Survivors

Chapter 34: Jada

Chapter 34: Jada

          This is the first day of my training. Actually, it’s the third. Our first one was the day after we arrived to Alestra’s house. Alestra’s mother was surprisingly kind enough to allow Xain and I a light day to rest and recuperate. I just hung around Tanzi all day and watched her train along with Mason and Alestra. They are amazing. If they were in the arena, they would definitely be top ranked.

          “Cool sais,” Tanzi told me as she twirled one of themin her hands as if an expert, “Where’d you get them?”

          “Your sister sent them to me as a gift,” I replied to her. I watched as she twirled both of them at the same time. “How do you do that?”

          “Practice,” Tanzi threw one with precision and power, landing it directly into the face of a dummy, and turned to face me with a devilish grin. “I could teach you how to use them if you want.”

          “That’d be awesome,” I nearly lose my seat.

          Since then, we’ve been inseparable. If I wasn’t with Melissa or Sugar, who is my roommate, then I was with Tanzi. Melissa has been hanging around Mason and Clay a lot lately. She said that she sees Mason as a brother, so I’m not concerned. I just feel guilty that Clay no longer hangs around me and is now with Melissa.

          It’s now the third day, the first day I’ll actually be training. As I walk into the combat area, I catch Alestra warming up. She’s doing hand to hand sparing with a semimuscular guy who doesn’t look like he’s enjoying going up against a seventeen year old girl. I step into the room and notice that Tanzi and Xain are in there also. They’re just chatting about something when they call me over.

          “Good morning,” Tanzi smiles at me, “Ready for your first sparring lesson?”

          “I guess,” I say and shrug, “I’m not sure what new things I’ll learn here.”

          “I agree with Miss Jada there,” Xain winks at me, “We’re top notch fighters who are pretty unprecedented opponents in hand to hand and weapons combat.”

          “Well I heard through the bushes that a certain ninja did some work on you both,” Tanzi teases Xain and nods towards her sister who turns and smiles.

          “My arm’s better, by the way,” Alestra leans against the ropes. She then looks to the man in the ring with her. “Alright, Arthur, that’s enough for today. You can help Miss Anderson warm up now.”

          She does a flip out of the ring, using the rope to propel her, and lands almost lightly on the ground. I don’t know why, but I applaud. She plays along and bows.

          “Thank you, I do my best,” Alestra plays, and the she gestures towards the man, Arthur. “Alright kid, let’s see what you’re made of.”

          “Finally, something easy,” the man says in a semi cocky voice. I’m not appreciative of his tone, or the way he’s looking at me as if I’m weak.

          I hear Xain mumble something that sounds like “Don’t be so sure.” I agree with him as I step into the ring. Arthur is about five-foot-ten and is not very muscular. He reminds me of a scrawnier Brute. I smile and turn to everyone, but catch eyes with Xain, who gives me a thumbs up. I start to say thanks, but then I feel a sparring glove hit me in the side of the head, so I turn to see an annoyed Arthur staring at me, poking a finger at me.

          “Rule number one,” he starts in an annoyed voice, “never take your eyes off your...”

          Before he can complete his sentence, I grab his arm, flip up and wrap my legs around his throat, and slam him to the mat with a powerful impact that rings through the room.