VERY IMPORTANT! DO NOT SKIP!
Okay guys, so here's the deal—I can't beta my own work right after I write it. Unfortunately, I wanna know what ya'll think as soon as it's done, so I usually just spell-check and throw it up on the net. Anywho, I've gone back over my entire story. Now that I've caught up on my reruns, I've realized how screwed up my timeline was. A lot of the story is still the same; however, there are some big changes. I highly recommend that anyone who has already read previous chapters that they go back and read them again. Otherwise things may not make sense in the future.
Many thanks to my reviewers---though I must say, I was a little disappointed by the turnout this go-around. 3 reviews out of over 30 hits? C'mon guys, we can do better than that. And some of my loyal reviewers didn't even might make an appearance this time. If I'm doing something that you don't like, please let me know. I highly encourage constructive criticism.
Now to those who did take the time to review, thank you!
Phoenix-Talon: Sorry about the Jack bashing-though I didn't really think I was bashing him. Realize that Fiona has a problem with authority figures, which will be a little clearer with the revamped story. Fiona is in her early twenties—between 22 and 24. Again, the rewrite will make things a little more clear. And remember: she may very well think that Jack is younger than he is. All she has is his voice to go on. Pass on any ideas you have, I'd love to hear them! If you don't wanna put them in a review, just email me. Hope you enjoy this next little part.
naxa: Welcome abroad! Thanks for the compliments! I have included another flashback in the rewrite. I also have her backstory written out; I'm just a little iffy as to where to put them. I'm working on it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Hope you continue to enjoy!
sweetypie15: Hehe, that's great. I really don't have a vendetta against Jack; however, seeing how things work out between him and Locke towards the end of the season, I guess my bad feelings toward him are breaking out early. Please don't kill Jack—I'm not through with him yet. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you like the next part!
Also, I realize that my story is falling into a rut. I'm working on pulling myself out of it, I promise. Here's chapter 8! Sorry if it's a bit short.
Chapter 8: Releases and Hunting Parties
Fiona stood in a lone corner of the beach, a fair distance from the main area of the camp. She breathed heavily, firmly, trying to control her anger. That in itself was proving hard to do. Standing facing the ocean with her eyes closed, she held her cane in front of her in the basic first position of her form. After a deep breath, she flew into a series of movements that almost resembled an intricate dance.
Years of training and practice flowed into the young woman's movements. Performing her exercises usually helped her to calm down and to restrain her temper, but as her conversation with Jack replayed in her mind, Fiona felt the anger swelling up renewed and refreshed every time she got to the point that he called her a liability. Breathing and moving in a steady rhythm, Fiona tried to concentrate on her training and wipe the unpleasant memory from her mind.
"Slowly now. Count! Keep it steady!" Master Kai beat his cane on the floor to emphasize his words. The young people before him moved through their forms in different rhythms, only a few managing to stay together. To a casual observer, the scene would appear to be a normal martial arts class, with the exception that everyone in the class, including the master, had a white cane in their hands. This was a class for the blind.
"Harper!" Master Kai's sharp voice caused the fourteen year old to freeze in place and turn to the direction of his voice. Master Kai strode over to the girl and planted himself in front of her. She was breathing heavily, anger and frustration rolling off of her in waves. Though the girl had been blind for nearly two years, she had only been attending the class for a little over a month. Kai firmly placed his hands on her shoulders.
"You must release your anger if you are to master your form. Feel it flowing out of you with each breath and movement. Only then will you be able to move on in your training. Now, again." Kai released her and stepped back, his cane beating a steady tempo on the floor.
Fiona took a deep breath, positioning herself, and began to flow into the movements again, breathing more steadily, trying to feel the anger leaving her. The anger and frustration that had been pent up for the last two years flowed into her movements, and she concentrated on Master Kai's words. She turned it into a mental picture, red anger leaving her on each exhale, and blue calmness entering on each inhale. Master Kai's words of encouragement barely registered in her mind as she lost herself to her new art.
Fiona desperately tried to implore the same techniques that Master Kai had taught her years ago to release her anger toward Jack, but it didn't seem to be working. So much had happened in the past week-the plane crash, surviving the island itself, and then the added strain of knowing that no one was coming to save them. Though Fiona wasn't supposed to know the last bit, her sharp ears had overheard some of the others talking about what Jack and the others had discovered. All of this in addition to her own helplessness in the situation was seriously wearing on her nerves. It was no wonder that she had been so quick to lose her temper.
Finishing her cycle of exercises, Fiona began them again, finally starting to feel a small relief as she worked through the rationalities of her feelings. However, the sting of Jack's words was still sharp. Jack had become a leader in this group, and for him to think that she was useless, a liability even…it was too much for Fiona's pride. Her parents had raised her to be self-sufficient, independent—and after the accident she had become determined to never be a burden on anyone. Jack throwing her weakness in her face had brought back a lot of buried emotions that she thought she was over.
Fiona barely registered that someone was approaching her as she continued to move. Sparing a small thought to make sure the person didn't move into her space, she unconsciously allowed some of her rage to escape out loud as she worked.
John approached his friend slowly, watching her exercises with respect. He had only heard rumors of Fiona's fighting skills, and had yet to see her in action. Her movements now were similar to Tai Chi, but faster, and she used her cane as she moved. It almost looked more like single-sided fight. As he approached John caught a few muttered phrases in the woman's low accented voice. "Thinks I'm a liability…knows nothing…probably perish in less than a week if thrown out there on his own…"
Fiona continued to throw herself into her exercises, and showed no signs of stopping. She repeated the cycle again and again until one quiet word brought her to a halt. "Fiona."
The young woman paused and slowly shifted upright into her beginning position, taking a deep breath. As she stilled, John came closer, still watching her carefully as she tilted her head in his direction.
"Can I help you?" she asked in a strained voice. Though she was still a bit angry, Fiona was determined not to release her temper on her friend. John shrugged and sat down on the ground near her.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked, looking up at her as she stared blankly in his direction. Fiona sighed heavily and lowered herself to the ground.
"It's just…something Jack said," she answered bitterly. John nodded.
"Anything important?"
Fiona started to respond, but paused, catching the seemingly innocent tone in her friend's voice. He was trying to tell her something without saying it. She smiled—it would seem that John had a knack for doing that. "No," she answered, tilting her head. "No, I suppose it wasn't important in the least."
John gathered his hunting materials, slipping his knife into its sheath. He began to head down the beach to find Kate and Michael and barely slowed down when Fiona came up next to him.
"Be careful with the piglets," she cautioned. "Even if they appear to be alone, they'll never be out of the sight or hearing of the mother. How long is your knife?"
John pulled it out and handed it to her hilt first. She carefully examined it with her fingers. "Careful," John warned as it appeared that her fingertips were straying towards the edge. But Fiona carefully kept her fingers running along the flat part of the blade. A moment later, she handed it back to him.
"It'll do," she said. "It's really better to hunt boars with spears. They aren't the sort you want to go up close and personal with. But you might be able to get a piglet."
John laughed. "I do know what I'm doing," he said. "You don't have to worry about me."
"I'm not worried," Fiona retorted. "It's just that…I've seen many young warriors return from a hunt gorged by boars. It's not a pretty sight." John looked at her, shocked, and she laughed at his reaction.
"I haven't always been blind," she said, and smiled softly. "Be safe," she added, before patting his arm and walking away. John watched her go, slightly puzzled. He shrugged and headed back up the beach. It would seem that everyone on this island had a few secrets up their sleeves.