Day 14 and 15 were used to make banners and icons that can be found on the ranger cast forum
Day 16
Title: Nature
Rating: PG
Primary Characters/Pairing: R.J., Swoop
Genre: General
Disclaimer: never owned, not making money.
Summary: one of R.J.'s many lessons at the hands of his favorite Master.
He listened to the cold drops of rain outside of the cave he sought refuge in. Beside him he could hear the chattered breathing of his young pupil. He could smell the coopery scent of blood mixed with earth. His student, possibly out of sheer stubbornness, would never complain of pain. He was far more like his father then he'd ever like to admit. Regardless, the Master knew that his wounds must be stinging by now. It couldn't be helped. Nor could his next step.
"Go out there." Swoop instructed. He didn't get a response, but from the uneven breathing he could tell his student was withholding a scalding remark. Swoop, internally, wouldn't blame him.
"In order to fly, to soar, and to become aware of your own capabilities you must be tuned
with all of your sense. Your body will tell you when it can do no more. Listen to it. But listen to what the elements can teach it. Nature will give you much more than any master ever could."
Without any more time, he felt his student's steps forward back into the elements. The bat master couldn't see in the conventional ways. That didn't mean that he couldn't envision his student. He could hear the separation of rain as it hit the teenager's body. It outlined him, giving Swoop a sense of his form. He could hear the chattering of teeth that the drenched boy tried to hard to suppress.
Outside, RJ's body was swirling. He had never known his master to be a cruel man, even if he hadn't known him for that long. But now as his limbs screamed in protest he wondered. He had been forced to walk shoeless in this forest in order to learn the balance of nature's skin. He was to dress in only pants so that his skin might be able to read the wind's call. The young pup was to walk blind during they day, and in these night hours, be alert. To train and tune perception.
He had almost harnessed the ability. He registered each drop as it bounced off him. He felt the wind and stray leaves dress him despite his meager clothing. He felt the mud squish between each of his toes. The chilled slipper did nothing to warm him. Disheveled dirt, saturated bark, and dampened critters all smelled tainted. Yet, at the same time, there was a crispness the rain brought to the forest. The droplets had made the forest silent as its wildlife sought shelter. In its place a wonderful symphony of repulsion and reflection rang out.
His lungs began to protest the extreme differences in temperature. He could feel his core becoming colder. He couldn't give up now. If he didn't, who knew if he'd ever get up in the morning? He looked over towards his master. The bat nodded silently. RJ nodded and response and withdrew.
Swoop listened to the pup scurrying into the deeper corners of the cavern. A scrapping of his back against stone let him know that the boy had collapsed to the ground. A soft rubbing let him know that the pup was trying to regain his internal temperature. Smiling just slightly in the corners of his mouth he kneeled down. Pushing his cloak-like coat off of his shoulders, he wrapped it around the shivering student.
"Well done." Swoop nodded. He had stood out there longer then the master himself had been able to manage the first time around, and he was used to the sensory overload that Casey had experienced. Yes, for his rash outlook on life, this pup was something special. Of that, Swoop was positive.