Two days passed with them practicing running. Today Lacey stood, feet spread and firmly planted in the dirt, a dagger in hand. "Ok. Now keep your feet light and quick, when fighting with knives and daggers you need to be quicker than your opponent, because a split second can be life or death."
She nodded and Silvia stood a couple feet away in the same position she nodded. Lacey today was wearing a dear fur dress that barely reached her knees if you pulled down hard enough. Her white dress was soaking in the stream because even with her best effort it still had some bad brown stains.
"Now remember that you are going to need to anticipate your opponent's moves. this goes for every form of fighting." Ray continued, then taking up the same position he looked at them. "Now come at me with all you got."
"But your unarmed…" Lacey protested hesitating. "Don't worry about me, I don't mind a few cuts." Ray nodded, she ran at him trying to get a strike in, Silvia too was on him, he knocked them away without a sweat, they ran at him again and again.
Finally, Ray called a halt. Lacey dripping with sweat dropped onto a rock. "That was good. But you still didn't even touch me." Ray said, Silvia scoffed, throwing her dagger at a tree it sunk in deep then fell onto the ground. "Now. Are you girls ready for a run." Ray said smiling.
"Oh, come on…" Silvia groaned Lacey shook her head but got up anyway. Tim, who had been watching, smiled as they moved into a line. ready. "Ready…. Set…. GO!!!" Tim called and they took off. This was the third day they had run.
Lacey was already getting better at breathing and was now right behind Silvia and Ray. After they ran they talked about weapons and ways to use them.
The next day was a lot the same they tried again two on one, Silvia and Lacey on Ray while Tim watched then ran and then talked the training turned into a route and they continued for another five days.
"Can you believe that it's been two weeks. I finally took off my cast." Tim said excitedly coming to sit beside the others who were sitting in a circle doing their lesson. "Wow. It's really been that long!" Lacey exclaimed as she watched Tim flex his leg for all to see.
"Does that mean we can go back? That reminds me I should check Lilly's wing." Silvia jumped up and started untying the vines. The brace fell away, Lilly flexed her wings then made a happy quack before taking off, she flew but it was quite Sloppy so she came back down.
They all laughed at her as she smothered Silvia in her bird hug. "when should we leave?" Silvia said looking at Lacey and Tim. Tim jumped back up. "We can't leave yet I haven't got the sword Ray promised me." Ray stood up too.
"Yeah, we should get you that as soon as possible." Silvia and Lacey stood too. "You guys go find the sword and we will make dinner. We will leave in the morning." Silvia said.
Lacey nodded but Ray and Tim looked at Silvia. "So soon?" Ray asked. Silvia sighed. "Oh. Well I guess we still don't have away to get up the mountain unless Lilly can take us by air but her wing is still quite weak." Silvia said contemplating.
"Well, I might have a way we can go. But let us go get that sword first."
"You do? Wait! "WE"?" Silvia asked, Ray shrugged. "Well. I was thinking I could go with you guys. Plus, I'm not done training you guys." Ray said rubbing his neck. Ray shrugged and headed into the forest. Tim followed.
The girls went into the treehouse and started prepping for the meat. "Why do you suppose Ray wanted to come with us?" Silvia asked Lacey, smiling. "He doesn't want to be alone, maybe we have grown on him." Silvia giggled.
"Well I don't mind him coming with us."
"Me either." Lacey said. They gathered everything up and had it all ready to go, even dried meat for the trip. When Tim got back, he carried a metal blade that looked quite simple but beautiful. They slept one last time in the treehouse in the bed fit for a queen.
The next morning before the sun had even risen, they were up and ready to go but were waiting for Ray.
They sat on the grass under the treehouse. Ray walked out of the woods dressed in a cloak. You could see tips of daggers on his belt. "Sorry, to keep you waiting." He grinned.