Sunlight | Luke Castellan

XIV. my unlikely alliance with ares

   "PUNCH IT."

Clarisse's orders were clear as she stood beside the punching dummy in front of me, her hands on her hips. I glanced down at my own, flexing my fingers under the several layers of gauze wrapped for protection. I squeezed my hands into fists, but I didn't get a chance to pull back before the daughter of Ares stepped closer.

"Gods, what are you doing?" she muttered, and I relaxed. She shook her head in disdain, her braided ponytail swaying as she did so. "Don't tuck your thumb under the rest of your fingers. You're going to break it that way." Clarisse moved to stand next to me and extended her arm, making a fist of her own and letting her thumb rest against the knuckles of her index and middle finger. "I thought you grew up in New York City."

"That doesn't mean I know how to fight," I said in annoyance, but I followed her instructions and received a nod of approval. The rest of her cabin was active behind us, some fighting with weapons and others on worn down wrestling mats. Clarisse moved back to her spot next to the dummy. Her eyes jerked toward it, a silent command for me to continue on to the next step.

"Bend your knees a bit," she instructed, her words followed by another curt nod as I did the order. "Move yourself like you're about to lunge... now hit." Bam.

I winced as I made contact with the dummy, the impact rumbling through my upper body. It was similar to how it felt when my sword would clash against Luke's, but the feeling was much more intense. I shook my hand in a flurry, trying to take away the lingering discomfort.

"Don't punch from your shoulders," Clarisse told me. I stepped a few inches to the side as she joined me again, mimicking my pose. "Your body is going to move with the throw. Let it. You'll get a lot more power that way."

The girl's eyes narrowed, and her arm swung out at the dummy. Bang. The large object slammed against the floor of the training arena, causing me to jump at how loud the sound was. Clarisse seemed pleased with herself, and she picked it up from the floor to reset it.

"Aim for the chest," she advised, holding the dummy in place to keep it from shifting. I slowly exhaled my breath before sending a punch with my dominant right hand. My hips and chest twisted as I did so, and I could feel the difference upon impact. Bam. "Good. Again." I threw my left fist next, the punch not as powerful but properly placed. Bam. "Again."

"Maybe I'm stupid," I told her between another punch. Bam. "... but I didn't think it would hurt."

"A painful hurt or just uncomfortable?"

"Maybe both."

"You'll get used to it," she said. I threw two quick punches as I became comfortable with the motion, trying to become familiar with the jolts that would follow. One thing was certain: my knuckles were going to be bruised in the morning. Clarisse's gaze settled just past my eyes, and I knew she was staring at my bruise. "That one doesn't look too bad. It should be almost gone by the solstice."

"Perfect," I huffed, not particularly happy about the reminder about the upcoming date.

"You're angry," she commented. I could almost hear her smirk. "Good. Use it." Clarisse's words were egging me on despite my goal to ignore them. "Keep your arms raised. Don't leave yourself undefended."

"Anger clouds judgement."

"You think you won't be emotional on a battlefield?" The camper's tone was sharp, and my oncoming punch never landed on the dummy's fake skin. I blinked as the girl held my wrist tightly with her hand. "There is nothing calm when you're in a fight. The way to win is to manage your anger, your fear. Learn to stand your ground with it."