[Training] break your own bones

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

“Nice,” came on a cheeky grin, as she witnessed the launching of stances and arrows, of how it pieced itself together, of how Aurelia’s efforts combined into hitting the target directly in the eye. “Maybe we should have you try next time.” Half a joke, because the sea was ridiculous and dangerous in all the times she’d experienced its movements, its undulations. Then she wandered forward, grabbing hold of the training arrows that had dropped, Fangorn politely escorting and snagging at several with his vines and offering them in return. She scratched the gourd’s head, the smile still lingering, still blooming, while she pondered over the wake of Aurelia’s inquiry, shuffling her way back into the fold.

“I don’t know. They’ve been a problem for a while now.” Her brows furrowed, hands notching one of the armaments, fingers tracing over the feathering for a moment. “I’m tempted to ask Ludo for something before we head out again.” To bombard, to destroy, to obliterate the damned things. But she shrugged, and then continued in her motions again, practiced, routine, honed in to the very fabric of her flesh and bone.

A pull, a tug, a release, sending it forth towards those abominable creatures of the ocean (which was a shame, because she’d always liked whales until meeting those ingrates). The weapon flew in its rapid adornments, but still only managed to zero in on a bony spine, before rolling off with its blunted edge. It’d do no good in that shape and measure, and she clenched her teeth, half-enticed to growl or howl.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Aurelia

and that the world is always our fault
when we did nothing, how did we do wrong?

Aurelia's grin remained as Melita made her comments, flashing it towards the red-haired girl. She chuckled, almost nervous at the prospect, and said, "Maybe. But it's easy enough to hit a target. I've done this sort of thing with throwing knives. So, I doubt I'd do any better than you, especially with how I've been feeling lately." Weaker, is what she meant, but... again, she'd never say it.

She'd never tried to measure herself up against the whales in the ocean, not thinking herself better equipped than anyone currently on the Ark. If they couldn't do it, nothing made her think she could. Though, deep down, she did hope to change that...

But Aurelia eased back, bringing the empty bow down to her hip, as Melita and Fangorn moved forth to collect the training arrows. She'd remain still, steadfast, not even threatening to pick up an arrow until the two of them were far out of potential danger of being struck. Even when they were, Aurelia hesitated, paying attention to Melita's answers.

Aurelia's brows furrowed with Melita's on the topic of the ghost whales. "If only there was a simple solution..." she mumbled, distracted, as she watched the girl fire another arrow towards the whale dummy. On the surface, a well-aimed arrow to the eye should've been enough but, she knew that it was much more difficult than that. And she had little experience with ocean creatures, or the ocean itself. "I used to lure predators away with meat but, I don't know if that would work on these whales. It may not be so easy with them," she remarked, shrugging, "You'd know better than I."

Sure, she had advice to give on such matters but, it was all surface knowledge based on her own experiences. She knew that the wildlife here was distinct and different. Maybe her tried and true methods didn't work on them. "How would Ludo help you with this stuff?" she asked suddenly, pondering on that. She hadn't gone for another arrow yet, focusing on the conversation between them.

and I've been thinking that when we thought
the world would break us, that we weren't wrong

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

A wave of volatile, mercurial excitement, a piqued, brimming, brewing intrigue filled her thoughts at the semblance of throwing knives. The depths of her Cheshire grin unfurled and unleashed into absolute mischief; upon anyone else, the look might have been effervescent. On Melita, it sparked and sizzled into flame and fire and promises of destruction. “Throwing knives? Okay, you can pay me back by showing me that skill.”

A shrug of her shoulders indicated her nuances about the ghost whales. They’d tried outrunning them with sails to no avail. They’d tried hitting them with cannons. They’d tried alleviating efforts by going around, and naught had yet to manage well. “I’m not sure if we’d be able to toss the meat far enough to get them to simply stay away. They’ve done a lot of damage to the Ark in the past, and we probably shouldn't risk it.” How much more could one ship withstand, even with all the repairs? Or was that the key – to arm the vessel herself?

The bow notched along her hands, and her fingers clutched it tightly at the other question – realizing perhaps Aurelia had yet to meet up with any heralds or gods, to understand the influence and potential they had upon the world. She hadn’t embedded or embraced another arrow yet either, eyes flickering back to the targets for a moment, brows furrowing, before alleviating the sentiments brewing and brooding behind her eyes altogether. “Sometimes the gods will give you items or send you on tasks for them. Ludo helped me gain my staff and some of my arrows.” The honeybee went towards the quiver eternally resting along her shoulders, grabbing hold of one in particular – and leaving it in the palm of her hand, where it sparked and sizzled, direct incantations of electricity, might, and power.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Aurelia

and that the world is always our fault
when we did nothing, how did we do wrong?

Aurelia was surprised at the huge grin that ignited Melita's face. She raised her brows for a moment but, they soon lowered in consideration. "Sure," she smiled then, liking the idea that she could repay Melita with something she was actually good at doing. "I could show you some things. I know hunting knives pretty well, too."

She turned to reveal the hunter's knife that was sheathed along her beltline. It would always be there, if Melita went to look for it on another day. Always there; Aurelia's most trusted friend. It was also her most prized possession, for it was all she had of her home and her family. Although, it brought a flash of darkness to her eyes as she looked down at it herself.

"That's true. The Ark is a big ship, as well. Not too good at stealth, is it..." She furrowed her brow and frowned, looking over at the wooden whales, "well, that's frustrating. Hopefully something will work."

She sought out another training arrow, looking over it, weighing it in her hands, remembering the feeling. If she could learn how to make these things, perhaps she could fashion herself another weapon, meant for longer range than her throwing knives. While up close and personal was more Aurelia's style, it did prove to be much more dangerous than keeping a distance. The scars she adorned all across her body were witness to that.


Before Aurelia would turn to face the targets and knotch the arrow to her bow, she turned to ask Melita how Ludo would help. To her surprise, Melita told her about items. Special items, apparently. For, the arrow she pulled from her quiver became imbued with electricity. Aurelia's eyes widened and her mouth parted in awe.

"Wait, so..." she stared down at the arrow as it lay in Melita's hands, "I didn't know they did that for their followers." She lifted her gaze back up to Melita, smirking with interest, "Fire it." She pointed toward the whale dummy and took a step back.

and I've been thinking that when we thought
the world would break us, that we weren't wrong

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

Acceptance of the potential adapting and adopting of skills sent the grin scheming back over her features. Whether or not the crafty, tempestuous-lined smile meant a good or bad omen for Aurelia would remain to be seen – but the excitement careening through the restless honeybee would be enough to sate her for the moment. “Excellent.” She peered over, to glance at the knife, different from her daggers in its shape and consideration, nodding pleasantly.

Discussion of the Ark, its massive, incoming size even over the monumental, never-ending sea, made her furrow her brows slightly, not losing her defiant etchings, sketchings, or tenacity, a promise of its predilections remaining firmly on the surface. “I should probably ask Jack first, so he doesn’t get all broody and grumpy again.” A seditious lift of her chin echoed and occurred regardless, the grin turning into a snicker – mostly because of the time she’d summoned Ludo to assist in them getting the ship safely home. Another roll of her shoulders, and the moment was gone, focusing on the knowledge of weaponry once more.

“Mhm,” she hummed over the droning of the sparks, the electricity, in her hands. The sizzle reminded her of so many things – reflecting puddles in the midst of thunderstorms, in the play of best friends, in the alterations of Helovia and the Rift, in the scars puckered down her back, in the anglings of changes and distinction in power. But she needed no further encouragement as Aurelia pointed to the whale dummy, as she notched the bristling connotations, as she drew back, and listened to it whistle through the air.

Sharp and caustic, it flickered and beck and called to the target, a siren’s song, hastening toward’s the dummy’s spine again, and lodging into the painted adornments. In a spectacular display, the elements crackled, bit, and tore through the goal, flaring with zaps, flares, and flints, and destroying what was left of the ghost whale effigy.

If only things were ever that simple.

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life

Aurelia

and that the world is always our fault
when we did nothing, how did we do wrong?

Aurelia smirked at Melita's instigating expression, at the fiery, honest words that followed. She chuckled at the notion that Jack was ever not broody. "You mean he's ever acted nice? Seems like grumpy is his default mood," she remarked with a smile. Although, she didn't truly mean it. It was all in the name of poking fun, right? Of course she hadn't forgotten what he'd done for her, she just hoped he trusted her in spite of everything.

Which made her mind wander straight back to Melita, standing there with her electric arrow. For a moment, Aurelia considered telling her the truth then. But then Melita was pulling it back against the string of the bow and Aurelia was startled by its wicked song; its promise of searing pain.

Not the right time, it was simply not the right time. It occurred to her, then, how much of a double-edged sword trust was. She didn't want that to be the case with her. This was a new world, a new life. While she might've been the same as she always was, she was also thoroughly changed. Still, she had many changes to make. She wouldn't be her own undoing. Not today, at least.

The arrow landed and the wood crumbled, scattered beneath its unyielding, lightning strike. Green eyes widened even further. "Wow!" She couldn't help the exclamation that left her lips then, genuinely impressed. Watching that ignited something in her veins and she finished knotching the training arrow to her own bow. With steady succession, she was poised and ready to go, aiming it straight for one of the targets. Then, she released it, already feeling improvements in her form. The arrow hissed through the air with intent, thudding against the target.

Her expression was, first, one of bright, shining pride. As she lowered the bow and offered it back to Melita, it softened with amusement. "Well, I hope my boring old daggers won't disappoint you. I'll have to think of a way to spice things up." She smiled, a glint in her eye, "Thanks for the lesson... you're a good teacher. And, hey, I'm sure Ludo can help with the ghost whales. Jack will figure out how to get over it."

and I've been thinking that when we thought
the world would break us, that we weren't wrong

Melita

they should have checked the ashes
of the women they burned alive

She frowned for a moment at the statement, pondering over the memories and contortions of Jack’s moods. When she couldn’t come up with a figment of him not being grumpy, irritable, or surly, the youth shrugged. “No, you’re right.” And she’d leave it at that – owing him something for allowing her to have an occupation along the ship, but not for all the other nuances and circumstances that followed.

Unaware of any earth-shattering moments, save for the swarm of electricity, the crackle and siege upon the plastered, painted wood, the youth remained still as it swarmed around the target, eating, devouring, and consuming it whole. Another could be made; it was a small consolation for the explosion of power and prestige, unfurling from the tips of her fingers and the roll of her muscles.

That it amused and impressed did little to sully the Cheshire grin running rampant over her mouth again – entangling in bemusement, in some amount of satisfaction. Aurelia took to the enthusiasm once more, and she watched the training arrow notched, and then whisked through the air, landing in its thuds and reverberations. “Well done. I think you’ll make an archer yet.”

With the segments of their session coming to a close, Melita bent down to retrieve the rest of the armaments, paying no heed to the scorched portions of earth left behind in her wake. She rose back up, arms full of boxes and belongings, a contented hum under her breath. “I doubt I’ll be disappointed. And you’re welcome.” She nodded, for the whole thing had gone rather well, and there was no distrust flickering or flowing back through them. “I’ll let you know if you can help.” Or if there was to be anything done at all. Then she wrinkled her nose and grinned, before wandering back to the confines of her house, Fangorn at her heels.

{FIN}

because it takes a single wild ember
to bring a whole wildfire to life