The Luna Phoenix

Training

Stacy took her role seriously as it was announced to each of thentrainkng classes that for morning training they had a choice. They could do their traditional Combat training with the Delta, or they could begin Martial Arts training with her, and do Combat training in the evening. Her evening courses for the moment however were reserved for the Advanced and Expert Classes, as the Alpha wanted them trained as quickly as possible.

About a third of the beginner and intermediate classes came to her first morning class, and were surprised when she had changed the basement of the training hall into a massive dojo. The weapons along the walls let them know what they would be training for, as they also saw the bamboo and oak ones as well.

Amber was one of the ones that had tormented her all through high school, and laughed when she saw that it was Stacy teaching them. "I would be willing to bet any one of us could beat her with a sword." she sniggered as Stscy stepped up to begin her instruction.

"Thank you for volunteering Amber. I was going to give you a solo demonstration, but a sparring match would be far more effective a teacher. Feel free to grab any of the bamboo training weapons, and grab one for me while you are at it." she said as she took the katana she used off her waist with the belt and all and set it down at the back of her stage.

Amber snorted as she walked over to the short swords, having practiced with her brother like most everyone here had. She grabbed one in each hand, and was excited she would finally get to embarrass the hell out of Stacy.

"Not those ones, the hollow bamboo ones. We do not want any broken bones in this class on the first day." Stacy said as Amanda placed the solid wood ones back in the rack and grabbed the bamboo ones that were much lighter. "While she does that, we will go over the standard rules. 1. At no point are you to transform any portion of your body into Wolf. This is for thier of you who cannot fight properly in Wolf form, thus we will act like we are Humans and train our minds and bodies to use weapons such as those hanging on the walls.

"2. This class is to be taken serious at all times. When you are ready you will be able to select one of those very real weapons, and they are extremely deadly. Even when using the training models, you are to treat them like the real thing. Anyone who fails to respect the weapons we use here, will no longer be welcome in my class." she said as Amber finally made it to the front and threw one of the bamboo swords at her awkwardly hoping it would hit her. Stacy however caught it expertly by the handle like it was nothing as Amber scoffed again and got into what she believed to be a ready stance.

"3. When sparring you are not to hold back, just as you have not in the Combat Training. When using the real weapons, they are meant for killing, and that is how we will train." she said as Amber attacked and Stacy blocked 4 strikes in a row before Amber went wild and Stacy counterattacked smacking her across the face.

"4. Aggression will only get you killed in this class. If you can not check your emotions and leave any baggage you have at the door, do not come to my class believing you will be able to beat someone. Even these bamboo training weapons inflict significant pain, and the solid ones can break bones." she warned as Amber attacked again making her focus for a few moments on her opponent again who was allowing her frustration to come through in her strikes. Stacy simply side stepped one of them making Amber stumble past her before she slapped her across the back. Everyone heard the smack against her back and winced as she crashed to the floor with the wind knocked out of her as Stacy flourished her weapon.

"5. Always respect your opponent. No matter how good you think you are, there is always someone better. If you can abide bybtjese rules, let us begin your training. If not, there is the door." she said as she faced Amber again who was gasping for air as she stood up.

"How long will it take to get as good as you?" Amber asked through clenched teeth as she got up.

"That is entirely up to you. I have trained for atleast four hours a day every day for the last 10 years. That was on top of Combat Training in the morning and at school, so if you wished, perhaps a few weeks to learn what you need to know. If you slack off thinking you are automatically better than everyone, never." Stacy replied as Amber went to march off.

"Let us begin." she said before she began the two hour training session with them before breakfast.

Her second class was the one she was nervous about, because Tanner was in this class by order of the Alpha. He was one of the Experts, and until Alexander stepped down, he was the Head Warrior responsible for responding to any attack. His father wanted all of the Elite warriors trained in this combat style, as Stacy had proven it was extremely effective in beating the Rogues quickly.

What she hadn't expected was that among the 50 Elite Warriors, 15 of them were women. It gave her an idea of how to train them for actual combat scenarios. Tanner was one of the last ones to enter, and as soon as he did Adira went wild in her mind as his scent filled the room for her.

'Quit, we already figured that part out.' Stacy said to her Wolf who was dancing in her mind.

'That is our mate!' she said excitedly.

'I know, but it is complicated. Settle down sonwe can get through this.' she said while everyone made a formation in front of her.

"Welcome to Martial Arts training. I assume most of you know the Expert Elves as well as I do, so we will jump right into the changes in stance you will all need to practice and Master. Once we have done that we will go into weapons selection for each of you. Some may know what you want to Master, others may need to try a few different ones out. The first weapon we will cover for everyone is the sword, before we move on to the staff. Once you have sufficent experience with both of those, the rest of the weapons on the walls will be easier for you to learn and master." she said before beginning the training.

She was glad that this was the Advanced students, as all of them were respectful enough to follow her instructions without argument or the need to prove herself. Some of them had seen what she could do first hand, and her actions had even saved a few of their lives when the Rogues attacked the way they did. Becaise of this, and their willingness to learn new things, it was relatively easy for her to get through the techniques she needed too, and was surprised when within 10 minutes each of them had grabbed both the weapons they would want to use, and a training sword made of bamboo for what she was going to teach them today. She made them pair up and was not surprised that Tanner was the lone man out, as everyone else was paired. She laughed as he tossed one of the bamboo swords to her and they began working on the sword techniques they needed to be taught.

After 2 and a half hours she was starting to wear down from the morning class, and knew she would need to quickly choose someone who would be able to teach them what they were learning here.

"Ok class, I know it is supposed to be 3 hours, but my tank is empty for this morning. If you would like to spar with practice weapons only, you may." she said as she sat went to sit down on the edge of the stage. She was surprised Tanner joined her, and handed her a water bottle as he did.

"Is it me, or is your scent stronger today?" he asked her pointedly while most of the pairs created space for eachother and began sparring with the weapons they wanted to use.

"Are you saying I stink?" she asked as she took a long drink from the bottle.

Tanner laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. "No, I would never say that what I am smelling stinks. Your scent however seems more potent today, and it is driving my Wolf insane. Although he won't tell me what it is." he said nervously.

Stacy laughed as she looked at him. "Nothing has changed other than I am 18 now Tanner. You know what it is, but we still have to wait." she told him handing him the bottle so he could take a drink and their hands touched for the briefest of moments. It however felt like someone had zapped them with a taser at first, but instead of pain it was pleasure shooting from their fingers all the way to their hearts.

"Now that is definitely stronger." he said before taking a drink and looking at her.

"It doesn't change anything for the moment though. We both knew it was a possibility, this just confirms it now that I am 18." she told him.

"I thought we were both supposed to be 18 before it got to this point?" he asked as she looked at him.

"Except for when one of them has been gifted a special Wolf by the Moon Goddess. Those Wolves almost always know who their Mate is, no matter the age. Royals can tell once a Wolf reaches 15." she reminded him as they were one of the special cases she had mentioned before.

"You aren't Royal though are you? Inwas under the impression they got their Wolf sooner than anyone else." he replied as it funny to watch some of them use weapons, which made both of them laugh.

"No, I am not Royal." she said simply as the vision from the Goddess Realm played before her eyes of Zeus and Poseidon stripping the weapons Cronos used from him.

"You don't know what makes you special, do you?" he asked before she turned to look at him.

"I promise I will answer that question one of these days, we have time for that. For now, how about we get to know each other better, and decide how we are going to move forward. Hell, we have two months before you can break the contract so we can go on a proper date. I am many things, proper and honorable being the most important among them." she said making him sigh.

"So when will you go through your first change do you think?" he asked her as she smiled.

"You don't remember the white wolf with red socks giving you a hard time on the Pack Run?" she asked as he was confused for a moment how she could know that. It deep in the woods, and no one had been in Human form when she ran in front of him whipping her tail in his face.

"That was you?" he whispered when her alarm went off signaling the end of the class a few minutes before noon.

"Weapons to their racks please." she said loudly as they put the bamboo swords away. "Yes, you can keep the ones you have decided to use to practice with when you have time." she finished as she handed Tanner her sword and stood up.