"Do not flinch", her father warned her. He filled the metal bowl in her outstretched hands to the very brim. The water rose just proud of the rim. She stood with her feet planted firmly to the ground. "Do not flinch!" She grit her teeth in stern determination as the lights went out and she was in complete darkness.
She heard the far door of the dojo softly open and nearly silent footsteps as the men waiting outside on the deck entered. The rain pattering softly on the wooden roof.
Her breathing was too loud in her ears so she opened her mouth to breathe that way instead.
A hollow bang. A sudden flash and crackle of light. A soft hiss circled her and then went silent.
Her senses were in overdrive. Listening for every sound, the smell of the damp cotton of the members tunics. With each sudden sound or unexpected, feather-light touch, her nerves fired but her body never moved. 'Rooted to the ground...' she repeated, '...rooted like a tree'.
An extended silence and the soft sound of the door opening again signalled to her that it was over...but it was never really over, was it? She knew her father was still there. She could sense his electricity. She could tell that he was slowly circling her. She knew he would wait. Let the tension build until her psyche cracked and she would jump at the first sound. The bowl of water was cold in her hands and was getting heavier and heavier as her arms grew tired of holding the weight.
Any second now. She thought she could sense him behind her, to the right, maybe five yards... *CRACK* a searing sting snapped across the back of her knees. She inhaled sharply in agony and as tears sprung to her eyes, a cool drop of water ran down the outside of her hand. 'Shit!'
The lights came up in the dojo, and she found herself alone. But Ra's did not try hide the sound of his footsteps in the corridor, walking away.
The burn in her legs shot to her chest as she smashed the bowl of water to the floor. Soaking the boards and sending the metal bowl rattling. Damn it, she had flinched.