Spark of Encouragement

Tenacity wrapped her lower arms tighter around her waist as her other arms adjusted the parka over her shoulders. She was trudging through the snow, following a path she had come to recognize as an easy route to the coastal village. It was still very early in the morning and the sun had not yet risen high enough in the sky to offer any warmth. She blew into her cupped paws, using her breath to warm her pads, before rubbing them together with a long sigh. This winter was stretching out a lot longer then it normally would have, and that was concerning a great many finley.

The tall muscular draken gently and carefully rested her paw on a pouch tied around her belt and she could feel her tiny companion wiggle around in response to her touch, reassuring her that she was alright. Ten would have rather her taddler friend to stay in the village where she could be kept warm and sheltered, but with the fear of another collapse, was it really safer?

Flicking her tri-tipped ears, the bright finley made note of the thinning trees just up ahead, and the stronger scent of the salty waters. She was here. She made it to their sister village and Ten would be able to head to the market and search for the supplies she needed. With so many structures collapsing and straining against the snow, more materials became sorely necessary.

She had to adjust her eyes to the difference in lighting as she stepped out from under the forest canopy, and felt a small spark of relief spreading through her mind upon seeing the sun now high enough to provide whatever warmth it could during their sporadic torrents of snowfall. Rubbing her yellow eyes, she made her way to the market place.

Tenacity put her purchased items into her pack, letting the rolls of rope coil at the bottom, and the large thick bag of nails rest in the middle. Next, she wrapped up a large glass jar and set that inside too. She wanted to have another spare container for the sticky paste she often uses as she works, compliments to her wonderful companion. Was that everything? After double checking her list and making sure she paid for all her items, the green draken decided she was satisfied enough to consider her task completed, with plenty of time to spare at that.

The dual armed draken glanced up at a rocky ledge next to the crashing waves, just off in the distance. With a second’s hesitation she started to make her way over there. It seemed that a sorrowful tragedy had happened due to the unstable weather. As she walked over the sandy beach, she would help the other villagers while she went. Keeping an eye out for any Heart Bettas washed ashore, and returning them to the water. There was one that caught her eyes, as it flailed and fought against the waves. She picked it up and quickly ran into the water, ignoring the piercing pain of the frigid cold. She found herself taking note of the grey and blue scales, and the white snowflakes scattered over its body. A winter warrior? Surely is must not parish by the season that blessed it. Ten lowered the fish into the water and watched happily as it disappeared with a powerful whip of their tail.

She had been able to save a few Heart Bettas by the time she reached the rocky outcrop at the far end, and began making her way into the forest and up onto the ledge. She sat down at the base of a tree and gazed into the ocean. This was were she was first found, all wrapped up in vines with no memory of who she was or how she came to be there. This always bothered her, and she would come here every chance she got to ponder how fate brought her here.

Tenacity didn’t have much time to let her mind wander, because she soon heard rustling in the brush just before a rather tall nyulop appeared, panting slightly, “I’m so sorry to disturb you like this. I tried calling out to you but the waves must’ve been too loud.” She spoke as she shook the snow off of her grey pelt. “I’m Teles. I hope you don’t mind me approaching you like this?” She asked with an almost shy and apologetic smile.

“Ah- no,” Ten said with a shake of her head, still a little stunned with the unexpected appearance of another finley. “I don’t mind you approaching me, I’m just a bit surprised. I- I’m Tenacity.”

“Of course.” The Leporid, based on her long slightly curved whiskers, raised a paw to embarrassingly brush the fur at the back of her neck. “It’s just I saw you on the beach and you didn’t seem too terribly busy… And you look rather formidable… I was just wondering if you know any magic?”

“Oh- uh- magic?” Tenacity was a bit taken aback and even slightly embarrassed. “No- well, I mean- I can do a bit with my Static Shock, but I’m not too good at it.” She looked down as her embarrassment deepened. “Lightning is pretty unpredictable, and I’ve been scared to use it much- I-… don’t want to accidentally hurt anyone…”

“Oh, I see… That’s understandable.” Teles nodded slowly before perking up slightly, “That makes us the same then! I’m not so great at magic and I’m wanting to train to be better. I don’t suppose… you’d like to train with me, would you? I find that it’s easier to train together then alone.”

“A-are you sure? I could hurt you.” Ten shifted nervously, though she could not bring herself to outright dismiss the idea either. Maybe this was the push she needed to properly learn magic, but she couldn’t stop her worries of hurting someone. Could she?

“When you’re still learning the lightning doesn’t really hurt much.” Teles said with a soft reassuring smile.

“Really? And you aren’t bothered at all?”

“Not at all.”

…

“Try… focusing on one of your-… erm-… paws.” Teles said with a hint of laughter in her voice when she had to consider how many paws Tenacity had. “One of the less dominant ones. The idea is that your static shock will bounce from your dominant paw to the one you’re focusing on.”

Tenacity nodded with her eyes squinting in concentration and her ears pinned down as she tried focusing all her attention on her upper left paw. She stared intently at the blue pad on her palm with the matching blue thumb and the other yellow circular pads. Focus. Think… think…

“Don’t forget to breathe.”

Startled slightly Ten let out a breath of air that she had been unconsciously holding in, and a sudden burst of electricity shot up into the air, causing the lightning draken to flinch and recoil in shock.

“It’s okay.” Hearing Teles’s calm voice, the other finley was able to relax before moving back in place and trying it again- this time remembering to breathe. Slowly… carefully… in… and out. Wait- she had to focus on her paw. She shifted her gaze and stared at her left outstretched paw. With some sort of instinct whispering to her and the supportive presence of another, she found herself relaxing. And suddenly a thin bolt of lightning jumped from her right paw to her left.

With an exhilarated gasp Ten turned to an equally joyous Teles, “You did it!”

“I did…” She whispered, almost breathless. Her ears swerved forward and a flash of determination glinted in her narrowed eyes. She tried it again. And again. Soon she felt confident enough to sent the static shock to other outstretched paws.

“Wow…” The two finley said in hushed unison. They quickly glanced at one another and the two fell into a short fit of giggles.

“What about you?” Ten asked turning toward Teles, letting the static disperse as she dropped her arms.

“Oh. I have runes to study.” Teles said reaching into her bag to pull out a scroll. “Or any one of these texts really. I tried reading the Spiritualistic magic scripts the other day, but I couldn’t quite get it.”

“Hmmm…” Ten mused for a moment, “Why not try reading them again? Maybe something might click this time?”

The long tailed nyulop looked to consider this and nodded slowly. “That’s a good idea. I’ll try that.” She glanced at Ten, “And you? What other skill are you thinking of learning now that you’re better with your Static Shock?”

“I’m… not sure.” The draken admitted with a small frown.

“Oh! What about a technique from the Energy Branch? Those don’t typically cause any sorts of electric damage.”

“Oh really.” Tenacity’s ears perked at that, and she felt a charge of energetic resolve course through her.

The two discussed back and forth as they got more comfortable in seated positions. It seemed at this point they would be solo training together, which was fine with them both. Teles was very informative. Perhaps she had been training quite a lot for some time now?

Tenacity curled her tail around her crossed legs and took deep slow breaths, trying to focus the energy she could feel within her and anything she could feel around her. Energy Intake. To take in the energy surrounding oneself. Energy was everywhere. It was inside everything. She just had to feel it. And focus. If she could just sense the energy then she was sure she would be able to absorb it. What was that sound? Focus. Her brow furrowed and her ears lowered as she tried to concentrate.

It was in the air. She could feel it now… but the sea breeze kept distracting her- messing up what she thought she was feeling. The feelings were different! She could tell that they were. Just focus! Breathe. Breathe deeply and slowly. Feel the energy within… feel the energy all around. It’s there. A distinct sensation. She could feel it much more strongly now, and it was as if the strong ocean winds were muffled. Now, she just had to absorb it.

She could feel it flowing into her body! It was a bizarre but incredible sensation. It was almost sharp… strong… too much. Tenacity stood up and shook her body, causing Teles to look up from her notes. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

“I did it. I absorbed energy. It was just-… it felt kinda weird.”

Teles looked thoughtful. “I suppose it would.” She agreed, and then smiled. “But you did it!”

“Yeah… yeah!” Ten smiled feeling a sense of pride. “What about you?”

“I think I’m starting to understand…” Teles said slowly and with little confidence in her voice, but there was something in her expression that made Ten believe her, and she nodded.

“That’s great.”

“Yeah!” Teles agreed only after a moment of uncertain silence, this time sounding more confident.

The two finley decided they wanted to stay for a bit longer and train some more. Ten found that she quite enjoyed this nyulops company. Teles had a gentle yet powerful air about her, and her draken acquaintance was certain that she’d be an amazing wielder of magic. The two trained, talked, and meditated late into the afternoon, until Tenacity’s stomach made its displeasure known. She wrapped her lower set of arms around her waist with a small blush. “Oh. I suppose it’s lunch time.”

“Yes.” Teles said with a chuckle. “I suppose we should bring our magic training to an end for now.” They both carefully stood up and stretched their legs. “It was a pleasure learning with you.”

“I don’t know if I could’ve done this without you.” Ten admitted though Teles waved a paw.

“Thank you, but I just helped. What you did, you did with your own abilities.”

Tenacity felt warmed by those words. And empowered too. It really was helpful to have someone with you. To get supported and encouraged. And reminded of what was important.