|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 7:25 am
Karothdra paused just outside the door, her hand still on the worn handle, her senses keen enough to pick up on the weight of Kaiva’s frustration from behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to see the tension in her daughter's stance, the way her fists clenched as if trying to grip something that kept slipping through her fingers. Karothdra knew that feeling well. She had lived through it herself—this need to prove something, to herself, to the world. The need to push past every limitation, real or imagined.
But Kaiva didn’t understand yet. Not fully. Healing wasn’t weakness. It was strategy, a quiet strength that made warriors sharper when the time came to fight again. Karothdra had learned that lesson in blood and bruises long ago. She had seen too many fighters burn out trying to go harder, faster, without giving their bodies time to recover. She had been one of them once. She knew the cost. Maybe she did understand. Far more than Kaiva could imagine. The street fighting, the thrill of throwing herself into chaos—it wasn’t the path Karothdra had hoped for her daughter, but she wasn’t blind. She’d known where Kaiva spent her nights, where the bruises and cuts came from.
For now, she’d give her daughter the space to figure things out. She had always been proud of Kaiva’s spirit, but pride and protection sometimes had to walk a fine line. Karothdra would be here when Kaiva was ready to see the bigger picture. When she finally understood that real strength wasn’t just about how hard you could hit—it was about knowing when to hold back, to recover, and to come back smarter. She just hoped Kaiva would learn that lesson before she pushed herself past the point of no return.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 7:28 am
Kaiva stood there. She stared at the ground, jaw tight, but her mind was racing. The frustration still bubbled up inside her, but it wasn’t aimed at her mother anymore. It was aimed at herself. Her muscles ached, not just from the street fights, but from the realization that maybe—just maybe—her mother was right. She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Karothdra didn’t get in her way just to stop her; she did it because she cared. As much as Kaiva wanted to keep proving herself, to keep fighting, she couldn’t ignore the wisdom in her mother's words.
“I’m sorry,” Kaiva muttered. “I know you’re just trying to help.” She admitted almost too quietly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 7:30 am
Karothdra paused in the doorway, her back turned to Kaiva, but her ears caught the quiet apology. It was a rare moment, hearing her daughter admit that she understood, even if just a little. Karothdra’s heart softened, though she didn’t show it. She knew Kaiva’s pride well—it mirrored her own when she was younger. But the apology, however small, was a sign that Kaiva was learning, growing. That mattered more than any fight.
Without turning around, Karothdra spoke softly, her voice steady. “I’m not trying to hold you back, Kaiva. I’m trying to make sure you have the strength to keep moving forward. Sometimes that means resting, healing, before the next fight.” She let the words linger for a moment, hoping they would sink in. With that, Karothdra stepped out, leaving Kaiva alone to reflect. She knew her daughter—Kaiva would rest, but she’d be back, stronger and more determined than ever. And when that time came, Karothdra would be ready.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 7:32 am
Kaiva stood there, the silence filling the room after her mother’s words. They echoed in her mind, heavier than the usual lectures she half-ignored. Resting, healing. It still didn’t sit right with her. She wasn’t used to slowing down. But something about the way Karothdra said it—steady, calm—made it hard to brush off. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to this than she’d been willing to admit. Her fists loosened as she let out a long breath. Kaiva hated feeling weak, but maybe her mother wasn’t asking her to be weak—just smart. That wasn’t a bad thing, was it? To take a step back, regain her strength, then come back even stronger. Deep down, she knew that Karothdra wasn’t trying to stifle her. She was giving her the tools to get better.
“Fine,” Kaiva muttered to herself, wiping the sweat from her brow. She glanced toward the training equipment but knew she wasn’t ready yet. Not today. With a grunt, Kaiva turned away and headed toward her room. She’d rest, for now. Heal. And when she came back, it wouldn’t be as a fighter limping back from a loss. It’d be as someone who was ready to win.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
