"Trainees, line up!" Came the call from the man who was heading their practices. Scars were visible on his back through an opening of his shirt; too many scars in one place, even for an old warrior. If one looked close enough, they seemed to take the shape of a wolf.
Three green warriors, one with a fish-looking scar, watched from the side, glad to finally put these training sessions behind them. As they scanned the line of new possible warriors, one pointed to the end of the line where the girl stood, straight and proud as if she belonged there.
"Isn't that one of the twins?" The young man who noticed her first asked.
"Yes it is," the second said, "Kaye's sister....what's her name?"
The first man shrugged, but the one with the fish on his back spoke without taking his eyes off her, "Kindra Odion." He wasn't sure how he had remembered her name; everyone in Fie Eoin knew Kaye, but hardly anyone remembered that she had a sister. Still, he must have heard Fennec mention his other daughter before his death, when Gar was still a trainee himself.
The man standing before the trainees finished his speech of what would be expected of them on this day and in the coming years. "If you have any questions you are more than welcome to ask myself or any of the warriors in Fie Eoin. We encourage it."
Sweeping his eyes over the line before him, Wolf finally noticed what Gar and his friends had noticed a few minutes before - there was a girl lined up with the trainees.
"Excuse me child, but this is warrior training. You don't belong here." He looked amused, as if she was playing a practical joke on them all and he found it funny.
"Indeed I do, sir. My father told me to come." She kept her eyes straight ahead as she heard some of the boys in the line snicker.
"And who might your father be?"
"Fennec Odion, sir. Warrior of Fie Eoin."
The man let out a short, barking laugh - now he knew the girl must be joking. "And did he tell you that this morning?"
She turned and looked pointedly at him, "No, of course not. He told me before he died three years ago."
Not sure what to say in reply, Wolf turned to another senior warrior who shrugged. Turning back to the girl, Wolf told her the truth, "you can't be here."
"Why not?" She challenged.
"Because you’re a girl!" Wolf wasn't sure if he should laugh again or box her ears until she started to pay attention. It would be a feeling that stuck with him for the rest of his life.
"So." Kindra crossed her arms as fire played just behind her eyes. "My father taught me how to fight and told me to join the warriors when I was ready. I'm ready."
"You think you could fight any of these boys....and win? They're twice your size!"
She nodded.
"Alright," Wolf looked down the line and took pity on the girl - any of these boys could rip her arms off. He might as well give her the best odds he could; Gar's brother was the youngest, and smallest, of the bunch. "You. Joe. Fight her."
The boy’s smile was wiped from his face. "Me? Why do I have to fight a girl?"
Wolf thought for a moment and smiled, "let's say 'height issues'." The other trainees snickered at that and Joe frowned, obviously upset. No problem though, he would take it out on the stupid, presumptuous girl.
Stepping forward, Joe looked around. "Don't we get a weapon or something?"
"Catch." Wolf threw a staff to the boy who caught it easily. Another senior warrior motioned Kindra forward and handed her a staff as well. She got into a stance her father had taught her years ago and waited for the boy to advance.
Joe made a show of testing his staff before lashing out with remarkable speed. She deflected it, but was obviously the weaker of the two as she rolled back on her heel, almost losing her balance. A few more easy deflections and Joe started to become clearly annoyed.
"Com'on Joe!"
"She's just a girl!"
The cheers from the other trainees edged him on and he fought harder and faster. Kindra was plainly loosing, but she held her own against his attacks until he was forced to let up - he wasn't a good endurance fighter. As his attacks became less brutal she rushed him, sending him onto his back and knocking the air out of him. She pushed the staff up against his chin so he couldn't move his head and dug her knees into his biceps. Two failed attempts at throwing her later and Wolf intervened.
"I think you proved yourself just fine. Up with you both." He hooked a hand around Kindra's elbow and pulled her off the boy, who jumped up and rubbed at his sore chin.
"She cheated!" Joe yelled in vain as she got back in line.
"She did no such thing!" His brother called across the field with a laugh.
Joe shot Gar an icy glare and got back in line to much jesting and back slapping. Someday he would teach that Kindra Odion her place.
*****
"Kindra, wait!"
She was walking home as quickly as she could; which wasn't very for she had taken quite a beating that day. She had been wondering all afternoon if maybe her father was wrong, maybe she couldn't be the first woman warrior of Fie Eoin. Turning, and trying to hide a flinch, she found herself facing one of the newest warriors. The one with the fish in his mark - the one whose brother she had made a fool of.
"Yes?" She braced herself for whatever stinging comment he might make.
"Good job today," he replied with a sincere smile. "If you ever need help with anything, or someone to practice with, I'd be more than happy."
"Oh." She wasn't sure what to say to that- it had been the last thing she was expecting. "I will keep that in mind."
She stood a bit confused for a moment as he smiled down at her expectantly. "Thank you," she finally said and nodded, turning away. He watched her as she walked slowly, painfully away and hoped she would take him up on his offer.