to learn?" I ask.
"Not that I can think of. But you should probably practice what I have taught you. So go ahead and attack me."
I try hard to attack Ebb without hurting her. I know that when the time comes, I will need to hurt my enemy. But for now it helps just knowing what attacks I should use.
As we practice fighting, I learn how to use my arms to protect my stomach and face. I also learn how to block kicks with my shins. It hurts, but it is better than having a broken foot or knee. Ebb doesn't hold back much, but I know that she is trying not to hurt me either. For her training to work, and to help me survive, she has to make it as real as she can.
The sun starts to set. We are both very tired. She attacks me one last time, tackling me to the ground. We roll around in the mud a bit, but finally she ends up on top of me, pinning my arms to the ground.
"Do you give up?" asks Ebb.
"Never!" I say.
We both laugh. Ebb rolls off of me and onto her back. We just lie in the mud for a moment.
"Thank you, Ebb. What you have taught me may save my life. I will forever owe you a debt," I say.
"Just survive, Sam. I don't want you to die."
"I will do everything I can to live."
There is just enough sun left in the sky that we are able to find our way back to the Crag.
16
When we get back I notice how muddy we are. I suggest to Ebb that we wash off what we can in the puddle at the mouth of the Crag. It takes us a few minutes to get the mud off of our feet and legs. I figure that it should work well enough until we can make it to the loud waters. Once we are only half-covered in mud, we walk back to my room.
Flot and Jet are inside, talking to each other. They have surprised and guilty looks on their faces, like we walked in on them planning someone's death.
"Ebb, I would like to introduce you to my brothers," I say.
Before I can say who they are, they both stand up from the ground. Flot reaches out a hand to Ebb.
"I'm Flot," he says, shaking hands.
"Jet," says Jet, also shaking her hand. "So you watched over us last night?"
"Yes, I did," says Ebb.
"So why are you here?" asks Flot.
"We're grabbing some soap," I say.
"Good, because you look horrible. Have you been rolling around in the mud again?" asks Flot.
"Ebb was teaching me how to hand fight," I say.
Both Flot and Jet smile.
"What kind of evil hav e you be en up to?" I ask.
"Nothing," says Flot. "Nothing we want you to know about."
I just stare at them.
"Anyway, we're off to the loud waters," I say.
We grab the soap then leave.
"Your brothers seem nice," says Ebb.
"Yes, they do see m nice," I say.
"It is also nice to see them when they aren't asleep."
"I'm not sure I agree with that."
We arrive at the loud waters. Ebb and I wade in, close to where the water is leaving the cave. We both lie down, completely covering ourselves in water. I hold my breath and let the water do its job. I can feel the clumps of mud pull away from my face and clothes. It also feels good to have the cool water on my bruises.
After I feel like I'm rinsed, I stand up. Ebb does the same. We both take off our clothes and start washing them with soap. I look over at Ebb then quickly look away. She looks over at me.
"Sam, are you blushing?" asks Ebb.
"Um, what do you mean?" I say.
"Your face is turning red."
"Must be from the mud."
I don't know why I would blush. It's not like I haven't washed my clothes and bathed in front of other people my entire life. I don't blush when I wash around Flot or Jet, or anyone else.
I finish up washing my clothes. I rest near the edge of the loud waters, waiting for Ebb to wash her long hair. It takes her a while to wash hers; much longer than I spend on mine.
We take our clothes to the Great Fire and hang them up. Ebb and I use the warmth of the fire to dry off. Moss is there, and he looks at us both then smiles at me.
Eventually we are both dry.
"I hope you do well in the trials," says Ebb.
"I will do my best to survive, and to
"Not that I can think of. But you should probably practice what I have taught you. So go ahead and attack me."
I try hard to attack Ebb without hurting her. I know that when the time comes, I will need to hurt my enemy. But for now it helps just knowing what attacks I should use.
As we practice fighting, I learn how to use my arms to protect my stomach and face. I also learn how to block kicks with my shins. It hurts, but it is better than having a broken foot or knee. Ebb doesn't hold back much, but I know that she is trying not to hurt me either. For her training to work, and to help me survive, she has to make it as real as she can.
The sun starts to set. We are both very tired. She attacks me one last time, tackling me to the ground. We roll around in the mud a bit, but finally she ends up on top of me, pinning my arms to the ground.
"Do you give up?" asks Ebb.
"Never!" I say.
We both laugh. Ebb rolls off of me and onto her back. We just lie in the mud for a moment.
"Thank you, Ebb. What you have taught me may save my life. I will forever owe you a debt," I say.
"Just survive, Sam. I don't want you to die."
"I will do everything I can to live."
There is just enough sun left in the sky that we are able to find our way back to the Crag.
16
When we get back I notice how muddy we are. I suggest to Ebb that we wash off what we can in the puddle at the mouth of the Crag. It takes us a few minutes to get the mud off of our feet and legs. I figure that it should work well enough until we can make it to the loud waters. Once we are only half-covered in mud, we walk back to my room.
Flot and Jet are inside, talking to each other. They have surprised and guilty looks on their faces, like we walked in on them planning someone's death.
"Ebb, I would like to introduce you to my brothers," I say.
Before I can say who they are, they both stand up from the ground. Flot reaches out a hand to Ebb.
"I'm Flot," he says, shaking hands.
"Jet," says Jet, also shaking her hand. "So you watched over us last night?"
"Yes, I did," says Ebb.
"So why are you here?" asks Flot.
"We're grabbing some soap," I say.
"Good, because you look horrible. Have you been rolling around in the mud again?" asks Flot.
"Ebb was teaching me how to hand fight," I say.
Both Flot and Jet smile.
"What kind of evil hav e you be en up to?" I ask.
"Nothing," says Flot. "Nothing we want you to know about."
I just stare at them.
"Anyway, we're off to the loud waters," I say.
We grab the soap then leave.
"Your brothers seem nice," says Ebb.
"Yes, they do see m nice," I say.
"It is also nice to see them when they aren't asleep."
"I'm not sure I agree with that."
We arrive at the loud waters. Ebb and I wade in, close to where the water is leaving the cave. We both lie down, completely covering ourselves in water. I hold my breath and let the water do its job. I can feel the clumps of mud pull away from my face and clothes. It also feels good to have the cool water on my bruises.
After I feel like I'm rinsed, I stand up. Ebb does the same. We both take off our clothes and start washing them with soap. I look over at Ebb then quickly look away. She looks over at me.
"Sam, are you blushing?" asks Ebb.
"Um, what do you mean?" I say.
"Your face is turning red."
"Must be from the mud."
I don't know why I would blush. It's not like I haven't washed my clothes and bathed in front of other people my entire life. I don't blush when I wash around Flot or Jet, or anyone else.
I finish up washing my clothes. I rest near the edge of the loud waters, waiting for Ebb to wash her long hair. It takes her a while to wash hers; much longer than I spend on mine.
We take our clothes to the Great Fire and hang them up. Ebb and I use the warmth of the fire to dry off. Moss is there, and he looks at us both then smiles at me.
Eventually we are both dry.
"I hope you do well in the trials," says Ebb.
"I will do my best to survive, and to
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