Page 22 of Willow and the Wraith

“Willow.”

Both she and Sooni turned, startled by his sudden appearance, and her eyes widened, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Good morning, Wraith. I didn’t see you there.”

He ignored the way his pulse quickened at her reaction.

“You need to learn how to defend yourself,” he stated bluntly.

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “I… what?”

“You need to learn self-defense,” he clarified.

“But why? You said Farlain would be safe.”

“It will be.” He intended to make sure of that. “But unexpected things happen. I will teach you.”

“Me too!” Sooni piped up, her yellow eyes bright with excitement.

He nodded curtly, surprised by his own offer but unwilling to back down.

“Fine. Both of you, follow me.”

He led them to the ship’s training room, a space he usually kept to himself. The plain white walls and padded floor were a stark contrast to the cluttered warmth of the lounge.

“We’ll start with basic stances,” he began, demonstrating a defensive posture.

She bit her lip as she watched him.

“Are you really sure this is necessary?”

“Yes. Now assume this position.”

She sighed, then attempted to mirror his movements, frowning in concentration. He did his best to focus on the lesson, but he found himself distracted by the graceful lines of her body, the way her hair fell across her face as she moved.

Sooni, meanwhile, darted around them, quick and agile. She picked up the movements faster than he expected, but her attention span was short-lived. After a few repetitions, she decided it was boring.

“I’m going to go help Grandfather!”

She scampered out of the room before he could object, and Willow laughed.

“I think she was expecting something more exciting.”

“It’s not meant to be ‘exciting’, it’s meant to save your life,” he corrected sharply.

She gazed up at him, her expression unreadable, but something in her eyes made his chest tighten.

“All right,” she said. “Teach me how to save my life.”

“Assume the first position.”

She tried, her movements clumsy and unsure, and he felt an unfamiliar twinge in his chest - not impatience at her failure, but something closer to… concern? He immediately pushed the thought aside.

“Watch my movements,” he ordered.

He demonstrated a simple defensive sequence, moving as slowly as he could, and she watched him intently.

“Now you.”

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