 I adjusted my hold on the staff.

Zell adjusted his footing and moved closer. I watched him, adjusting my own stance as I carefully moved to keep him in constant sight. _You can do this, Sally. You know you can. Just don't think about it. Do it. Do it_ \--He moved with near-perfect precision and quickness. I reacted as best I could, blocking an attempted strike at my head that was followed quickly by a left hook. I blocked both, but I didn't expect the second right cross.

It made contact on the side of my head. "Damn. Thought you were gonna get that one." Zell stepped close, and his fingers gently probed my head where he'd hit. "You OK?" he asked as he gauged my expression.

I lowered my staff, nodding once he'd lowered his hand. My scalp still tingled. "It didn't hurt." _But that felt wonderful. Can you do it again please?_

Yeah. Right.

Zell stepped back as he brought an arm across his chest. The other stroked his chin. He regarded me as I examined the ground at my feet. "You're quick with it, but something just ain't right. Let's do it again."

_I think I'm gonna hurl._ The pattern was repeated again. This time, though, I blocked the third hit, deflected the fourth, but didn't get to the kick in time. He pulled back to keep from getting me in the stomach. I startled back a step and tripped over my own feet, landing in the dirt with a thud and a very humiliated expression.

"Aw geez. Sorry about that." Zell stepped forward and extended a hand. He helped me up.

"It wasn't your fault," I mumbled as I brushed the dirt from my backside.

"You know what? The staff's not your weapon. You're okay with it, but it doesn't jive with your body build."

I stared down at the staff in my hands. "Oh," I sighed.

"You do anything else?"

I shook my head. _Kiss your chances of passing the Fire Cavern good-bye, Sally._ Which meant I'd be leaving Garden the following spring. My throat tightened, and I sniffed.

Zell enfolded my upper arm with a warm
I adjusted my hold on the staff. 

 Zell adjusted his footing and move nearer. I watched him, adjusting my own position as I carefully act to keep him in constant view. _ You can do this, Sally. You know you can. merely don't think about it. Do it. Do it _ \--He move with near - perfect precision and mental quickness. I react as best I could, blocking an attempted strike at my point that was followed quickly by a left hook shot. I blocked both, but I didn't expect the second right cross. 

 It construct contact on the side of my head. " Damn. Thought you were gon na get that one. " Zell step close, and his fingers gently probed my head where he'd reach. " You OK? " he asked as he gauged my expression. 

 I lowered my staff, nodding once he'd lowered his hand. My scalp still tingled. " It didn't ache. " _ But that felt wonderful. Can you dress it again please? _ 

 Yeah. Right. 

 Zell step back as he brought an arm across his chest. The early stroked his kuki. He regarded me as I examined the ground at my foot. " You're quick with it, but something just ain't right. Let's do it again. " 

 _ I think I'm gon na hurl. _ The pattern was repeated again. This time, though, I blocked the third collision, deflected the fourth, but didn't catch to the kick in time. He pulled back to keep from getting me in the abdomen. I startled back a step and tripped over my own feet, landing in the dirt with a thud and a very humiliated expression. 

 " Aw geez. blue about that. " Zell stepped ahead and extended a hand. He help me up. 

 " It wasn't your fault, " I mumble as I brushed the soil from my backside. 

 " You sleep together what? The staff's not your weapon. You're okay with it, but it doesn't jive with your body build. " 

 I stared down at the staff in my hands. " Oh, " I sigh. 

 " You do anything else? " 

 I shook my head. _ Kiss your chances of passing the Fire Cavern good - bye, Sally. _ Which meant I'd be leaving Garden the following give. My throat tightened, and I sniffed. 

 Zell envelop my upper arm with a warm
 I wdjusted my hold on the rtaff.

Zell adjusjee his hooting and movdd closer. I watched him, adjudtung mt own stance as I carewully movvd to keep hin in constaif sight. _You czk do chms, Sally. You knpw you can. Just don't thitk ayout it. Do it. Do it_ \--He moved with newr-perfevt precision and quibkgess. P veacted as best I could, blocking an atttmpted strike at mu head that was followed qkickpy by a left hook. L blocked bith, fyt I didn't ebpect the second right cross.

It made contact on the siae of my head. "Dqmb. Tjmught you wxre gogna get that one." Zeln stepprd close, and hls fiigerw gently probed my heed where he'd hit. "You OK?" he asneb as he gauged my expeewsion.

H loferea my stzfh, nkdding onre he'd loweded his hane. My scalp still timgjvc. "It didn't hhrt." _Bue ehat felt wonderful. Can you do it again plsase?_

Yeah. Right.

Zell stepped back as he broughj an arm asross his chest. The other stroked his chin. He regdrded oe cw I ebqmlned the ground at my feet. "You're quick with ie, bit something jusb ain't right. Let's co iy again."

_I think I'm gouha hurl._ The pattern aas repgated qgain. Thif tike, though, I blocked the thied hit, deflebted the fourth, but dibn't get to tke kicl in yime. He pulled back to yeep from gettijg me in ffe stomach. I staftlvd bdck a stto and tripped ovew my own heet, kanding in jhe dire with a tjud akg a very humiliatef exptessiot.

"Aw geez. Slrry about that." Zell stepped focxard and extemdad d hand. Hz helpcd me up.

"It wasn'e your fault," I mumbleb as I brushed tge dirt from my baskside.

"You knof what? The steff's not rour weapon. You'fd okay with it, but it doesn't jive with your body bulld."

I rfared down at tkt suadf in my hands. "Oh," I fihhxd.

"You go anything alse?"

K sfpok mh head. _Kiss hour chances of passing dhe Rire Cavern good-byr, Fally._ Whuch meane I'd be leavimg Garden the folllwing spcing. Mu trroat tightened, and I sniffed.

Zsll enfolfed my upper ari wibh a warm
I adjusted my hold on the staff. his and moved I watched him, I moved to keep in constant sight. can do this, Sally. You know can. Just don't think about it. Do it. Do it_ \--He moved with precision and quickness. I reacted as best I could, blocking an attempted strike my that followed by a left hook. I blocked both, but I didn't expect the second right cross. It contact on the side of my head. "Damn. you were gonna get one." Zell stepped close, and fingers probed my where hit. OK?" he asked he gauged my expression. I lowered my staff, nodding once he'd lowered his hand. My scalp still "It didn't that felt Can do again please?_ Yeah. stepped back as he brought an chest. The other stroked his chin. He regarded as I the ground at my feet. "You're with it, but something just ain't right. Let's it again." _I think I'm gonna hurl._ The pattern was repeated again. This time, though, the third hit, deflected fourth, but didn't to kick time. pulled back keep from getting me in the stomach. I startled back a and tripped over my own feet, landing in the dirt thud a very humiliated "Aw geez. Sorry about Zell forward and extended a helped up. fault," mumbled I brushed the dirt my backside. "You know what? staff's not your weapon. it doesn't jive with your body build." I down at the staff in my hands. I sighed. "You do anything else?" I shook my head. _Kiss your of passing Cavern good-bye, Sally._ Which meant I'd be leaving the following spring. My tightened, and I sniffed. Zell enfolded my upper arm a
 I adjusted my hold on the staff.

zell adjustEd his FooTinG aNd moVed cLoser. I watched hIM, adjUsting my own stance as I caRefulLy MOved TO kEep hiM in consTAnT SIghT. _YOu Can Do THiS, SallY. YoU know yoU can. Just doN't tHiNk about it. Do iT. do It_ \--He moved wIth Near-perfect pRecIsion aNd QuiCKness. i reActed As best i Could, bLocking an AtTEmpted STrike at MY HeAd thAt was followed quicKLy BY a left hook. I bloCked boTh, BUt i DIdn'T exPect the secOnD righT Cross.

It MAdE CONtaCT on the side of mY head. "Damn. ThOUghT you weRe GonNA get thAt one." zeLL stEpped close, aNd hiS fingers gEntly pRObed my hEAd where He'd hit. "you oK?" hE askED aS hE gaUgED my EXpResSIon.

i lowered My StAff, noDdinG ONCE he'd LowEred His haNd. My scalp stilL tiNgleD. "it dIdn't hUrt." _BuT thaT fElt woNderfuL. Can yOu Do it again please?_

yeah. right.

Zell StePpEd bAcK as he BRought An aRm aCross hiS chest. THE otHeR STRoKed his chin. He regardEd ME As i examineD the grOUnD aT My feet. "YoU'rE quIck wITH it, buT somEThIng just aIn't rigHT. LEt'S do it agAiN."

_I thinK I'M goNna Hurl._ THE patTern waS repeateD agaiN. this time, though, i Blocked the thiRD hIT, DeFLectEd tHe fourth, but Didn'T Get tO the KIcK in TIme. He PulleD bACk TO keep from getting me iN tHe stomAch. I sTartled back a sTep and tripPED Over my owN feeT, LaNDing in the dirt wIth a tHud and a verY HumiliatEd expRession.

"AW geez. SorrY ABout that." zelL stEppEd fORWaRd and extended A HAnd. HE hElped me Up.

"IT wasn't yOur FauLt," I MumBlEd as I brusHed the diRt FrOm My BacKside.

"yOu know whAt? the StAff'S not yOUr weapOn. You'Re okAy WiTH it, But it doESn'T JIve wItH yOur bOdy BuIld."

I sTareD DowN at the sTaff in my hAndS. "oh," I sIgHeD.

"You do aNything else?"

I sHoOk my head. _KiSs YouR chancES Of passinG the Fire Cavern good-bye, SaLLy._ Which MeaNt I'd bE leaVing GardeN thE folloWinG Spring. my throAt tigHtEneD, ANd I snIFFeD.

ZeLl Enfolded my UPPer Arm wiTh A warM
 I adjusted my hold on the  staff.

Z ell a dju ste dhisfoot ing and movedc lose r. I watched him, adju sting  m y  own st anceas I ca r ef u l lymo ve d t ok ee p him  in  consta nt sight._Yo ucan do this, Sa lly. You k now  you can. Ju stdon'tth ink about  it . Doit. Do it_ \- -He moved  w i th nea r -perfec t pr ecis ion and quickness .  I reacted as bes t I co ul d ,b l ock ing  an attemp te d str i ke at m y  h e a d  th a t was followe d quickly b y  aleft h oo k.I  block ed bo th ,  bu t I didn'texpe ct the se cond r i ght cro s s.

Itmade c ont act  ont he  s ide  o f  my he ad. "Da mn. Thou gh tyou w ereg o n n a ge t t hatone."  Zell stepped  cl ose, and  hisfinge rs g en tly p robedmy he ad  where he'd hit . "Y ou OK?" h e a sk edas  he g a uged m y e xpr ession. 

I low e red  m y s ta ff, nodding once h e' d lo wered hi s hand .  M ys calp sti ll  ti ngle d .  "Itdidn ' thurt." _ But th a tfe lt wond er ful. C an  yo u d o ita gain  pleas e?_

Yea h. Ri g ht.

Zell step p ed back as he br o u gh t  anarm  across his  che s t. T he o t he r s t roked  hisch i n. He regarded me as I  e xamine d the  ground at my  feet. "Yo u ' r e quickwith it ,  but something  just  ain't rig h t. Let's  do i t again. "

_I thi n k  I'm gon nahur l._  Th e pa ttern was rep e a tedag ain. Th istime, t hou gh,  Iblo ck ed the th ird hit,  d ef le ct edthe f o urth, bu tdid n' t g et to the ki ck in  tim e.  H e  pu lled ba c kt o  kee pfr om g ett in g mein t h e s tomach.  I startl edb ackast ep andtripped overmy  own feet,  l and ing in t he dirtwith a thud and a veryh umiliat edexpre ssio n.

"Aw g eez . Sorr y a b out th at." Z ell s te ppe d forwa r d  a ndex tended a h a n d.He he lp ed m e up.
"It wasn't your fa u lt, " I mumbled a s I  bru s h ed  th e  d i rtfr o m m y backside.

"You  know what ?T he  staff's n o t y ou r weapo n. You' re ok a y withit, but i t doesn't  j ivew i thyour bodybuild."
I stared downa tthe s taf f in m yhan ds. " Oh," I sig hed.
"Youdo  anyth ing e ls e?"

I s hook my head. _Kiss you r chan ces o f p assing th e F i reCavern go od-b ye, Sally. _ W hic h mea ntI 'd be  lea v in g G a rdenthef ollowings pr ing . My  throat tig h t e ned , and  Is niffed .

Z ell enfolded my u p per arm with a  war m 
 I_adjusted my_hold on the staff.

Zell_adjusted his_footing_and moved_closer._I watched him,_adjusting my own_stance as I carefully_moved to keep_him_in constant sight. _You can do this, Sally. You know you can. Just don't_think_about it._Do_it._Do it_ \--He moved with_near-perfect precision and quickness. I_reacted as_best I could, blocking an attempted strike at_my_head that was_followed quickly by a left hook. I blocked both,_but I didn't expect the second_right cross.

It made_contact_on_the side of my_head. "Damn. Thought you were gonna_get that one." Zell stepped close,_and his fingers gently probed my head_where he'd hit. "You OK?" he_asked as he gauged my_expression.

I lowered_my staff, nodding once he'd_lowered his hand._My scalp_still tingled. "It_didn't hurt." _But that felt wonderful._Can you do_it again please?_

Yeah. Right.

Zell stepped back_as_he brought an_arm_across_his chest._The other stroked_his_chin. He_regarded_me as I examined the ground_at_my feet. "You're quick with it, but_something just ain't right._Let's_do it again."

_I think_I'm gonna hurl._ The pattern_was repeated again. This time, though,_I blocked_the third_hit, deflected the fourth, but didn't get to the kick in_time. He pulled back to keep_from getting me in_the stomach._I_startled back a_step_and tripped_over my own feet, landing in the_dirt with_a thud and a very humiliated_expression.

"Aw geez. Sorry about_that."_Zell stepped forward and extended a_hand. He helped me up.

"It wasn't_your fault," I mumbled as_I_brushed_the dirt from my backside.

"You_know what? The staff's not your_weapon. You're okay_with it, but it doesn't jive with_your_body build."

I stared down at the_staff_in my hands. "Oh," I sighed.

"You_do_anything_else?"

I shook my head. _Kiss_your chances of passing the Fire_Cavern good-bye, Sally._ Which meant I'd be leaving Garden_the following spring._My throat tightened, and I_sniffed.

Zell_enfolded_my upper arm with a warm