense. She didn't mind crouching, but the angles would be off, and that wouldn't do any good. "Like this, right?" she straightened her fingers and aimed to lock them, the way he had, to make sure she was doing it properly before crouching for the bowl. She lifted the sand-filled iron bowl, the muscles in her arms straining as she lifted the bowl up, hugging it to her chest to hang as she gripped it. "Will do," she told him, beginning to back up towards the veranda. Diallo looked up at that, and Raiha clicked her tongue and jerked her head. The dog rocketed to his feet and trotted over quickly, the stick in his jaws.

She carried the bowl over to the veranda while he went to get the literature, and sat it down on the table, wiping her forehead on the shoulder of her shirt and beginning to flex and rotate her arms as she regarded the bowl before adjusting her feet and flexing her knees, keeping her feet in line with her shoulders instead of spreading them out. She straightened her fingers and locked the joints of her hand into position, and drove it into the sand as she expelled a breath. Don't forget your breathing, Kanikra reminded. Breathe. Breathe. Keep breathing. Keep the circulation moving, or you'll tire us out more quickly. Breathe!

I'm breathing, Raiha made sure she was as she drove her hand into the sand again, keeping her fingers stiff and her arm steady, trying to keep with the same efficient movements Hatot had used. She drove her hand into it, keeping her elbow from locking. She didn't feel the bottom of the bowl, not that she expected to... though it didn't stop her from testing to see how far she could get her hand in. Definitely wasn't scraping the bottom of the bowl. This was going to take some doing. She withdrew her hand, making sure that she was breathing when Kanikra started to harass her about it again, and started again. She understood what he meant about not forcing it - exerting too much effort was just a waste when all she wanted to do was get her arm moving and used to the drill.

She considered how to go about it - did she do a certain number of jabs with one hand and then switch? Or alternate? Raiha elected to go with alternating, straightening out and locking the fingers of her left hand as well, tightening her wrist, and standing over the bowl. She brought her weight back down to center, imagining she was facing someone instead of the bowl, and as she withdrew her right hand, she jabbed with her left, flexing her right leg for a bit of push. She remembered Soryn telling her that. To attack with one hand, push off with the opposite leg. It got you more strength and kept your balance better, allowing for more of a recovery. Jab, withdraw. Jab, withdraw. Jab, withdraw. She shifted her weight to the balls of her feet, her breathing improving as she fell into the rhythm. By the time she had hit 30 of each, her shoulders were screaming and her hands were beginning to hurt. She exhaled, standing up straight, and unlocked her hands, beginning to rotate and flex them. That done, she gave her hands a good shake, starting at her fingers and extending it until it went to her arms, and had a long drink from the mug of water she had gotten. He had said to stay hydrated, and Raiha knew all too well that if you were feeling thirsty, it was too late.

Alright, enough time wasted, Kanikra decided. Let's go. Back to it. She had worked up a good sweat, though, and her dark blue skin was starting to glisten in the morning sun as she swallowed air and got back to it. She had a lot more to go.

[Hatot]

“That is the name of the form, but the name in itself is just that. A title which does little more than give credence to it’s practice.” Hatot replied, stepping towards the door. “Changing Water is what it would translate to the common tongue. It promotes fluidity. The ability to flow like water in both evading attacks and attacking in return. Changing, adapting, it has no set stance once combat has begun.”

He observed her and her silent reaction when his hand had been held out to her, and it made him curious as to whether or not he carried the same expression when he had inner conversation with Radris. A simple nod to her was given as he eventually paused at the door, observing as she laid the iron bowl over the table. He observed her movement as she drew that first hand back, extending her fingers and straitening them. With simple observation, she learned the general initial stance. He then gave a nod when she asked for confirmation of how she held her hand. “Indeed.” Hatot then simply replied as Raiha began with her initial strike, gaining a silent nod from Hatot before he stepped inside.

It would be a couple of chimes before Hatot found himself leaning along the frame of the door, observing Raiha as she trained. The way she moved, the way she breathed, how much effort she put into it. Initially, the number he threw out was merely a random one, a high one, but not one that seemed ridiculous. It was merely a test to see how much commitment she would give to the training. Already, he was satisfied with what he saw. Her form and practice showed hints of previous training, but training that had been left unfinished. “She’s got talent, even if it’s raw for the most part.” Radris commented, his voice echoing inside their head. “When do I get my turn?”

“Eventually.” Hatot replied to Radris, stepping forward, stopping behind Raiha. “Remember, don’t try to hit the bottom of the bowl. There’s more to this training than just building strength.”

Hatot then dropped a small booklet along the table before her. “It’s also about what you gain from repetition.” Hatot then explained, as he grasped her arm, drawing it back in slow motion. He then slowly pushed it forward in a mock strike “It’s about the basic strike itself, and doing it enough times that your body will instinctively remember how to.”

“You can‘t rush strength anyways.” Hatot then said, stepping off to the side. “Doing the exercise will bring the strength naturally, let it take it‘s natural course. Like water.”

Hatot then slowly pointed down to the booklet he had laid along the table, tapping it a couple of times with his fingers. “Within this book you will find information that point to the basic pressure points most living things will possess. The joints, some basic soft areas such as the throat, nose and eyes. Especially in humans. Other points, such as nerve clusters, will have to be research through other texts, particularly when it comes to the other races. It will be your reference to study during idle times or just before resting.”

Hatot then leaned along the wall, folding his arms. “In any event, when you‘ve reached sixty times with each arm, we‘ll take a break and move on to the next step of your training.” Hatot then said, looking over to an open patch of ground in front of Sanctuary as he tossed a length of rope onto the table suddenly. “After you‘ve had a few chimes of rest.”

[Raiha]

"I understand," Raiha nodded when he told her not to bother with the bottom of the bowl. Still, she'd tried it at first, just to see how far she could get, without straining or stressing herself with dark imaginings of failure in that regard. He'd told her not to bother, but she just wanted to see where she stood - because as months of this went by, then she would hit the bottom of the bowl, sooner or later, because that was the nature of the beast. If she practiced, she could do it. She would do it. But all in time. All in time. He had said to do it every morning, and Raiha damn well would. Get up even earlier, practice, and go about doing whatever she did. Her arms would ache, but muscles tended to do that when you worked them properly, and it was a good ache. Besides. Maybe it would help Kanikra out a little bit.

Why are you so concerned with what 'helps' me out? You know what he's going to do in a little while?

Oh, I know what he's going to do, Raiha had a decent idea. He's going to kick our ass. And weirdly enough, this didn't bother her. One of the first things she'd learned when riding a horse was how to fall. Somehow, she didn't expect fighting to be any different - you learned how to get hit and roll with the punches. Her eyes scanned the cover of the booklet, and she stopped the repetitions when he was speaking, letting out a slow breath before taking another, rotating her shoulders in small circles. She nodded as he pulled her arm back, and extended it, watching. He was right. The movement began to feel natural. It began to feel right. Like he had said earlier... it was about training the body to do by instinct. Like you always said.

See? Kanikra was smug. You don't know everything.

Neither do you. "Given enough time, water will cut through stone," Raiha commented quietly, more to herself than to interrupt Hatot. Water was versatile... and maybe the most powerful of the elements. Or so Raiha saw it. It adapted, it overwhelmed, it overcame, and in enough amounts of it, it washed away everything in its path. She was prepared to do the full repetitions he had first asked for, and now that he only wanted sixty... she turned her head to eye him at that, lips pursing slightly as the Akontak thought it over, slight suspicion flashing there for a moment, only to disappear as fast as it had come. Was this a test? Fine. So she would do forty more repetitions tonight in the mews, and work on it again in the morning. She had some balms that would work for her muscles to keep her from seizing up and not being able to work at it again in the morning. Anything to keep the muscles relaxed and calmed down.

At the description of the book, she nodded, and considered opening it to look at as she worked the sand in the bowl, only to decide against it. She didn't need the additional distraction, not yet. She rolled her shoulders and locked her fingers and wrists, bending her knees lower than necessary to give them a bit of a stretch before straightening back up to a more appropriate stance and height, and shifting her weight from side to side, rising a little to rest on the balls of her feet as he returned to her practicing, hitting the sand with her left hand, and then her right. Jab, withdraw. Jab, withdraw. What's the rope for? She could feel Kanikra puzzling over it as well, considering. She didn't share her thoughts, but she was emitting that feeling that Raiha sometimes got when her twin was working on figuring something out and didn't give a shyke if Raiha knew it or not.

I don't know, Kanikra said finally. Maybe he figures... no, he wouldn't... maybe. Though 'later' may be 'now', she said cryptically. Mind your breathing. You're holding your breath again. Breathe! You need air.

What do you mean 'later may be now'? Raiha wanted to know, breathing obediently as she thrust her hand into the sand, following it up with the right hand. You're always saying 'eventually is now', but now 'later' is 'now'?

Remember how he said he was going to work on our evasive abilities later, and remember what I keep telling you about never backing up from a blow, but stepping into it? Kanikra exaggerated her patient manner, waiting for her twin to add two and two to get four.

You don't mean he's going to--

--tie the pair of you together. Yes.

Petch.

That's right, Kanikra told her. Petch. Of course, I could be wrong. I don't know what he has planned next...

At sixty repetitions, though, Raiha straightened, rotated her screaming, protesting shoulders, and shook her hands out, clenching them to make fists and relaxing them. She bent and stretched out her elbows, taking a couple of smaller sips from the mug rather than a longer drink, turning to face Hatot. Might as well be up front about it. There was little point in speculating, because she could... they... could be thinking about it all wrong. Maybe it was for pulling, tug of war. Unlikely, but who knew what Hatot had in plan? His teaching methods might not be conventional, but neither was Raiha. "What is the rope for?"

[Hatot]

Haton observed, his arms folded over each other taking a lean against the wall, as Raiha continued to plunge her hands into the bowl. One after the other, the slender fingers of the Akontak forcefully spread the sand aside, gaining depth up to the knuckles. A subtle nod was then given as he saw she was no longer simply relying on force. He remembered starting off this training himself, when he was five years of age. He too tried to get to the bottom of the bowl as all of his own students had, just like Raiha. The Grandmaster, who had taught him, explained the purpose of this training in much the same way he had to Raiha, save for one difference. Each time the Grandmaster caught Hatot trying to dig his fingers to the bottom of the bowl, his forearms had always been struck by a thee foot long, slender wooden flute. “Ahh, good times.” Radris echoed, feeling nostalgic about Hatot’s recollection. “You weren’t even aware of me yet at that age really, I was just a whisper in your head.”

“It was, indeed, a simpler time.” Hatot replied to Radris, watching as grains of sand flew into the air each time Raiha withdrew her hand.

“Don’t start getting all petching poetic and sappy.” Radris grumbled slightly. “Gods, now I need to hit something. Is it my turn yet?”

Hatot slowly looked up as Raiha withdrew her hand, resting them along the table for a moment as she took a breather and drank some water. “Yes, it is.” Hatot echoed back as he closed his eyes, slowly relinquishing control ans Radris began sliding to the surface. “Do not cause damage beyond Kavala’s capability to heal.”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, I won’t break her. At least physically I won’t.” Radris echoed back as he let his arms drop lazily to his sides, pushing himself from his lean.

Raiha’s question then rang in his ears as a slow, almost mischievous smile spread across his lips. He opened his eyes, revealing that his iris’ had changed to a red in color, his and his whole physical demeanor changing, almost radiating a intimidating aura as he took a step towards Riaha, his hand sliding across the table and grabbing the length of rope. Picking it up, he dangled it in front of the Akontak, the mischievous look still shining in his face. “The rope?” Radris said to her in an almost teasing tone. “It’s for your wrists, little blue woman.”

Radris head turned then slightly, giving Raiha a sidelong glance. “What? You don’t think we were gonna be tied together do you?” Radris said, letting a slow chuckle escape his lips. “Stop projecting your little sexual fantasies girl, not even Hatot and Kavala have gotten that kinky yet.”

Radris then slowly began circling around the table, passing close enough by Raiha along the way that she could feel the heat that radiated from his body as he did so and the wake of air that followed his motions. “This is evasion training after all.” Radris said as he began stepping down from the veranda. “I won’t restrict your whole body movement by anchoring you to me, but you will learn to evade. Without backing up and without raising your arms all victim defensively.”

Radris then grabbed a slender wooden rod that was laying nearby, likely used for beating the grass for snakes, or some gardening task. In the end, it made little difference as the wooden surface slowly tapped his shoulder. “You can’t use your hands to attack if your blocking with them, and you put yourself out of range for attack if you back away.” Radris said as he came to an empty patch of land in front of the Veranda. “Every time you back away, you’re going to earn an automatic welt from the stick. Every time you try to raise your arms to block, instead of evading as you should, well it’s likely going to sting even more.”

Radris then finally turned, gazing toward Raiha, a smirk still on his face as he kept tapping the wooden rod along his shoulder with one hand and held the rope idly at his side with the other. “So, you gonna come to me, or are you going to make me come and get you?” Radris then echoed out in challenge to her.

[Raiha]

"What sexual fantasies?" Raiha stared at him, deadpan. "If you were the last male on Mizahar and I was the last female, you'd be sticking it in a knothole for satisfaction, because you sure as shyke would not be anywhere near me. You're like as not twice as old as I am and I promise you experience isn't everything. Lecher." There was no colour in her blue cheeks to indicate embarrassment of the topic, nor annoyance. A season spent with Asim's complete lack of self-consciousness with regards to his attire had done wonders. But in terms of the Akalak and Konti lifespan, Raiha was still a baby at the age of 23 years... not that there was any reason for Hatot or even Kavala to know how old she was - she had never mentioned her age to any of them, and this comment was the closest she had come to making any remark whatsoever on the topic, and considering the Akontak's close-mouthed ways, probably the last.

Well, Kanikra mused, this will be interesting to see. Still... it made sense. If you can only back up within range and backing up only puts you at a greater disadvantage... I suppose this does, too. Lovely. This will be fun. Raiha could hear the tone of 'fun' in Kanikra's words, and she couldn't entirely say she looked forward to it. The twin souls of the Akontak had very, very different beliefs in what did and what did not constitute "fun".

Mn, Raiha considered as she anticipated the task in front of them, it's about flowing water. So we'll see how it goes. But the point is going to be to move around it than away from it. She didn't move besides to turn her head around to look at Radris as he passed near her before sipping from the mug. The almost predatory behaviour should have bothered her. Should have. But when in your mind you were circled day in and day out in much the same fashion, and the one who caused it was in fact your twin... it didn't trouble her unduly.

And not back up. Move into the blow. Then it just glances, especially if you keep moving. Soryn said that too. If you don't listen to me, at least you listened to him.

I've always listened to you on that, Raiha retorted. She merely nodded at Radris' explanations of this little exercise, and eyed the stick. Applied with enough force, that would probably break the skin. He probably would. She had no idea how much a stick could hurt - she'd certainly never been beaten with one. The most she had ever had to deal with was being raked with talons while Uzima and Kefi were learning, or Asim's crushing blows if it ever came to that. Kestrels were aggressive little demons, and their capacity for violence she was well-familiar with.

That's what you have that spiny-leafed plant for. Go on. He just called us out. Raiha put the mug down, using the shoulder of her shirt to wipe the sweat from her face before abandoning the veranda and her bowl of sand to head for Radris and the beating that was about to come, stopping a pace away and holding her wrists out, looking up at him, a grimly solemn look on her face that said she was going to see this through. This was an exercise you needed to trust in the other to do, and Raiha didn't trust this one any more than she could throw him. She wasn't sure she trusted anyone to tie her wrists... but she knew she didn't like it.