The Hunt

Chapter 9 Training

A little while later, when we had finished our breakfast, Glen and Danny came into the room.

"Now then, whose ready for some training?" Glen said.

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We were now standing in a large gymnasium. There were various weapons on the left wall, as well as three men lined up against the right wall.

"Your first challenge is to pin your opponent to the ground. You will both be unarmed." Glen said. He was standing off to the side to spectate.

One of the men started walking towards me. What do I do?! I started walking towards him, planning with each step. I decided to just aim to hold him down and not hurt him in any way, I was hoping he would do the same thing. When we finally met, I swooped around him, held one arm against his stomach and pushed, while the other arm pushed his back forwards. I tried to trip him over, but he stayed balanced. Dang, that always worked on Danny. I decided to forget my earlier decision, and I kicked him in the leg to try and knock him over. No such luck. He did a swift kick under my legs, sending me toppling over backwards. But since I was still holding onto him, I pulled him down with me! I took the opportunity and rolled onto him, pinning him down. I heard slow clapping,

"Well done Makenzie." Glen praised.

I looked around and saw that Fiona had also pinned her partner down, but that Danny was still struggling. Danny was on his partner's back. His partner held Danny's shoulders, threatening to flip him, but he never did. He was obviously holding back. Danny saw this, and a hint of disappointment crossed his face. He was the only one who hadn't pinned his partner, and he was doing horrible against someone who wasn't trying! It's like not being able to punch out of a paper bag! I felt sorry for him, then I realized that I was still on my partner. I quickly stood up, immediately, Fiona did as well. The men stood up and faced us. Danny was now on the ground, wincing because of the humiliation.

"Combat isn't my strength." He said as an excuse.

Normally, I would have died of laughter just then, but now, nothing was normal. So I stayed silent.

"Good job girls! And Danny..." Glen glanced over to look at Danny, "Maybe next time."

Danny groaned. His face showed all disappointment. 

"Our next activity will be fighting while armed. Don't worry, your weapons will be foam or blunt. You and your opponent will be armed." 

This will be harder. Glen gave us each a weapon. Danny got nunchucks, Fiona got a bow with blunt-tipped arrows, and I got a blunt dagger and a foam sword. My partner had a foam mace. I immediately swung my sword in the place where my partner was, but by the time I got there, he was already gone. I felt a thud on my back that would've hurt a lot more if that mace was metal. Still, I was surprised, and fell forward. As I was falling, I jabbed my blunt dagger into my partner's leg. He stumbled, then hit his mace onto my head. I fell onto the floor, and he pinned me down. I looked up and saw that Fiona had won again, and Danny was still having trouble with his numb chucks. Suddenly, three masked men burst into the room and grabbed Glen. We all stopped. I wanted to run, but that would not be brave. Instead, I ran towards the men, sword in hand. Oh wait, this is a foam sword! It won't help me. I tossed it aside. I will have to rely on my own strength. I kicked the one that was holding Glen's shoulders in the face. He winced in pain, then fell over. I saw that now, Danny and Fiona had come up to the men as well. Danny knocked one man unconscious with his nunchucks, while Fiona stabbed the other one with her blunt arrow. They fell over, and I rushed to Glen,

"Are you okay?" I asked anxiously.

"Yes, I'm fine. You three passed the test very well!" Glen replied. He stood up.

"Test? What te- Oh! That was a test?"

"Yes. I wanted to see how you fought under pressure."

"So... those men were acting?" 

"Yes. But don't worry, they're fine. They have fought many battles before." 

I glanced over at the men. They were sitting against the wall, except for the unconscious one, he was slumped on the ground.

"I think you've had enough training for one day." Glen continued, "Come, I shall show you the Mission Room."