“It was.” She nods, licks her lip. “And Lanz and Domm told everyone about it. Every being. Talked about it incessantly and how I need to teach it in my class so all fighters can use it as needed.”
“That sounds like an honor.”
“Except I can’t remember what I did and they expect me to start teaching it tomorrow.” Her voice gets louder. She stands up and crosses her arms. “I can’t vecking remember any of it. It’s like a sick blurry dream. All I can think of is the panic and fear and the look in the Mok’s eyes.”
She squeezes herself hard, like she’s trying to get smaller. Startled, I get up and come closer. “Mirelle, I’ve never seen you like this.”
“What, I’m not allowed to get upset?” She makes a little noise and shrugs off my hand when I put it onto her shoulder. “Don’t touch me right now.”
“Fine.” I put my hands up, a little hurt, but more concerned. “You seem very disturbed.”
“Well, I am.” She glares at me. “Do you even have a clue what kind of pressure I’m under on a daily basis? Every being thinks it’s so easy. Strong, feisty Mirelle. She can kill and then have fun, all in the same planet rotation! What a life! What they don’t see is that sometimes?” She takes a breath and her voice wobbles. “Sometimes the kills all come back to haunt me at night. Even with my mates beside me.”
“Oh, Mirelle. I had no idea.”
She shrugs. “It’s the life of a warrior. It is what it is.”
I close my eyes and the image of the rushing grass fills me. I slow my breathing and do the thing I’ve taught myself with my heart rate. Then I do the other thing, where I sort of slide my mind to the side, just a bit, and suddenly the woman’s face becomes clear. Her name is Rhianna, and she’s my…
My eyes fly open. “Mirelle, I can help you.”
“Oh, you can?” She shakes her head. “Unless you can get inside my brain and wring out the memory of how to do that fighter move, you can’t do a thing.”
“That’s just it. I think I can get into your brain.” I’m so excited that my words tumble out fast. “I can teach you.”
“No you can’t.” But she loosens her grip on her body. “How could that be possible?”
“I’ve been doing this thing.” I feel my cheeks redden because it’s odd to explain. “I move my mind around and let the thoughts clarify.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It will.” I reach out and when she takes my hand, I smile. “It will. Just try something with me. Will you?”
She shrugs. But I sense interest in her stance and her expression. “I guess so. Sure.”
I look around and we’re still alone. Even the bird is silent, preening her feathers with a long, silver beak.
“First we’re going to breathe together. But in a special way.” I slide off my shoes, sit down and cross my legs. “Join me. Arrange your legs like this.” I pat the ground right in front of me and put my feet up on the opposite thigh.
“What’s special about it?” She narrows her eyes. But she sits down. Takes off her shoes and arranges herself in the lotus position so she matches me. “Like this?”
“Yes.” I nod. “Now. We breathe in until we fill our diaphragm with air, then we whoosh it out like this.” I demonstrate. “Put your hand on my body to feel how I do it. It’s different from regular breathing.”
Mirelle is a quick study. It’s unbelievable how fast she learns the five different ways of breathing I’ve discovered, even the one where you hold one nostril shut, breathe in and out in a specific way.
It sounds odd, but it clears the mind. Makes it sharp as a Zandian sword, the edge so fine it can cut air. As clear as the still waters of the grotto, where you can see a mile down to the shimmering formations beneath, the ones that have lived there for millennia.
Now I speak to her, explaining what to do with this breath. “Next time you breathe out, empty your mind completely. All you see is the glowing Zandian star. Keep your eyes closed, and focus on the star. Just that.” I take her hands in mine. “Hold my hand while you breathe. Relax.”
Mirelle’s muscles loosen. Her hands in mine are soft and lax.
I don’t know how long we breathe together, but I sense when she’s ready for the next part.
“You see only the star. But now you’re going to do your new kick next to it. You’re relaxed and calm. Your body knows how to do this. Watch yourself, Mirelle. Watch like on a holo. Keep breathing.” I make my voice flow like the stream, dancing over rocks, limber and lithe. I send it into her mind, sending it into the dark crevices she can’t access.
Her eyelids flicker but her breathing doesn’t falter.
“You can feel your body perfectly. Each muscle, each tendon. You’re watching what happens. Do you see it?”