As Variann guarded the dormitory entrance, her thoughts faded as she listened in to the vast reaches of the world around her. The sounds of the forest were often soothing to her, so she remained keen to keep an open ear. She closed her eyes, and allowed her hearing to stretch farther. She could hear the sounds of birds chirping, the ruffles of ground animals, the most gentle breeze flowing through the trees, and all the other sounds of the forest, each distinguishable to her ears. Before she knew it, she could hear footsteps approaching from ahead. When opening her eyes to see who it was, she saw Karra walking towards the bordering archway, and as she got close enough, Variann could hear Karra's heartbeat, as it beat heavily in her chest.
"Rough day?" Variann asked.
As Karra grew closer, Variann could see the level of frustration in her step.
"I don't want to talk about it," Karra stated, as she did her best to conceal the reactions of her face.
While Karra passed into the dorms, Variann listened intently to every beat, breath and step while following Karra with her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Karra's eyes falling dark with despair as a wetness lined her eyes.
Before she could process the information to say anything however, an unfirmiliar sound entered her senses. Variann had blinked, navigating her eyes in the sound's direction. It was a fast-paced ruffling, as something seemed to zip near through the foliage of the surrounding forest. Without hesitation, Variann rose to her feet, planting the base of her staff on the ground beneath her.
Hearing all the other sounds around her were at ease, she darted off with a woosh, disrupting the falling of leaves and lifting them from the ground in her place. She was fast, zipping through her surroundings nearly as if her feet never touched ground. She gripped her staff in her hand, her arms swung outward, as within moments, she had intercepted the source of the noise, and took the staff in both hands, prepared for anything. Alas, standing low before her was an orange cat that had been carrying a mouse in its mouth. When it dropped the mouse, and set its paws over it, the cat meowed a harmless greeting. Variann sighed, dropping her arms and shoulders. Having to leave her post over a simple cat was the last thing she could've expected.
"Well you're no trouble at all," she muttered.
Looking back at the cat, Variann squatted down, resting her arms over her knees.
"Got yourself a little snack there I see," she said to it.
Still looking up to her, the cat meowed once again, affirming her observation.
"Yeah, times are getting a little rough around here lately aren't they?"
The cat meowed as Variann gave another sigh.
"We barely have enough to keep all of us going," Variann spoke broadly.
She groaned, closing her eyes in disappointment.
"When was the last time I was actually needed for anything?" she complained in her shallow tone, "This all feels so basic," she finished, reflecting her conversation onto herself.
The cat trilled at her curiously, so Variann reached down to give the cat head pats.
"Oh don't you worry; you just carry on with your little snack," she answered.
So the cat meowed, picked up it's mouse, and started darting away.
"Okay then. Well don't be a stranger now. You can come back any time," she shouted back to the cat as she waved — her voice deep, slightly gravely, and strong-willed.
She sighed again as she lowered her hand. The cat was now out of site in the distance. Standing back up, Variann began to walk back to the dorms, when she heard another sound in the distance.
Going up the dorm hall stairs, Karra paused as she overheard chatter beyond one of the dorm room doors.
"So what do you think of that boy Kazran? That was quite the surprise coming from him," Tika mentioned.
"He's quite skilled. There definitely won't be any issues for him once his journey begins — that's for certain," Maulana answered.
"I wonder how someone as small as him came into such talents," Tika's voice echoed.
Karra, having heard enough, carried on to her room.
"Whatever the case, I just hope the rest of us can become at least that good," Maulana replied.
Inside their dorm, Tika and Maulana were working away at their studies, however, Tika was constantly becoming distracted by her wandering mind. They each held open a book, slouching back on their beds. For the most part, Maulana was quiet, only speaking up to certain topics.
"What about that girl Karra? Isn't her departure time getting close? It feels like she has been around longer than anyone," Tika asked.
"She's the toughest kid in class. I'm sure she'll be fine. Besides, I hear she got to stick around for longer under special permissions. It's not your imagination, so once it starts, she'll be unstoppable," Maulana casually replied.
Tika blinked twice in confusion. As she sat her book down, she raised a finger to her chin.
"But wait, wasn't it Kazran who won the match?" Tika inquired.
Maulana raised her eyes from her book.
"That was a fluke. Everyone knows Karra trains harder than anyone here. You saw what she did to that tree," Maulana spoke confidently.
"Ah, no actually," Tika muttered.
Maulana turned her attention to Tika in disbelief, but didn't know if explaining would matter much. Maulana looked back at her book and continued to read it, muttering, "She's tough," as a final response.
Tika simply observed Maulana for a while, and tilted her head in silent question before returning back to her book. The room fell quiet, if only for a moment. "Oh, I've got it!" Tika ecstatically announced abruptly. Maulana released a breath off her shoulders, as she expected no less.
When Karra slammed the door to her room behind her, she slowly walked over to her bedside, raising her paws to her head. All the frustration was causing a burning sensation in the nerves around her mind, and she responded to it by gritting her teeth. In a moment, she gripped her pillow and threw it across the room, which knocked over a vase and other knick knacks off her bookshelf. The bookshelf was filled with volumes of various stances and combat techniques ranging across the many forms of martial arts, while one book stood out from the rest.
"Ugh!" Karra cried out, stomping her foot down. She dropped by her bedside, and propped her face on her knees, hugging them. As she let out a deep sigh, she buried her face, and sat in silence as all her concerns and worries flowed through her mind. The sounds of birds singing could be heard through the window, but Karra was too absorbed in her painful thoughts and emotions to notice. To her, everything was quiet, and she was completely alone.