Ayah stood blindfolded in the middle of the stream, she tuned out the world listening only for breathing that would give Jing’s position away. There it was -Ayah pivoted her right foot and lashed out with her left, but Jing was no longer there; he was above her, he swung a her head with his staff and Ayah blocked the blow with hers, parrying Jing’s attack and forcing him back. Ayah planted her staff in the streambed using it as a support she brought both feet up off the ground and struck Jing in the chest sending him flying.

“Ugh…” moaned Jing, “Ya didn’t have ta go all out ya know. Show some mercy to this humble old man.”

“You’re not old,” Ayah scoffed removing her blindfold, “and your nowhere near humble Jing,” she pointed out dryly.

He grinned at that “True, true. Are you ready? We should move on now we’ve still got a while to travel before we get to Flo.”

But Ayah wasn’t listening she was looking up at the sky. Strange she thought, I was sure I felt a presence just now, but why from the sky?

“Oi! Ayah! Time ta get a move on.” Jing called from the camp set up next to the stream.

“Yeah…ok…coming Jing” Ayah said making her way back to shore with one last look overhead.
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