Life Skills; Monday, First Period [04/10].

[somethingwithturquoise]

"Sorry for missing class last week," Summer said, from the front of the classroom sim in the Danger Shop, "but, well, I was kind of a squirrel. Which, if you haven't already personally had experience with it before, is something that can happen around here, by the way, and something I figured might not be a bad topic of discussion for our class as a whole. Generally, with a few exceptions, I'm sure, handling when you or a friend turns into an animal isn't a Life Skill for most people have to deal with, but around here? Eventually, it probably will be, so let's talk about it.

"For the most part," Summer continued, "there's never really been an established rhyme or reason why it happens, when it happens, or how frequently. A good deal of it seems entirely random and without logic, a fact that has driven many an intellectual," or, well, just the one , that she could think of, "crazy. Sometimes, it happens in waves, where it's a bunch of people that it happens to at the same time, although no discerning connection between those people can really be made. Sometimes, it's just a few people. Sometimes, it's even just one person and no one else. Like I said, random. Unpredictable. But just because you can't predict something doesn't mean you can't be prepared."

From there, she pushed off the desk she was leaning on to go to the board to start jotting down points as she went through them: types of animals (any, really), the varying levels in which people seemed to retain their own personalities and thoughts through the process, the average length of a transformation, and, most importantly, the sometimes awkward nature of when you change back. "Hopefully," she said to confirm this fact, "you'll have changed in the company of someone you trust, who will keep you out of public spaces to avoid a lot of embarrassment, but if not, it's always good to have a plan in mind. I have a lockdown procedure I usually initiate once I turn into a squirrel, that keeps me safe from venturing out and catching myself in an awkward situation, but, then again, I do also have the added hurdle of the squirrels on this island," well, one squirrel in particular, but she wouldn't say names, "are terrible. I also have a few spots around the island where I have emergency clothes stores, just in case. Having some sort of emergency post-transformation kit on hand is never a bad idea, either."

She extrapolated a little further on that, and a few other finer points, before turning to the class.

"So," she said, "now that we have the basics laid down, any questions? Other ideas to better prepare yourself for when you or a friend turns into an animal? What about your own experiences, with turning into an animal or taking care of a friend who has? I know for a fact some of you have stories on this one, so let's just really open it up to a conversation and see where it leads us, especially if you have any theories or thoughts on why this might happen in the first place, and if you think it's inevitable or maybe there's a way to stop it. Let's get philosophical all up in here, sure, why not? Who wants to start?"

Practical Wilderness Survival- Second Period- Monday

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight checked his watch and the clock on the wall and gave a nod as he stood up from where he had been sitting on the edge of the desk at the front of the classroom.

"Alright, classes are getting close to being done and there is still a critical piece of the wilderness survival puzzle that we haven't touched on yet- navigating without a compass or map. The ability to know how to find your way around is critical to surviving. And in times when rescue does not come right away, knowing how to find your way toward civilization without getting even more lost can be a valuable tool. So, that is what we are going to discuss today."

Sensory Deprivation Combat Training; Monday, Third Period [04/10].

[chef_chocobro]

The Danger Shop that day was set up to look as though they were standing on the plateau of a mountain, one which dropped down dramatically on one side, and sloped up sharply on the other, so it should be of no surprise to the students when Ignis started his lesson, what the topic would be.

"Terrain," he said, pausing importantly, before continuing, "is often the most difficult barrier when it comes to combat without the sense of sight to rely on. Not only does a lack of awareness of one's terrain put you at a significant disadvantage, but it can also trip you up, quite literally, or cause almost as much harm as your enemies themselves. Which is why today, we're going to be working a bit with terrain, very specifically navigating a steep and rocky surface and figuring out how to feel and sense your way around...hopefully without getting stabbed or shot at."

Rock climbing, essentially. You were all doing rock climbing, but in the dark.

"There are two courses here, one descending and one ascending," he continued. "Feel free to practice with your preference or even try to get in both of them. We'll have you run them first in the light, to get a good idea of what you're working with, an advantage that you will very rarely have, and then we'll run the courses in the dark, as I'm sure, by now, you've come to expect. If there's time for a third run, we will add an element of attack: while you work your way either up or down the mountain, arrows and bolts will be shot at you, and you'll have to do your best to avoid them. Three hits, and you'll have to start over.

"Any questions before we begin?"