The next morning Coram woke Alanna up before dawn. She grabbed her things
and ran to say goodbye to Thom and then to her father. She ate a quick
breakfast, and then went to the stables to saddle her faithful pony Shadow.
She was as black as the night sky, and had a temper as feisty as her
mistresses. 'I'm so nervous Shadow' Alanna whispered to her mare. 'What if
no one likes me, or I don't do well.' The pony tossed her head. You'll be
fine. But right now I'm hungry, can I have my breakfast? She nuzzled
Alanna as the small girl fed her giggling quietly to herself. Shadow always
made her feel better.
***
Not long after Shadow had finished breakfast, the Bear found the pair just outside the stables. 'I don't think I introduced myself to you properly yesterday Alanna. My name is Justin Pike.' He dismounted and shook the young girl's hand. 'We'd best be going then' He was about to mount back up again when Coram rushed over. 'Alanna, be good' he warned 'none of this fussy business now when it comes to the convent. It'll be hard, but I know you can do it. Don't forget to keep in touch.' He quickly gave her a one armed hug and stood back as the Shang and girl mounted their steeds. Alanna turned as they started walking and gave Coram a silent wave. Wishing he could go too.
***
Six years later, a more mature Alanna and her master Liam Ironarm - the infamous Shang Dragon were riding through Port Caynn. She had travelled everywhere with her master; The Yamani Islands, Carthark, Tuisane, Galla and to the Desert to visit the Bazhir tribe's people. Liam had told her it was a good learning experience, and it had been - apart from the fact that Alanna got violently sea sick on the way to and from Carthark and the Yamani Islands. The young girl was now very skilled in the art of Shang and had managed along the way to get lessons from mages to help her control and explore her wild magic. Alanna smiled. It was good to be home. The Shang training base was situated in Port Caynn, as was the convent she was to attend in one month's time. The girl grimaced as they rode past the dull stone walls. She was not looking forward to that experience at all. Reaching the stables, the Shang and apprentice dismounted and cared for their mounts before retiring inside. Although Alanna could have been more experienced by now, all the girl could do with her magic was talk to animals, and call them in different sized groups, though she could do that now to perfection. Walking inside, Alanna was bombarded from the side. Quickly she sidestepped the person and tossed him over her hip, flinging him to the ground. She rushed over to the downed person and pinned his arms to the floor. 'Keel, I thought you knew better then to do that' she smiled and gave her friend a massive hug. 'You've improved Alanna' he looked at her with awe. 'The dragon must be training you hard.' The girl smiled. 'He does manage to keep me on my toes.' The girl got to her feet and pulled up the boy. Keel was the same age as Alanna, and they had been good friends ever since they first met. 'Come on; let's go find the rest of the guys' he suggested, as they dusted off their clothes.
***
Alanna grinned as she walked to the practice yard. Her friends were being drilled by the Unicorn. As they neared, the Shang saw them and waved, telling the group to take a break for a couple of minutes. Her friends rushed over. She had been away for nearly half a year and had missed them all very much. 'Alanna' her friend Lucy had reached the pair first. 'I didn't think I'd see you for ages' she cried giving the girl a hug. Two of her other friends joined them: Evin and Lance. They were a couple of years older then her but had shown her around when she first arrived. 'Come on guys, back to work, I haven't finished yet' the Unicorn shouted. 'Keel, Alanna, you can both join in.' They entered the yard and bowed to the Unicorn. She was an extremely talented fighter and was to be admired and respected at all times. 'We will be doing some sparring practice now. Keel pair up with Evin, Lucy and Lance, Jake and Timone you two pair up please and then Alanna with Merric.' The apprentices formed two straight lines. 'Begin' their teacher shouted. Alanna ducked out of the way as Merric punched towards her face. Immediately she counter-attacked doing a round house kick to the side of his head followed by a jab aimed towards his stomach. Merric blocked the kick and stumbled slightly as he dodged the fist. Alanna continued to attack as she searched for an opening. Her opponent faked a punch then did a palm-heel strike towards her nose, with enough power to break it. She faltered slightly as he tried to trip her, but recovered and did a crescent kick aiming for his temples in an attempt to knock him out. Merric reached for her tunic to throw her but Alanna got in first kneeling and tossing him over her shoulder. She jumped on him as he landed and pinned him down, causing him to yield. 'Well done Alanna', The Unicorn remarked. The small girl helped the bigger boy up and they went to fetch some water. They returned to watch the rest of the mock fights. Keel beating Evin, Lance beating Lucy and Timone beating Jake.
***
Not long after Shadow had finished breakfast, the Bear found the pair just outside the stables. 'I don't think I introduced myself to you properly yesterday Alanna. My name is Justin Pike.' He dismounted and shook the young girl's hand. 'We'd best be going then' He was about to mount back up again when Coram rushed over. 'Alanna, be good' he warned 'none of this fussy business now when it comes to the convent. It'll be hard, but I know you can do it. Don't forget to keep in touch.' He quickly gave her a one armed hug and stood back as the Shang and girl mounted their steeds. Alanna turned as they started walking and gave Coram a silent wave. Wishing he could go too.
***
Six years later, a more mature Alanna and her master Liam Ironarm - the infamous Shang Dragon were riding through Port Caynn. She had travelled everywhere with her master; The Yamani Islands, Carthark, Tuisane, Galla and to the Desert to visit the Bazhir tribe's people. Liam had told her it was a good learning experience, and it had been - apart from the fact that Alanna got violently sea sick on the way to and from Carthark and the Yamani Islands. The young girl was now very skilled in the art of Shang and had managed along the way to get lessons from mages to help her control and explore her wild magic. Alanna smiled. It was good to be home. The Shang training base was situated in Port Caynn, as was the convent she was to attend in one month's time. The girl grimaced as they rode past the dull stone walls. She was not looking forward to that experience at all. Reaching the stables, the Shang and apprentice dismounted and cared for their mounts before retiring inside. Although Alanna could have been more experienced by now, all the girl could do with her magic was talk to animals, and call them in different sized groups, though she could do that now to perfection. Walking inside, Alanna was bombarded from the side. Quickly she sidestepped the person and tossed him over her hip, flinging him to the ground. She rushed over to the downed person and pinned his arms to the floor. 'Keel, I thought you knew better then to do that' she smiled and gave her friend a massive hug. 'You've improved Alanna' he looked at her with awe. 'The dragon must be training you hard.' The girl smiled. 'He does manage to keep me on my toes.' The girl got to her feet and pulled up the boy. Keel was the same age as Alanna, and they had been good friends ever since they first met. 'Come on; let's go find the rest of the guys' he suggested, as they dusted off their clothes.
***
Alanna grinned as she walked to the practice yard. Her friends were being drilled by the Unicorn. As they neared, the Shang saw them and waved, telling the group to take a break for a couple of minutes. Her friends rushed over. She had been away for nearly half a year and had missed them all very much. 'Alanna' her friend Lucy had reached the pair first. 'I didn't think I'd see you for ages' she cried giving the girl a hug. Two of her other friends joined them: Evin and Lance. They were a couple of years older then her but had shown her around when she first arrived. 'Come on guys, back to work, I haven't finished yet' the Unicorn shouted. 'Keel, Alanna, you can both join in.' They entered the yard and bowed to the Unicorn. She was an extremely talented fighter and was to be admired and respected at all times. 'We will be doing some sparring practice now. Keel pair up with Evin, Lucy and Lance, Jake and Timone you two pair up please and then Alanna with Merric.' The apprentices formed two straight lines. 'Begin' their teacher shouted. Alanna ducked out of the way as Merric punched towards her face. Immediately she counter-attacked doing a round house kick to the side of his head followed by a jab aimed towards his stomach. Merric blocked the kick and stumbled slightly as he dodged the fist. Alanna continued to attack as she searched for an opening. Her opponent faked a punch then did a palm-heel strike towards her nose, with enough power to break it. She faltered slightly as he tried to trip her, but recovered and did a crescent kick aiming for his temples in an attempt to knock him out. Merric reached for her tunic to throw her but Alanna got in first kneeling and tossing him over her shoulder. She jumped on him as he landed and pinned him down, causing him to yield. 'Well done Alanna', The Unicorn remarked. The small girl helped the bigger boy up and they went to fetch some water. They returned to watch the rest of the mock fights. Keel beating Evin, Lance beating Lucy and Timone beating Jake.