Master Of None

The elder didn’t even blink, ” ahhhA I see so it’s every element, but if you are going to brag about dancing I think you’ll be outmatched here.” The elder was very confident in his words almost on cue they heard music start off.

Drums and strings seemed to fill the air. The big space between tables and the bonfire became filled with tribesman. The music started to pick up reaching a consistent beat. Those with less experience stepped back allowing room, the dancing started. The tribesman jumped towards each other seemingly to collide only to spin and change levels as the dodges past each other. This repeated to the best of the music, every possible collision was turned in to an elegant spin showing coordination. It was as if a rabbit was jumping to dodge a fox.

” I remember some years ago you Laurence were trying to dance rather drunk with our tribe. Care to take a second attempt with your friend here.” It would seem that the elder doubted the possibility that walker could actually dance. Even more was the fact that Laurence had arranged this exact situation knowing walkers skill the second he saw it. That sneaky bastard, walker would need to get him back for this later.

” oh no I could never drag Laurence in to this. I would love to join in the dance I’ve been excited all day to enjoy your company so it’s sad to walk away so quick. However this looks like quiet a fun step.” Walker looked towards an open spot in the group and waited for the right moment.

The best began to pick up again the speed increasing to the point it left only nine dancers able to properly use the step. This was not daunting in the least to walker, he was confident in his skill and knew he could keep up with his agility.

On the down beat he jumped directly at Otis we was dancing in the group. Otis’s eyes were wide seeing the incoming walker not expecting him to suddenly jump in. They were a heard length from impacting as their feet touched down. Suddenly the next beat rang out and walker spun, the two dodged perfectly endearing a crouch and turning to their next jump. Those watching became completely speechless. It was impossible! Inconceivable! No one other than a rabbit trait Demi human could learn the dance of the wild rabbit.

” so I may not be able to dance but if my eyes aren’t lying to me, I found someone who can.” Laurence had a smug smile while glancing at the elders. However his words of victory from on deaf ears, the elders had all stood from their seats witnessing an impossible feat.

Otis having still not recovered from walkers earlier magic related feats was again thrown in to confusion. But instead of faltering his body continued to move, this was instinct after all.

All that were dancing were the tribes top warriors, only they had mastered the dance of the wild rabbit to such degree. Walker saw the strength they all possessed and almost felt bad for immediately gaining the use of the skill. This thought didn’t sit long because he forced it away, his system was that kind of system If he doesn’t accept it and use it he may fail to protect others.

Continuing the dance walker faces every other warrior participating. All showed plain as day their surprise that they did not collide. Now that someone had proven they could keep up their vigor rose leading to more and more encounters. Once they were all sweating bullets the beat began to slow, everyone started to part from the middle leaving only Otis and walker.

” boy you haven’t learned the dance of the rabid rabbit have you?” This was the next step in the dance but it was technically a skill only the highest warrior of the tribe would learn often only one of two learning in a lifetime.

”No I have only learned dance of the wild rabbit. Should I leave?” Walker worried if he stayed dancing he may ruin Otis’s performance however his reply was the opposite.

” well take a chance and try to keep up. Maybe you can learn it and push me to our mastery skill. If anyone can push me closer to the step of the golden hare it may be you.” Otis raised a hand signaling to start the piece.

The music became erratic, shouts and trilling came from those watching. The look in Otis’s eyes became wild and his steps became closer and more aggressive. Soon new moves were being added, Otis would sweep his leg trying to hit walker off balance then jump away only to return with another near miss. The spins now came with backhanded swipes to push walker off balance. This was the next step in the dance? It had become much less elegant and more unpredictable.

The music increased speed soon putting walker on edge. Otis was reacting faster and nearly catching him. Some hits would stagger him but walker would narrowly catch himself and jump again in to a spin. This dance was getting annoying, he couldn’t keep up. The pressure was building inside Walker, an anger even he didn’t realize to be pent up.

The beat echoed his heart, blood thick in his veins, he was going to loose it at this rate. The pressure reached a peak and without his warrant his voice was heard, ” aahhggg no more!!!” He refused to be put off balance anymore, this was it the last straw now he would hit back.

Feeling his frustration onyx had wrapped around his neck biting his own tail. Having become a tattoo walker looked more intimidating. Midnight had felt the same and come to the edge of the crowd. Snarling and growling echoing through to walker, he could feel her encouragement, there was no more taking the hits and retreating.

’ Due to great mental stress the skill: dance of the rabid rabbit has been learned.

Dance of the rabid rabbit- passive

Having lost hold of their mental fortitude a rabbit in rage becomes erratic. Turning against even the predator after their life, a rabbit shall show its claws.’

Walker stopped for a second his eyes bloodshot. Otis was about to swing in to the next spin but instead of connecting to the stationary body of walker something more happened. Walker lowered his level and swept with his leg. Otis tumbled and landed with his knees bent. Now they can go all out.

The two lost more elegance and added more to their chaos. Feet swung in spins to push and prod each other in to falling. Walker no longer lost balance but instead flowed move to move his own hands flying to push. There was no thinking on what the would do next or how they would avoid the blows, just instinct remained.

A short time of this passed both their eyes deadlocked on each others. Small flecks of gold reflected in the eyes of Otis but nothing else. The music had started to slow, falling in to a swift lull. Peaceful feelings encompassed their instinctual movements speaking of green glowing plains and soft winds. Eventually they weren’t striking out in the sounds but just dancing as before. The music came to an end leaving two heavy breathing individuals. The tribe watching on was silent, the elders silent, even walkers party members were silent.

The one eared elder approached the two giving them a serious look. ” you came to our tribe an unknown to us. Yet you show the skills long since endeavored by our warriors. Not only that but you show growth when pressured by our strongest. You may not possess the traits of the rabbits like us. Yet you are our earless brother. You may always come to dance with us as you need, welcome home.” These words are soft spoken but powerful. Everyone heard them and none denied the meaning behind this. The elder had welcomed him as one of them and so it shall be.

Shouts echoed through the village at his words and Otis finally broke his staring match with walker. He had never been pushed that far in some years and he felt much closer to breaking through to the mastery skill. Step of the golden hare was a once every 50 years appearance. Otis knew he had the capability it was only pushing himself past the chaos of the dance of the rabid rabbit to reach the camp perception beyond.

He nodded to the elder and reached out to walker, ” come on us warriors need to eat out full before the morning hunt.” There was no longer a serious exterior to Otis, walker saw the ever striving man in front of him for who he was. The two had spoken in their actions and showed their determination. No longer strangers but distant cousins finally reunited as family.

” have you seen your muscles? How will I ever manage to fight past you for food.” Trashing each other the exhausted pair went to the nearest table to start eating. Naturally they became crowded by many other tribe members, it would be a long night.