A. Poison in the Blood

A.19. Reactions

Redox

"So what are we doing up here?"

Keira and Skyler had walked to an open area, overlooking the golden waves of the desert below the mountains.

Skyler spread open her wings, letting them bathe in the sunshine. "You wanted me to show you some fighting moves, right?"

Keira nodded.

"Well, I thought higher up would give us more fresh air for fighting."

"Wouldn't higher up have less air?"

Skyler frowned and scratched her head. "Really?" She shrugged. "Whatever, it's still a nice place." She started stretching. "What do you want to learn?"

Keira licked her fingers. "How are you so brave? Are you not ever scared of getting hurt or.... passing."

Skyler gave an empathic smile. "I try not think about that part too much. When fighting you have to focus on what's going on right now rather than what could be bad later."

Keira nodded. "Okay, then... what else is important when fighting?"

"Having a good stance, paying attention to your enviroment..."

Keira took a fighting stance. Skyler walked around her and adjusted her limbs. "Nana always told me to know my element too."

Something scurried in the nearby bushes. Keira jumped.

"No, don't change your stance like that. You'll be knocked over easily."

"I heard something," Keira said.

Skyler looked to the direction of the sound. A fluffy white tail poked through the folliage. "Ooo..."

The next second she was hovering behind the bush, the resulting wind being the only hint that she even moved. The black and white creature leapt out into the open.

Keira jumped back.

"Lookie, its a skunk."

Keira took deep breaths to calm herself. "Skyler, did you have to chase it out like that?"

"Sorry! I got excited. I've never seen one before."

"Me neither but you do not see me start screaming about it." She cringed when the skunk shook its tail. "Eek! Is it going to spray?"

Skyler once again sped behind the skunk, it jumped and ran behind Keira. It continued to stomp its feet and shake its tail. Is made a small squeeling sound.

Keira hid behind Skyler, clutching one of her wings and peaking over her shoulder.

Skyler tried to shake her loose. "Could you let go? It's not comfortable if you hold my wing like that."

Keira blushed and let go. "I am sorry."

The skunk was slowly backing away, shaking its tail.

"Look! It's shaking its tail! Maybe its happy!" Skyler squeed.

The skunk was startled by her pitch and proceded to stand on its front legs. It shook in place as it stomped its legs.

"Now it's doing a handstand!"

The skunk jumped and ran into the foliage. Keira watched as the creature peaked a snout through the halfdead leaves and then pull it back in again.

"I think they're scared."

"Of what?" Skyler asked. "We're not scary. "

"But...we are. We are big and can hurt them." Keira crept forward and fumbled in her pocket for something.