Chapter 111

Gosh it's getting hot again, I try to focus on what the instructors are saying but it's proving to be quite difficult, then once again it fades away and I refocus my attention to what they're demonstrating. "Alright now you try, I know it will take you some time to get it but we want to see you do it and how well you handle it so we can work with you from there"

I try copying what I saw him do, closing my eyes and using my hands to do the breathing mantra, I feel myself getting lighter, or perhaps light headed I really don't know "it would seem the night shift has the faster set of learners" I open my eyes and the instructors are looking at us with smiles "you all did very well, better than the day shift if I'm honest, but don't tell them I said that" we all chuckle.

"Alright one more time and this time be as still and quiet as possible" "hang on Harry, let's do this, seeing as you guys seem to think they're doing better than the others why not just go straight to the test hmm?" "let's at least run through it one more time Sherry" "nah, they're good, they're at the same place the other teams where after a few tries and we sent them out into the field so why not?"

Instructor Harry looks at us then nods "alright then, so listen up, you're going to head into the training part of the forest and apply the things I just showed you and the instructors, well us will shift and try to find you, once you are found you are to come back to the training ring, we will look for you for Fifteen minutes and when the time is up we will leave the forest and sound an alarm, when you hear the alarm you are to return as well, although no one has been able to do it on the first try, I wish you all good luck, follow Joe he will show you to the trainings woods and do not I repeat do not go past the Red ribbon trees, is that understood?"

"Sir, yes sir" "good, now off you go, Joe will instruct you further when you get there, when he blows the whistle take off and find cover and when you hear the whistle again it will be us on your trails"

"Alright recruits, let's go" we follow after him and he leads us to the treeline of the trail "okay, as Harry said, do not go pass the trees with the red ribbons, that's outside of the trainees border and into the real border which you have no idea where it ends and may wander outside and get into trouble, do not attempt to sabotage each other and no fighting, okay on your marks, get set" *whistle blows* and we all take off into the woods.

"Alright guys, let's huddle up" I say to my team "we don't know how much time we have but let's find trees with the thickest leaves and climb, go up and find a steady branch to nestle on and stay there but make sure you have a vantage where you can see and hidden enough so if the wind blows you're hidden too well for your scent to carry, let's move"

We all run then separate, picking our trees we begin our ascend up as quickly as we could manage, I find my branch and nestle myself in then begin doing the mantra to slow my breathing and heart beat, after a few minutes I hear the whistle blow again and the sound of lots of paws running through the forest can be heard, I don't move, I simply focus on my task and listen.

They speed past our trees I can hear as they find some of the others, there's so much movements around but still I remain unmoving, just focused on my shallow breathing and slowed heart beat.

I had not realized how much time had past until I heard the alarm ring, still I waited five more minutes before making my way down the tree.

We regroup and realize that no one from our team was caught, then we make our way back out of the forest where all the others were waiting, including the instructors.

Sherry storms over to us "where the hell were you guys?" "uh hiding?" "don't sass me missy! you went past the red ribbons didn't you?" "of course not, we're not hard of hearing" "we all chromed the entire training area and found everyone else except your team, explain" "we hid super duper well" "you b-" "SHERRY ENOUGH! you're about to cross the line there, they've clearly won this round for the night shift which means they can get off training at half time tonight, everyone"

The other trainees whopped and clapped while Sherry looked more and more pissed off as she turns and storms away, instructor Harry walked over to us "you kids, be honest with me please, did you go past the red ribbons?" "no sir we did not, our leader here is all wise and told us how to hide in plain sight and sorry to say but I will not be divulging our method because we may need it again in future"

He laughed "you most certainly will son, I will be watching you guys" he turns and speaks to the others "alright, everyone back to the training hall, let's get down to serious business"