I was able to get all the guards into the courtyard, and I stood in front of them, studying their faces for a moment, letting them feel a bit awkward. “Okay.” I said quietly to them. “I’m going to try a different approach today.”
One of them, a small orange cat, snorted at me. “We don’t have to do anything if Mauriz isn’t here.” He turned his back to me and began to walk away.
My eyes narrowed and I quickly wove my way through the guards to him, grabbing his shoulder roughly. “Excuse me? I don’t think you heard me correctly.” I said tightly. “We are going to try something different today.”
The orange cat turned to me a little. “I don’t need a female’s advice to be able to fight.” He hissed.
I frowned, snarling. “Fine!” I spat. “If you think you’re so great, pin me down.”
All the guards were watching the confrontation quietly, making somewhat of a circle around the two of us.
The orange cat’s eyes widened for a moment, and then he snarled back at me. “Who do you think you are?”
“Someone who knows what she’s doing.” I snapped back.
He growled and leaped at me, his teeth bared.
I stepped to the side at the last moment and he missed me. Cursing, he turned again to me and I sighed as he leaped angrily at me for the second time.
Growling, I grabbed his arm, throwing the cat to the ground with his own momentum. He landed hard on his shoulder, groaning. While he was slowly picking himself up, I turned to the rest of the guards.
“This is your problem!” I hissed. “You charge blindly instead of thinking about what you are doing, and what your enemy is going to do next.”
The orange tabby had stood up, and he growled at me, frowning.
“I want all of you to pair up with someone. Your goal will be to pin your partner down in less than 15 seconds.” I turned, looking around at everyone. “We will stop for a break when someone is able to do it.” I paused for a moment, and then started counting. “One…two…”
They scrambled to do what I had asked, though some of them grudgingly.
None of them were able to do it the first time.
Or the second time.
Or the third.
Or any of the practices at all that day.
When I finally dismissed them, I was exasperated. Instead of leaving the courtyard, I sat down on a small wooden bench, watching the late evening sunlight drench the grass and gray stone walls in a warm, orange glow.
Closing my eyes, I sat there quietly, happy in the sunlight. As my thoughts wandered, I didn’t notice Mauriz walking up to me, so I jumped in surprise, opening my eyes as he sat down.
He gave me a bit of a smile, but it was soon lost. “So, how did practice go with the guards?”
“They’re awful.”
The wolf suddenly laughed loudly, making me jump again.
My eyes widened. “What’s so funny?”
Mauriz didn’t answer, but shook his head slightly, chuckling.
I sighed as the sunlight slowly began to hide behind the tall stone walls, taking its warmth with it. Raising my arm, I put my hand in the sunlight, watching the light move to the end of my fingertips, then out of reach.
