Redemption (Triplet Sequel)

Chapter 3

Zefra POV

"Again"

Ma's voice echoed through my ears repeatedly. We had been up since six this morning training. Well, it was more like trying not to die from exhaustion or broken neck.

"Can we take a break?" I panted from the ground. Ma was not going easy on me and she was getting on my deepest of nerves.

"No. Do it again" Ma said from over me.

We were in our backyard, trying to teach me how to do a certain acrobatics and land on my feet. But, of course Ma would go farther than that and into some complicated sequences.

"There's no point of doing it again. It's not even what I'm supposed to learn for next week's dance show"

"It's for next week?" Ma asked surprised. "Wow, you definitely won't make it for then"

"Shut up" I told her and got up onto my shaking legs. "I don't get it; everybody else got the move but me" I was much stronger and better than them in fighting and yet I couldn't do a simple dance move.

"I'm not surprised"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I yelled tired of her insults. I could particularly hear mom say that Ma was not being rude, just too blunt and awkward. 'Whatever mom', I thought.

"What I mean Chameleon, is that shapeshifters have the worst coordination in all the species. You change your body too often to understand what the body you chose to use is trying to do. Strength, weaknesses, senses, muscles; it all changes per shift." Ma explained. "For example: a mouse's bones are not solid because the body needs to squeeze in smaller holes than its size. A rabbit's power is in his back legs but a bird is in his wings.

"As a shapeshifter, you must know what the body can provide. The middle point of their bodies and their balance automatically changes. You have to teach your brain to figure out those differences so that you could use your chosen body to its full potential. You haven't learned your own body yet and that is what I have been teaching you" Ma said. She then continued to say.

"How do you think I always know who you are? People forget that smell is a very powerful sense. You always smell like yourself. You have to learn to smell like someone else" I opened my mouth but closed it after. I didn't know what to say. What Ma said had actually made sense.

"Okay, so what do we do now?" I asked her quietly as my anger diminished.

"Now, I need to go to a meeting. Things have been shifting and no one, not the Underground nor do the Council like these new rules"

"What kind of changes?" I asked knowing full well Ma wouldn't answer.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Yet" Ma said. Well, it was worth a try. "As for you, you should do balance exercises. Do that as often as possible and you may be ready for your dance next week"

After that, Ma walked away leaving me alone in the backyard. I had extra time to spare since she woke me up so early. I had to admit, I was glad she woke me up this morning. She was a tough trainer but she did better than with the coach at school. I thought that maybe our raining could probably go without remarks.

"Oh, and do take a shower. I can smell you from here" Ma finished before she walked back inside. There goes my thought. Goodness, I could never understand why Ma always had to finish a conversation with an unnecessary remark.

I rolled my eyes and went back inside to the bathroom I shared with my brother. Now, that was a hard thing to juggle with. I don't know who said that women take forever in a shower because men are not any better. My brother took so long and he didn't even have long hair. We never mentioned it, but everyone knows what men do in a shower that takes the entire hot water. I always made sure I was the first one in, so that I had time to do my routine stuff before school.