The Journey, Book 2; Chapter 2 - Previous Chapter
Chapter 3, Falcon
“Good morning Tarasque,” Cassandra said as she whipped open her daughter's bedroom curtains.
“Eurgh! No way is it morning already!” Tara moaned grumpily, pulling her covers over her head.
“Time to get up, sweet daughter of mine, get washed and dressed, breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Hey mother, can I hang out with Neko today? I want to get to know him better, please!”
“He isn’t in the city at the moment, Vivi said he needed some time to clear his head.”
“That’s ok, I’ll find him!” Tarasque commented with a mischievous smile. ‘Hey Elqi, good morning!’
‘Good morning little red head, to answer your question yes and no…’
‘My question? What question?’
‘The one at the very front of your mind right now… about Neko. Yes I could find him, but no I won’t.’
‘Oh come on Elqi, I want to get to know him better already!’ Tara stropped, flopping herself on to a chair. Her mother looked at her rolling her eyes.
‘I can’t tell you where he is… if I’m already with him, little one…’
‘You’re already with him?! Where are you? I’m on my way!’ Tara jumped up excitedly, splashing her face with water, and rummaging for some clothes to wear.
“Tarasque! Wash your face properly young lady! Your clothes are on the bed..”
“Mother! Geez!” Tarasque starts to wash her face properly… ‘Where are you?’
‘Go to your training, I’ll ask Nekonata if he can meet you there’
‘Training, training and more training… everyday… ok fine, but don’t ask, demand Elqi!’
Nekonata stirred underneath Eqliana’s wing, Santi and Kristi already gone, hunting for their breakfast. He stretched, sat up, and then stretched some more. Elqiana moved, folding her wing back into her side, Neko covering his eyes as the brightness of the early day temporarily blinded him.
“Thank you for protecting us from the rain Elqiana.”
‘You’re welcome little one, Tarasque has asked if you would meet her? She has training this morning.’
“Training with Jason and Patrick can be brutal, I’ll meet with her, and give her a small reprieve.”
Neko stood up and stretched once more, then looked around. “Oh I guess Tabby has gone on the hunt for breakfast as well?”
Elqiana stood up, arching her back she stretched like a cat, and shook her body, moving at a little run, beating her huge web-like wings down to take off into the skies. ‘Who knows what werecats get up to. Good morning little one’
Neko chuckled and smiled as he watched her fly towards the mountains. He started walking back to the city of Edena, slowly giving his girls a chance to catch up to him.
Santaya and Kristolia came running up to him, bouncing around him excitedly, “Well you must have enjoyed breakfast this morning girls! Come, we’ve got someone to meet.” He quickened his pace, walking through the city. A lady from the fruit and vegetable store gently tossed him an apple, which he caught and waved thanks. Taking a big bite out of the apple, he noticed Vivi watching from a chapel window, he nodded his head towards him, and Nekonata nodded back.
“Tarasque don’t forget your stance, bend your knees slightly, lock in those arms!” Jason instructed.
Neko watched for a few moments, a few feet away, Tarasque was struggling. “Jason,” He called out, “Let me help.” Jason waved his hands in defeat and walked away a few paces. Neko walked up to the weapons rack and picked up a training sword. “Copy me Tarasque…”
In the heart of the training arena, beneath the whispering boughs of ancient trees, Nekonata decides to try and teach the curly red haired Tarasque the fundamentals of swordsmanship. The air is cool and tinged with the scent of moss and steel. She is the first dragon rider in over a hundred years, the first ever female dragon rider, with a lot to learn and a lot to prove, with a quiet fire in her eyes and a blade she barely knows how to hold. But there's urgency now; war creeps ever closer to her home.
With patience, he adjusts her stance, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight centered. He shows her how to breathe with the blade, and how to listen to the rhythm of her opponent. Each stance he teaches has a name, a story, a purpose. The Falcon’s Guard, The Widow’s Kiss, The Stone’s Patience. echoes of battles long past.
As sweat beads on her brow and the sun begins its descent, they spar, slow at first, then faster. There is no romance in the lesson, but there is intimacy in the trust, the closeness, the shared silence between each clashing stroke.
Then, he pauses. “You’ll need to be better than good,” he says quietly, “You’ll need to be clever. And brave.”
And she answers, without hesitation, “Then teach me that too.”
Jason watched, with a smile. Vivi silently walked up to him watching as Neko the trainee became Neko the instructor, “I never thought I’d see this day!” Vivi whispered full of pride.
“The Falcon’s Guard Tarasque, is inspired by the hunt and prowess of a falcon in mid-hunt, poised, focused, deadly in the dive. This stance emphasizes agility, precision, and reactive power.”
Tarasque listened intently, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
“Your feet, lightly staggered, dominant foot back, heels barely kissing the ground for swift movement. Knees slightly bent, ready to spring. Your torso slightly leaning forward; the posture of a predator ready to strike. Sword held high on your dominant side, angled slightly forward like a beak ready to pierce, with the off-hand lifted for balance or deflection.”
The arena was quiet but for the crunch of boots on leaf-littered soil and the distant trill of birdsong. A sword whistled through the air, not in anger, but in instruction.
“Again,” said Nekonata.
Tarasque, hair tied back with a leather strip, reset her feet. Her training sword was still too heavy for her wrists, trembling slightly in her grasp. She exhaled and tried once more to fall into the stance he'd shown her.
“Stop.” Neko crossed the small clearing in two strides. He tapped her back heel with his boot. “Too flat. A falcon doesn’t land, it hovers. Stay light.”
She adjusted, rising slightly on the balls of her feet. The moment she did, her balance shifted, precarious, but suddenly full of potential.
“Good. Now the sword.”
He moved behind her, one hand guiding her arm up until the blade hovered near her brow. “The Falcon’s Guard is about patience. A falcon doesn’t chase. It waits. Watches. Then” he stepped back and snapped his fingers, “strikes.”
She nodded, biting her lip. Sweat rolled down her temple.
“You’re not a soldier, you… are a dragon rider, the first one in over a hundred years, the first female dragon rider at that” Neko continued, circling. “So you don’t get to trade blows. You take one. You make it count. That’s why this stance matters. You give nothing until the moment it’s over.”
He drew his own blade in one clean motion, settling into the same posture. Suddenly, Neko seemed... lighter, faster, dangerous in stillness.
“See?” he said softly. “The Falcon isn’t about strength. It’s about choosing the moment.”
They moved through drills then, short, quick bursts. He struck, and she had to respond from the Falcon’s Guard. Step back, deflect, thrust. Each time she reacted faster. He called corrections as they danced: “Too wide,” “Tighter grip,” “Lead with the eyes.”
The rhythm built slowly, like a storm gathering, until she slipped under a downward slash and nearly tagged his ribs.
Neko grunted in approval as he very narrowly dodged being tagged.
She blinked, surprised. “Did I—?”
“Don’t celebrate,” he cut in. “Falcons don’t preen. They kill.”
He sheathed his blade and pointed to a flat stone near the tree line. “Rest. You’ll need your breath for the next one.”
“It seems Jason is now out of a training job,” Vivi exclaimed, walking up to them as they rested. “A very nice way to come up a training technique Nekonata.”
Neko looked up and lightly shrugged his shoulders, “I learnt from one of the best.” He nodded towards Jason.
Jason chuckled, “I’m impressed, very impressed and now, I know where I was going wrong, my apologies Tarasque. I believe we’ll be able to pick up a new stance tomorrow, this one called The Widow’s Kiss.”
“Does this mean I’m getting somewhere in my training?” Tara asked inquisitively.
“Yes, very much so, very much so indeed.” Jason replied with a smile.
“If you don’t mind, I need to talk to Jason on an important matter.” Vivi commented politely, they both walked away.
“You came? I really didn’t think you would.”
“Dare I ignore the polite request of a dragon and her rider?” Neko commented with a smile, offering Tarasque some water.
“I wanted to thank you, you know, for breaking me out of the coma. Myself and Elqiana, even my mother are indebted to you, so thank you.”
“Up until I arrived here, I had no idea you, or Elqiana even existed, I didn’t know what I was doing, to be honest I still don’t, either way it was the right thing to do, and if I had to… I’d do it all over again.”
Unexpectedly Tarasque reached forward embracing him in a hug, giving him a little kiss on his cheek, “Thank you Neko.”
Chapter 3, Falcon
“Good morning Tarasque,” Cassandra said as she whipped open her daughter's bedroom curtains.
“Eurgh! No way is it morning already!” Tara moaned grumpily, pulling her covers over her head.
“Time to get up, sweet daughter of mine, get washed and dressed, breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Hey mother, can I hang out with Neko today? I want to get to know him better, please!”
“He isn’t in the city at the moment, Vivi said he needed some time to clear his head.”
“That’s ok, I’ll find him!” Tarasque commented with a mischievous smile. ‘Hey Elqi, good morning!’
‘Good morning little red head, to answer your question yes and no…’
‘My question? What question?’
‘The one at the very front of your mind right now… about Neko. Yes I could find him, but no I won’t.’
‘Oh come on Elqi, I want to get to know him better already!’ Tara stropped, flopping herself on to a chair. Her mother looked at her rolling her eyes.
‘I can’t tell you where he is… if I’m already with him, little one…’
‘You’re already with him?! Where are you? I’m on my way!’ Tara jumped up excitedly, splashing her face with water, and rummaging for some clothes to wear.
“Tarasque! Wash your face properly young lady! Your clothes are on the bed..”
“Mother! Geez!” Tarasque starts to wash her face properly… ‘Where are you?’
‘Go to your training, I’ll ask Nekonata if he can meet you there’
‘Training, training and more training… everyday… ok fine, but don’t ask, demand Elqi!’
Nekonata stirred underneath Eqliana’s wing, Santi and Kristi already gone, hunting for their breakfast. He stretched, sat up, and then stretched some more. Elqiana moved, folding her wing back into her side, Neko covering his eyes as the brightness of the early day temporarily blinded him.
“Thank you for protecting us from the rain Elqiana.”
‘You’re welcome little one, Tarasque has asked if you would meet her? She has training this morning.’
“Training with Jason and Patrick can be brutal, I’ll meet with her, and give her a small reprieve.”
Neko stood up and stretched once more, then looked around. “Oh I guess Tabby has gone on the hunt for breakfast as well?”
Elqiana stood up, arching her back she stretched like a cat, and shook her body, moving at a little run, beating her huge web-like wings down to take off into the skies. ‘Who knows what werecats get up to. Good morning little one’
Neko chuckled and smiled as he watched her fly towards the mountains. He started walking back to the city of Edena, slowly giving his girls a chance to catch up to him.
Santaya and Kristolia came running up to him, bouncing around him excitedly, “Well you must have enjoyed breakfast this morning girls! Come, we’ve got someone to meet.” He quickened his pace, walking through the city. A lady from the fruit and vegetable store gently tossed him an apple, which he caught and waved thanks. Taking a big bite out of the apple, he noticed Vivi watching from a chapel window, he nodded his head towards him, and Nekonata nodded back.
“Tarasque don’t forget your stance, bend your knees slightly, lock in those arms!” Jason instructed.
Neko watched for a few moments, a few feet away, Tarasque was struggling. “Jason,” He called out, “Let me help.” Jason waved his hands in defeat and walked away a few paces. Neko walked up to the weapons rack and picked up a training sword. “Copy me Tarasque…”
In the heart of the training arena, beneath the whispering boughs of ancient trees, Nekonata decides to try and teach the curly red haired Tarasque the fundamentals of swordsmanship. The air is cool and tinged with the scent of moss and steel. She is the first dragon rider in over a hundred years, the first ever female dragon rider, with a lot to learn and a lot to prove, with a quiet fire in her eyes and a blade she barely knows how to hold. But there's urgency now; war creeps ever closer to her home.
With patience, he adjusts her stance, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, weight centered. He shows her how to breathe with the blade, and how to listen to the rhythm of her opponent. Each stance he teaches has a name, a story, a purpose. The Falcon’s Guard, The Widow’s Kiss, The Stone’s Patience. echoes of battles long past.
As sweat beads on her brow and the sun begins its descent, they spar, slow at first, then faster. There is no romance in the lesson, but there is intimacy in the trust, the closeness, the shared silence between each clashing stroke.
Then, he pauses. “You’ll need to be better than good,” he says quietly, “You’ll need to be clever. And brave.”
And she answers, without hesitation, “Then teach me that too.”
Jason watched, with a smile. Vivi silently walked up to him watching as Neko the trainee became Neko the instructor, “I never thought I’d see this day!” Vivi whispered full of pride.
“The Falcon’s Guard Tarasque, is inspired by the hunt and prowess of a falcon in mid-hunt, poised, focused, deadly in the dive. This stance emphasizes agility, precision, and reactive power.”
Tarasque listened intently, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
“Your feet, lightly staggered, dominant foot back, heels barely kissing the ground for swift movement. Knees slightly bent, ready to spring. Your torso slightly leaning forward; the posture of a predator ready to strike. Sword held high on your dominant side, angled slightly forward like a beak ready to pierce, with the off-hand lifted for balance or deflection.”
The arena was quiet but for the crunch of boots on leaf-littered soil and the distant trill of birdsong. A sword whistled through the air, not in anger, but in instruction.
“Again,” said Nekonata.
Tarasque, hair tied back with a leather strip, reset her feet. Her training sword was still too heavy for her wrists, trembling slightly in her grasp. She exhaled and tried once more to fall into the stance he'd shown her.
“Stop.” Neko crossed the small clearing in two strides. He tapped her back heel with his boot. “Too flat. A falcon doesn’t land, it hovers. Stay light.”
She adjusted, rising slightly on the balls of her feet. The moment she did, her balance shifted, precarious, but suddenly full of potential.
“Good. Now the sword.”
He moved behind her, one hand guiding her arm up until the blade hovered near her brow. “The Falcon’s Guard is about patience. A falcon doesn’t chase. It waits. Watches. Then” he stepped back and snapped his fingers, “strikes.”
She nodded, biting her lip. Sweat rolled down her temple.
“You’re not a soldier, you… are a dragon rider, the first one in over a hundred years, the first female dragon rider at that” Neko continued, circling. “So you don’t get to trade blows. You take one. You make it count. That’s why this stance matters. You give nothing until the moment it’s over.”
He drew his own blade in one clean motion, settling into the same posture. Suddenly, Neko seemed... lighter, faster, dangerous in stillness.
“See?” he said softly. “The Falcon isn’t about strength. It’s about choosing the moment.”
They moved through drills then, short, quick bursts. He struck, and she had to respond from the Falcon’s Guard. Step back, deflect, thrust. Each time she reacted faster. He called corrections as they danced: “Too wide,” “Tighter grip,” “Lead with the eyes.”
The rhythm built slowly, like a storm gathering, until she slipped under a downward slash and nearly tagged his ribs.
Neko grunted in approval as he very narrowly dodged being tagged.
She blinked, surprised. “Did I—?”
“Don’t celebrate,” he cut in. “Falcons don’t preen. They kill.”
He sheathed his blade and pointed to a flat stone near the tree line. “Rest. You’ll need your breath for the next one.”
“It seems Jason is now out of a training job,” Vivi exclaimed, walking up to them as they rested. “A very nice way to come up a training technique Nekonata.”
Neko looked up and lightly shrugged his shoulders, “I learnt from one of the best.” He nodded towards Jason.
Jason chuckled, “I’m impressed, very impressed and now, I know where I was going wrong, my apologies Tarasque. I believe we’ll be able to pick up a new stance tomorrow, this one called The Widow’s Kiss.”
“Does this mean I’m getting somewhere in my training?” Tara asked inquisitively.
“Yes, very much so, very much so indeed.” Jason replied with a smile.
“If you don’t mind, I need to talk to Jason on an important matter.” Vivi commented politely, they both walked away.
“You came? I really didn’t think you would.”
“Dare I ignore the polite request of a dragon and her rider?” Neko commented with a smile, offering Tarasque some water.
“I wanted to thank you, you know, for breaking me out of the coma. Myself and Elqiana, even my mother are indebted to you, so thank you.”
“Up until I arrived here, I had no idea you, or Elqiana even existed, I didn’t know what I was doing, to be honest I still don’t, either way it was the right thing to do, and if I had to… I’d do it all over again.”
Unexpectedly Tarasque reached forward embracing him in a hug, giving him a little kiss on his cheek, “Thank you Neko.”
The Journey, Book 2; Chapter 4
Chapter 4, Gabija The clan leader sat at a large table overlooking paper, ruffling through pages and notes, sent to her by many different people. She sat back in her chair and sighed heavily. “Frustration is not one of your finest qualities Gabija.” quipped the oversized raven, Loki. “And...
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