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53rd of Summer, 509 A.V
Taloba
The humid morning air was thick, even inside the barracks. The sun had yet to wake, and after some shouting from their Tokah, the fang began to rise with a number of groans and grumbles. Kiva rolled over in her cot, sore even from the day before, and knew she had her morning training and patrol to do before she could even consider relaxing again. A long sigh escaped her lips and with some coaxing from her bunk mate, Kiva opened and eyes and cursed under her breath. Her thin blanket was thrown from her and she swung her legs over the side of the mat, stretching languidly. She looked around. In the dim light, other newly entered rekruits were moving quickly, getting dressed while their tokah watched closely. More orders were yelled and Kiva stood, brushing sleep from her eyes and throwing her hair up into a half-hazard pony tail. She began reaching around for the pile of clothes that belonged to her at the foot of her cot and pulled on her loincloth. Her shirt smelled strongly of sweat and would need to be washed soon. Kiva's nose crinkled in distaste as she pulled it over her head. She didn't have much of a choice.
Still half asleep, it was difficult for Kiva's coordination to kick in. The group was lead outside, and she stumbled once or twice, but made sure to keep up. The group silently lined up in short rows. The Tokah stood before them, and looked at them each individually. She gave a small nod, the signal.
In unison, they all began jogging in place, Kiva slow and groggily. Lifting one foot, and another, she bent her arms at her waist, and looked down, watching her feet. The impact of the hard dirt smacking against her feet sent small jolts through her legs. She kept on her toes to remain light and bouncy, but it wasn't long until her breathing started growing laborious. 'Keep going, come on.' she told herself, trying to focus on the rhythm of the run. The awful stitch in her side, one she was growing more and more familiar with started to creep into her motions. Kiva gritted her teeth and kept moving through the pain. Her ponytail bounced and swished with each lift and fall.
"Listen up!" the Tokah yelled, staring at the fang, "You are weak and need to be strengthened. You are nothing!... Yet. Myri has seen potential in you, we will not disappoint her. Begin stretching, now!"
It was the same as the day before and by now the fang mates knew what was expected. Kiva was one of the least flexible of the group, and so this was always one of the harder parts... 'If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it.' The young woman leaned forward in unison with the others, feet together. She tried to touch her toes, but her hands barely splayed to her shins. She grunted, trying to push it more, but had to stop and respect her limitation. Looking sideways, she saw most of the others reach their toes and she sighed. The tokah wandered over, staring at a long minute at Kiva's lack of flexibility. She began counting for the group, "One...two... three... Keep holding it. Feel it."
The leader went out of Kiva's range of vision, and she felt the tightness of muscles, the arching of her back. Kiva struggled to hold it, reaching with her fingers as much as possible.
"Keep your knees straight, Kiva."
Kiva said nothing, but felt frustrated. She knew to keep them straight. But it was hard. Straightening her legs as she was told, she tried not to hold her breath as she worked. After what seemed like bells, the tokah called for the next stretch. Kiva grunted and did as she was told. Her body was starting to wake up, but she didn't have to like it.
*
*
53rd of Summer, 509 A.V
Taloba
The humid morning air was thick, even inside the barracks. The sun had yet to wake, and after some shouting from their Tokah, the fang began to rise with a number of groans and grumbles. Kiva rolled over in her cot, sore even from the day before, and knew she had her morning training and patrol to do before she could even consider relaxing again. A long sigh escaped her lips and with some coaxing from her bunk mate, Kiva opened and eyes and cursed under her breath. Her thin blanket was thrown from her and she swung her legs over the side of the mat, stretching languidly. She looked around. In the dim light, other newly entered rekruits were moving quickly, getting dressed while their tokah watched closely. More orders were yelled and Kiva stood, brushing sleep from her eyes and throwing her hair up into a half-hazard pony tail. She began reaching around for the pile of clothes that belonged to her at the foot of her cot and pulled on her loincloth. Her shirt smelled strongly of sweat and would need to be washed soon. Kiva's nose crinkled in distaste as she pulled it over her head. She didn't have much of a choice.
Still half asleep, it was difficult for Kiva's coordination to kick in. The group was lead outside, and she stumbled once or twice, but made sure to keep up. The group silently lined up in short rows. The Tokah stood before them, and looked at them each individually. She gave a small nod, the signal.
In unison, they all began jogging in place, Kiva slow and groggily. Lifting one foot, and another, she bent her arms at her waist, and looked down, watching her feet. The impact of the hard dirt smacking against her feet sent small jolts through her legs. She kept on her toes to remain light and bouncy, but it wasn't long until her breathing started growing laborious. 'Keep going, come on.' she told herself, trying to focus on the rhythm of the run. The awful stitch in her side, one she was growing more and more familiar with started to creep into her motions. Kiva gritted her teeth and kept moving through the pain. Her ponytail bounced and swished with each lift and fall.
"Listen up!" the Tokah yelled, staring at the fang, "You are weak and need to be strengthened. You are nothing!... Yet. Myri has seen potential in you, we will not disappoint her. Begin stretching, now!"
It was the same as the day before and by now the fang mates knew what was expected. Kiva was one of the least flexible of the group, and so this was always one of the harder parts... 'If it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it.' The young woman leaned forward in unison with the others, feet together. She tried to touch her toes, but her hands barely splayed to her shins. She grunted, trying to push it more, but had to stop and respect her limitation. Looking sideways, she saw most of the others reach their toes and she sighed. The tokah wandered over, staring at a long minute at Kiva's lack of flexibility. She began counting for the group, "One...two... three... Keep holding it. Feel it."
The leader went out of Kiva's range of vision, and she felt the tightness of muscles, the arching of her back. Kiva struggled to hold it, reaching with her fingers as much as possible.
"Keep your knees straight, Kiva."
Kiva said nothing, but felt frustrated. She knew to keep them straight. But it was hard. Straightening her legs as she was told, she tried not to hold her breath as she worked. After what seemed like bells, the tokah called for the next stretch. Kiva grunted and did as she was told. Her body was starting to wake up, but she didn't have to like it.
