Arctic Pack (Living in a Pack book two)

Chapter Nineteen: Weapons Training

I held the two blades in my hands copying Purple as she demonstrated the various different attacks and defences I'd need to learn to at least have the basics. It was actually a lot easier then I thought much to my surprise, it seems like I was a natural at it.

"Alright I'm coming at you. Use the first block I taught you to block my attack." Purple swung at me and I quickly pulled the swords up into an X shape. Purples sword clanged off my blades and she pulled back again. "Good. Again." She swung again and I did the same thing, blocking her sword with my two. She swung again and again at different angles are from different directions but each time I managed to block her in different ways.  "Very good." Purple praised me, "now let's work on your attack. Come at me like you mean it but don't actually hit me please."  I laughed.

"Of course I won't." I assured. She cracked a smile, and I took my chance while she was distracted. I swung my blades toward her coming in at a side angle, but she blocked them with ease.

"Close, but not quite. Try again." Purple instructed.

She continued to drill me for an hour until finally she said we could have a break. I laid my blades on a table and then wandered over to watch Dylas train with his long sword. He was training with White. I watched as he swung the sword awkwardly in different directions attempting to block Whites attacks. Clearly he wasn't picking it up as fast as I was but he was trying his best.

I turned to watch Theo as he drew back his bow string and launched an arrow at the target. He managed to hit it pretty close to the middle, but Theo used to practice archery when he was younger anyway. His father knew how to use one and taught Theo a thing or two.

Amber stood with Blue as she attempted to help her hold the knives properly and show her how to throw them.

Suddenly the reality of the coming war dawned on me. We could die. We could lose our lives fighting this battle. Scarlet was a killer, and so was her pack. She'd proven that when she'd attacked and taken our former pack territory. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't notice when Purple came up to me.

"Earth to Iris?" She said waving a hand in front of my face. I jumped and looked at her. "Time to get back to training." She said and handed me my blades. I nodded and stood up. Readying myself to attack again.

•••

On dark forest territory

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FAILED TO KILL THEM?!" Scarlet roared. The group of snake people she had sent to eliminate the stupid shifter teenagers stood in front of her cowering away from her.

"It-it was element Alpha Scarlet." One of them stammered. "They came to the shifters aid. It seems they've decided to join their side of the war over ours."

"NO THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!" Scarlet roared again. "Element may be small but they are powerful. They cannot join that puny pack we cannot lose a power like that." She slammed her fists into her desk closing her eyes and growling in anger. She opened her eyes and sighed. "We only have one option. We must eliminate Element as well."

"But Alpha. You already said yourself they're powerful. Do you really think we are going to be able to beat them?" The same man who had spoken before questioned. Scarlet rounded on him.

"Are you questioning my decisions?" She growled advancing on him.

"N-no I-I just meant-" he stuttered but Scarlet cut him off.

"Shut up." She stood him front of him. "I have no room for un loyal soldiers." The man look terrified but Scarlet paid no attention. She grabbed his head between her hands and twisted hard. There was a loud crack and the man fell to the ground dead. She had snapped his neck. "Anyone else want to challenge me?" Scarlet growled staring around the room. No one moved. "Good."

"If we are going to fight element I want to go." Valerie said stalking out of the shadows. "Chances are Iris and her stupid friends are still there and I want to snap her puny neck. She tried to steal Dylas from me and probably still is trying to get in his pants. I can't let that bitch have him."

"Whatever." Scarlet muttered shaking her head. "Assemble a team of soldiers you see fit and head out for Elements hideout. Destroy them and the shifters if they are still with them." Valerie grinned and nodded.

"I can't wait to stomp that bitch into the ground." She muttered to herself and walked away.

•••

Iris pov:

I climbed into the shower and turned the water on cold. I sighed as the water poured down my face. Training had been tiring but worth it. I had learned a lot.

After I got out of the shower I walked out into the room that Element had provided for us. It had two double beds. One for me and Dylas and one for Theo and Amber. Theo was already asleep and Amber was fading fast. Dylas was reading some book that he had found in the side table. It was a book of spells so I don't know what he thought he was going to get out of it.

"Hey." I greeted as I lid down on the bed next to him. He put down the book and smiled at me.

"Did you have a nice warm shower?" He asked teasingly. I shoved him off the bed. He knew as well as I did I liked my showers cold. Warmth wasn't my thing. He climbed back up onto the bed and muttered something under his breath. I didn't catch what it was though because I was already falling asleep.