Julia is an extremely patient teacher when it comes to the witches. It must be because she remembers how much she struggled to learn how to use hand to hand combat. I had to start her with younger kids so that she would be able to keep up. It took quite a while for her to master anything as she was not as naturally gifted physically but she still did push herself to learn as much as she could so far. We begin by teaching them the basic stances. It is important that they know how to stand correctly before hitting somebody or being hit by somebody. Some of the witches seem to catch on rather quickly while the ones that have stuck to tradition more strictly do not want to try as hard. Simonetta continues to watch us all with a stuck up look on her face. I bet that there is no way that I would ever manage to catch her out on a mat working on fighting stances. Carlina comes up to me as I work with some of the witches. She did not originally come with us to train so I can only assume th
During lunch all of the witches talked excitedly about some of the stuff that they had learned. Some of the witches were more excited about the shadow people while a few were excited at learning hand to hand combat. I make a mental note which ones enjoy the combat so that I can make sure that they are given every opportunity to practice that they can get in the future. It is mostly the younger witches that enjoyed the combat."Laina, what did you hope to achieve by having all of the witches practicing with the werewolves today? I know that I said you needed to get them together based off of the visions you have been speaking of but I cannot see what today could have possibly accomplished." Simonetta asks with a false sweetness.Just then, Safiya walks into the dining area and takes the open seat next to Simonetta. They exchange small smiles while I ponder how to answer her questions. To an outsider it might not seem like much was accomplished today but considering the past between thi
For the next couple of weeks I continue to make snide remarks around Safiya without actually coming out and telling her that I know what she has been up to. For the first week after my original remark she does not sneak out again but it is not too long before I catch her sneaking out once again. Instead of following her every time I sometimes wait just inside the door as she comes back so that she can see that I know she snuck off. The first time she seems startled and nervous but once she realizes that I am not telling anybody she starts to ignore me. Knowing that she is getting more comfortable is a bit unsettling. While I do want her to trust me I also would like for her to know that at any time I can reveal her secret. I need to covince her to be on my side if it comes down to a split between the Council members. Considering that she is sleeping with a werewolf it is hard to see her siding with Simonetta but I am sure that it could still happen.Carlina has been joining us for pr
As all of the witches square off with each other to begin their sparring matches, I prepare myself for a decent show. Most likely just drama filled but I will still take it. Hazel launches herself at Jade without a moments hesitation leaving Jade to scrabble and try to block her. Their enthusiasm for combat shows as they are fighting with very little regard to their actual training. If I did not know any better I would think that they were not friends at all.Carlina and Katrin study each other carefully before setting up for the fight. They circle each other before Katrin finally makes the first move. Carlina blocks the move easily and the fight continues on. They fight the opposite of how Hazel and Jade are still going at it.Both Carlina and Katrin are performing their moves flawlessly. It looks like they have been practicing for quite a while. Each move flows into the next with the opposite person blocking it seamlessly. If I did not know better, I would think that they had been p
After our first sparring practice we all head back to the house. The witches are all grumbling about how sore they are. Some are even bringing up the sparring match between Blair and Samara. They all seem rather shocked by how much anger was in their match. The matches between the two Council members and Jade and Hazel are spoken of just as frequently. This time with a small amount of reverence.Everybody seems to have much more excitement for the combat training after today. The sparring really put into perspective how much the basics training helps. At the end of the week I would like to have a celebration. I was thinking of doing something like the dinner that I have with the wolves but maybe it is time that we do something else with both species. I do not want to incringe on the pack's dinner but I still want to do something for the witches. I guess that it is possible that I have an entire weekend of celebrations. One day for the wolves, one for the witches and one for a combina
"What did you want?" Safiya asks when she finally decides to join me in the hallway."Why don't we go up to the library to talk about it?" I tell her. She gives me a look of mistrust as we begin to climb the stairs towards the library. I can only imagine what she is thinking I plan to say to her. Most likely thinks that I am going to bring up the fact that she has been meeting with a werewolf almost every night lately."What is it that you need of me?" Safiya asks defensively."Most likely not what you are thinking. Right now, I want to find more ways for the girls to all bond. I have recently learned of dances that witches used to perform in the past for different reasons. I want more information on those. I want for us to all get out on Saturdays and dance together. Whether it is a rain dance or just for fun. I am just looking for more information on it. Can you help?" I ask her.Her eyebrows raise like she cannot believe what she is hearing. Apparently she is expecting me to ask f
Arriving at the pack feels like coming home. It was definitely the right decision for tonight. I am looking forward to spending some time at home with Dante and not having to worry about the witches for the night. They always have a way to get ahold of me so I am not worried about them. I can just relax here with the other half of my family.I smile as I walk through the doorway and smell Dante cooking. It has been quite a while since I have had his cooking besides at the pack dinners. It is different when it is just for us though. I had tried to keep my decision to come here out of my mind so that I could surprise him but I must have let something slip on my way since he is cooking.Walking around the corner, I find him dancing around in the kitchen while he is cooking. He is making some type of homemade pasta as I can see the pasta hanging and drying. When he turns and sees me, a huge smile lights his face. Dropping the spoon that he is holding he practically jumps over the counter
Spending the evening with Dante for dinner was pure bliss. We made a deal not to talk about any threats to us after the dinner was done. Instead, we just caught up on each other, told some stories and enjoyed our company. There was nobody watching and judging me as I ate and socialized. What a freeing feeling.After dinner, we decide to sit in the rec room and watch a movie. There is no point in working on a movie series since we have no idea when I will be back here again. Instead, we choose the movie Eragon. For once, I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of the movie. I read the book at one point and the movie just does not do the book justice. The books were pure genious while the movie was just a little 'bleh'. The story line itself was still pure genious but the way that they made the movie was lacking. I do not see myself watching it again. One good thing that came out of it though, is the fact that I can focus on Dante more instead of focusing on the movie. Snuggling in c