I woke up with a gasp. The bell hadn't sounded up and it was still dark outside. I had woken up by my own accord. Nothing serious, just a nightmare. That was all it was, no need to overreact. But even so, I found it hard to keep my eyes closed, especially when I kept flinching at every small noise I heard whether it was a rustle of a leaf or something else. However, I found the strength to fall asleep once again.
...
"Is this how you want to live? Have you forgotten about us already? You disgust me"!
"You think I wanted this to happen on purpose? Is that what you really think"?!
"Obviously you've proven that on your own, after all I have done for you"?
"You're not real! None of this is real"!
"It's as real as you make it to be! I bet you didn't even miss us when you died"!
"Shut up"!
"And what of that... that thing you're now with? A snake? I knew you were strange the day you were born, but this! This is taking it to a different level! Even for you"!
"At least she's done more than you ever had"!
"Done more than I ever have? HAH! They may be training you to be a warrior but you'll always be a failure to me"!
...
Again, I woke up. Same state I was in last time, only this time, it was morning. Perhaps I shouldn't have drunk that beer, I've woken up five times this night alone. Still, I chose a good time to wake up as the bell sounded off. It was monday today right? Yeah it should be.
After greeting Shifu, I began my training at once. Guess now was a good time to practice with that tail blade thing I got since the winter feast. I instantly grabbed it from the cupboard and headed out.
The weather was not exactly nice. Heavy rain splattered onto the ground and myself, soaking both. I quickly slithered as fast as I could to the training hall and made it inside. I had only been out there for thirty seconds and I looked as though I had just climbed out of a swimming pool. Seeing as no one else was around, I shook my body to help rid of some of the rain drops still sliding down my scales. I could even hear the rain from inside as it attacked the outer layer of the building. I put the thought behind me and advanced into the arena and towards the dummy.
I tightened the blade to my tail by pulling the straps with my mouth and through the buckles until I was convinced that it was tight enough. I then did some basic swings, lightly tapping the dummy before increasing the speed of my swing and the amount of force I hit it with. With each hit, I kept screaming in my head.
"why? why? WHY? WHY"?!
Until I decapitated the dummy, though it did nothing to calm me down. Even my breathing had become that much more rapid and to me was the only thing that blocked out the sound of the rain.
"...I guess I should take a break". I muttered to myself, even though I had been training for only a couple of minutes. But if I didn't at least stop, there might not have been anything left of the wooden figure before me.
I undid all the straps keeping the tail blade in place and rested it to the side. Hopefully I would remember to take the thing back to my room this time. The last thing I needed was another scolding from Shifu. From outside, the rain didn't let up. In fact, I could swear it was getting heavier. Apparently it wasn't enough to keep someone from going out there as the front doors swung open. I merely glanced to see Viper entering which to me was a little surprising. I would have thought it was Tigress.
"Morning". I greeted her before jumping onto the catwalk.
"I take it you've been training"? She asked me, noticing the now headless dummy.
"A little". I admitted. "But you're not here to talk about training are you"?
"...".
"Your silence says it all".
"Sorry, I just felt as though you were upset from this morning so I wanted to see if everything is okay".
"I'm fine".
Truth be, I could be better. I'm exhausted and have a headache. And I don't mean from drinking last night either. Viper could tell instantly as I saw her unconvinced look. I sighed.
"I'm fine". I repeated in a more forced tone before going back to what I was doing before.
As I began to attack the dummy with just my tail,leaving the blade to one side, I failed to notice that Viper was slithering behind me until she spoke again.
"Okay then. If you're feeling fine, then what say we spar"?
I turned back round to see the smug look she had plastered on her face. I rolled my eyes and gave my response.
"I guess that's okay by me".
Leaving the headless dummy, I turned to face Viper and got in position. My opponent did the same thing and braced herself for any upcoming attack that I might have been planning to use against her.
"Are you ready"? Viper asked impatiently.
"Ladies first".
The moment I finished uttering those words, Viper lunged at me. I barely managed to dive to the left as she collided with the wooden dummy behind me, knocking it over. Given the advantage, I struck before she realized her mistake and grabbed her by the throat, carefully so that I didn't do any real harm to her. However, Viper was able to break my grip with her own tail.
This time I decided to change tactics. I let her try to attack me as many times as she could while avoiding them. Eventually she should become tired enough for me to pin her and I'll win. So for the next few minutes, I dodged lunges, grabs and tail whacks until I decided now was the best time to act. Acting on impulse, I let Viper swing her tail again and instead of sidestepping as I've been doing for five minutes, I jumped over and landed behind her. Before Viper could turn around, I tried my first attack again and wrapped my tail around her neck for the second time. Quickly I wrapped her with the rest of my body and pinned her on the ground.
"Seems like I won". I mocked.
"Not yet you haven't". Viper replied with a smile which confused me.
"What is she up to"? I wondered in my head. As I was distracted with my thoughts, I failed to see the tip of Vipers tail, which was unwrapped, gently poke my side. Over and over again forcing me to laugh.
"ha-heyhaha. Stop thahaha"! I tried to speak though a series of giggles, accidentally releasing my grip slightly, allowing Viper to begin tickling my scales more.
"HAHA Sto-HAHAHA-STOP"! I raised my voice as the tickling got that much worse.
"Stop what"? Viper asked, clearly enjoying this.
"PLE-HEHEHEHAHAHA-SE"! I tried yelling loudly. At this point I had released my grip on her altogether and now I was the one being held down, thrashing about in a futile attempt to escape.
"I'm sorry. What was that"? Viper teased cruelly.
"STOOHAHAAHAAPHAHAHA"! I screamed as loud as I could as my lungs burnt with the amount of laughing I was producing.
"So I win"?
"THAT'S CHEHEHEATINGHAHAHA"!
"Well"? She kept mocking until I couldn't take it anymore.
"HAHAYES! YES OK-HAHAHA- OKAY! JUSHAHAHA PLEASE STOP"! I Yelled with whatever amount of breath I still had left. Thankfully, Viper gave up and my face turned into a frown once I got over the giggling.
"That's not fair". I spoke calmly but with a smile to show no hard feelings.
"Hey, you didn't say anything against it".
I just sighed in defeat, accidentally releasing a small laugh.
"I hate you so much right now".
Viper gave her own chuckle before heading over to the fire pit. Still, at least that cheered me up, in a way. Still, all I can say now, is that there is no way in hell I'm letting her get away with what she just did. It's just a matter of bidding my time.
...
Feels good to be writing again. Next few chapters will begin to get a little more serious. Cheerio!