LIN 303: Shaya's May and June assignments

Assignment 2: Part 1

Rapping her knuckles off the adjoining door that lead to Rayven's dorm room, Shaya huffed impatiently. “Rayven, come on out!”
“No!” the young wolf barked while Cain sat up in bed, arching a brow at the youth's defiance.
This was not normal for the young wolf. He always listened to Shaya, even more than he listened to Cain. Both Alphas, Shaya still had a different relationship with Rayven. A bond that Cain was not apart of.
“Rayven, please, we're gonna be late if you don't come out now,” she plead, pressing her palm against the locked door.
“Is everything all right, love?” Cain rolled from the bed, naked as the day he was born.
He approached her, standing just behind as he touched her shoulder. She sagged with a sigh of defeat. “Rayven, doesn't want to come to class. Not since the last one. He's been off.”
“Why?”
She shrugged unsure. “I wish I could tell you. He did amazing in that class. He met the challenge head on and succeeded. So I have no idea.” Though, it wasn't like she had actually told Cain the full extent of what had transpired during that class. Especially the part about how Jasper turned the floor into quick sand and sank the entire student body, even Cain's pregnant mate, into the devouring pit. That little part she kept to herself and swore Rayven to secrecy, who was already upset enough over what had transpired.
If she had informed Cain of what had happened, he wouldn't care about being neutral anymore. He would have sought out the djinn and torn his head clean from his shoulder. Even if Jasper is powerful, Shaya wasn't sure he'd ever stand a chance against an enraged Vaewolf alpha who possessed the combined strength of a werewolf and a vampire.  Cain had just barely held it together when Jasper sent them off for a week alone to survive in last year's familiars class. If he knew what had happened last class then Jasper would be joining the dead.
No, it was definitely best not to say a word.
Banging again on the door, Shaya called. “Rayven, please, momma is going to fail the class if you don't come!”
“No!”
Cain growled as he picked up Shaya and put her onto the bed, while she protested, “Cain, what are you doing?” But before Shaya knew what was happening, Cain lifted his foot and kicked in the door.
With a frightened yelp, Rayven scrambled under the bed. “Papa scary! Papa scary!”
“Cain!”
Still the white haired Alpha postured dominantly. His ears pinned flat against his head and his tail erect while he growled at the young wolf who coward beneath his bed. Though Cain was a good man, he was still very much a wolf and acted as wolves did. He dealt with defiance like any pack Alpha would. And Rayven acted as any wolf submissive and cowered before the might of the Alpha.
Jumping from the bed, Shaya put herself between Cain and Rayven while the crazed Alpha snarled, lightly pushing against her. But her soft touch against his hot skin cooled his anger and he relented to her more docile nature.
“It's all right, Cain. You get ready for classes,” she smiled kindly. “Let me talk to him.”
With a dismissive snort, he nodded slowly. It was obvious he didn't like it, but cooler head needed to prevail. So he turned on heel and headed for the bathroom.
Shaya let out a frustrated breath as she entered, heading right for the bed. Then easing herself to the floor, drawing her knees up and wrapping her willowy arms around them, she waited.
“Momma?” Rayven's quivering whine came behind her while he slowly crawled out. “Momma mad?”
She shook her head no. “Just wondering what's wrong? You like Jasper.”
Suddenly Rayven growled.
“You're mad at him from the last class, aren't you?” she smiled knowingly.
Nodding, he agreed.
“I'm not,” she laughed.
“Why?” he looked at her shocked, tilting her head from one side to the next.
“Because he's just trying to make us a better team. He's a professor and Otherworlde is not the type of place for pussyfooting around,” she explained, waving her hand. “We're here to learn skills and some of those skills require real life danger to achieve our potential.”
“But Rayven scared,” he whined, placing his muzzle on her shoulder.
“Why?”
“What if Rayven lose momma?”
She giggled softly. “That's what you were afraid of, sweetie. That if you failed, I'd get hurt or die.”
He nodded again.
“Aw, sweetie, I'm a vampire. My life will always be filled with risk. Humans would fear me if they knew I existed. My job at home is nothing but risk filled, but either way no one will take momma to Hell without me kicking and screaming,” she tried to assure him. “There is nothing that you'd ever do that will put me at risk that I wouldn't have put myself into willingly.
“Besides, I like this class. I get to spend special time with my new son before the pups arrive.”
He barked happily as she felt the whip like strike of his tail against her rear.
“So you ready to go?” she reached up, scratching behind his ears.
Yipping again, he crawled the rest of the way out. His tail wagging so fast in his excitement that his rear paws were lifted from the ground while his butt did a booty shake. “Yes, yes, Rayven go. Momma, Rayven go!”
Laughing at his antics, Shaya, after a few laborious attempts, finally pushed herself up.
“Okay, sweetie, let's go.”

After grabbing her usual two coffee order for her and Jasper, and an old fashioned plain donut for Rayven, they had arrived at class early and now were just waiting for everyone else to come. With her palm laid flat and the donut laid in the center, Shaya watched as Rayven took it from her hand.
Like any canine, he dropped and chomped until every crumb was gone.
“You feel better now, Rayven?” she laughed as she felt the wet caress of his tongue. Carefully he licked away the last residue of what remained of the donut from her finger tips.
Pulling back, he curled his lips and bared his fangs in an attempt at a smile, giving a nod of agreement.
“Good,” she sipped her coffee and watched as the remainder of the class began to filter in, while Professor Jasper emerged from the back room.
Again, as he passed by Shaya, he wore that same scowl that he had during the last class. It was obvious that he wasn't thrilled about being here again and she thought to ask. But the deep look of disdain kept the words lodged in her throat.
Rayven whined, his ears falling to the sides of his head while he looked up at Shaya.
She laughed nervously, “Don't worry. It won't be anything like the last class.”
Not believing her in the least, Rayven huffed and turned back to the front of the class, watching quietly while the class took their seats.
Jasper was already at the front of the room, leaning back against his desk, his arms folded over his chest. And once the final student and their familiar took their seat, Jasper pushed away from his vigil and began walking through the tables.
“All right, let us begin. Answer me this, how many of you have tried to conduct magic  with your familiar?” Jasper barely waited for an answer to his question before he continued. It was obvious he didn't really care about the responses. “Well, it is a very draining process to try, and that is partly due to the fact that you both share a common energy force. When you grow tired, your familiar gets tired, and when your familiar is in pain you experience it. Though without the loss of strength. However, as you continue to make strides to grow together you will be able to use this to your advantage. You will be able to deflect one another's magic without  affecting each other. Strengthening it even. Some such bonds have reached a point where directing a magical assault at each other is capable of healing either master or the familiar. And as such, this will remove the strain on  both your abilities because it is not all being pooled in a central source. In fact, it is being recycled back into your collective energy pool.
“So what I'd like is to see you deflect your familiar's magic at a moving target – but before any of you get antsy,” he arched a scandalous brow at a few students already looking for objects to use, “-this assignment will be performed outside. There is less to break that way. And you may use whatever is available as a target so long as that target is not me. That would not bode well for you final grade. Then have your familiar do the same, and deflect your magic. It may take several tries before you perfect this technique. So I have asked Professor Katja to prepare beds for you in the infirmary should you cause extreme damage to each other.”
Jasper grew quiet for a moment, and the students looked at each other confused. But when he didn't continue, the thunderous noise of scraping chairs could be heard. But Jasper clapped his hands and every student out of their seats promptly sat back down again.
“Come to think of it. Should you perfect this ability, I expect you to try using it for healing purposes as well. This may only work to heal energy and minor wounds. But a good skill set nonetheless to have when the Medical Department is unavailable. A warning though, this is a time-consuming skill, and can take hours of concentration to come to fruition.” Then casting his gaze over the expectant crowd, he smirked smugly. “Class dismissed.”
Pressing her hand against her back, Shaya pushed herself up and began to make her way to the door. But stopped suddenly when she realized Rayven wasn't following. She turned, noticing him laying on the ground, his paws covering his muzzle.
“Rayven? Come on, let's go.”
“Rayven no want hurt momma,” he whimpered.
She sagged. She had to realize this would have happened. But they didn't have time to argue it. So walking over to the massive wolf, she stooped down and scooped him up in her arms, throwing him her shoulder. Floored by what she was doing, Rayven yelped and whined, curling his tail against their bodies. He cried the whole way through the halls of Otherworlde and outside into the courtyard.
“Momma, what momma doing?!”
Sighing, she put him down in the grass. Then wincing as she straightened up, she grumbled, “Rayven, I'm not worried. I am tougher than I look. And this is the assignment, sweetheart.” Pressing her hand against the small of her back, she rubbed the ache now there. “Besides, how do we know what we're capable of if we don't try.”
Whimpering, he nudged her belly. “Pups? No hurt pups.”
Knitting her brows together, she pouted and touched her own belly. “Then let's not aim for the belly, and be careful. Okay?”
“Okay....” Still she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.
“Okay, then shift,” Shaya ordered as she began putting some distance between them.
Reluctantly, but obeying his mother, Rayven shifted to his humanoid form. And again, he stood naked in full view of the courtyard.
Groaning, Shaya smacked her face with her palm. “Man, I am going to have to get these guys to start wearing backpacks with a change of clothes.”
Though Rayven never noticed the lingering gazes upon his physique, and felt about as bashful as Cain. Which sad to say was not at all.
“All right,” she breathed slowly. Shaya would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. Rayven is much more inexperienced than she was, and even she needed to figure out this ability. And carrying pups didn't help. “Let's get this done then.”
Motioning his hand through the air, a ball of blue energy grew from his palm while Shaya's eyes glowed. Turning her shoulder to block the blast if she is unable to deflect it, she prepared herself. And before she knew what happened, he released his power in a single streaming blast, striking her in her shoulder. Screaming out in pain, she cradled her shoulder and cringed.
“Momma?!” Rayven cried.
But she raised her hand, silencing him. “I'm fine. The pups are fine.” She was only half truthful. Her shoulder was in agony, but she was not about to tell him that. Her only goal was to protect the pups, and complete the assignment. “Do it again!”
And so they continued, over and over, Shaya taking strike after strike into her now bloody shoulder. Exhausted from the pain, she panted, trying to catch her breath while Rayven continued to protest. “One more try, if I don't succeed then we can take a break,” she smiled weakly, preparing herself to deflect the attack again.
Whining, not wanting to go through with it again, Rayven knew that against his objection he still had to do this. Focusing his energy again, he shot his power at her but this time Shaya was prepared.
Flattening her palm, her own energy spiraling around her hand like a shield, she met his attack and pushed it away from her. An explosion of light lit the courtyard as the energy shot towards a soccer ball in play just across them. To their surprise, the energy struck the ball, sending it flying through the air into the dark forest.
“Momma did it!” Rayven yelped happily as he ran for her. But Shaya fell to her knee, panting in pain while blood soaked through her shirt. “Momma!”
Raising her hand, still trying to catch her breath, she smiled weakly. “I'm fine. Let's continue.”
Whimpering, Rayven nodded.
Pushing herself back up, grasping her belly, Shaya groaned. The sooner they could get this assignment over with, the sooner she could rest and put her feet up.
“Are you ready?” Shaya smiled at her son while he prepared himself. And with a silent nod, he smiled back at her.
Firing her energy at him, there was no hesitation, no learning curve, Rayven instantly deflected the attack. He yelped in surprise and her eyes widened, stunned that he did that. And as they watched the deflected bolt, they cringed in unison as Cain strolled through the quad, his nose in a book.
“Oh crap,” she cursed as Cain suddenly yelped, the bolt striking his rear and singing his once snow white tail. Rayven yelped and ran behind Shaya as Cain turned on them, narrowing his glare on them. “Oh boy, we're boned.”


Assignment 3: Part 2

“What just happened?” he snarled as he began approaching, while Shaya tried to wave him away.
“Sorry about that. That was my bad,” she apologized, smirking sheepishly. She knew if Cain got too close he'd be upset a bouther injuries.
He arched a brow, looking at her skeptically.
“We're just doing an assignment for my LIN class with Jasper. It's nothing to worry about,” she tried to hide the pain she was in but the look in his eyes told her he wasn't buying it.
Striding towards them with a lethal gait that told the world he was a predator, he came to them while Rayven yelped, begging Shaya to protect him.
His violet eyes glowed brilliant red the closer he got, and when Cain stood before her, Shaya's breath caught. Nervously she swallowed at the feral, hungry glare he was flashing at her.
“Cain?”
Leaning in, he sniffed her shoulder as he reached up, pulling down the sleeve of her shirt slightly. His brow shot up while a deep, thundering growl rumbled in his throat. And as she eyed him nervously, she noticed the glow of his eyes intensify.
“Cain...”
But he ignored her. Too tantalized by the scent of her blood, he grasped her shoulders and held her firmly. She squeaked while Rayven snarled at his papa, but Cain was too entranced by the intoxicating aroma that he ignored the young wolf. Though Shaya knew in Cain's current state if Rayven posed too much of a threat, Cain would not care who he was. He'd attack.
As a Vaewolf born of her blood, only her blood tantalized him. Made him hungry. Caused the vampire nature to emerge.
He snarled, baring his fangs at her as he bent in and began lapping up the blood oozing from the wound. “Don't lie to me,” he growled as he continued to savor her blood. “Do you think I couldn't smell your blood from across the quad? You know we are bound together. You are not only my mate, but my master.”
Her cheeks reddened, her body growing hot while he scraped his fangs around the wound.
He was right. She should have figured he would have known. As her Vaewolf, they were bound by blood. He'd always know when she was hurt. He'd always be drain to her blood.
“I'm sorry, Cain. I should have lied,” she gasped lightly.
Pulling back, his eyes dulling back to their usual vibrant violet color, he smiled, “No, you shouldn't have. But either way. How did you get hurt?”
Shaya cringed and took the time to explain the purpose of the assignment. And though it was obvious that Cain was not thrilled that Rayven had hurt his momma, he also understood that Shaya would not have it any other way.
So drawing in a slow calming breath, cracking his neck as he moved his head from one shoulder to the next, he sighed. “So are you two done so you can report?”
“Not quite.”
“What now?” he growled, while an annoyed tick worked in his brow.
“We need to try to heal each other.”
Cain, not impressed in the least, eyed Rayven from head to foot. “He's not the one who's hurt.”
“True, but I still need to try something.”
With an exhausted huff, Cain nodded. “Fine, but I am going to watch you both this time.”
“What?! Like Hell!” Shaya shrieked. She folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him. “Do I look like I need a baby-sitter?”
Giving her a look that said 'Duh', he smirked, “Do I really need to point out that you're the one injured and our son is not?”
“Uh...” she raised her finger in protest but curled it back down, biting her lip. “Uh... yeah, I guess you're right.”
He smiled sweetly, stepping closer as he rested his hand upon her belly. “Besides, I have to ensure both your safety and theirs.”
Timidly Rayven peeked out from behind Shaya, still holding her hips. “Papa mad Rayven?”
Arching a brow, Cain smiled kindly to his son. “No, I'm not mad at you, Rayven. Just be more careful.” Then giving Shaya a tender kiss to her cheek, he stepped away and gave them room to finish working on their assignments.
As Rayven took his position again, Shaya felt the pain throbbing in her shoulder disappearing. And as she looked down, she noticed the wound had now fully sealed. Yup, being a vampire definitely had its perks.
Then looking at Rayven, she frowned. She had no idea how they were going to do this. He wasn't injured during the first part of the assignment.
Rayven tilted his head as if he was hearing something that no one else could. And before Cain or Shaya knew what was happening, he extended his claw and sliced open his arm. He hissed, grabbing at his wound while Cain and Shaya raced forward.
“Rayven?! What the Hell?!” Cain grabbed his son, while Shaya tried to pry his fingers from his wound.
“What were you thinking?!” she panicked at the amount of blood pouring from the four slashes.
“So momma can complete class,” he smiled proudly.
She pouted as she kissed his brow. “But Rayven...”
“Momma can do,” he cut her off, smiling up at both his parents.
Worried, Cain looked at his mate. “If this was one of us two, this would be a minor would. But on a werewolf like Rayven.... well, he cut himself too deep,” Cain whispered in her ear. “So whatever magic needs to be performed to help him, I'd do it.”
She nodded. There was no more time for hesitation. Her son needed her.
Turning to Rayven, she smiled and touched his cheek as she leaned in, kissing his brow. “Hold still, okay?” He nodded, closing his eyes.
Shaya lifted her hand while a willowy shadow ribbon emerged from her palm. And like vapor it billowed towards Rayven. The blackened mist snaked up his arm from his fingertips to his shoulder. And as it covered his arm, it solidified and constricted like a cast. Then closing her eyes, picturing her energy flowing through her shadow into him, she heard him exclaim, “It warm, momma!”
And as Jasper described, Shaya felt Rayven's pain while little by little it eased until it was no more. Once she no longer felt the pain, her eyes popped open and she waved her hand over his arm. The shadow dissipated.
“Rayven,” she gasped, grabbing his hand, examining the wound that once had been. No longer bloody or open, the wound was nothing more then disfiguring scars. “Oh Rayven, I'm sorry,” she whimpered as she touched the raised tissue. Carefully she stroked each one.
“Momma good. Jasper say fix baby boo-boos,” he smiled happily. “Plus, Rayven has lots a scars. Scars make Rayven strong.”
Touching his cheek, Shaya smiled as he nuzzled her palm. “You are strong, Rayven. Stronger than most creatures I know.”
He beamed. “Thanks momma.”

With the final assignments concluded, Shaya made her way through the shadow realm until she rose from the shadows behind the chalk board. Another year was finally finished, and Shaya was beyond thrilled to have it drawn to an end. And as she touched her enlarged belly, her excitement grew.
Soon, very soon, their pups will arrive and breath life into the world. There were so many things to look forward to. The tournament, applying to be a professor at the Academy and most importantly the arrival of their children.
Laying her notebook upon the desk beside the ancient oil lamp, she couldn't wipe the smile from her face. The next few weeks were definitely shaping up to be very very entertaining indeed.