the golden wolf

Training

 I slept pretty good waking up at 4am. I changed and grabbed my watch that helps me track my miles and headed downstairs. It was quiet, and no one seemed to be awake yet, that is until I got outside and saw people patrolling the grounds. I just continued on to the track they had so I could start my run when James stopped me. James was the top warrior here, I told him I couldn’t sleep, and a run always helped. It wasn’t a total lie, but I was told no training without my uncle which they should have known I would disobey.

I started to stretch before I ran 10 miles, this is what takes the longest but to me it’s the most important, since if I wasn’t able to defend myself I would have to run and who knows how far. After about 45 minutes I see James is still watching me. Not caring if I get in trouble I continue my workout with 100 squats, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 50 lunges, and 50 burpees. I ask James if they have a bar for me to do my pull ups and a jump rope for me to do my boxing skips, he leads me to the indoor training area. Once inside I wrapped my hands for the rest of my workout. I did 50 pull-ups and then boxing skips for about 30 minutes. I was working on the heavy bag when I heard the doors to the gym open.

It was the warriors coming in for their training and workouts, so it must be 6am. I stopped and started to unwrap my hands while walking towards the doors. James stopped me looking me over, I just looked up and smiled. Being a little cocky I told him he could join me tomorrow on my work out if he wanted and walked away.

When I was back in the pack house I found a very pissed off uncle waiting for me. I went past him and upstairs to shower and change, I knew I wasn’t getting out of school just yet. I showered and got dressed pulling my hair just up into a ponytail. When I came out of the bathroom Alpha Michael was waiting for me. I must be in more trouble than I thought.

Alpha Michael wasn’t mad at all he came to talk to me about how I was fitting in and asked about this morning. This was my chance to lay it all out, so I did. I asked him if I could do homeschooling if I promised to spend time with the other kids, and he agreed. And then I had to tell him about this morning how training helps me work through my frustrations and it also helps me feel close to my parents since we always did it together. I was shocked when he agreed to let me continue since my uncle said it was only ok if he was around, he asked if there was anything that I used to do and would like to continue. To be honest I missed practicing archery, it really helps me learn focus and patience.

Alpha Michael stood up and said my uncle would be in with a laptop for me to start my online schooling. And that I would be teaching my first-class tomorrow at 3pm. I looked at him confused, what would I be teaching and who would I be teaching. He left the room before I could ask, it would help if I knew what, who and where. But I guess that’s tomorrow's problem.

Class went well online and I finished early, I was so focused I didn’t hear anyone come in and leave the present on my bed. It was a beautiful bow and some arrows with a map. I followed the map and found a new archery area. I immediately started to practice and didn’t realize I drew a crowd until I heard Nova squeal, I jumped and missed my target. I turned to look at her and lowered my bow.

“Hey, I missed you today” I said, walking up to hug her.

“I missed you too. I can’t believe dad set this up I’ve always wanted to learn” she said with her eyes locked on my bow.

“Want to give it a try?” I asked

“Yes” Nova squealed again.

“Ok stand shoulder width apart, listen for the snap as the arrow connects to the string. Hook the

string and have your hand at a 45-degree angle, now lift your bow, and drawback. Use your index finger to curl under your jaw to anchor yourself, aim and release.” I explained as I showed her the steps.

Nova caught on pretty quick and told me there was a class tomorrow at 3pm, and she couldn’t wait to show off what she learned.

With that I cleaned up to head back for dinner, not sure if I should tell Nova I’m the one that’s supposed to be teaching everyone. I’m mean come on I’m 6 do you really think anyone is going to listen to a 6-year-old. And let’s not forget I’m new to the pack so I’m still an outsider to pretty much everyone.

I ate my dinner in silence next to Nova, alpha Michael stood up and announced the class I would be teaching tomorrow for anyone that wants to learn. My face goes red from being embarrassed and I try to quickly hide my face. I hurried up and finished my dinner, so I could go upstairs and go to bed, I was ready for this day to be over.

Once again, I was up at 4am ready to start my morning workout, but I wasn’t alone. James took me up on my offer, wasn’t expecting it but it was nice to have someone to work out with. He did my full workout and when I was leaving around 6am due to the warriors coming in to train I heard him saying training was going to be different today.

I hurried back to the pack house to shower before breakfast. My uncle was waiting for me outside to ask me how my workout was. I told him how James joined me this morning and was going to change up the warrior’s workout now. We both laughed and parted ways after a little so I could shower, and he could go check out the training changes.

I rushed upstairs and showered, put on a new workout outfit so I would be comfortable all day, and then french braided my hair. On my way downstairs, I bumped into Noah who didn’t waste a chance to pick on me. I just kept walking and he ended up pushing me into a wall before he took off. I really don’t know what I did for him to be so mean to me.

I was starting to get used to the huge buffet breakfast, it was nice to have so many choices and as much as I wanted. After breakfast I walked with Nova to school, she was excited about later and wanted to talk. After the bell rang she ran in and I turned around to head back to the pack house to get my school work done.

Homeschool goes a lot faster seeing as there are no distractions and it’s only me so the work goes by fast. I usually do about 3 lessons for each subject, I want to get done with school early, so all my focus can go on training. I know I’m safe now and should try to be a normal 6-year-old but that’s not how I was raised, and let’s face it whoever was after me still is.

After I finished all my lessons I went downstairs for lunch. I quickly ate my sandwich and took a few apples with me for a snack. I ran back upstairs and grabbed both bows I had since I’d probably be there until it was time to teach my class. Still hard to believe Alpha Michael has me teaching a class, but since I’m the only one that knows how to, it falls on me.

When I get to the field uncle Steven is there setting everything up. There is a storage shed over there now for all the training bows along with arrows for practicing. I toss one of my apples over to him and grab some arrows and place them in my quiver.

“Thank you for the snack princess.”

“That’s not for eating, it’s for target practice. Now come on, put it on top of your head.” I smiled.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his face as he thought I was being serious. So, I picked up another apple and took a bite. He shook his head at me as we ate our apples, and then went back to work. The shed was looking great and I was hitting every target when I got an idea. A target standing still is so easy to hit we need a moving target.

Uncle Steven and I got to work on setting up an area for moving targets to be set up. We would have some move up and down, some side to side, and some to move in a big circle. They also move where the target would end up hidden to help make it a little more challenging. I was so excited for this course, but it would be a week or so before it would be ready.

Before I knew it, it was time for me to teach any of the pack members that wanted to learn archery. Of course, Nova was there, Noah only came since his sister was in the class, there were a lot of the kids I saw in class there, and even a few warriors. I was shocked but learning archery would be a good way to protect the pack from a distance.

I had the kids my age learning on recurve bows since they are a little easier to learn, and I had the warriors learning on compound bows since they were better for protecting the pack. Everyone was having a great time and Nova was even helping me with teaching since she learned yesterday. Noah on the other hand sat there glaring at me the whole time, I just continued to ignore him.

By the time I was done explaining the basics, getting everyone’s bow set up, and everyone practicing for a little while it was 5pm. I announced it was time to clean up, so we could go in for dinner, and then stated for everyone to keep practicing and if wanted we would do this again in a week and see how everyone is doing. I of course would still be out here every day, but I wanted the time for me to enjoy it.

It’s been about two-week since my first class and we are finally meeting again since the new course is set up. That way I can see how everyone is doing and also put the warriors to the task of working with a moving target. They need to learn how to judge since if were are attacked they are not going to stay still. I was of course the first to try it out and I’m in love. It does add a level of difficulty I was looking for. I was working on my aim with the targets that go behind trees or a wooden structure when the class filed in.

I stopped what I was doing and assigned them to the areas I wanted them, the kids my age were at the normal target used the first time and I sent the warriors over to the more challenging section. Smiling and picking on my new buddy I had James come front and center and told him to him the target. I wanted to see how his judgement was without my help. He came close but missed the target, when the other warriors laughed I turned and made them do push-ups. They looked confused, but I will not tolerate bullying. When they were finished I had them try their luck at hitting the target none of them hit their mark and James was the closest. They started to try to say it was too hard. I grabbed my bow, aimed and hit the target. When they tried to say it was too easy for me I smirked, grabbed a blind fold and tried again, just to try to even the playing field, I was shocked to find I still made my target.

I told the men I wanted them to try to hit the target while I went to check on the other group, and when I came back I will advise them how to better their technique. The kids group was doing really well and with Nova constantly working with me, I put her more in charge of this group, so I could be working with both groups and not worry about holding any of them back. I told them to keep up the good work and come to me or Nova if they need something and went back to the warriors. By the end of the class most of them were able to hit the moving targets and I told them to get at it, if this was going to be a line of defense for the pack they needed to be able to hit a moving target.