A Fox Among Wolves 11/26/11

Hitomi and Sakura had ignored their sparing and stood watching the lesson. At first Brandychan was doing well. ‘Uh oh!” Hitomi remarked.
“What?” Sakura asked. “He’s moving to a Master’s level of attack I doubt she can cope with it yet.” Hitomi explained. They watch as the Arms Master begins to start to break through her defense. The attacks narrowly miss Brandychan. They watch her change stances and begin to counter in an effort to keep him off balance. “Here it comes!” Hitomi remarked. They watch the Arms Master use the same attack Brandychan had used against him. His move was slightly different and lands on her right side. The crack and the staff cart wheeling past them was a surprise. Hitomi holds Sakura back to keep her from racing up to heal Brandychan’s injured wrist. They both cringe when the Arms Master whacks Brandychan on the butt with his staff. Instinctively they both reach back and feel their own knowing he had done it to them also. “Ooh! And I told her I wouldn’t tell her what he did you in human form if he was upset.” Sakura whispered. “I prefer the scruff of the neck myself.” Hitomi answered. Sakura nods in agreement.

The Arms Master walks up the weapons rack and places his staff on it. He then waves them over and points at the rack. They also place their weapons on the rack. They stand waiting for Brandychan to also return her staff to the rack. She walks up slowly do to her new pain holding the staff in her left hand. She also places her staff on the rack. Standing in line they all wait for the Arms Master’s Instructions. “Kitsume form please.” He instructed. Brandychan concentrated to make sure she didn’t leave her training uniform lying on the matt around her. After the change she realizes that her injured wrist still hurt as did her behind just under her tails. Sitting down was not much fun. “Sakura I want you to do the same training exercises you did the other day. Brandychan you will do the jumps and after you are done tail exercises. Hitomi you will help her with her tail exercises. First you will spar with me.” He instructed and changed to his Kitsume form. They padded over to the far side of the platform to spar. Brandychan begins her jumps. Her sore front leg and rear were a definite problem. After her second fall from the top of the rack she begins to softly sing the basic song of healing as she jumped. She was surprised as a hand catches her by the scruff of the neck in mid air. She turns hanging to look into the Arms Master’s eyes. “No singing healing spells.” He angrily remarked. Brandychan goes limp in his grip. He then sets her back down on the matt. “The purpose of this lesson is to learn to cope with injuries like a sprained wrist or other sore injuries. What if you were hurt and just escaped in Kitsume form? Would you just give up and sit there and let them cage you? Healing even minor injuries in situations can wait. Even if you run away and think you are safe you know that magic can attract other magic users.” He explained and then changed back into his Kitsume form and padded back to Hitomi.