KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
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Caden laughed and started to walk. He led Nero from the garage towards staff housing.

”Am I? I think I'm rather agreeable,” Caden said with a grin. He had one arm wrapped around Avery which left him with a free hand to reclaim one of Nero's.

He looked down at his little imp and raised an eyebrow. ”Can you tell me what the prank is before I pass judgement?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
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”Goodness, that was always a stupid idea. But you try telling men that,” Cass said and shook her head. ”Modern medicine is a marvel, though. The things that can be done today is like magic, even though I do prefer the traditional methods,” Cassi said and waved the hand she held Nic's with around the room.

"Cell phones still surprise me. The advancement in technology in the last twenty years alone is overwhelming."

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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It wasn’t easy fighting to tear the wall back down. Avery hadn’t realized how quickly and thoroughly he had put up the wall in his anger. There were layers to it, and each time, Avery had to remind himself of his love for Kimiko and how it felt to hold her. Caden would through in words of encouragement from time to time which helped Avery finally break through.

He felt her flame engulf him briefly before passing out, unable to stay awake from the mental strain it took.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden watched Avery collapse forward, and waited to see if the wolf would rise on his own. The steady rise and fall of deep breathing told Caden that Avery had passed out.

Caden chuckled and shook his head. ”Stubborn ass. And I thought Cassi was bad.” Caden kissed Nero’s hand before releasing them and stooped to pick up the two-hundred-and-twenty-pound wolf. Caden hefted Avery over his shoulder with a bit of a gruntmand turned to look at Nero.

”I’m going to take him to his room in staff housing. Do you want to come with me?”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I’m fairly certain I’m the fascinating thing. Either that, or he’s trying to be nice even though this world confuses or terrifies him. Either is fine. You should have seen us when electricity became a thing. And the telephone. I think we resisted using the phone for ten years before we had no choice,” Cassi said, possibly exaggerating.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden kept one eye on Avery while the other followed Nero's movements. He couldn't help but smile while Nero fell into the role of Alpha and caretaker.

He took Nero's hand when they came to stand beside him once more. Caden knew had made the right choice with Nero, but this moment served to show his dragon that he had chosen right. The dragon rumbled in approval, and Caden squeezed Nero's hand in response.

It took everything in Caden not to laugh at Nero's comment, but he couldn't keep the smirk off his face.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery felt mentally tired and defeated. Caden and Nero's words encouraged him to fight and push, but he also wanted to give up. Avery's wolf howled and scratched at the wall, creating holes for Avery to attack and pull.

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry. I love you I love you I love you.

The words repeated over and over in Avery's head as he fought to tear the wall down. He didn't expect Kimiko to forgive him. He didn't even expect her to want to feel him in her mind again, but he wanted to give her the choice. He had taken away her choice when he built the wall and that wasn't right.

Avery started to feel warm mentally and physically. Light flared in his minds eyes as the wall started to crack. He could feel Kimiko's fire, and he didn't care if it burned him as long as he felt her again.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cass narrowed her eyes playfully at Nic before slipping her hand into his. She resisted the very sudden and violent urge to crawl into Nic's lap and kiss him deeply.

She pulled her focus away from Nicholas to look at Kimiko. Cass placed a kiss on her temple.

”I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help with nightmares, but I won't push. It's an open offer. Whenever you want,” she assured Kimiko.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery attempted to look up at Caden and the dragon bared his teeth. Avery growled but backed down. Asserting dominance over Avery wasn't usually this difficult of a task. Often Avery would submit with no problem.

Caden was used to the occasional fight but he always made sure Avery didn't win. Sometimes it was close, but Caden understood how important it was to be Avery's alpha. However, now that he had Kimiko, Avery might want to challenge Caden again or leave. Caden was prepared to let Avery go if that was what he wanted, but not like this.

Nero's words had an additional effect on Avery that seemed to help. Even if it didn't, Caden was more than fine with Nero speaking out. The mate bond forming between them placed Nero in an alpha position as well. Although, Caden didn't think they would be able to assert pack magic like he could.

Caden glanced at Nero briefly, showing the slight tilt of his lips up in a subtle smile before he turned his attention back to Avery.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery retreated within himself after Nero's words. His woods seemed duller, darker. The natural light that used to follow Avery was nonexistent, but he still found his way to his wolf and that brick wall.

The wolf was standing now, desperately clawing at the wall to try and tear it down. Avery looked up. The wall seemed to go on forever. Avery slumped forward and rested his forehead on the cold brick wall.

Kiki… I'm sorry.

”Remember your bond to her. Remember what it was like when it first formed. That flare of fire, that sensation as it crawled over your skin, holding you…” Caden coached Avery though it as best he could.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cass blushed when Nic flashed his perfect smile at her. She had missed that smile.

”He found me,” Cassi clarified. She held Kimiko while her head rested on Cass’ shoulder. ”I like to think he's learning what not to do by observing everything that goes on here. But yes, we're not telling Avery that another male carried his mate.” Cass really didn't want to get into a fight with Avery. She knew she wouldn't come away from that without some damage.

”You still haven't seen my shop. You should come see it and the cats again. Maybe spend the night,” Cass suggested.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery sat on his bike, staring at the wall while Caden reemed him out. Part of Avery wanted to lash out, but another part knew he deserved this. Eventually Avery climbed off his bike and stared at Caden.

”I keep replaying that night over and over in my head.”

”You need to let that night go, Zain. And you need to let Kimiko back in.”

”No. I can't protect her. It's better this way.”

Caden growled and Avery's eyes snapped down to the ground.

”Better? You're killing her. You're hurting her worse than your words ever could. Tear down the wall, Zain,” Caden ordered, the strength of the Alpha laced his voice.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cass watched Nic continue his work in caregiver mode. She smiled softly as she watched him, wondering if the act of caring for someone else was helping him process things with his dad. She mouthed the words thank you to him when he found the blanket for Kimiko.

Cass tucked the blanket around Kimiko while she spoke freely.

”I'm sure there will be plenty,” she said in agreement. ”As for why, you'll have to ask him why but I don't think he's handling things as well as he says. Also, he's a werewolf. They have this thing with control and an overly righteous sense of protection, and duty.”

Cassiopeia brushed her fingers through Kimiko's hair, scratching the fox’s head slightly.

”Remember he doesn't know you like Caden and I do. He hasn't seen you in action yet. He doesn't understand you've been on your own, looking after yourself for years. He only has one image of you in his head, and it's a really fucking shitty one,” Cassi said bluntly. ”Mix that image with the werewolf and you get a territorial overprotective man-hole,” Cassi said with a smile. That statement was quickly becoming her favourite.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery glared at Nero, debating on what would happen if he threw Nero. In the end he heaved a heavy sigh and stared at the ceiling. Avery shut the bike off and hooked his helmet on the handlebars.

”What do you want, Nero?”

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden followed the sound of his mate's voice and the motorcycle noise to the garage. He stalked inside and stood a few feet away.

Avery looked at Caden and immediately looked away. Caden's eyes were yellow as he stared Avery down.

”Give me one good reason why I shouldn't snap that precious bike of yours in half and then kick your ass across this property.”

”She can't–”

”No. She can. I've known her longer than you, Zain. She knows how to protect herself and she knows how to fight. If you were surrounded by an entire wolfpack, you wouldn't have made it out either. This is supposed to be training. You are making it seem like she is going to war. She knows she is safe and learning. She's also a fox, if you forgot. Foxes are playful by nature. It's training but it's also play.”

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia was ready to answer Kimiko but when Nic picked Kimiko up she decided to wait. Cassi paused to watch Nic take Kimiko from her. She smiled slowly, falling just a little more in love with him.

She got up from the floor and saw Kimiko's red face.

”Ya, he does that,” Cass said and patted Kimiko's arm.

When they walked into the hallway, Cassi scanned the area to make sure Avery didn't decide to come back inside. The last thing they needed was Avery attacking Nic because he was carrying Kiki.

Cassi followed along behind and shut the door behind them once they were in the greenhouse. She lit the candles from earlier and grabbed some lavender to burn as well.

”The mate bond is important and stronger than any marriage contract. It's binding and unyielding. It is all consuming and exhilarating,” Cassi started to say, teaching both Nic and Kiki. ”If a bond is blocked it can be detrimental to the relationship and the individuals. If it is blocked for long periods of time, the bond could be severed. But that would have to be years and years. Caden and I had started the process before I backed out. I set up a block against him and over time our ‘contract’, if you will, with each other was ended. For you and Avery as your bond is complete, that missing link would be like missing half your heart, half your soul. If it goes on for too long, well… I've heard of wolves dying,” Cassi said truthfully. ”But what Avery has done is cruel and unfair. If you are two made into one, he is forcing you into two again and that can be painful. He's being a complete selfish prick and Caden is going to kick his ass,” Cassi said before she sat on the couch next to Kimiko.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery had turned to grab his helmet and when he turned back, he found Nero perched on the front of his bike. Avery frowned and sat on his bike.

”Your teleportation isn't accurate. Get off my bike and go bug Caden,” he said.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia looked at Nic, surprised he seemed to offer them his place to use as their training grounds. Cassi debated if it would be a suitable location when Kimiko revealed the next bit of information.

Cassi's face paled and she looked at Caden who had gone still.

”He blocked you out… Caden you have to do something before I need to.”

Cassi had experience with blocking and getting people unblocked, but her way wasn't pretty.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Kimiko's news didn't settle well with Caden. Blocking a mate out was never the answer or the solution, and it could be detrimental to the bond if left unattended. What the hell was Avery thinking?

Caden stood after Cassi spoke. He nodded. ”Stay here. Don't come outside, even if you feel the bond come back. Okay?”

”I got her. Just go,” Cass said, her attention split between holding Kimiko and watching Nic.

Chicago After Hours

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery stomped around the garage until he found a spare shirt and threw that on. In the distance he heard Nero calling for them and frowned.

”Go away, Nero,” he said before he started his motorcycle. He revved the engine loudly, the rumble not soothing Avery like it usually did.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia sighed, exchanging a look of annoyance with Caden before she focused back on Kimiko. She could feel Nic's questioning eyes on her, and kissed Kimiko's head.

”Avery's an ass. A really really big territorial, overprotective man-hole. And he definitely shouldn't have yelled at you or thrown that in your face.”

”The mating bond is still new for the two of you… Whatever one is feeling, it'll be amplified in the other until both of you are consumed by it. It'll take some time to understand what's yours and what's his,” Caden explained briefly.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden smiled briefly at Kimiko. ”If it helps, I think he was more fearful than angry… Seeing you in that cage was hard for him.”

”It was hard on all of us,” Cass restated.

”Yes, but Avery's wolf already knew who you were to them. I think he still feels guilty and responsible for what happened to you. He likely thinks if he can't teach you to protect yourself, he's failed you.”

”Territorial overprotective man-hole,” Cassi repeated which made Caden chuckle.. ”Maybe I should take over Kiki's training. I mean, if you want Kiki.”

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden walked into the main portion of the house. He looked to the front door and nodded. "That would be helpful, thank you. I'll check on Kiki then be along." He turned and kissed Nero deeply before he pulled back. He smiled lazily at them before he turned to find out what had his household upside down today.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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As silly as it seemed, Nic making Cassi the 'guardian of his blood' brought a smile to her face. She wiggled her nose, to keep tears from forming because of how sweet he was being.

The conversation they had just had, however, shattered like the mirror Kimiko broke. Cassi stared down at the fox curled in on herself and she raced over.

"Bloody wolf," Cassiopeia cursed. She laid her hands on Kimiko, and was stroking her back when Caden walked in.

Cassi looked up at him, glaring slightly. "Your wolf had a temper tantrum."

"Kiki...my girl, what happened?" Caden knelt down, but kept some distance between the two of them to not overwhelm her.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery remained kneeled on the ground, staring at nothing while he continued to reel from the fact that he just blocked Kimiko out and had no idea how to get her back. He felt himself panicking but on the outside he looked dazed. Of course, an easy solution would be to walk back into the house, but Avery couldn't bring himself to move in that direction. Instead, he pulled himself to his feet and moved towards the garage.

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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"I've always had a way with cats," Caden commented. "I think it's because we are similar in nature. Curious and crafty. A survivalist. Playful," Caden said and tickled Nero's side with a grin.

Caden kissed Nero's cheek, ready to take them into the bedroom when he heard a door slam shut followed by stomping feet and angry muttering. A sudden rage filled Caden before it tapered off with the slamming of the front door.

Caden frowned and set Nero down on the ground. "Something happened between Kiki and Avery. I should go check on her."

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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After she cursed him out, Avery took a step towards Kimiko. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Shake her, kiss her, yell at her some more. His rage was an ugly thing rolling around inside him, seemingly endless.

"Can you? You can't even sleep through the night without me." His voice turned deep, a cold rage laced his words.

Avery didn't bother to stay to hear Kimiko's response. He walked out on her, slamming the door behind him and headed for the front door. Once he was outside, Avery yelled and cursed. He glared at Caden's car, ready to punch it but headed for the trees instead.

Avery found a medium sized pine tree with a wide base and started punching it. Bark flew at him, nicking his cheeks and leaving cuts that quickly healed. As he punched, Avery built up stones in his mind. Everytime he punched and a new stone went up, the anger receded. Avery kept punching and building until the pine tree exploded and Kimiko was gone from his mind.

Avery sagged with relief, his knees hitting the ground and he sighed. He looked up at the sky feeling...nothing. Avery suddenly felt void, empty of everything. Not only was his anger gone, but so was his joy, so was his love, his reason for living. Avery shut his eyes to find the stone wall he had built in his rage was solid, impenetrable. In front of that wall lay his wolf, whimpering and pawing at the wall that refused to budge.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia fidgeted under Nic's gaze. She glanced at him and away again. "Well, nothing I suppose. You're just here so it would be easiest, but I still don't like it."

Cassi knew Nic, loved Nic. A random human was just that, she had no ties to them like she did with Nic.

A door slammed while Cass was lost in her head, and her focus shifted. She watched the wall shake after the force of the door slamming. She dropped her eyes to the door that separated them from the training room.

Cassi scrambled to her feet and walked quickly to the door. She opened it and walked back into the training room.