Prey no more

Jp with Cindy and Bandorchu

It had been several days since the bee hive move. Enough time for Islana to go through another round of hunting duties, get slightly above her quota and for her bee stings to heal.

That being the case, the young huntress had come to another day off.
Days off were spent helping Alexis, Gonyaul and Boyce with what they needed from her and some days hunting for their own food supply. Though she still didn't venture particularly far from camp.

The young woman had asked Alexis to teach her some self defense moves. The Mercenary had agreed though they hadn't had a good day to start.

It was morning, of a day, that was what spring was known for. Clear blue skies, pleasant temperatures. Islana had just finished cleaning up from breakfast and went to Alexis to see what was next.

Islana found Alexis at the little training ground she had set up, going through her training routine.

Upon noticing the young huntress’ approach, the mercenary smiled.

“Hey there.”

Islana spotted Alexis at the training ground and watched her for just a moment before heading over to her.

Returning the smile, "Hey, I don't have to hunt today so I'm all yours."

Some days she left for hunting a little later than other days, so, it was usually good to mention when it was a day off.

“Is that so? Very good.”

Alexis finished up her move set and sheathed her sword.

She walked over to her young friend.

“So. What exactly are we aiming for?”

Islana thought for a moment.

"Maybe, starting off with some moves I could do without a weapon. I would like to learn how to better use my knife in self defense but I'm guessing that can come a little later."

The mercenary nodded her affirmation.

“Alright. Just to let you know, what I can show is not fancy, like say, what Voah does.”

She motioned Islana to come closer.

“Surprise is your friend. Let ‘em think you are just a little girl with a pretty face that can’t defend herself. They’ll be in for a nasty surprise.”

Seriously. Even Alexis, who was not only pretty tall for a woman but also quite obviously carrying weapons had her occasional run in with a bulky big boy who apparently thought all her strength went into carrying her breasts.
Had been worse when she was younger and her father had just taken her in. But he, too, had made sure she could deal with that.

“I know it should be obvious, but especially if your attacker is a man, you know very well where it hurts. So there is where you’re going to kick ‘em. With your shin rather than your knee if you can, ‘cause that means you got more space.”

Alexis showed Islana how to move, putting emphasis on her making sure she stood stable when she pulled this off.

The redhead nodded, fancy wasn't something she was aiming for. So that was fine.

Islana knew that getting most to believe she was just a pretty face would be one of the easier things for her. Her height was definitely an advantage in that.

The huntress continued to listen and watch the mercenary.

After she had watched Alexis, it was her time to try, which she did. Islana's managed the move but clearly it would need some practice. The other thing, pretty noticable, was there was a lack of power behind it.

Islana tried twice and then asked, "This is what I pretty much did to - him, that night.". She meant the night with the Preacher. "Except I used my foot. Why can I not seem to get the same level of power?"

“I can chance a guess.”

Alexis looked at her seriously.

“Because you don’t believe you can pull it off. You feel like prey. And prey runs. It doesn’t fight.”

She gently put a hand on her shoulder.

“You have to get this in your head. You are not helpless. You are not weak. You can fight back. And you don’t need a ton of muscle to do so, you just need to know where to hit. So.”

She smirked.

“Once more. With feeling.”

Prey. That did sum it up. That's how Vasant made her feel. However, she had done this before just with a different enemy.

Islana closed her eyes for a moment and let what Alexis said sink in, she wasn't helpless.

Taking a breath, the red head gave a nod and with the thought in her head that she could fight back, tried the move again. There was definitely more power behind her movements and she managed to pull it off.

Surprised by herself, she glanced to Alexis. "I'm hoping that becomes more second nature."

It wasn't like she'd always be able to mentally prepare herself.

“It will.”

Alexis assured without the hint of a doubt.

“Look at yourself. How much you have grown, in such a short time. You are not the same Islana that you were when you first came here.”

Alexis motioned her over to one of the training dummies she had constructed, sporting a burlap sack filled with grass, straw and leaves.

“Here. More substance than kicking and hitting air.”

The growth that had occurred, Islana had felt inside herself. It was a shift, in everything. She smiled at Alexis though upon hearing those words, it was a rather nice compliment.

Islana walked over to the dummy and got into position. Tried the movement again, it was a little less powerful than last time. Allowing her mind to linger over the idea she was not helpless. This one, more powerful.

"I still feel like it's not quite there." It felt like there was a missing piece, that Islana couldn't put her finger on.

The mercenary observed her. She had an idea, but she didn’t like it.

“… there is one thing we can try. But I am not sure it won’t do more harm than good.”

Islana assumed that if the idea was going to be something she wasn't ready for she could just tell Alexis that.

"What is it?"

A little hesitation in her voice, but still wanting to know

Alexis stood next to her, looking at the dummy.

“This training. It is not just about becoming generally more prepared for trouble, is it.”

It wasn’t even really a question. They both knew it.

“You have a specific person in mind.”

The mercenary pointed at the dummy.

“Envision him.”

She turned to look Islana in the eyes.

“Show the bastard what you got.”

There was no need to respond, it was clear Alexis knew why Islana was doing this.

Envision him. That part wasn't difficult. The part that was, was to do so and just not feel fear.

The young woman starred at the dummy for several moments. Attempting to think she wasn't helpless, it was incredibly difficult to get there.

Islana closed her eyes for a moment, put an image into her mind, it only took an image of one time.

Something was felt inside of the young woman, with the words that she could fight back. A feeling that been long buried.

Her green eyes shot open and with all the force she could muster, hit the dummy. Then she it hit again and again.

With tears on her face she stopped and bent over to catch her breath. Then uttered, "I really hate him."

The mercenary crouched next to her. Unlike Gonyaul, she was more mindful about touching her, tending to keep it fleeting and with ample room for Islana to back away.

“And that is alright.”

She smiled a little.

“Even if Gonyaul, bless his heart, may disagree.”

Islana started to stand, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

The comment about Gonyaul made her smile a little, "He probably would."

The young woman glanced at the dummy, as she continued to regain herself, "I do think I need some water before trying that again."