Beginning With the Basics (Part 2)

Writers: Jelena, Leigh M-F.
Date Posted: 29th June 2016

Characters: Genna, A'kua
Description: The lessons continues.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 8
Notes: Part 2 of 2

Genna

When eight more times showed that Genna had a solid understanding of the basic flip, A'kua demonstrated how she could flip someone if they grabbed her biceps from the front: Taking the collar of his tunic and his belt in her hands, spinning and dropping to slam him on his back into the mats. He allowed her to do that ten times as well, and then let both of them take a quick breather before he got them going again. "Time to start throwin' punches. This is why I told you to wrap your gloves." He stood about two feet away and held up both of his own gloved, wrapped hands. "Use your right hand to aim for my right palm, and do it like I showed you with the punchin' bag."

}: Maybe because he is a more serious person? :{ Lissath mused. Genna could be a very serious person too, though, and she could still sense the undertones of her fear at that Gather and the worries over that stupid bronzerider. But she also knew Genna thrived on activity and that this would do her good.

Genna wasn't paying much attention to the draconic conversation going on behind them, but instead balled her fist like A'kua had shown her before and took a swing at her friend's right hand.

Zei pondered that. }:He is serious, but he also feels things strongly. It confused me sometimes,:{ he admitted. }:I want him to be happy.:{

A'kua didn't pay his dragon any mind at the moment either. He caught Genna's fist and pushed it aside harmlessly due to the padding. "Good. Left fist to my left hand now. Back and forth, over and over, until I tell you to stop."

}: He isn't happy? :{ Lissath asked seriously. }: Mine has had a lot more unhappy moments too, lately. Sometimes I can even feel it somewhere inside her when she's with me. She used to always be happy then. So I'm glad she's having fun with your rider now. :{

Genna followed A'kua's instructions earlier, but as she kept punching, she soon realised she was getting out of breath a lot quicker than she usually did. "Wow, this is pretty intensive!"

}:It's not that he's never happy. When he is, it's like he was never sad. I just wish he could be happy all the time, that's all,:{ Zeiranth explained to his dam.

"You'll get used to it." If he had his say, anyway. "All right, take a breather. Let's talk about a couple more things before our time runs out. When we move on to kicks, I don't want you aimin' at my groin. Men tend to expect that from women. Aim at my knees and below."

"Are you sure you aren't just scared of how hard I'll hit?" Genna teased with a wink. She could understand why A'kua would advise against it, but she bet that if she ever did get into a serious situation with a man and she had a clear shot, well, she would aim right for the groin. If she had control over her body, that is, unlike last time.

"Genna, this is about formin' the habits you'll need," A'kua said firmly. "I probably shouldn't even be mentionin' kicks, since once your feet leave the ground, there goes your balance. But it's still needed sometimes. Now, come here." He motioned to a space in front of himself again. "One more thing we should cover, and since you're pretty tall, this will come in handy."

Genna complied and stepped forward, into the space A'kua indicated. "So I just kick you?" she asked. Hitting someone's handpalms was one thing, but kicking them in the shins was another.

"No, not yet. Notice where your head is in relation to mine," A'kua said. "If you threw your forehead into my face, you could break my nose. And if I was holdin' you from behind, the back of your head would do the job too. Broken noses are excruciatin'. Anyone hit hard enough in the nose will immediately start tearin' up and won't think straight for several heartbeats. That's enough time to get a head start and run like wild whers are after you." He nodded to his friend. "Now we start with kicks. Slow and gentle at first, so you get used to it." He clasped Genna's biceps firmly, as if he were an assailant.

"Right," Genna nodded in response to the comments about headbutts. Then she nodded again when she got the 'go' on the kicks. She lifted her left leg in slow-motion and aimed the ball of her foot at A'kua's shin, barely touching it, just marking the spot.

"Good, but your balance is off. Shift your other foot out a couple inches- aye, just like that. That gets your hips closer to the ground. All right, again."

Genna followed instructions carefully, once more tapping A'kua's leg in slow-motion, now paying extra attention to her balance, though she wasn't exactly sure what she should be paying attention too.

It took several repetitions of mock-kicks and toe-stomps before A'kua was satisfied with Genna's progress. He released her and started unwinding the cloth strips from his gloves. "I think that'll be it for today." Then he issued his challenge: "Same time next sevenday?"

"I'll be here," Genna said, wiping the sweat from her brow. This was more intense than she had imagined, but also more exhilarating and fun. If it wasn't for the reason she had started on the whole ordeal, she'd be giddy with excitement. "Thank you for helping me A'kua. I really feel that if I practice this enough, I won't freeze up and be able to actually do something, if I ever get into some kind of scuffle again."

**With any luck, you'll never need what I'm teachin' you, even if you do get used to it.** "I'll be here too." He started rolling up the cloth and thinking about ways to properly armor himself when it came time for full-contact sparring. "Hey. For what it's worth, I'm proud of you. It's not easy to stop bein' afraid; even less so to stop bein' angry and turn that energy elsewhere." He knew that last part well.

"Thank you," Genna said, though she realized she hadn't exactly stopped being scared yet. Training with A'kua was one thing, actual danger something entirely different. But, like she'd said, if she practiced enough, maybe she'd get past freezing on the spot at least. "I'll go freshen up, see you around!"

"See you," A'kua said, and watched her head out. **Was this the right thing to do, Zei?**

}:Mother seems to think so,:{ Zeiranth answered with a mental shrug.

**Well.... all right.** The weyrling tucked the rolled cloth into his belt and started tidying up the room. **Until next time, then.**

Last updated on the July 6th 2016

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Beginning With the Basics (Part 2)