[FIN] Serious Business [Bee]

[Dark]

Reisz was right, of course. Her parents were probably frantic with worry, especially momma, not to mention what her sisters must think, and it would ease their minds to know she was settled and safe. Myfanwy didn't think she would include her exact location, however, in an attempt to dissuade any attempts to come and drag her home or some other such nonsense. It was something her father might be inclined to do at the behest of a worried momma, and it was better to avoid the possibility all together.

Nothing would be allowed to distract her from the training Reisz was so generously offering, not even her sisters. This was something she needed to do on her own, without the interference of her family. The occasional letter updating them would have to suffice for any separation anxiety anyone might experience.

She nodded to Reisz, "I know. I'll write the letter."

[Bee]

Reisz fixed her up with a pen and a sheet of paper and had her get to work. She may as well be doing something useful with her time while Reisz kept an eye on supper. The mail she could get out with the morning, but it likely wouldn't leave the Veldt itself for a good week--all the better to write it as soon as possible.

When the food was done, she spooned a hearty heap of it into a wooden bowl and handed it to Myfanwy. "Feast, wee one," she said, invitingly. "The morning will require all of thy strength. Might fancy turning in early, even. We'll be rising early. I'll work ye out a bit, take ye on my patrol, and then I can work ye out some more." She spooned an even larger helping into her own bowl. She liked her food tangy and delicious.

[Dark]

Momma, Daddy, Liadan, Ffion, Eulalie, Shirin, Ianthe, and Kielo:

I have completed the first leg of my journey, and found someone to train me! I'm not sure when I'll be able to return home, but I wanted to let you that I'm safe and thinking of you.

I'll write again soon.

Kisses to everyone,
..........................Myfanwy

Letter written and folded and carefully addressed, Myfanwy turned her attention to the meal presented to her. It was much spicier than she was used to and it made her eyes tear up something awful after the first bite, but when she got used to the heat she decided she liked it. Quite a bit. She had seconds, before being sleepily led to the cot she would bed down on for the night.

She was so excited that she didn't think she would be able to sleep, but exhaustion won over and she quickly slipped into dreamless slumber.

Tomorrow it would begin.

[Bee]

They rose before the sun the next morn and Reisz introduced Myfanwy to the stretches and warm-up exercises she would be doing from here on out into the foreseeable future. The little lass wasn't accustomed to strenuous physical activity, it was clear, especially in a place that could get as hot as the Veldt. Endurance was more than like to be the first and principal goal of Myfanwy's training regimen.

The beat was good for that. Patrolling Reisz's fields, her little settlements, was a long task with a right lot of footwork. She made the girl sprint whenever she got too complacent--made her rest and imbibe sufficient amounts of water in addition. When it came right down to it she wasn't working the girl nearly as hard as she could--she needed to get acclimated, after all.

And she did derive a certain amusement from showing her to her people.

"My charge," she told them. "The young cadet Myfanwy."

They welcomed her warmly. Her people were good people. Especially to a Heart.

[Dark]

Cadet. Myfanwy enjoyed the sound of that, and the attention she got when Reisz introduced her to people, though it was a bit overwhelming; she did not, however, enjoy all the walking and running forced on her. What did walking have to do with fighting?

She didn't dare complain, though. She was a cadet now, and she would act accordingly. She would trust Reisz and do as she was told, and she wouldn't complain. Even if she couldn't see the point of all the walking.

Reisz was obviously well-respected and liked in her community, and Myfanwy had grown to admire her by the end of the day, despite all the walking. She was eager to start real training, but she would let Reisz set the pace; the woman obviously knew what she was doing.

When they returned to Reisz' house that evening, Myfanwy barely managed the effort required to eat her dinner before collapsing into her bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

So much walking.

[Bee]

[5 Years Later]

It was, Reisz figured, time for the bloody-minded butterfly lass to be put to her final exam. Originally she had counted on nothing of the sort, perhaps tackling the girl herself one last time to see how she fared--and one of the things Reisz had come to enjoy about being a teacher was to learn new things herself, hone her skills. A good natured tussle it would be, more than anything. The years had been kind to Myfanwy but they had been kind as well to Reisz.

But by dint of fortune--for, of course, a given definition of fortune--her area was beshrewed by some motley-minded little geck who had been driven quite to distraction by work in the mines. Dangerous as plague and just as mindless. Maimed a few of her own, even, and for that he would receive his comeuppance.

But they were Myfanwy's people now too. This was her test.

[Dark]

Myfanwy had spent five years under Reisz' tutelage. Five years spent learning about combat, and diplomacy, and an inordinate amount of time walking places. Myfanwy did not mind the walking so much now as in the beginning; it had taught her about endurance, the land, and the people in it. They were her people now.

In all the time, Myfanwy had never handled an assignment of such caliber on her own. Oh, she knew Reisz was trailing her--the woman was making no real effort to conceal herself, and Myfanwy found she did not mind--but she wouldn't interfere unless the situation became desperate. Myfanwy understood the gravity of the situation, and was determined to do her mentor proud.

Myfanwy considered the tiny shack she had followed the criminal too--tracking him down had been none too difficult--and considered the best approach.

An individual was usually sentenced to the mine for a stint as punishment for more serious misdemeanors--hard physical labor was an inspiring incentive to tread the straight and narrow--but the man had already been in the mines, and his latest outburst had proven him unsafe company for others. He was unpredictable, and dangerous, and the Veldt had a short patience in concerns to repeat offenders. His judgment would be left with others, however. Myfanwy was only to detain him.

She approached the shack cautiously.

[Bee]

Reisz kept herself at a respectable distance. She had little enough inclination to interfere with the state of affairs or make Myfanwy feel she was under any particular breed of scrutiny, but she needed to watch the girl's form and besides it was just good sense to make herself available in the unlikely event that things so south in a hurry.

It was quiet around the shack. Considering they knew he was home, not a good sign. Suddenly, a low rattle, like things on a shelf being shaken in an earthquake. Then the door burst open. That was inaccurate. The door flew off, hit the dusty ground with a plume of choking dust. A white-gold mass of wolf leapt through, aiming his teeth directly for Myfanwy's throat.

Well, it looked like the negotiation for arrest was going to be a little more aggressive than even Reisz had originally figured.

[Dark]

He was--big. Myfanwy registered this as she dove out of his way, adrenaline flooding her system. She came out of the roll on her feet, and watched as her opponent skidded to a halt.

"Ser, it would behoove you to come quiet--"

Myfanwy dove out of the way of another exuberant lunge. She was pleased with his response; she wanted this brawl.

Overcoming such a difficult opponent would be sufficient in proving herself. He had a distinct advantage in body mass--for all her training, there was nothing to cure her of being petite--and if she allowed him close, it was over. If. Myfanwy was light on her feet, and she didn't plan on letting him approach until she was ready.

It was with a certain amount of glee that she evaded his grasp once more. She would let the male tire himself out a measure, before she made to incapacitate him.

[Bee]

The wolf snarled. He nearly seemed beyond speech but mumbles were dribbling out his mouth regardless, breathless bits of rubbish; he didn't seem to realize that talking was not a free action, but it didn't seem to cost him much. Bits and pieces were recognizable, as he dove at Myfanwy again and again, disease and never go back and kill all of you, a mad little litany.

Finally he paused a moment, not so much in exhaustion but epiphany. As though finally realizing he had a rank, a Suit, he pawed at the ground and fist-sized crags of sediment erupted, perhaps half a dozen of them, and he sent them hurtling at rather distressing speed at Myfanwy at different angles, perhaps to get her too busy dodging the new additions to pay full enough attention to the big one.

Reisz watched a little more intently.