A Swords Tale: The Beginning ( Postponed)

Chapter Eight: Challenges

A couple weeks passed as the two were nearer to the edge of the mountains as everyday Madiline trained and every night Sapphire learned literature and mathematics. The same routine while no unusual activity , with the only excuse to police officers increased searches and higher classes are being used.

"Come on, lets go ." A simple pat on the the head head had waken Madiline up from an undreamful sleep once again . It was uncommon for Sapphire to be so calm after her first house collapsed three weeks ago or so. She had always held up the picture to the moon then either looked at it or had fallen asleep slowly at night . It's as if it were calming her down more than usual, but Madiline was use to the old Sapphire more than the new one.

As she does her new routine again she starts chasing after Sapphire through the trees up above her . She dodges all the branches while jumping on the branches pushing her forward and back as she jumps down and starts running up a hill. She glances at Sapphire but she had gone. Knowing her she would test her fighting skills and or running skills to see if she could be left alone or help fight with Sapphire. Like a huge math test that would test how well you survive , or something like that. She sighed as she hears unusual wind behind her and knows something will attack. She glances behind her to see Sapphire jumping down to slash her but Madiline dodged out of the way . Running as if a bullet were chasing her she ran through the forest. The dew hanging off the trees and the green grass and tree leaves were saying the hard times are over. She nodded and heard sword hit air and blocked the sword that almost hit her neck and fought just below the level of Sapphire. She smiled as she saw Sapphire disappear into the trees but Madiline kept running with the wind seeing the trees rustle as she went by them.

She heard a sharp comment from the trees up above her ," Great, your improving . Remember when you tried to fight me that one time?" Sapphire started to laugh for the first time and Madiline joined in smiling. Sapphire has never laughed before, ever sense Madiline came. This felt like home although she had left only one month ago. She didn't feel bad either, Sapphire desperately needed help , although her adoptive family might not have cared.

" Yeah, Want to see if we can do it again and then take a break?" Madiline asked seeing that the sun hasn't even shone it's light yet. She heard a reply and knew that she accepted the challenge and she heard her drop down and Madiline stopped and turned around as metal clashed , that familiar sound warmed her hears as they clashed. She noticed that Sapphire and her were just an orange and blue blur in the forest. She felt her arm bleeding but noticed a scar on Sapphire face that made her get more angry and she fought harder. She quickly dodged Sapphires attacks but trusted herself into a blade before her dagger found Sapphire ankle but quickly rolled on the ground avoiding both accidents form happening. She stopped and Sapphire stopped as they both knew what was going to happen if Madiline didn't dodge them.Sapphire nodded at her and knowing Sapphire that was the signal to hunt; her fist to her hand was hunting.

There were many signals for Madiline to remember. Pointing at something is go to it. For climbing something is a fist going up. To duck is hand in a fist going down. To attack is to touch a weapon and to set that attack response is to point at the target you want to attack.

Sapphire broke her thoughts," Well , go on then." She jumped in the trees and Madiline stood next to a bush and silently crouched down and listened. She heard a very faint scuffling over all the birds, city, and cars nearby on the road and the stream. She took out her dagger quietly as she saw the mouse along with the eyes of Sapphire above her. She aimed and hit it in the leg as she went over and saw it go limp as the pain left it's eyes. Madiline felt confused and guilty , she never wanted to kill innocent lives. She thanked mother nature for her survival and the prey and she kept hunting and ended up with a mouse and a rabbit by the time light shone on the forest.