Six Months Later (nel)

Nel had been actively trying in her extra curricular activity. Trent she didn't mind so much. She sometimes had moments, but a lot less often than she had her first month.

That didn't mean she had a male partner in fencing, no. She really didn't. She was taking a water break right now. Fencing was a lot harder than you imagined. But she enjoyed it. A lot. She'd gotten pretty good in those few short months too.

Mandisa had mostly teamed up with Nel. Trent had allowed it because they were friends and Mandisa was patient enough to help Nel get through the beginning of learning but also push her so that she was never complacent or comfortable.

After six months though, the liepard felt like she needed to pair off against males in the class as well. Fencing was a wonderful equalizer when it came to sports. It didn't matter if you were short, tall, male or female. She could match a boy easily and he wouldn't pair her with just any boy, no one that was outside of her ability to properly spar with.

"Tomorrow you'll be teaming up with James," Trent informed her, just appearing behind her like he had a habit of doing with most students in his classes.

"I thought pairs were optional." Nel complained, she knew what he was doing though. "I'd rather not but if you think I'm ready?"

"I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think that you were ready," Trent pointed out. He did push her but he pushed her within her own limits. There was no point in pushing someone past what they could handle. More often than not they'd get far worse before they'd get better in that case.

"Yeah but Mandi goes easy on me. He won't because he's Bryna's friend." Nel pointed out, she was thinking in skill level. He was thinking in mental anxieties.

Trent shrugged. "You don't need someone to go easy on you. Challenges make us do better than we thought we were able to do. With Mandisa, you are too comfortable. You need a change."

"Okay. But if I do, you owe me half an hour of kitty time. So I can take care of you properly." Nel said, he hadn't given in to her yet. But she wasn't giving up.

Trent seemed to think about it in a reluctant fashion. "What does this kitty care of yours entail?" He asked.

"Grooming, fussing, occasional kiss on your cute, cute nose." Nel said, because she was teasing him. "Possibly a bath. If you smell."

"I do not smell," Trent said and looked affronted. He did not seem in favor of kisses on his nose and baths. Though, he did not mind a nice brushing of his fur.

"There will also be treats. Fishy ones." Nel said, as if the kitten in him would be more inclined. "And yarn... Oh so much yarn.v

"I am not a common house cat," Trent said with a frown. He seemed certain she was just teasing him. "I would not turn down fish though..."

"Oh so if I rolled yarn across the floor, you won't chase it? Or a feather on a string?" Nel asked, she was teasing, but she knew on good authority that all cats succumbed to such things.

"No," Trent denied stubbornly. "If you want to pamper and care for me properly then I will consider giving you ten minutes. That is all."

"20! No less." Nel countered and kicked up her chin defiantly as she stared him down, equally as stubbornly.

Trent frowned at her.  "No promises," he said.  "Now finished up your break. You need to work on your footwork."  He walked away then before she could give him any sass back. Even if she did, he'd ignore it.

Nel laughed and then went back over to Mandisa. "he's a brat. As bad as us students." She said as she picked her eepe? back up.

"He was born a brat," Mandisa said. "All cats are like that. They look sweet and innocent but they're brats. All of them." Well, most of them. Some of them were quite sweet. But Trent was definitely not one of those cats.

Nel laughed, "but cats are so cute. Even the bratty ones." She pointed out, all the fur. "He says my footwork is bad I think he's poking because I teased him."

"He says that everyone is bad," Mandisa reminded her. "Even our best people are still pushed. And they're the top in the kingdom. I think it's just because no one can match him..." So far. She hadn't seen it done.

"Oh. Challenge accepted." Nel said, because she wanted to win now. "come on, you've got to teach me to be as good as you are, then I need to be better..." She grinned.

Mandisa smiled in response, slow and creepy style. "I'm for it," she said. She stood up as well. "Let's go." She wanted to see Nel beat Trent. She didn't think it was fully possible. Not for a while. But she still wanted to see it.

Nel wanted to do it. So she would train and practice with Mandisa some days, even when fencing wasn't even on. She'd picked up most things quickly and she was sure she could with the rest too.

At some point, Trent had given in to letting her take care of him in his fiend form. They were at his little apartment. He'd been helping her fill out some forms for the school having to do with recording her progress in her classes. Just an assessment. He could have done it in his office but she was his Princess so that wasn't necessary.

Now that paperwork was done, he was lounging on the couch, his tail slowing going from side to side. He was a sleepy kitty. But he kept one eye open to watch her, as if he didn't quite trust her not to get into his stuff if he fell asleep.

Nel might be cheeky and look around his place. To check him out. "Can I brush you?" She asked, from beside him as she pulled out things from her bat. "I brought lots of things, not just the fish." that he'd already gobbled up.