I do not own anything except Alexandra and Kenan; the rest belongs to Tamora Pierce.
The hot July sun beat down on the training arena and it's occupants. Inside the enclosure skilled fighters were training in series of unorthodox kicks and punches. Many were tumbling and learning gymnastics. The training grounds were silent except for the sounds of punches and the occasional clang of steel. A sharp whistle blows and the arena becomes a mess of voices and groans. It's now tired trainees collapsing in relief, all except for two figures.
In the corner of the court a young brunette is facing her partner. Her mass of ebony hair is twisted up into an intricate knot that looked as if it should belong on a courtier's head. She was slender, with well-toned arms and legs, that were a tell tale sign of her training. The girl's face was determined and her gray eyes told tales of mischief. She moved with a grace and speed that only a cat had the right to posses, and she knew it.
Her opponent was at ease, and had a soldier's stance. His lean body showed signs of hard work, and near encounters. The man had dark blonde hair and bright blue eyes that seemed to catch every movement. He looked as though he was a farmer just getting done with the days work. He shouldn't have been considered attractive, for all his broken nose and slightly scarred face, but his wide sensual mouth held a smile that thawed even the coldest of court beauties.
As the two circled each other preparing to fight a crowd gathered around them. Youngsters were eager to catch a glimpse of the famed fighter and his student that they had only heard rumors of. The man was legendary in his own right; after all he was the Shang Phoenix, a title that he didn't earn with ease. His student was rumored to be equal or better then her late master, the Shang Unicorn. To top it all off, the pair had been away from the School for 3 years. A period that is almost unheard of. Most Masters took a Shang trainee out for 6 months at the most and then chose another student. This continued on until the student was ready to face their ordeal.
Suddenly the Phoenix sprang to action. He spiraled into a kick and a fury of punches. His student had reacted the moment she saw movement using a back flip to escape the coming onslaught. Once the flip was landed she twisted and brought her leg up to kick out. The rest of the match was a blur of arms and legs. Until suddenly the girl got a strong kick in on her teacher and he stumbled for a split second. Not hesitating she struck again and again not giving him the chance to balance as he fell to the floor. Once on the ground she was on him in a flash, her knee positioned in the small of his back, and a hand on a pressure point as if she didn't trust him to stay down.
"Alexandra you can let me up any time now." The Shang grumbled, now use to his student knocking him down.
"I'm sorry oh wise and strong master but I had to savor the moment, and rub your face in the dirt." Alexandra laughed. "After all, It's not going to happen much more."
With a grin the lithe girl pulled her teacher from the ground.
"You know I never use to have this many back problems," The Phoenix muttered.
"It's the price you pay for living to be 40." The girl taunted.
Smirking the Shang simply shook his head, sweat flying everywhere. Now that the fight was over the crowd was slowly disappearing. Now they could talk.
Steering the girl away from the trainees, her teacher began to worry. Was he right in sending her out this soon, only one other Shang had finished training as quickly as she had. Unfortunately the elders had approved him too quickly and he was killed before the year was out. Now Kenan hoped that he was making the right decision in requesting that the elders approve Alexandra into a full Shang ranking.
Alexandra was never a girl that could sit still when she could be training, so when Kenan got into his brooding moods, she just left him sitting on a log starring into space. Even though she had just fought she could still taste the battle lust in her blood. Shaking her hair out of the bun she decided to go back to the dormitories, no sense in passing out by working too hard again. The last time she worked herself up into a frenzy like that, the elders sentenced her to kitchen duty and easy training for a month. So off she went to the dormitory.
PLEASE review and tell me what you think or if I should continue!
