I duck as a flaming ball of fire hurtles past my head, it's so close I immediately scent the harsh stench of burnt hair and feel the blister of heat along the side of my face.
I've singed another clump of hair.
"Fucks sake Luke! That was too close!" my nose twitches from the smoky scent reeling from Luke as I duck another ball of flames which very nearly catches my shoulder.
"Then move faster Scar!" Sam calls from his safe position beside Alexa who's tapping away at her mobile, a small frown on her face.
I open my mouth to snarl at Sam, deciding he's far worse than Jared used to be but lunge left as another ball of fire rips through the space I just abandoned, a flurry of swear words pouring through my mouth as I roll across the floor fingers grasping my bow as I fluidly whip an arrow into place and release three shots in rapid fire.
Luke sends a ball of fire that envelopes two of the dummy arrows I'm using and the third buries deeply into the tree behind him, skimming across his chest as he turns to avoid it. Sweat beads down the side of my face as Luke raises a hand, fire crawling like a snake down his tanned arm and he lowers it fast, it takes a split second for me to realise what's coming as a whip made of a river of flames snaps close to me, ripping through the forest floor. I stumble back in surprise "Holy..." I duck low unsure how to defend myself against something that could simultaneously burn and cut through me if it made contact.
"Luke"
Brads warning tone rumbles through the clearing, concern flickering through his tone but Sam raises a hand, quickly responding "no, she can handle this!"
I feel the burn of Archers gaze on the side of my face, my eyes meet his for a split second and I nod, a flicker of understanding crosses his stern expression as he trusts my decision. Staying quiet as he tensely crosses his arms over his chest, watching the training with gritted teeth.
I don't have time to appreciate Archers' self-control as I lunge behind a tree...
"Sam..." I call and I feel the tree shake as the fire whip curls around the trunk. I hiss ducking low; is Luke trying to kill me? I note Luke's control as I realise the fire is contained, the tree is singed but not on fire.
Starting a forest fire is not what we want.
"No, you've got this Scar, think. Come on, basics. What is his motive, what is Luke's style? What is his weakness? Analyse" Sam coaches, probing me to think but it's pretty hard to deliberate with a fire wielder on your ass.
I close my eyes and take a calming breath, okay. He's keeping me as far as he can from his being. Long distance... long range. He doesn't want me close? I need to get close enough to land a few blows. Quick, precise and deliberate. No room for error or he could literally grab me and burn me from the inside out - well, Luke wouldn't but my enemy would.
I glance up as my sensitive hearing picks up Luke's soft footfalls on the ground, stalking closer as a ball of fire sends a gust of flames racing either side of the tree, the heat increasing as he comes closer, sure he's won, sure he's cornered me. My skin feels blistering hot as I scrunch into the tree, my lips twisting into a smirk as my adrenalin ripples under my skin, the thrill of the fight fuelling me.
I loop my bow over my neck and chest, reaching up I grasp the thick branch above me. I pull myself up, keeping close to the tree, Luke's continuous flow of flames stop him from having a clear vision of my movements as I disappear high into the tree. I carefully balance on the thick trunk, running along its extended branches and drop to the ground to Luke's right, his eyes snap to meet mine, the continuous flow of flames he has on the tree pausing but he doesn't have enough time to re-direct as I lunge forwards.
