Talena wiped the sweat from her face and then hung the towel around her neck. It had been a particularly satisfying dance class today. Ms. Corrigan, the dance professor, had run everyone through the wringer, trying everyone out for various spots in the Performance Class production that would be put on at the end of the Semester. She was sure that both she and Stacy had the two top solo spots. Both of them could dance rings around the other girls in the class. Talena, because of her Gypsy heritage. Stacy because of her Satyr heritage. Both, because they had a lot of talent.
Stacy nudged her, "Did you see the way Carly was fawning over Joshua? She wants that solo spot with him so bad she can taste it."
Talena giggled. "I know. Too bad she's not going to get it, huh. And while Joshua likes the attention, she's definitely not his type."
"What is his type? You?" The petite blond-haired woman winked knowingly at Talena.
"Me?" She stopped and pondered her handsome Garou friend who was chatting with Ms. Corrigan. She had 'strong-armed' Joshua into the production with a bit of well-placed flattery. "I don't know. We've flirted and such, but nothing's come of it... yet." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Maybe you're his type. You should find out."
Stacy tilted her head and nodded. "Maybe I will." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Java, the Hut?"
"Oh, yes! I could use some caffeine after..." Talena began, but was interrupted by her name being called.
"Talena... Stacy... Could I have a word with you two before you go?" Ms. Corrigan walked towards them.
Joshua waved, calling out "I'll wait for you two outside." Then, he slipped out the door.
Talena and Stacy grinned at the jealous looks from their rivals and then turned back to Ms. Corrigan. Talena was sure that this was Ms. Corrigan telling them which solo spots they had gotten and was going to caution them on the extra rehearsals and such. Then, she noticed the somber look on their professor's face.
"Girls, I don't know quite how to tell you this, so, I'm going to do it bluntly... then I'll explain why." She made sure she had both girls' attention. "I'm not going to give either of you the solo spots. They are going to go to Kerri and Carly."
Talena felt her skin flushing and her breath seize in her throat. Not only was she not getting a solo spot, they were going to her two worse rivals?! A couple of rich gaje bitches?!
Stacy voiced the objection for both of them. "But why?! They can barely dance! We're both hundreds of times better than either of them!" She was shaking with anger.
"That's just it, Stacy. You two -are- that much better than anyone else in the class, except maybe Joshua - and he doesn't count because he's the only male and he's not even officially in this class." She looked at the confused expressions on their faces. "I know you both want the solos and you deserve them, but I can't give them to you because neither of you blend. You both are very conspicuous. It would be like watching roses dancing among thorns. Everyone would be able to see it."
"I don't believe this... you're telling us that we can't have the solos... because we're too good?" Talena was incredulous. "That... that.... I don't believe this!"
"Talena, you with your exotic beauty... and Stacy, you with your fey-like grace... You both would just overrun the rest..." Ms. Corrigan sighed. "I wish it wasn't like this, but many of the girls' parents are major contributors to this school. I have to keep that in mind. They wouldn't like seeing their little girls out shone by ... by anyone." She put a hand on each of the girls' shoulders. "I'm really sorry. I am. I wanted you to know before I announced it on Tuesday." Then, she turned and walked away.
Both Talena and Stacy could feel Ms. Corrigan's true sorrow at this, but it still did not help their moods.
"I don't believe this." Stacy muttered as they turned to go.
"Neither do I. I stick out? We're too good?" Talena fought back the tears. "When did this become a bad thing?"
Joshua was waiting for them when they walked outside. Talena recognized the beat he was tapping out on his leg. It was the beat of one of his three solos. He looked up and smiled. "So, Java..." He stopped at the look on their faces. "What happened?"
Stacy kicked at the ground as they headed back towards the dorms. "We're not getting the solos. Kerri and Carly are."
"We're too good for the parts. We'd be 'roses among thorns.'" Talena mimicked bitterly.
"No way! You're kidding!" But Joshua knew that neither of his friends would joke about a thing like this. "Oh, Spirits help me. I have to dance with both Carly and Kerri?" He groaned softly as he did not particularly like either of the sorority girls. Sorority girls were OK, in general - good for making baby Wendigos, but these two were particularly annoying. "I'm really sorry guys. I was really hoping it would be you two." He patted them a little awkwardly.
They walked in silence the rest of the way to the dorm, barely acknowledging any of their friends they saw along the way. Stacy mumbled something about needing to study as she hurried off towards her room. Joshua stayed with Talena as they walked up to their part of the dorm building, walking her to her door. Talena had been trying very hard not to cry, but when she looked up at Joshua to say goodbye and saw the look of concern on his face, the dam broke.
"It's not fair." She said as she opened the door, tears streaming down her face. "It's just not fair. I'm better than she is!"
Joshua pulled his unresisting friend into a hug as she sobbed softly. Her sounds of pain alerted her kitten familiars, Fate and Fortune, Brianna's familiar, Gabriel, Lisette's winged panther, Hazard and Lisette to the fact that all was not well. Lisette was at the door in an instant. "What happened? Who do I have to have hurt?"
Joshua and Talena looked at their Sidhe friend and saw that she was not kidding. Lisette took Talena's hand and drew her into their dorm room with all of the felines and Joshua following. Sitting her down on her bed, Lisette got Talena a handkerchief. "Tell me."
Talena brokenly told Lisette and the various familiars and feline companions what had happened. As she told the story, the pain faded to be replaced by anger. The three friends grumbled about the unfairness of mortal society and the fact that a couple of undeserving bitches would get the solo parts that should have gone to Talena and Stacy. Joshua grumbled about having to deal with Carly and Kerri for the extra practices.
"I should hamstring them." Talena muttered, referring to Carly and Kerri. "Teach them a lesson or two." She pushed all of her anger at her two rivals.
"That's exactly what you should do." Lisette agreed. "Then, you wouldn't have to worry about them stealing your spot ever again."
Talena snorted softly. "I wish."
"I'm serious." Lisette said. "And you could do it, too. I've seen you with your knives."
For a moment Talena considered it, but then shook her head. "They'd just get someone else to take the part. We're too good, remember?"
"OK. So, maybe that's a bit too violent. Why not do something to embarrass them during the performance? Get them drunk or have stink bombs go off or something like that." Lisette grinned and Talena grinned back.
"Something interesting... that had a million to one chance happening." Evil ideas spun in Talena's head. A bit of magic here could cause a broken toe there.... Then, she shook her head. "I wouldn't want to ruin the show for everyone."
Lisette shrugged a little. "Well, that's what I'd do if I were you. They aren't being fair to you, why be fair to them?"
Joshua decided that this would be a good time to leave. Females with revenge on their minds could be extremely dangerous. "I have some studying to do." He touched Talena on the shoulder. "It'll be OK." He headed for the door, "I'll see you for dinner."
Lisette and Talena talked for a bit, then Lisette got back to her music and Talena put her walkman headphones on. She turned the volume up and laid back on her bed, petting Fate and Fortune. Both of her familiars were unsettled by Talena's mood and were trying their best to sooth her. But this time, their purring and kittenish play, while making her smile, did nothing to alleviate her growing sense of discontent.
An hour later, Talena declined Lisette's invite to dinner, saying that she needed to study. She made one attempt to look at her Philosophy notes and then slammed the book shut. Then, she paced the room for about two minutes and decided that she need to work out some of her anger and frustration. Grabbing some music and her dance bag, she headed back to the gym.
As she walked into the large gym room that they use for dance class, Talena was surprised to see she was not alone. Stacy was here, too. They walked up to each other.
"Had to work out some frustration, too?" Talena asked.
"More like rage and hate." Stacy responded. "I brought along some of my best angry music, hoping it would wear me out."
Talena nodded. "So did I."
They both got on their dancing shoes. "I want to scream my rage. I want to show the whole world why I should have that solo."
"I want to hurt someone. I want to expel my anger." Talena answered back.
"To show them, that I'm right."
"To show them, they're wrong."
Stacy looked at Talena. "Do you know the Hunter's Dance?"
Talena frowned... "The Hunter's Dance... Dance of a Thousand Blades?" Stacy nodded. "Yes. Very well. Do you have daggers?"
Stacy nodded and padded her bag. "Do you want to...?" She left the question hanging open.
The Hunter's Dance was a fierce dance with two doubled bladed dancers who act out scenes of Warrior to Warrior, Hunter - Prey, and ending with the returning of the Warrior to his Spiritual self. It was an intricate and dangerous dance. Something that should be practiced many times over before using real daggers. It was perfect: angry, dangerous and reckless.
"Yes." Talena smiled a predatory smile.
Stacy put a tape into her player, turned the volume way up and then the two dancers squared off. It was clear who would take what part by the opening positions they took. First, it was to be Warrior against Warrior - a strong dance with flashing blades, high kicks and whirling motions of dodging blows. If done right, the clashing of blade to blade would add a counter beat to the music.
Both dancers were perfectly on time. Talena let herself go into an almost trance-like state, becoming the Warrior, letting the Warrior fill her, pushing out the anger, hurt and jealousy. She felt that Stacy was doing the same. As that scene ended and they switched to Hunter - Prey, Talena took the role of the Hunter, stalking Stacy, the feline like Prey.
This dance began with the dancers far apart. Talena's daggers were her weapons. Stacy's daggers were her claws. They danced very different, yet complimentary dances that slowly merged into one as the Hunter sought the Prey and the Prey sought to defeat the Hunter. The two women circled each other. Then, there was a brief, violent clashing of weapons to claws and then the Prey knew that the Hunter was too strong and she sought to flee. The chase was on until the Hunter cornered the Prey and they stood for one final battle - to live or die. The ending of the battle was when both the Hunter and Prey died - one by weapon, one by claws.
There was a brief moment of stillness as the two dancers reveled in the combining energy. Then, as one, they slid their daggers across the floor to their bags and the music's tone changed. Now was when the Warrior was reunited with his Spiritual self. Talena was still in the role of the Warrior as Stacy shifted to the role of the Warrior's Spirit. The two women rose and swirled about each other... dancing farther apart and then coming together again.
The Spirit had to show the Warrior the way to the Reunion - the Warrior was, at first, frightened of this, but was slowly wooed to the Spirit by a force that the Warrior barely understood. The dance slowed, becoming more ethereal and sensual as the Warrior explored the world with this unknown Spirit. Once the Warrior could see the world through the Spirit's eyes, the two danced as one, mirroring each other movements until the dance finally came to an end.
Stacy and Talena were facing each other, scant inches apart. They looked at each other for a long moment, sharing their combined energy, reliving the dance in their minds. The two women were so intuned to each other that they were not aware that anyone else was even in the room with them until the applauding began.
Stacy leaned forward and gave Talena a warm kiss, who returned the kiss just as warmly. "Thank you." Stacy murmured.
"No. Thank you." Talena smiled.
Then, the two of them looked up and were surprised to see that most of the Martial Arts Club was standing there and had been watching them. Talena and Stacy grinned and bowed to their unexpected audience. The Martial Arts Club applauded some more and then the Sensei called the group to order. Talena decided that she was going to skip Martial Arts club tonight.
"When did they all get here?" Talena asked Stacy as they got their things together.
"I have no idea. I was pretty enamored within our dance." Stacy smiled. "That was pretty awesome, wasn't it?"
"Yes. It was." A familiar voice said from behind them. Both girls started in surprise and turned to see Ms. Corrigan standing there. She raised a hand before either girl could speak. "I've been feeling really bad about what happened this afternoon. I know it's not fair to you two that you can't have the solos because you are too good for the roles.... But I think you just gave me the solution. How would you two like five to seven minutes of performance time all your own?" She smiled at their dumbfounded looks. "I didn't like the way the second piece was going, so I think I'll cut it. That means I need something to fill that spot. Are you two interested?"
Talena and Stacy looked at each other and then at Ms. Corrigan, "YES!" They both exclaimed at once.
Ms. Corrigan smiled. "OK. You have one week to give me a basic outline of what you will be doing. Is that enough time?" They both nodded enthusiastically. "Good. Well, I need to be going now. Have a good evening, girls."
They looked at each other and squealed in excitement! This was too good to be true - better than having the solo spots in a piece... they get their own piece!
Stacy grinned. "I think we should call our piece "Roses Among Thorns.""
Talena laughed and agreed as the two of them headed out for coffee.