Eternal Beasts

Training

Now knowing just how vital the next 120 hrs would be, a grimly resolute Jared took the incredible willpower that months in the wilderness alone taught him and threw it completely behind their effort to get ready for the confrontation with the Harbingers and the forces of Darkness on the Arch. And he started by discovering and learning the very tools he would need to fight both and achieve victory for the Light at any cost.

After finishing their meal, the three of them retreated to Jared's dorm and began planning out the next five days in as much detail as they could manage. Having gone into stasis anticipating her role as only being the vessel for the first griffon rider to follow Jared, and little else, Nikeera was nearly overwhelmed with delight and empowerment by Jared asking her to do so much more in a new role in helping him prepare for Tammen Gall and the new War of Balance. Her heart full of emotion for the man she was loving more and more every moment, she threw her entire being into that role, supporting, guiding, and teaching him the vast knowledge of the ancient Tuatha Fáil that she brought with her.

Not only did she prove to be an adept teacher, but Nikeera's intelligence enabled her to give Jared different ways to look at situations and adapt to each. It quickly proved an invaluable skill to have.

Samantha too had her tasks to carry out. Every day she and Jared devoted several hours to learning, studying, and practicing the style of magic griffon riders used in battle. They also went over scenarios they could face, both together and apart, and did fly throughs to figure how best to deal with them as a combat team. And finally, while Samantha was still in her amazon form, hand-to-hand combat practice, both unarmed and with weapons.

One such practice session caught Nikeera's attention. With the campus quickly emptying for the winter holiday break, they had found the gyms in the phys-ed building deserted and decided to take advantage of the additional space to execute the kind of attacks only open space would allow. So the three of them had traveled across the quad to the gym for the day's combat training.

As she watched Samantha perform a leaping attack that Jared not only successfully countered, but used to launch a counterattack that saw them grappling before the big human neatly flipped his griffon onto her back, the tuathan was intrigued. Not by the combat itself, but how close it brought the two together. It didn't take keen observational skills to see Samantha was choosing attacks that ended with them grappling, a physical interaction she was enjoying immensely, if her heavy breathing and flushed skin were any indication.

Having returned to the three of them sharing the bed, the tuathan found the platonic way her Jared was when they snuggled together both understandable and horribly frustrating. He was her husband-to-be, not some stranger that she huddled beside for warmth. Although, if she were being honest, he still made her feel warm in all sorts of places.

Which led her to this place and this time.

"I would like to take a turn," she said as Jared helped Samantha up off the mat.

Jared looked over at her, brow raised.

"At?" he asked as Samantha settled in behind him, an arm around his waist and her chin resting on his shoulder.

Nikeera fought against the frustrated grimace seeing that nearly brought. Damn that griffon! In her nysim form, she was so very possessive of the big man. She found herself looking forward to Samantha being returned to her natural form and leaving Jared to her alone.

Instead she smiled.

"The combat training," she indicated.

"No disrespect, princess, but I didn't think tuathan royalty learned how to fight," Samantha said with a frown.