The Awakening

Chapter Eight

"Come on Leila get up!" Kira said, trying to pull me out of bed by my ankle.

I moaned, "Owwwww," every little movement increased the soreness of my strained limbs.

"Are you really hurting that bad?" She asked, releasing my ankle.

"Yes," I mumbled.

"Well, moving will help you," she chimed, "anyways, you have to. Speed is today!"

I completely forgot that's what Kira was teaching me. The very thought of it made me regret my choices on staying here. "How can you even teach me speed?" I asked.

Kira giggled, "Oh trust me, I can. Now get up and get dressed, wear something comfortable and that'll suit you for running."

I nodded, and she left my room, shutting the door behind her. I slowly stood up and limped over to my dresser. I threw on track shorts and a tank top, before heading out into the kitchen. Kira beamed at the sight of me, "Good, I thought I might've had to go back in there." I took a seat at the table, and she sat a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me, "Eat up, before we head out."

I ate the breakfast and washed my dish off. When I finished, Kira came up behind me and handed me a water bottle. "Gotta stay hydrated." I took it out of her hand and followed her outside of the house, taking sips here and there.

"To kick things off, we should warm up," Kira began, "so let's stretch." We did some common stretches, and the soreness I felt earlier was beginning to numb. "In order to be well at running, you have to have a high stamina. How do we get a high stamina? By building it up of course! The more you run, the larger amount of resistance you have to stopping."

I scratched the back of my neck, "Well, I'm going to have trouble not stopping, I'm really out of shape."

"Well, it's not you being out of shape that I'm worried about. It's you being so tiny and thin, it will take forever for you to have a high stamina. But don't worry, in this session, you won't want to stop," Kira said excitedly.

"Wait what do you mean?" I asked.

Kira grinned, "You're about to see." She then made that loud screech, only this time I didn't cover my ears. I cried out and covered my ears. Kira looked down at me, "Leila, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I looked up at her, "but my ears aren't."

She giggled, "Next time cover your ears."

"Next time warn me before you do," I remarked.

Kira laughed some more, "Oops."

I sighed and got off my knees. Just like last time, surrounding us were a bunch of wolves. "Uh...why are they here?" I asked her.

"You didn't think I could teach you speed on my own, now did you?" She asked cheerfully.

I looked around nervously at the wolves, "...actually...I did."

"Oh," Kira said smiling, "well, surprise!"

I sighed yet again and asked, "Okayyyyy, so what next?"

Kira flashed me a grin, "Just start running, you'll get a head start."

I nodded, and was about to run when, "Oh, and Leila?" I turned back around and faced Kira, "Don't stop."

My eyes widened, my mind told me not to run, but my legs paid no heed. I ran on and off trails, through bushes and across streams. My sides began to ache, my lungs began to burn, and I was running short on breath by the second. I looked around, there was no sign of Kira. Hesitantly, I began to walk, when sudden I was tackled roughly to the ground.

"Don't stop!" Kira exclaimed, sitting on top of me.

"Ow! Okay okay! Get off!"

She climbed off and said, "Now begin running again."

I nodded and began running again. I hadn't gone far when I suddenly heard a wolf howl. I looked behind me, and my blood ran cold. The wolves from earlier were chasing me, Kira running amongst them.

"HURRY UP LEILA!" Kira shouted over their barking.

I began sprinting, not even knowing I had it in me. I wanted to walk so badly, but I knew I couldn't, everything ached, but not once did I slow down. I've never been in a real time a panic, but once one does come, you fell invincible, and are willing to do anything to survive. I tripped on a rock and fell down, right before I got back up, a wolf tried to pounce on me but Kira prevented it at the last second. She calmed the wolf down by growling and barking, then turned back to me, "You did good," she said with a smile, but then her face fell as she added, "but not good enough."

I groaned, "Come on Kira, I almost died!"

"No excuses," She said shaking her head, "now come on, start running again."

...

It was pitch black, but Kira still forced me to run from her and those rabid wolves she called her friends. I had scrapes and bruises from tripping in the dark, and I was still sore from all of this training.

"LEILA!? KIRA!?" I suddenly heard someone call.

I ran out of the woods and back towards the house where Sam stood on the porch. "There you are, where's Kira?"

Kira walked out right behind me, "Here Sam."

"What are you girls still doing up?" He asked, "It's two in the morning!"

My eyes widened, Kira's going to owe me big time!

Kira laughed nervously, "Oh...whoops. I kinda got carried away, I was having a lot of fun..."

Sam chuckled, "That's quite alright Kira, just keep track of time next time. Now go to bed, both of you. Leila, tomorrow you and I are working on magic."

"Okay," I said, smiling despite my tired state of being. Kira and I walked past him and went our separate ways to our bedroom for the night.

...

I woke up, stretching and yawning. I glanced over at a clock on my nightstand and read it, 9:00 am. I threw all the covers up and scrambled out of bed. Everyone has woken me up six o'clock on the dock, now I've overslept for Sam's training! I picked out some clothes, and hurriedly put them on. Then I ran out and into the living room, where I found Sam and Lita chatting casually.

"Oh you're up." Sam said, once he noticed me.

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm so sorry I overslept I-"

"It's okay," Sam said waving it away, "I wanted to let you sleep, you were up late last night." I relaxed a bit, So I'm not late... "Besides, by the looks of it, you need some more time to get ready." Sam said laughing, gesturing to my shirt.

I looked down and noticed it was inside out. I mentally face palmed myself and tried to laugh it off, "Wow, I didn't even realize that. Yeah, I'll go get ready. Uh...see you in a sec." I went back to my bedroom, fixed my shirt, and came back. "Okay, now I'm ready." I declared, walking back in.

Sam nodded, "I agree. Follow me now Leila."

I listened to him, and followed him out of the house.

"Good luck Leila," I heard Lita say before the door slammed shut behind me.

Sam really made me nervous. I'd say luck is definitely the thing I need most right now...