When Thomas swung open the basement door, a sudden shriek echoed through the room as Courtney recoiled at the sight of a swift spider darting across the floor. Niall, ever the jester, couldn't resist a chuckle, earning a stern look and a playful punch from Courtney.
"Not funny," she retorted, her gaze firmly fixed on Niall. With a gesture, Thomas redirected their attention to the task at hand.
"Alright, enough goofing around. Let's get downstairs," he directed, pointing to the lower level. Tierney took charge, pulling out her cell phone to call Ka Sandra.
"Hello?" Ka Sandra's voice answered upon picking up.
"Hey Ka Sandra, it's Tierney. Can you come over real quick?" Tierney requested as she paced around.
"I'll be there in a jiffy," replied Ka Sandra before ending the call. As Tierney anxiously paced, Ka Sandra emerged from the shadows within the house.
"So, what do you need?" Ka Sandra inquired, approaching Tierney.
"Can you convert the basement into a gym? It's for Thomas and me to train the kids," Tierney explained.
"Sure, but Katherine has a pendant that reflects any magic. Let Thomas know she needs to take it off for training. Tell him it's my advice. She can put it back on when she's done," instructed Ka Sandra, effortlessly disappearing back into the house's shadow.
With Ka Sandra gone, Tierney made her way to the basement door, opening it and descending the stairs before shutting the door behind her.
"Let's get started," declared Thomas, grabbing a wooden staff from the wall. "Grab a staff, and let's begin."
As the kids picked up wooden staffs, Tierney rejoined them. "What took you so long?" Thomas questioned, eyeing her.
"Just chatting. You know how Ka Sandra is – always talking," Tierney responded as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"I think it's the other way around, sis," teased Thomas, tossing her a wooden staff.
"Oh, almost forgot," Tierney remembered, turning to Katherine. "Ka Sandra said you need to take off the necklace for training."
"Okay, I will," agreed Katherine, removing her necklace. "Now, attack as if you want to take me down," instructed Thomas, lifting his staff.
As the kids attacked, a series of hits and near-misses unfolded. Niall took a tumble, Kristen showcased some impressive moves, and Courtney landed a solid hit on Thomas. Finally, it was Katherine's turn. Swiftly spinning her staff, she displayed her mother's agility.
"I can see you've got your mom's speed," acknowledged Thomas with a smile. "Let's see if you can use it."
The training session continued, with Katherine engaging in a fast-paced exchange of swings and strikes, showcasing her inherited skills. Each participant contributed to the dynamic dance of staffs, weaving a tapestry of movement and camaraderie within the transformed basement gym.