5th Day of Spring, 511 AV The sky was clear. The birds were chirping. And the outdoor archery ranges were finally open to the public after the Deks had cleared it all out. Vala hobbled out of bed, her left ankle still wrapped up tight with bandages to prevent too much movement. She was sick and tired of being cooped up in her room and stuck on reception desk duty for the past three days; she needed to get some fresh air before she went insane. It really wasn’t the being cooped up that was driving her insane, she could entertain herself with the piles of books screaming to be read at the Enclave, no, it was the withdrawal from lack of pranking that was tingling painfully beneath her skin. She dressed slowly, gingerly pulling on her byrda. The loose legs of the byrda covered the pink, raised nail lines that ran down Vala’s legs. They were never deep enough to draw blood, just enough to help Vala forget. She sat at the edge of her bed, leaning her left leg on her right knee. She slowly unwrapped the meter long bandage from her ankle and foot. It felt strange, mostly very loose without the wrapping, but it also felt a little nice without the constant pressure and constraint. Vala frowned at the sight of the large black bruise from the top of her foot all the way to the outside of her ankle. It still hurt to the touch, but at least now she could put weight on it. She gently rotated her ankle , just to get it moving again, but not enough to cause any pain. She finished with her rotations and laid the bandage on her table; she would wrap up her ankle after she meditated. Vala, with practiced ease, even balancing on one leg, laid out her blanket on the floor. She used her bed as support as she slowly lowered herself to the ground, then scooting onto her ratty black blanket. The floor was cold, just like it was every morning. It was difficult to get comfortable with a sprained ankle, and since today was the first day she was meditating on the floor, it was taking Vala awhile to get situated. Sitting cross legged put pressure on the ankle. Sitting with her legs out in a V, put her ankle in a weird angle. The only option was to lay prostate on her back with the edge of the blanket all bunched up under her ankle. As one meditating to grow more aware of herself, Vala had no idea the proper way to go about positions and what not. All she knew, from the books she had read, all one needed to do to meditate was to get comfy and get breathing. As she closed her eyes, Vala wished she had grabbed her pillow on her way down. The floor was ridiculously hard. She emptied her lungs, gradually hissing the air out through her mouth. She breathed deep, back in through her nose, trying to get the air all the way down to the bottom of her lungs, almost to her tummy. She released her breath once more, this time trying to loosen up her stance as well. She breathed in once more, trying not tense up. She hissed out the air slowly, her foot shifting to the side, unsupported by the bandage. “By the love of Priskil!...” She shot up, sitting, leaning on her elbows. She gasped in pain as jolts of throbbing, agony radiated from her ankle. When she realized she had used Priskil’s name in vain, she guiltily lowered her eyes and prayed for forgiveness. “I’m sorry Priskil. I didn’t mean to…” She didn’t know what else to say, so she just hoped with her heart that Priskil would forgive her for her little slip. The ankle was healing up fairly well, but at certain angles, it hurt more than anything in the world, but usually only just for a second. She leaned forward, trying to nest her ankle into the blankets better, to prevent any more movement. When she was sure there wouldn’t be any more mishaps, Vala wiped away the single tear drop at the corner of eye, and laid back down. She continued to breathe, in and out, slowly, trying to relax. Trying to forget the rage and frustration she felt for being a cripple. It took her a bell before she finally relaxed, dipping into a state of peace. As she floated, swimming in her unconsciousness, thoughts of Priskil began to drift by. Streaming lights fluttered behind Vala’s closed lids. She was too relaxed to think deeply, but she still was able to entertain her curiosity. The streaming lights shifted into a form of a woman, a woman of light, Vala’s serene mind wondered if Priskil would look like that – a woman of light, a woman of hope. It was times like these Vala loved to meditate – when she got so relaxed, when the world stilled and she was gifted peace in her own mind. Usually she thought of Priskil, praying to the goddess, revealing her fears, her hopes, her anger, just let her feel so free. She was rarely allowed such guilt free reprieve in the day. Footsteps, not even heavy ones, outside Vala’s door, instantly broke Vala’s peace. She shot up again, this time calm enough from the meditation not to cuss. As a novice at meditating, it took Vala a bell or longer to get into a proper calming trance, only the slightest disturbance to rouse her from it. Vala struggled to get up, but when she finally managed to balance, Vala shouted with confidence. “I am strong! I am not a cripple! I will not be held back by a measly sprained ankle! I AM VALA!” Vala loved her morning pep-screams. oo0oo Thok! went her arrow as it embedded deep into the target. It wasn’t center, not even near, but at least it went in deep. Vala lowered her bow, and set it down at her feet. She took a moment to stretch her fingers and forearms before she forgot and went right into another set. Vala limped over to her target. She had to lean against the side of the board as to get enough force to pull out the arrows without putting weight on her ankle. She shuffled back to her spot, ready to fire off at least seven more sets before going to the Enclave to work her shift. |