The Hybrid

Training

Verloor walked back and forward in front of the purple-haired human. Raven fidgeted. It was weird not having her cloak and the baking sun didn't help. But it was much better than burning under it. She was just in her purple-ish black leotard, and she hugged herself with her hands. "Enough of that!" Verloor shouted, taking her hands and placing them at her side. Lief and Verloor's son watched from the sidelines. "In order for me to know you'll be able to withstand the war, I have to make sure you're physically up for the challenge. And since you don't have your magical powers to help you anymore," Verloor grinned diabolically, "This should be fun. First exercise: Hide and seek. You have to hide in a place I can't catch you."

"Where am I suppose to hide?" Raven objected. While the savannah has trees and high brown grass, it was definitely difficult to hide.

"Think like a hyena."

"I don't know how hyenas think," Raven argued. Verloor shrugged as he started counting.

"One, two, three-" Raven groaned as she ran to the nearest patch of trees. It was ridiculous. Verloor had a sensitive nose able to find her scent; how was she going to- "Ready or not here I come!" Verloor shouted. Raven, for the first time in a while, started panicking. She dove into some bushes hoping the hyena couldn't find her. She was breathing harder and harder as Verloor neared her. The hyena sighed. "Stop and come out." When she didn't, Verloor simply plucked her out of the bush by her leotard with twigs and branches hanging her hair. "First off, you're a terrible player. Second, when you're being hunted, never think afraid."

"Don't you mean 'be afraid'?" Raven asked as Verloor set her down.

"No, you'll always be afraid, but your head cannot be overcome with fear. You have to think during a time of panic." Verloor stopped to consider something. "How come you haven't had this kind of training before?"

"I have, but I had my powers."

"You rely too heavily on your powers," Verloor grunted, motioning her to take a fighting stance. "You have to be the greatest factor to your powers, not the other way around. Now, try your best to fight me." Raven awkwardly and almost childishly threw her first punch and Verloor dodge it easily. In fact, before long, Verloor simply placed his hand on Raven's head and held her at arms' length. Rae stopped immediately when she heard Verloor's son laughing at her frustrated punches. "That... wasn't your best."

"I told you. I'm-"

"Oh for the love of- you've had your powers gone before, right?" Verloor asked, annoyed by her self-defeating tone of voice. "What did you do then?"

"I... improvised."

"You used your brain!" Verloor exclaimed with a sarcastic happy smile. "Use it this time, perhaps, my dear?"

"You have better strength," Raven pointed out.

"Okay, then use the best thing you have," Verloor suggested. Then Raven got an idea. Her face curled into a smug smirk, which got Verloor a little worried. Her foot suddenly came up. Verloor flinched for it, fearing she was going to kick him in the groin again. But it was a diversion. Raven backed away from Verloor's hand that was holding her back, jumped up into the air, and roundhouse kicked Verloor in the face. The hyena was knocked down to the ground, hearing his son laugh loudly.

"Okay," Verloor grunted, rubbing his jaw, "You're definitely using your head. My word, those legs can kick." Lief chuckled as he helped the hyena get up. "Thanks, but it does seem to me that we need a more capable teacher." Lief's face hardened at the idea. "You know she's the only one that can train her better than I can. I'll teach her my power when she's ready, but she needs to learn how to fight better." Lief growled in a dull tone as he nodded in agreement. "Come on, birdie. It's time you got taught by a true fighter."