{"id":91,"date":"2021-07-12T12:04:56","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T16:04:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/?page_id=91"},"modified":"2021-07-19T15:10:19","modified_gmt":"2021-07-19T19:10:19","slug":"chapter-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 005: Team Bonding? Sounds Sticky&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg\" alt=\"Etherno\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chapter 5:<\/strong> Team Bonding? Sounds Sticky&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Tannin_md.png\" alt=\"Tannin\" class=\"wp-image-92\" width=\"435\" height=\"644\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Tannin_md.png 692w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Tannin_md-203x300.png 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 435px) 100vw, 435px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin slumped in the chair in Profressor Jakao\u2019s office. Kasai sat beside him. She stared at her hands that she kept folded in her lap. Tannin was on the other side of him, busy digging dirt out of his nails. Cerina leaned against the door frame behind him and hadn\u2019t quit sighing, snorting, and making other annoying, disrespectful noises since she arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao sat leaned back in his chair with his fingers steepled in front of him. He frowned as he gazed at each one of them in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDeep subject,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao jumped up and leaned over his desk. \u201cDo you think this is some kind of joke? All of you were injured yesterday, and you let the criminals escape!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">He took a deep breath and sat back down. Onin glanced over at Kasai. She had pulled her legs up against her chest and had her arms wrapped around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou\u2019re supposed to work as a team. Onin ran off on his own, then the rest of you went off without him. Then the enemy uses a new device or has an unknown power, and do you work together? No. No teamwork, no co-operation. If you keep going like this, you\u2019re going to get yourselves killed. And if by some miracle you don\u2019t die, that kind of nonsense won\u2019t fly in any kind of profession you\u2019re studying for.\u201d Professor Jekao took a deep breath. \u201cForget it. I\u2019m not going to recap the whole debacle. You were there. Tonight, I want each of you to go back to your rooms and write a five-page paper on how you could have handled that better. Tomorrow, report back to my office.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMan, he was in a bad mood.\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin rolled his eyes and turned right on the sidewalk that led away from the office building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Tannin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUh, back to our room. We have a paper to write, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou\u2019re really gonna do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh, come on. That paper\u2019s a joke. The prof can\u2019t give us homework when we\u2019re not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin turned around and grabbed Tannin by the shoulders. \u201cDo you ever take anything seriously? We almost died tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah, but we didn\u2019t.\u201d Tannin shrugged out of Onin\u2019s grip. \u201cLook. We can either get all freaked out and too scared to do anything, or we can laugh it off. I don\u2019t want to get so wound up that I can\u2019t think. And yes, I\u2019m going to the cafeteria. I haven\u2019t eaten in forever, and I\u2019m hungry. If I\u2019m hungry, I can\u2019t concentrate. And how\u2019s a stupid paper supposed to fix anything, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s supposed to make us think and then learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah, well, maybe writing helps you smart types think, but it doesn\u2019t work for me. I need to eat, talk about stuff, and then have a re-match.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin sighed. Perhaps Tannin did need some time alone. \u201cAll right, I\u2019ll see you back at the dorm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin waved a finger at him and shuffled down the sidewalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin wasn\u2019t the first one to Professor Jekao\u2019s office the next morning. Kasai leaned up against the door frame and was apparently deep in study of one of the floor tiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHi.\u201d She looked up and waved a few folded sheets of paper at him. \u201cGet your homework done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYup.\u201d Onin grinned and held up his own paper. \u201cI wonder if Tannin and Cerina did?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai snorted. \u201cI doubt it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">They both turned at the sound of a door shutting down the hall. Tannin stumbled toward them. His hair stuck out in every direction, and he carried a cup of coffee. Onin didn\u2019t see evidence of a paper anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMorning, Tannin,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUhhh.\u201d Tannin slumped against the wall and slid down the floor. \u201cWho decided mornings were a good thing, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin glanced over at Kasai. Her hand was over her mouth, and her chest shook with silent laughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGood morning, students!\u201d Professor Jekao shifted his briefcase to his left hand, squeezed past them, and unlocked the office door. \u201cCerina here yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWe haven\u2019t seen her, sir,\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI see. Well, come on in and have a seat while we wait for her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin took a seat, and Kasai took the chair against the wall to his right. Tannin flopped into a chair behind him and leaned back against the rear wall of the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDid you finish your papers?\u201d Professor Jekao asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin and Kasai held out their papers at the same time. A light snore came from Tannin\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDid he get anything done?\u201d Professor Jekao jerked a thumb at Tannin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t know. He went to the cafeteria first. I finished my paper and went to sleep, and he still wasn\u2019t back yet,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There was a knock on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCome in,\u201d Professor Jekao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina entered and flopped into the chair at the far side of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHuh?\u201d Tannin sat up and looked around. \u201cOh, Cerina\u2019s here.\u201d He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and tossed it over to Professor Jekao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cTannin, this is only one page.\u201d The Professor unfolded the paper and attempted to smooth it out. \u201cIs there any more to it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNope.\u201d Tannin leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s the best I can do in one night with no notice. I was up all night working on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOkay then. It\u2019d better be good. Cerina, do you have your paper?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAs-if.\u201d She snorted. \u201cI had real homework to do last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCerina, with that attitude, why did you decide to minor in criminal justice?\u201d He held up his palm. \u201cNo, wait, don\u2019t answer that, I can\u2019t take it right now.\u201d He pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cOn to what you\u2019re all here for. All of you have special talents and presumably some kind of interest in some sort of career in criminal justice. Such a career, however, requires teamwork. And that\u2019s something you\u2019re all sadly lacking in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNext week is holiday. I want all of you to work on teamwork during holiday. A lot. As in, I\u2019ve signed you up for a week-long team-building boot camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou can\u2019t do that!\u201d Cerina jumped to her feet. \u201cI\u2019m going home to see my family!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin groaned. \u201cMan, there\u2019s some sweet parties that week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d Professor Jekao smiled. \u201cI can\u2019t force you to go. What I can do though, is put you on academic probation, and recommend to the dean that you be dropped from the criminal justice program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin sat up straighter in his chair. The professor wouldn\u2019t really do that, would he? He elbowed Tannin in the ribs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYay.\u201d Tannin raised a fist in the air, but his tone was devoid of emotion. \u201cBoot camp. Woo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ll just pretend that your lack of enthusiasm is due to sleep deprivation. Cerina?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cFine. I\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina crossed her arms and if she frowned any harder, her face might split in two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGood!\u201d Professor Jekao glanced over to Onin and Kasai, then handed each of them a packet. \u201cHere are your monorail tickets. Also, be aware that the retreat is located very close to the Matari enclave. You are not, for any reason at all, to cross the border. Dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin looked around. The team building boot camp was at the very end of the monorail line. Onin didn\u2019t even know the monorail had an endpoint. They stood in a clearing in the middle of a pine forest. Snow covered mountain peaks were visible to the north. A single path wound from the monorail station deeper into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell we\u2019re in the middle of back-butt nowhere,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNot nowhere.\u201d Kasai pointed ahead and to the right. \u201cThe Monks of Ard have a monastery in the foothills of the Kurushimi Mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo mobile signal.\u201d Cerina held her phone up and waved it around. \u201cNow what am I supposed to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDevelop real relationships with real people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Everyone turned. The speaker had much paler skin than most of the people in Dabrath. Her hair was light blonde and pulled back into a ponytail. She wore hiking boots, jeans, and a blue t-shirt with stick figures that were holding hands and dancing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHi!\u201d She raised her hand and waved vigorously. \u201cI\u2019m Karen. Welcome to Team Bonding Boot camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHello, I\u2019m Onin, this is Kasai, Tannin, and Cerina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been expecting you, come on into the lodge. We\u2019ll get you set up in your rooms, then we have a brief activity before dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Karen led them down the winding path into the forest. Two turns later a large two-story log building came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGet a load of that.\u201d Tannin pointed at the building. \u201cA log cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cJust a mite bit big to be called a \u2018cabin,\u2019 numbskull,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin stuck his tongue out at her. Karen led them inside and up to the second floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOnin and Tannin, you\u2019re in the room to the right. Kasai and Cerina, you\u2019re in the room to the left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhoa, whoa, whoa!\u201d Cerina held up her hands. \u201cI can\u2019t share a room with her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou can, and you will.\u201d If it was possible, the smile on Karen\u2019s face got bigger. \u201cWe have other groups here at the same time, so we have limited space. Also, the whole point of you being here is to learn to get along and work together as a team. Team, team, team! I even love the word team, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUgh. I think I\u2019m gonna puke. Fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin opened the door to his room and leaned around it to mouth \u2018good luck\u2019 to Kasai, who shot him a desperate look. Onin stepped in his room. A fireplace was on the left wall. Two recliners were across from it. A large picture window was on the far wall. Three doors lined the right wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ll take door number one,\u201d Tannin said. He pulled open the door and leaned inside. \u201cPrivate bedroom, sweet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The middle door led to a large bathroom, and the third door was another bedroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNice. If the girls\u2019 room is like this, even Cerina won\u2019t find anything to whine about,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cTen yen says she\u2019ll find something.\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDo you even have ten yen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUm\u2026 No. Gotta pee.\u201d Tannin darted into the bathroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin rolled his eyes and went to put his suitcase in his room.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin sat on the back porch of the lodge and watched other groups while he and Tannin waited for the girls. A large grass field was full of different groups of people engaged in a variety of activities. Some of them were divided into pairs, each tied together at the knee, and were trying to move a giant ball around. Some sat back to back with paper and pencils, and the last group faced each other with palms together doing something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat kind of nutty kindergarten games do you think they\u2019ll make us play?\u201d Tannin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOne way to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin muttered something and started to pick at his fingernail. A door creaked open behind him. Onin turned around. Kasai and Cerina came out, with Karen close behind them. Kasai\u2019s hair was up in a ponytail today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAh, good, you\u2019re all here. Right on time too!\u201d Karen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGreat. She\u2019s perky. I hate perky,\u201d Cerina muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cLike I said before, we\u2019re going to start with a quick activity to have some fun before dinner. Then you can relax until tomorrow.\u201d Karen turned and almost skipped out onto the grass. \u201cFollow me, please!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She led them over to an unoccupied corner of the lawn and sat down cross-legged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOkay, we\u2019re going to start with some meditation exercises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAnd the point of this would be\u2026\u201d Cerina asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Karen\u2019s smile slipped for half a second. \u201cWe\u2019re going to try and purge some of that icky negative energy. Can everyone sit, please?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin dropped to the grass and had to use his arms to force his legs into position. Kasai smoothly folded herself into the proper position with apparently no effort. She leaned in closer to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThe monks taught me to meditate. I think this might be a little different, though. Their focus was on spiritual matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOkay, now that everyone\u2019s seated, I want you to close your eyes, and focus your thoughts inward. To work together as a team, we need to first make ourselves the best me we can be,\u201d Karen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Someone groaned. Onin wasn\u2019t sure if it was Cerina or Tannin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThe only person we can change is ourselves.\u201d Karen either hadn\u2019t heard or chose to ignore the groaning. \u201cSo, I want each of you to find the negativity in yourself, the anger, irritation, impatience, or whatever. Then, take a deep breath, and as you exhale, imagine all that negative energy floating out of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNope. Not quite how the monks taught me,\u201d Kasai whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shrugged. He didn\u2019t think this exercise would accomplish anything, but then it couldn\u2019t hurt, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">A few minutes later Kasai screamed. Onin opened his eyes and jumped to his feet\u2014and almost fell over. Both of his legs were asleep. He shook each one and stumbled over to Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2026 I don\u2019t know.\u201d Kasai stood, wrapped her arms around herself and actually took a step closer to Onin. \u201cI was exploring my feelings, praying for Ard to help me find any negativity and remove it like the monks taught me. Suddenly there was fire\u2026 everywhere. I actually felt fire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She shuddered and took another step toward Onin. His breath quickened at her proximity. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she leaned in to rest her head on his bicep. She was so soft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Everyone stood clustered around Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat shouldn\u2019t happen.\u201d Karen pressed the back of her hand against Kasai\u2019s forehead. \u201cAre you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, I\u2019m fine. Just a little freaked out. That\u2019s never happened before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re okay?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d Kasai straightened up and took a deep breath. \u201cI\u2019m fine, let\u2019s continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Tannin scratched the back of his neck. \u201cI don\u2019t know much about meditating, but it\u2019s supposed to be relaxing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell, let\u2019s stop for the day.\u201d Karen felt Kasai\u2019s head with the back of her hand again. \u201cYou do seem a little warm. How about we all go in to dinner, then we\u2019ll meet back here tomorrow morning at about eight, okay? And Kasai, there\u2019s a nurse\u2019s station on the first floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai nodded, and they filed into the building. Onin frowned. Conflicting feelings ran through him. The more he got to know Kasai, the more he liked her. But was now the best time to bring that up? Clearly something was going on with her. Well, whatever it was, he\u2019d give her whatever help she wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin lowered himself into one of the recliners in his room. Tannin flopped into the one next to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMan, if all the food is gonna be that good, I might stay,\u201d Tannin said. He rubbed his belly. \u201cOf course, you\u2019ll have to roll me into the monorail car for the ride home\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou\u2019d probably even willingly participate in the activities if they gave you a treat for doing them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI might. I\u2019ll have to suggest it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shook his head. \u201cHey, speaking of that, was it you or Cerina snorting and moaning and whining through meditation time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cEh.\u201d Tannin shrugged. \u201cProbably both of us, what a waste of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">A knock on the door interrupted him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCome in, it\u2019s open.\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAnd we\u2019re too stuffed to get up to open it for you,\u201d Tannin added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The door cracked open and Kasai poked her head in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, Onin, can we talk?\u201d Her voice trailed off. She stepped into the room and looked around. \u201cWow, this is your room?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin and Tannin nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWow.\u201d She took another step and peered at the fireplace. \u201cCerina and I are crammed in a room about a quarter of this size. We\u2019ve got a twin-sized bunk bed and have to share a dresser.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWow, that sucks,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI wonder if it\u2019s part of the plan to make us get along?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai looked around for a place to sit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Here, have my chair,\u201d Tannin got up and headed for the bathroom. \u201cI was just getting up anyway. I need to see if our bathroom has an exhaust fan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI hope it does,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cEww.\u201d Kasai shuddered and sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSo, what\u2019d you want to talk about?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin leaned closer to Kasai. She could be here just to talk with him, or she might want to further discuss her vision and the thugs and stuff. Her hair was down again and hung over the left side of her face. She was so pretty\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cStuff.\u201d Kasai brushed her hair back and twirled it around her finger. \u201cDo you think this will work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUs. Tannin, Cerina, you, and I as a team. Tannin can\u2019t seem to take anything seriously, and Cerina\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah\u2026 That\u2019s just Tannin\u2019s way of coping. I think he\u2019ll get used to working with us. Cerina\u2026\u201d Onin sighed. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what her problem is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI think it\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat? That\u2019s crazy. You\u2019re nice to everyone. Why would she hate you more than the rest of us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cShe\u2019s from the Northlands. Have I told you that I grew up there before the monks found me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shook his head. That would explain a lot. Any rural area was a bad place to be a giftling, but the Northlands was the worst. He\u2019d heard some stories\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat Onryo girl seems to follow me around.\u201d Kasai pulled her legs up to her chest. \u201cFrom what I gather, she doesn\u2019t exactly mean any harm, but she seems to have a temper and she destroys a bunch of stuff, then all the giftlings in the area get blamed, and the fear and hatred just gets worse. So, I think Cerina blames me for some of the stuff she\u2019s had to go through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat\u2019s not fair. You\u2019d think that\u2019d make her more sympathetic towards you,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai snorted. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t seem like the empathetic type.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s true. She\u2019ll either come around, or she won\u2019t, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah.\u201d She smiled. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The bathroom door opened and Tannin stepped out. He quickly shut the door behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWooo! Don\u2019t go in there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo exhaust fan?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah, there\u2019s an exhaust fan. Might want to let it run for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ll just be going now.\u201d Kasai stood and took a step toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, stay for a bit. We were going to play Usagi Kyorinrin. Want to join us?\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai rolled her eyes but sat back down. \u201cSure, why not. Just don\u2019t tell the monks. Got a deck I can borrow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThe monks don\u2019t like Usagi Kyorinrin?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cEh.\u201d Kasai shrugged. \u201cThey know it\u2019s just a game, but it also has demons and spells and such, and they think that for someone with less spiritual knowledge and defense, it can open them up to stuff that could hurt them. But for all that, it was one of the monks that taught me to play. He had a dragon deck, and when we played he\u2019d tell me stories about the real dragons. How they came from Alandra, how they were created to help people, then got selfish and were banished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou believe all that?\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai shrugged. \u201cRaised by monks, remember? You have some um, odd, beliefs of your own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cJust for that, you get to play with my dragon and rabbit deck,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou made a dragon and rabbit deck? That works?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHe did.\u201d Onin rolled his eyes. \u201cWell, it kinda works, for cards that aren\u2019t meant to go together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThis should be interesting.\u201d Kasai shook her head and shuffled her cards.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Karen was waiting for them on the lawn early the next morning. Onin gave a half-hearted wave. Tannin and Cerina looked like they were asleep on their feet. Kasai actually managed a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGood morning everyone!\u201d Karen\u2019s smile was, if possible, even bigger than it was last night. \u201cIsn\u2019t it a wonderful day today! We\u2019re going to have so much fun and learn a lot, too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s peppy and a morning person. Kill me now,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cTeam-building\u2014\u201d Tannin yawned. \u201c\u2014must be working, \u2018cause I agree with her for once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cToday\u2019s task\u2014\u201d Karen went on talking as though she hadn\u2019t heard them. \u201c\u2014is to work on our communication skills. After that, we\u2019re going to do some trust exercises, and then we\u2019re going to have sharing time around the fire while we have dinner!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIs it just me, or are we in kindergarten?\u201d Cerina asked no one in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cShe didn\u2019t mention lunch,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cKnock it off, you two, we\u2019re here to learn,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina rolled her eyes but followed them over to where Karen sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIn today\u2019s communication exercise, you\u2019re going to split into pairs. I\u2019ll give one of you a shape, and the other a pen and a blank pad of paper. Without naming the shape, you\u2019ll try to get your partner to duplicate the shape. Onin and Kasai, you\u2019ll start off together, and Tannin and Cerina.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin turned over the card he was given. It had an outline of a square. That shouldn\u2019t be too hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Drawing shapes wasn\u2019t difficult. Trying to make himself heard over Tannin and Cerina\u2019s squabbling was. After they\u2019d completed the shapes, they switched partners and shape assignments. Kasai was easy to work with. Cerina complained the whole time, but eventually he\u2019d been able to communicate instructions for his shape. Tannin would have been easy to work with except for two things. One, Tannin was lazy, two, they kept having to break up fights between Cerina and Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">First, Cerina wouldn\u2019t sit back to back with her. Then Kasai was deliberately sabotaging her. And it got worse from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat was\u2026 not your best,\u201d Karen was actually frowning. \u201cSome of you did really good, and some of you could not complete the assignment. But when one fails, the whole team fails. So, you earned a five-mile hike before the next activity. And before you ask\u2014\u201d She glared at Cerina. \u201c\u2014if EVERY team member doesn\u2019t complete the hike, none of you get food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She pointed to a trail marker at the edge of the lawn. Onin turned and trudged toward it. He didn\u2019t mind a hike, he just didn\u2019t like losing. Something was going to have to be done about Cerina\u2019s attitude. What, he didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai, Tannin, and even Cerina were quiet for the first few miles. Hopefully they were thinking things over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Kasai stopped and put a hand to her ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t hear anything,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, she\u2019s right.\u201d Cerina pointed off to the right. \u201cSounds like a person, possibly in pain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">They pushed through the bush for a few yards. Now Onin could hear it too. Something was thrashing around in the brush and crying out in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shoved a fern aside and jerked to a stop. Saija, the portal-using girl, was on the ground in front of them.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-4\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"86\">&lt;&lt; Previous Chapter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/table-of-contents\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"34\">Contents<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-6\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"99\">Next Chapter >><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">kofiwidget2.init('Buy me a cup of tea', '#29abe0', 'V7V05ASUY');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 5: Team Bonding? Sounds Sticky&#8230; Onin slumped in the chair in Profressor Jakao\u2019s office. Kasai sat beside him. She stared at her hands that&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-91","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions\/171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}