Beyond the Spirit

A Teachable Moment

---POV Lily---

I slowed to a walk as I looked around the dense shrubbery until I found it. A small nook a little further in, nestled within the foliage of the trees. I dug my feet into the ground and pushed myself up to grab a sturdy vine. The momentum pulled my body toward a solid place to start climbing. I let my claws elongate and focused on the trek ahead of me. From Georgie’s timing, I think I have about ninety seconds left, and I’ll make them count.

Once my claws dug into the bark for the last time, I hoisted myself up on the branch and used my remaining thirty seconds to catch my breath. It would really suck if I got caught because they could hear me after I did all that work.

“Just to let you know. If you beat them, they are out of the running, so fighting is also part of your job, Lil’.” I closed my eyes and listened to the rustle of the trees, the small birds flapping in and out of their branches and the simplicity of a small brook about a mile or so away as I attempted to drown out his words. I loved the woods. Not just because I am a wolf…no. It’s because of the silence it brings. The pure joy one feels in its embrace and the solace that there might not be any people, but you are never alone.

I resituated myself as I heard the gun go off. I guess it was time to stock out my prey. “Oh, we won’t be gentle.” My wolf finally called back to Georgie’s once I’d found my calm. That was imperative to keep focus and one of the many things any warrior should take to heart before walking onto any battlefield. A clouded mind has clouded judgement. Clouded judgement leads to deadly consequences.

The yips from his wolf made me smile while I continued to wait. I could already hear footsteps as I allowed my sense of smell and hearing to take over. It’s pretty helpful in a fight to use the senses that many forget to eliminate on their opponents. Each soft pad of their shoes pressing against the floor was disappointing as they continued to walk right under me. At one point, someone saw my footprints, but after the trail ran cold, they decided to split up instead of look up.

They really are beginners.

I took a deep breath, and the scents consumed me, but there was one that I hadn’t found yet. James. I guess they gave the newbies a head start. “You are cruel, you know that, right?!” Marí shouted in my mind.

I jolted at the sudden shouting that interrupted my peace. In my defense, I had been up here almost two hours at this point. I think my butt has gone numb. “And why is that?” I asked back.

“You can’t hide forever. I’ve been training with you since we were young. Anything you were taught, I was taught better.”

I bit my tongue knowing she wanted me to laugh and reveal my location. “Uhuh.” I called back while both my wolf and I rolled our eyes at her nonsense.

“My team will find you.” She called again and I just yawned. I wonder if I really have been up here for two hours. I haven’t heard Georgie call time yet. Boring. So, all I have to do is wait for now.

“Isn’t that right spider monkey?!” Marí shouted up to me. Sh*t. I leaned over just a bit while my now crossed legs kept my balance. Of course, she made her team versatile. She had a wolf, vampire, and two fairies. I’m sure, if it was up to her, she would have added a pixie to the mix. The one fighting style I didn’t really enjoy dealing with or learning.

Either way, what she has was a good strategy on her part, especially since she is a hybrid herself. All she needed was the advantage in the sky when it came to hunting wolves. Especially ones like me who can climb. The rest were just throw aways. I laughed lightly while her hands fell on her hips. “Come on down and enjoy the fun!” She called, laughing along with me. Just like I wasn’t a fan of pixie strategies, she hated climbing unless she absolutely had to. She knows how, so I wonder why climbing bothered her so much. I think it started shortly after I woke up in the hospital all those years ago.

“It wouldn’t be fun to stay up here all day though.” My wolf hummed.

“Yeah, I guess we can come down to play.” I called back to her before standing to my feet and launching off the branch’s edge. I front-flipped a couple times to slow the landing before my feet hit the moist dirt below.

The girl standing next to…. What’s her name? Oh yeah, Grace was scoffing at me as if I was hindering her life story. “You are going to just give up? We still have like five minutes before the upperclassmen are allowed to hunt.” Aidia. I remember her now. She’s not a bad fighter, as of the quick show and tells we did on the first day of class, but let’s see how she does with an actual opponent.

“You could have just waited. I would have loved to see them kick your ass.” Grace added through her teeth.

I shook my head and shifted the waistline of my black leggings while strands of hair fell over my pink and turquoise sports bra. Marí clapped, her hands together, grabbing the attention of the group. “It’s not that simple, Aidia. We have to actually fight her to beat her. You shouldn’t rely on your upperclassmen either, Grace.” She called and I could tell why she picked those two. I guess they weren't just extras. Ruffling my feathers. Check.

I sighed and leaned my shoulders on to the tree trunk behind me. It was wide enough and provided good cover. “Ding, Ding, Ding! We have a winner.” I called. If I can hold out from fighting, I can keep my energy for when the guys come after me.

“Screw it, I refuse to let them get the credit. If we bring her in, then the professor will stop giving her special treatment. She isn’t that perfect! We can take her by ourselves!” Grace called, rallying the others. Well, everyone aside from Marísol.

“You can try, I am more than happy to fight you.” I hummed, taunting her juvenile behavior.

“You will lose!” Grace shrieked. Is she about to have a temper tantrum?

“Stop!” Mari called. Damn. I was hoping to have more fun before she caught on. “She is stalling. Do as we practiced, and we can take her. Focus!” She looked around at her group and they nodded, but if she wanted to play the annoy me game, I can happily stoop to that level.

I raised my hand their way and curved my fingers towards me. “I would enjoy the warm-up.”

As predicted, without listening – or thinking really – the brown-haired bimbo decided to run full throttle at my body. I waited until I could feel her breath on my skin before slipping from around her and allowing the tree to do all the work. Grace collided with the sturdy structure, and it definitely raddled a bit. Not surprising really. She is hardheaded. I shook my head as her limp body hit the floor. She’s fine. We’ll drag her back later.

I turned back to the group that seemed to hesitate now. Group mentality really is comical. “Learn to use your environment to your aid! We are creatures of the forest. Use it!” I called, holding my hands behind my back. I can at least give them some tips if they want to fight me.

Aidia gritted her teeth and started to attack me, but this time it seemed more coordinated than before. But, each bolt of power was still easily avoidable. I kept my eyes on the vampire, exchanging glances with Marísol while she continued to circle our fight. I took in a breath and started to giggle lightly. “So, you plan to use the others to distract me. Smart.” I confessed, finally letting her know she isn’t that unreadable.

The problem with the strategy is simple though. Those doing the distracting must be able to hold their own long enough for the sniper to catch their prey. Aidia is a fairy, and a strong one in visual combat, but when the attacks are coming at her as easily as she was giving them, she seems to become flustered and tired easily.

Finally having enough of this, I snapped a vine from its branches and tied her hands and feet together, forcing her to submit, before jumping back to the safety of my tree trunk. Not long after, I heard distinct running, and it was directed towards us. Then…the smell of blueberries followed right after. I guess my time was up.

The upperclassmen were here.