Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Agility Training

Agility training is a very important part of beast taming, especially if you are doing competitions. How agility training works in Tanglewood is that it’s a special beast taming practice so that the beasts can grow and improve their skills and level up. This becomes even more important when there is a beast taming competition.

There are four levels of agility training.

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1) First Tier Beginner

Self-explanatory for baby beasts, or even older beasts that need to be tamed. The beginner courser is usually small and self-contained with light magical aid and traps. The ideal scenario is for the beginner to master the training course on his or her own. The beast tamer can generously assist at this stage because the routine is new. The beginner’s course is equipped with hints to help the novice. Rewards in the form of Potency Pills and other power-ups.

2) Second Tier Beginner

More additions, more challenging levels, but still easy. The beast tamer can add on more obstacles if desired. There are still hints, but also more rewards for completing the course.

3) Intermediate

A larger course, which can accommodate other beasts and even expand so that beasts can race and compete against each other. Rewards are larger and more lavish. Hints are fewer. Obstacles are greater and more challenging.

4) Expert/Master

This course can easily take up an entire yard or room. There are side tunnels and dead ends and even greater obstacles. Few to no hints. This course is not for the faint of heart, and tests the bond between beast and beast tamer. This course will raise the beast’s level at least one level, possibly two.

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All of this flashes through my mind as my paws carry me toward the steep steps that lead to the agility course. My body designed and ready to climb and jump and punch, I take the stairs with speed. I am nimble. I am powerful. Even with my small size, I am a force to be reckoned with.

The last step! I leap upon a floating platform. Or at least it seems to float. It slides back and forth in the air. My skills are good.

[Name: [Blaze]

[Class: [Novice]

[Race: [Common Tiger]

[Level: 1/10 [XP 20/100 STATUS: Full

[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100

[Strength: 3

[Defense: 5

[Magic: 2

[Resistance: 2

[Speed: 3

[Charisma: 6

[Luck: 1

[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Telepathy(Skill Not Yet Acquired])

I balance on the floating platform, headed toward what looks like a tunnel. But now the platform slides backward. I feel the wind in my fur. I smell the faint scent of magic.

I feel Kaline’s encouragement through the bond. She claps and shouts, “You have to time it just right, Blaze!”

Time it. Got it. This reminds me of Super Mario Bros or other video games I’ve played. You have to jump just right, otherwise you fall and have to start all over again.

The platform glides forward, and I can see the mouth of the tunnel, with a green light flashing. The closer I get, the stronger the green light flashes.

NO!

My ride is thrown into reverse, and the green light turns red. Squid Game featured the children’s game Red Light, Green Light. Again, I’m hoping that this beginning course is nothing like the brutal game show in the Netflix hit.

When the light flashes green again, I’m going to jump. But what if the gap is too wide?

The platform changes direction and shoots forward. I can do this. Time to jump.

Without a running start, I close my eyes and jump, then open my eyes as I sail right for the tunnel. Stretching out my claws, I hope for the best in this crazy leap of faith. The lights are still green.

Yes! Safe!

I hit the tunnel and a Potency Pill shoots into my mouth. It’s like getting a shot of espresso and adrenaline and a protein shake all at once.

Arrows flash in the tunnel, guiding me onward, reminding me not to dawdle. The faster I complete this, the better it will be for Kaline. Besides, I’ll get a boost in my stats, which will also make Kaline look good. She’s counting on me.

The tunnel flashes by, and the arrows show me which way to go when it loops under and over and to the left. Wheee! I slide down and land in what feels like a trampoline.

Bounce…bounce…bounce…I can’t get solid footing.

Music?

I hear music, like a bouncing ball. The rhythm gives me an idea. I jump along with the rhythm and leap right into a long dark tunnel. My jaws snag a Potency Pill, and suddenly I have turbo power, burning rubber so to speak. My paws have wings. There are no hints, no lights, no music. Just pure sensory deprivation.

But I’ve still got my eyes, which are vastly superior in some ways to a human’s. They allows me to see better in dim light. I should be getting out of this any minute now.

Blinding brightness up ahead! I’m almost in the clear. This is fun. If this is the absolute newbie course, I can’t wait to try harder ones.

I’m so focused on getting out as fast as possible that I seem into a wall of fur and muscle. Then a growl echoes in the tunnel. A bear’s growl. Naturally, I growl back.

What is this? This wasn’t supposed to be part of the agility trials! Why is Vedette’s beast blocking my way? Hasn’t anyone ever told him to stay in his lane?

I growl and communicate with my tiger-speech: “MOVE.”

He snarls back. “MAKE ME. Let’s see how tough you are.”

The nerve of him! He’s cheating. Where’s the referee? Can we get a judge over here?

“MOVE.”

I push him with my paws and nose. Those Potency Pills better have extended release.

Still, he’s obstinate. He won’t budge. He’s a furry roadblock. A beastly speedbump.

“I said MOVE,” I growl.

“Again, make me.”

Simple enough. I only have one weapon, since brute strength and reason won’t do.

I sink my teeth into his bear hide and give him a vicious bite!

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