Obsidian Monarchy

Strength

Before they began their third day of traveling, Seraphina vowed to start her day with light exercise. She had been restricted to her room for too long, though at least she had a bed instead of sleeping on the cold stone floor of the dungeon. The young woman had spent many moons locked up and beaten because she refused to act in the manner that Madam Hunt wanted.

Seraphina began stretching her arms, pulling them back over ahead and lunging forward, stretching out their legs. She wanted to be limber for her light jog around the camp. In the background, Aster was laying down, watching her as she stretched.

Curiosity filled his eyes before he stood up slowly, shook out his mane until he settled down into his human form. He wore the same clothes as he had after they the baker's house. He pulled his hair back into a low bun. Strands of brown hair cascaded over his face. His beard had grown longer even in wolf form but just barely.

Aster was overwhelmingly handsome in human form, now that she could see him clearly for the first time. Seraphina had become accustomed to his wolf form, forgetting that he could shift. He had a direct form of communication, though it was clear he disliked speaking.

Striding up to her now, she saw he was bare foot. As he walked over to her, his toes reached into the grass.

Smiling at him she said, “It's nice to see another person's face. I like your wolf form, but sometimes I just miss the company.” He nodded slowly, then corrected her stretching form. Confused, she looked up at him.

He pressed at her arms again until she followed his direction. Slowly, he began showing her ways to stretch. After a short while he stepped back and began showing her positions for her to stand, they stood in those positions for long periods of time. He would slowly transition from one pose to the other, periodically looking over at her and correcting her stance. When he finally let her rest, her body was weak and shaking.

The rest was short. Eventually, she had both her hands and feet on the ground while arching her back. They did this for a long time until all of her limbs were shaking and she couldn't take it any longer.

While they were breathing, the feeling of this type of exhaustion is welcomed. It reminded her that she was alive. The rush of the blood through her veins reminded her that she was the closest to free than she had been for close to half her life.

Before she could settle down, she watched as Aster arch his back and move to the next position. His face reflected no emotions yet she could understand what his intent was.

He settled down into a seated position with his legs crossed. Motioning for her to follow. She sat beside him. While watching him he closed his eyes, put his hands on his knees and breathed, making it very clear that the intention was to focus on his breathing.

Her gaze softened when she realized that he was showing her how to calm herself. He likely had used this many times over the years inn his wolf form to keep himself from attacking those he did not mean to attack.

Copying him. They sat and breathed for what felt like forever. By the end, her body was relaxed. Her mind was at peace and she was content, but also exhausted. He then stood up when he could hear that her heartbeat slowed and the stress had eased away.

He held out a hand and helped her to her feet. She thought that meant they were done and they would get ready to leave. Instead, he began a light jog out into the woods. They ran through the woods for nearly as long as they stretched. However, she was just as out of breath as she was before.

They had made a large loop circling around a small hill, made it back to their campsite. Depleted of the remaining energy she had, she dropped to the ground, threw her head back and just panted to the sky. Laughing at him Seraphina smiled and said, “I just wanted to do a light jog.”

A small smile turned his lip up. He shrugged and walked over to the small stream that they camped near, picked up a glass and filled it with water. Walking over to her, he handed her the glass. Watching him move, she could tell he wasn’t even winded.

“Strong is better.” he said.

She chugged from the glass, but not too much to prevent herself from throwing up. When she was done, she was still panting, but looking over at him she nodded. “You're absolutely right.”

Enjoying the cold breeze of the air before standing again, Seraphina leaned back onto her hands and basked in the sun. Aster watched her with a blank stare, he likely spent most of his time in wolf form. He looked down at her and said, “Tomorrow we do this again.” He then walked off.

“I would like that. I think it might help if you spent more time in your human form. Practice for when we enter society again.” She watched as he walked away, she could see his broad shoulders shifting under his thin tunic.

A few paces away, he shook out his body, his mane coming back. He walked over to their bags that were already packed then brought them over to her and dropped them on her lap. He waved his head in a motion that told her that it was time to go. Aster hadn’t agreed but also didn’t refuse her request.

Wiping off the last of her sweat, her clothes still damp, she stood up. Seraphina grabbed the bags, putting one on her back, the other on her chest. She then pulled herself onto his back. Aster had made a valid point, the easiest way to protect herself was to get stronger.

Aster was going to help her do that. Fortunately for her, that was something she was going to enjoy. They pounded through the woods for hours on end and by the time they arrived at their next stopping point it was midday.