Sohalia
Sohalia watched as Melita started to look around, then started her own halfhearted search amongst the trees. She wasn't sure exactly what she was searching for, but it didn't matter: Melita returned with a long, sturdy stick, and Soh took it gingerly from the other woman. She started with her grip too close together; that didn't feel right, so she spread her hands further apart. She tried to copy Melita's grip, trying to get used to the way the wood balanced in her hands. "Like that?" she asked, her voice uncertain.
Next, she tried swinging the stick, as Melita had instructed, but she found that it was much harder than it looked. The end of her stick whacked her in the side a few times, and she winced, embarrassed by her lack of knowledge and ability in front of someone who clearly knew what they were doing. "Sorry," she muttered to no one in particular, knowing that she felt ridiculous and that she probably looked even worse. But she tried again, sliding her hand further down the stick, this time succeeding in swinging a wide, sweeping arc around her without hitting herself.
Next, she tried swinging the stick, as Melita had instructed, but she found that it was much harder than it looked. The end of her stick whacked her in the side a few times, and she winced, embarrassed by her lack of knowledge and ability in front of someone who clearly knew what they were doing. "Sorry," she muttered to no one in particular, knowing that she felt ridiculous and that she probably looked even worse. But she tried again, sliding her hand further down the stick, this time succeeding in swinging a wide, sweeping arc around her without hitting herself.
