The temples of old
There use to be a time that villages were protected not by knights, but by the local Temples of the area. Each temple located in various corners of the world. The east temple located , tucked away in the Great Wall itself. The south temple located twenty feet below under the Australian coast. The north temple hidden away where only a foolish man would ever go. Then finally you have the west temple, tucked away in almost plain sight in a small town in Oklahoma, almost forgotten by the rest of the world , except those who live on the town.
For years these temples have had a very strict rule, only males would ever be allowed to be taught their ways and to protect the villagers. Should a girl ever be found in any temple, she would surely be killed. At least that's the way it's been for years.
Every decade, the temple will open its doors to any male wanting to be apart of their society. Each new recruit is referred to as a rogue until, they have earned the right to use their own name. These recruits also are not allowed to cut their hair, or even show any visible part of themselves. This includes the person's eyes. So often males simple stop showing up to practice and this helps eliminate people faster than the training.
The outfits these recruits where, are long sleeved jumpers that go down to cover the wearers ankles and a hood that went over and cover their face enough so no one could see their eyes, but they certain could see. The outfits are a duke grey in color ,to make sure no one is signaled out.
Once a person passes the first training period, and placed into the proper classification, they are allowed to wear the color of this classification.
Of course rules are made to be broken and sometimes it's for the better.
"Kitty, I'm hungry. Can't we get some more bread please." Cato said tugging on his sister's arm hard.
"Cato we don't have enough money for more bread today. Okay. We just don't. I'm sorry baby." Kitty said gently grabbing onto her little brother's hand. He looked at the cart longingly before sighing softly and following his sister close by.
It had been a good year since their folks had died, and each day had been harder than the last.
Kit often went without eating, just so her brother could eat. She made some money collecting berries from the woods and giving them to local farmers for a small profit. Sure the berries were sweet , but never filing like bread is.
"Come on Honey, I have berries to be picking." Kit said gently making her brother smile and run on ahead of her.
"Stay where I can see you and don't you dare go near the creek!" Kit said sternly placing her basket down. The berries weren't as plentiful as they were last month, given it was inching close to winter. Even kit knew there was a chance one of them wouldn't be making it through the winter, if she didn't find a way to make more money, or at least get some food.
Kit sighed softly and began plugging one berry at a time from the bush. She stopped hearing the last thing she wanted to here at this moment. A loud popping sound and then struggled gasping. "Cato honey where are y...CATO!" Kit said softly at first then screamed realizing it was her brother who had fallen in.
Kit didn't think twice before jumping into the water and swimming down to where the snapper vines were. A nickname given to the fact the vines snap around any living being in the water and drag them down to their deaths. Kit tugged Cato from them and quickly made her way back from the water. He suddenly began coughing up water as Kit swam back to shore placing him back in the grass.
"Don't you listen to me. I told you to stay away from the creek honey. Not to be mean." Kitty said scolding her brother.
"Sorry sissy. I thought I heard mama singing." Cato said innocently making Kit smile gently.
"It's okay. I'm just glad your safe." Kit said grabbing her brother's hand and walking back to where she left her basket of berries. Only to find they were gone.
"We aren't gonna starve are we sissy?" Cato asked gently looking up at his sister with wide eyes.
"I won't ever let that happen to you honey. I promise, now why don't we get to Mr. Merril's. " Kit said knowing she was full well soaked and so was her brother.
Merril being not only the local sensei of the west temple, but the local villages only healer.
"But sissy!"
"No buts, Cato. You got dragged down under the creek. Look at your legs, there are burns on them honey. Just let him look at them and get some ointment on them okay." Kit said Seriously.
"Fine…." Cato said softly as Kit walked down the pathway leading up merrill's small cottage, located just a block outside of the west temple.
By the time they got to the small cottage both of them were dried to the bone. "Stomach problems?" Merril asked making Kit sigh some.
"He got dragged by the snapper vines. He's got burns on his legs." Kit said making Merril drop the cup in his hand, it shattering to the dirt path.
"Yes. Yes. Course come on in." Merril said guiding the two on inside. He helped Cato up and sure enough he had burns on his legs.
"What about you sweetheart? Any injures."
"I'm fine, they didn't touch me." Kit said not knowing what that even meant to merril.
"They didn't touch you. Now that's odd, you know they use to say that anyone who doesn't get drowned by the snapper vines, is to become a priest or in your case priestess." Merril said fixing up cato's legs.
"Very funny Mr. Merril. Everyone knows girls aren't allowed to be at the temple, I'd no sooner be mauled by those boys or be hanging in the trees." Kit said arms folded over her chest.
"Just a thought. There good as new." Merril said making Kit smile gently.
"Thank you." Kit said handing him the money she owed him for the treatment and then left.
"Kitty was that all of our money…" Cato said softly making Merril look towards the doorway.
"It's okay baby…" Kit said gently making Cato look down shamefully.
"Hey now, this wasn't your fault. It's fine. I'm just really glad your legs won't scar or hurt anymore. Don't think I didn't see you limping along side me earlier." Kit said tapping the end of his nose , making Cato smile and giggle softly.
"Come on then. Let's get." Kit said grabbing cato's hand and heading off with him.
Merril watched the two leave and stared down at the money , he still gripped in his hand, almost shamefully.
Kit was down right miserable, her arms were bruised and her legs were just as bad. She literally had to fight off Walkers during the night, so they wouldn't hurt Cato. Walkers a name given to demonotic like creatures that seemed to favor the young. Often causing them to become walkers themselves. Kit's mama made her promise to always protect her brother and Kit made sure to keep that promise.
The only place walkers didn't go, are the temple grounds.
Kit groaned some holding her ribs sligitly, she had gotten tossed back against a tree by one of the walkers , and it sure was hurting this morning. She made sure to cover her arms and legs , so Cato wouldn't see she was hurt.
"Morning baby. Sleep well?" Kit asked softly making Cato smile and nod his head sleepily.
"Okay, let's head around." Kit said gently picking Cato up despite her injured ribs.
"Good morning Kit and Cato. Same old same old?" Mrs. Smith asked cheerfully seeing kit at her bakery shop.
"No just a slice today." Kit said softly grabbing out a bill from her pocket and handing it over to Mrs. smith.
"Oh honey...you should get into Merril. That bruising looks awful."
"I don't have the money for it. It's either he eats or I get healed, besides not even this is enough.." Kit said softly making Mrs. smith sigh sadly.
"You were fighting off walker's last night weren't you?" Mrs. Smith said sadly shaking her head some.
"I won't lose Cato to them."
"You're too pure for this world." Mrs. Smith said gently to Kit.
Kit sat back at the table and woke Cato up, then handed him, his slice for the day. Cato picked at the slice and nibbled at it. Sure Kit was hungry and she was tempted to snag a bite of the bread, but she knew Cato needed to eat more than she did.
"I wanna be like that when I'm older!" Cato said pointing to the doorway.
"That so, you wanna be a warrior. Why's that?" Kit asked looking back at the group of men now inside the bakery. Then back to Cato who was smiling hugely.
"Because their Heros ,like you sissy." Cato said making Kit smile warmly at him.
"Mhmm...finish your bread honey." Kit said chuckling softly at that.
"Are you gonna go to Merril's for your bruising….." Cato asked softly making one of the warriors snap their head over.
"Honey...I'll be fine. It's just a little bruising is all. Besides this money is for food, not for healing." Kit said gently.
"Okay…." Cato said softly taking another nibble of bread.
"I'm gonna go potty." Cato said softly making kit nod her head as Cato headed to the restroom area of the bakery, tucked away in a room with a long hallway of sorts.
"Hey, I'm Soda. Not to over hear or anything hon, but you seem a little down on your luck." Soda, One of the warriors said making kit look at him oddly.
"We are managing." Kit said softly looking back at the warrior.
"Mhmmm…..you look like you haven't had a good night sleep in sometime." Soda said taking a seat by kit and Cato.
"I hardly ever do...the walkers are terrible at night anymore and there's no way I'll ever lose my brother , Cato to them. I'd never be able to live with myself if Cato was killed by one of them." Kit said rubbing at her temples some and sighing.
"Hold it. You've been fighting off walkers." Soda said in shock.
"Yes, every other night it feels like. It's never been this bad. Don't act shocked, the hang around creek bed." Kit said making Soda give her a look.
"That's were they hang around idiot. It's the only place that hasn't been blessed properly yet."
"It's been blessed!" Another warrior said walking over to the duo.
"Not properly! Blessing an area one time doesn't make the blessing last, you have to do it consecutively. And don't argue with me." Kit snapped at the guy making him go quiet. He sure as heck wasn't use to a girl using a firm tone with him. This was something new.
"Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I'll be leaving." Kit said as Cato made his way out of the restroom.
"Hold on…." Soda said rushing after Kit.
"Listen I'm sorry about Steve snapping back there. He doesn't mean any harm at all. He just gets frustrated at times. His hearts in the right place." Soda said making kit give him a look.
"Mhmmm...that's not why you stopped me though, is it?" Kit asked making soda sigh some.
"That bruising you have from the walker…"
"Walkers, But Yes go on." Kit said correcting soda.
"Right…..Well, you honestly need to get that checked out. That bruising won't get better on its own."
"Well noisy, as you were over hearing earlier. I don't have the money for it." Kit said agitatedly.
"I'll pay for it. Infact, why don't you two come back with us to the temple." Soda said making kit look at him oddly.
"Girls aren't allowed on temple grounds." Kit said arms folded over.
"I'm sure my sensei, Merril won't mind. You need to get those bruises healed and it won't happen overnight. They take some time to heel. So you come with us, get healed and while that's going on, you'll have a safe place to stay." Soda said making Kit sigh heavily.
"Fine…." She said picking Cato up to carrying him. He was already dozing back off to sleep.
"For I forget what's your name?"
"It's Kit." Kit said gently keeping Cato close as soda popped back inside the bakery shop.
"Darry…." Soda began making his brother look back at him.
"Hmmm."
"There's a girl here, who's been fighting off walkers at night to protect her brother. She has some bad bruising and can't afford a healer by Merril." Soda said making Darry look to him.
"She's been fighting off walkers. On her own. Color me impressed, where is she now? I'm gonna assume she is heading with us back to the temple." Darry said calmly.
"She's outside. Her names Kit, and her brother's name is Cato. Be warned though, Kit looks terrible." Soda said following Darry outside.
Darry sighed sadly, greeting kit and made sure her and Cato kept close to him as they walked back to the temple. The others made noises of protest as Kit walked alongside them. Some even making low threats.
"Darrel, have you forgo….oh. If it isn't Kit and Cato." Merril said gently smiling at the duo.
"Sensei, She has bruising from walkers and can't afford a healing on her own. I told her if she Came with us, I'd pay for it."
"First you don't get snapped by the snapper vines and now this. You are one special girl. Alright then, let's go. You'll both be allowed to stay here while you're being healed. And not a single one of you guys harm a single hair on either of their heads." Merril said making some of his students sigh and nod their heads.
"Alright then let's get to healing you child. Cato will be safe with Darrel. Won't he." Merril said looking to Darrel.
"He'll be safe with me. I won't let the kid get hurt."
"You better not, otherwise I'll rip out your intestines and hang you with them." Kit said oddly calm making the others snap over to look at her. Even Merril was slightly shocked.
"Protective of this one." Soda mumbled softly taking Cato from Kit's hold on him. Kit followed Merril back to the healing room, they had here.
"Alright let's see how bad it is." Merril said expecting a few bruises on her arms if that. He was rather concerned to find her arms and legs were bruised. She even had some bruising on her ribcage. What was worse was her back, there was dried blood on it, and on her blouse.
"Oh child…." Merril said looking at her on the healer table. He felt her ribs some and felt rather guilty that she winced in pain as she did.
"Don't have to tell me twice...I know it's bad. One of them threw me at a tree to get to Cato." Kit said closing her eyes in pain.
"You could have been killed."
"Fine. I'll fight to my own death to protect my brother." Kit said seriously dam near screaming when Merril set her ribs.
He then got out the special salve and massaged it into her arms, legs , and ribs.
"Those are going to take some time to heal child."
"So, I was told." Kit said softly.
"I'm gonna have to open that wound on your back up again. I'm sorry for this in advanced child." Merril said helping Kit flip over. She cried out as he tugged away the dried blood and slowly reopened her wound.
"I know it hurts. And I'm sorry." Merril said gently grabbing a thick cloth to soak up some of the blood. He grabbed a needle and some thread and then looked down at the gash on Kit's back. She was starting to cry from the pain as Merril stitched her back up.
Merril helped her up, giving her a gentle hug knowing that's what she needed at that moment. "I'll go get you some new clothes. You stay here."
Kit did as told watching Merril leave and come back with a simple light grey shorts tank romper. Kit placed it on gently ,wincing when she had to bend over.
"Thanks…… I wish I could pay you for this."
"Don't worry about that, worry about getting better. Now then, you hungry?" Merril said making kit gently nod her head some. She followed him back out her eyes snapping over to Cato.
"Kitty! You're all bruised up…." Cato said running over to her and then looking at her sadly.
"I'll be fine baby. Were you good?" Kit asked gently making Cato nod some.
"Uh Huh…… you'll get better, right?" Cato asked making kit smile gently.
"Yes baby I will. Don't you ever worry about sissy." Kit aid gently to him , kissing the top of his head.
"Okay……" Cato said softly.
The others watched Kit and then looked to their sensei. "Their gonna be staying here a while then?" One of them asked making Merril smile.
"It's not everyday you find someone that doesn't get snapped by the snapper vines." Merril said smirking some.
"Her...she's….she's to be…." the guy said making Merril put a finger to his lips.
The guy nodded his head some looking over to Kit, she glared at him making him look away from her quickly. He didn't need to get on her bedside, especially if she was to be the priestess. The west temple hadn't even had a priest in years.
Now they were to have a priestess? This was news….
"Kit, do you have a moment to talk". Merril said to kit, finding her in the garden reading a book of poems.
"Yeah, course." Kit said getting up and following Merril inside and to his room.
"You recall what I said when you brought your brother to me for healing?" Merril asked gently.
"I recall...you weren't being serious about that, were you?" Kit asked gently looking at Merril slightly wide eyed.
"I was."
"What about Cato, will he be able to stay here, should I agree to this." Kit said looking to Merril seriously.
"Yes. You two will have your own room here and you'll be taken under my wing to be a healer as I am, but you will have to learn to bless things as well. And read up on various knowledge of the temples and such. It's a lot of hard work ,but worth it."
"There's never been a priestess in history at all. I'll make this temple and the others a laughing stock, a joke to everyone. I don't want that for anyone." Kit said honestly making Merril smile at her.
"Which is why you'd make a great priestess. Prove them all wrong. If not for you for Cato, winter is coming up, and I doubt you two will survive through it without staying put here. I can't let you stay once you're headed less you agree to this." Merril said making Kit sigh sadly.
"Alright. I'll do it for Cato, and Cato only." Kit said shaking hands with Merril.
"Good. We will start with your training right away." Merril said placing a stack of thick books on a table before Kit.
It had been two grueling months since kit began getting healed and as soon as she was, her training began immediately.
"Sissy can we play! Please!" Cato begged bouncing up and down.
"Baby sissy needs to finish this chapter and then she will play with you Okay?" Kit said gently to Cato who nodded his some, sitting back down to lean against Kit. True to Merril's word, this was a lot of hard work. He often tested her on the chapters of books he'd give her to read and if she didn't do well, he'd make her read that one chapter again and again and again, until she aced every question he asked her.
Which often Times was a pain in the rear for Kit. She spent a good week trying to memorize one chapter, add that to making sure her little brother didn't get into trouble here and yep the girl was as stressed as ever. At least she didn't have to worry about walkers here and she could actually sleep here, which was nice.
She got jolted from her reading, upon hearing a crashing sound. Kit snapped her head up seeing Cato had knocked over a vase of flowers and it fell to the ground. "Stay still." Kit Told him firmly walking over. She stepped over the glass and picked Cato up, setting a ways away from the shards.
"It was an accident honest. I didn't mean too." Cato said softly making kit look at him.
"Baby. It's okay, I'll clean this up and if anyone asks I did this Alright. It's not a big deal." Kit said softly picking up a few shards of glass. She then set them into the trash. The flowers were still good, so she figured she'd find a vase for them. It took her a moment to find an empty one, but she did and placed the arrangement back inside the vase.
"There good as new." Kit mumbled to herself looking to her hands. She had small slices on her fingers from the glass , but nothing that serious.
"Sissy you're bleeding." Cato said sadly.
"Baby, sissy is fine. Now then what was it you wanted to play?" Kit asked figuring this would be a good distraction for Cato.
"Outside! In the garden. Please sissy. Please…." Cato begged tugging at her sleeve.
"Alright. Alright." Kit said gently ,grabbing onto his hand firmly.
Kit walked outside with him finding it almost barren out here. Hardly anyone seemed to be out here except for sensei Merril. He was calmly sitting back against one of the trees , sipping on some tea. "Kit and Cato, afternoon."
"Afternoon sensei." Kit said gently following Cato over to some dirt.
She helped him draw figures in the dirt and even write his name, which to her surprise he was getting rather good at. "I gotta go…" Cato said bouncing some.
"Go on then. You know where the restroom is by now. I'll be out here when you're done baby." Kit said making Cato nod his head and take off running.
"You're very motherly to him." Merril said gently making Kit smile shyly.
"Yeah, I suppose I am. He never got to know our folks all that well. He was barely two when they died. All he has of them is what I remember." Kit said softly dusting her hands off on her legs.
"Quite. And about the vase. Nice choice , the red does make those flowers pop more than the brown." Merril said making Kit swallow hard.
"You know about that."
"I'm not the sensei here for nothing. Now about that chapter I had you read." Merril said making Kit inwardly groan.
"Can it please wait till later."
"First thing tomorrow morning. I'll be testing you. Enjoy the Rest of your afternoon and evening."
"Very Good Kit. You're memory is improving quite well." Merril said pouring the two of them some tea to drink. It had been grueling past half year, but she had gotten much better at these questions Buck insisted on giving her.
"Thanks. I guess." Kit said timidly taking a sip of tea.
"Now then, you do know this was the last test from the books right. This all the knowledge I know. The other tests will happen when you least expect them to." Merril said making Kit smile shyly at that.
"That being said, we will be going into town for some treats at the local bakery shop. If I recall right you are friends with the shopkeeper's wife are you not?" Merril asked simply.
"More like family. She's been there for us when we had no one." Kit said gently.
Merril got up from his seat and kit followed him on our. The others were waiting for them and kit made sure Cato kept close to her.
"Steve will watch Cato for you. Won't you Steve." Soda said making his friend glare at him and mouth a few choice words before agreeing to it. They were just in the woods right before you hit temple ground and before you reach the small village.
"You be good for Steve. If he gives you grief find sissy. I'll be at the bake shop." Kit said hugging Cato tightly before catching up with the others. Steve snorted some looking down at the three year old. He was looking forward to see the girls in the village and here he was stuck on babysitter duty.
"Oh Kitty Lyn! My how you've grown. Your looking more and more like your mama every day." Mrs. Smith said proudly making Kit smile shyly.
"Thanks Mrs. smith. Don't suppose you have any of that sweet bread of yours?" Kit asked gently making her smile and nod.
"Here's a few slices for you and your brother honey, and do come in more often. I do miss seeing your pretty face In here." Mrs. Smith said handing her the slices and moving onto the next person in line.
Kit walked outside going to take a bite of bread and caught eyes on her. It was a child of no more than ten with another child of about three next to them. Their hands were dirty and they kept looking at her bread hungrily. Kit sighed softly walking over to the two. "Here you go…" Kit said gently making the two smile widely. The ten year old took the basket of bread from her without question and hugged her tightly.
The duo ran off making Kit smile some and get up, dusting herself off.
Kit made her back to where her brother and Steve were left. She saw Steve, but one big issue, she didn't see her brother.
"Where's Cato." Kit said worriedly looking right at steve. He was supposed to be watching her brother and once again he broke his promise to kit.
"He's fine he's over there no problem." Steve said pointing over to an old oak tree. Kit glared at him before walking over to the tree.
"Very funny! If you don't know where he is, I'll find someone who does!" Kit snapped at Steve making his eyes go wide.
"I swear he was right there. Not even a second ago. Come on the kid couldn't have gotten that far." Steve said seriously making Kit snort at him.
"Cato!" Kit called out looking around for him.
"No….no...no. Dammit why didn't you actually watch him!" Kit screamed at Steve seeing her Limp brother in the creek of all places. It seemed the snapper vines claimed its youngest victim to date.
Kit dragged him out of the water and saw his lips were only a tinge of blue. Kit knew of something her mama had taught when she was still alive and Kit vaguely wondered if it would actually work. She brought her hands over his chest and interlocked them before pressing down hard a few times and waiting. She kept it up rather confusing Steve and of course the others that stumbled into the scene, until Cato suddenly snapped up coughing up water.
"You hear mama again didn't you." Kit said making Cato shyly nodded his head. Kit sighed softly bringing him close to her and hugging him tightly, kissing the top of his head.
Cato yawned softly making kit pick him up to be carried the rest of the way back to the temple. "So how did he end up by the creek. Weren't you supposed to be watching him." Darrel said looking right at Steve arms folded over his chest.
"I'll make it up to them and her especially."
"You better Mr. Randle." Merril said lowly making his student swallow hard.
"I don't feel good." Cato complained softly sitting on the edge of the bed, as Kit checked him over. She had heard him groaning from her bed and rushed over to see what was wrong. Cato suddenly heaved over the edge of the bed and onto the floor.
"S.sorry…." Cato said softly wiping at the edge of his mouth.
"It's Okay baby. Just lay back down." Kit said softly helping to tuck her brother in. Kit waited until she heard him snoring before getting something to clean up the vomit.
"Everything Alright?" Darrel asked seeing Kit was awake earlier than usual.
"Cato threw up. I'm trying to find something to clean it up." Kit said yawning into her hand.
"Here. This should help." Steve said handing her some supplies.
"Aren't you full of surprises. Thanks." Kit said grabbing the stuff and heading back to her shared room with Cato.
"Sissy it's too hot." Cato complained kicking the blankets off and making Kit sigh heavily. She went to work cleaning the floor up and tossed the dirty rag into a wastebasket just outside the door.
She felt his forehead and cussed softly, then rubbed at the bridge of her nose. "Sissy!"
"I know Baby. I know." Kit said gently petting his hair back and gently kissing his forehead.
"Get some more sleep baby boy. I'll be right here if you need me." Kit said laying down next to her brother. She continued to pet his hair until he dozed off , curled up next to her.
Kit just laid there, wide awake for the longest time and she didn't even release it was morning until she saw light slowly creeping along her walls. She looked to her side and found Cato still fast asleep and smiled gently. She gently kissed the top of his head and then felt his forehead to make sure it wasn't warm like it was yesterday. Much to her relief it was normal.
Her brother probably got a day bug or something. It wasn't that uncommon.
"Uh Hey….you got a minute?" Steve asked softly seeing Cato was snuggled up next to kit.
"Sure." Kit said moving her arm from Cato and getting up slowly , so she wouldn't disturb him. She then walked over to the door where Steve was standing, she followed him out to the hallway, wondering what he could possibly want.
"Look about the other day and all…."
"It's fine. It's water under the bridge. I was just crossed because Cato could have died and you acted as though you could have cared less for him." Kit said pointing directly at Steve's heart.
"Yeah. Sorry." Steve said scratching at the back of his neck nervously.
"Mhmmm...if you do want to make it up to me, actually watch Cato. He's not a bad kid. He's curious. Hell he looks up to all of you, including you Steve." Kit said seriously making Steve look at her wide eyed.
"Sissy!" They both heard making Kit chuckle softly.
"Baby I'm right here." Kit said to her brother who rushed up to her, hugging her legs tightly.
"Hey kid, you wanna see the dragonfly garden." Steve said making Cato grin widely.
"Can I?" He asked looking up his sister with wide eyes and a pouting lip.
"Go right ahead. Just be careful." Kit said seriously watching Cato follow Steve side by side. She shook her head amused heading back into her room to get ready for the day.
She left her hair down and headed out to the dragonfly garden , where Steve was explaining to Cato what a dragonfly landing on him meant. "It means someone from the other side is giving you a kiss." Steve said gently making Cato giggle some. Kit shook her head amused approaching the two.
She smiled at Steve who returned the smile and then turned her attention to Cato. "No baby. You don't catch them. It's not nice." Kit said gently making Cato nod his head slowly at her.
Kit, Steve and Cato all three just stayed in the dragonfly garden, observing the various dragonfly zipping past the three as they sat back in the grass.
"So it's true , someone has been chosen." A visiting warrior said looking to merril. Merril nodded his head smiling waiting to see just how this warrior would react to seeing Kit.
"Oh hi. I'm Kit." Kit said gently standing up and reaching her hand out to greet the guy.
"Hey...you alright?" Kit asked genuinely concerned for the guy.
"Uh no...no. Sorry my priestess. Just wasn't expecting this." The guy rambled bowing to her and was surprised when she sighed heavily.
"Something wrong my priestess. It's Kit. Just kit and please don't bow to me. I'm your equal. I'm just a fancy healer and protector is all." Kit explained helping the man stand back up right.
"But nevertheless you and the rest don't forget your places. I am the priestess of the four temples and I will be treated with respect." Kit said firmly to the others in the garden.
"And if I find out any of you have raped, or molested anyone , even if you have abused anyone you answer to me. Not your senseis is that clear." Kit said arms folded over.
"Yes my priestess." Came the chorus from the warriors. She smiled some nodding her head in approval.
"Don't be so on edge. You have no reason to fear me unless you've done one of the following." Kit said seriously seeing a few of the warriors look to one another almost afraid.
"There something you five want to tell me?" Kit asked the small group of guys who looked at her some before nervously laughing.
"Mhmmm who's you're sensei again?" Kit asked seriously making the five swallow hard and point to the guy standing beside Merril.
"Don't believe we were probably introduced. " Kit began to the sensei.
"I'm Smith. You know my sister. Her and her husband own the bakery here."
"Oh you're her brother. Your sister has been very good to me almost like a mother. Now then what are those boys names?" Kit asked smiling and looking back to the five guys.
"Bobby, Randy, Charles , Dean and Aron." Smith said making kit nod her head some.
"And they are what now?"
"Warriors mame."
"It's miss...I'm not old enough to be mame just yet. Anyhow, what's the warriors code."
"We will protect the villagers of the lands from threats both foreign, domestic and even those that threaten us from the other side."
"And what happens when you break your vows?"
"You're stripped of your title and kicked out of the temple."
"Okay...you five. Come here." Kit said making the guys swallow hard and slowly walk over.
"What should I do with you, because just a title stripment and being kicked out of a temple isn't enough of a punishment." Kit said arms folded over making the senseis look to one another.
"Admit What You've Done. Each of you. This is the only time I'll be nice about it." Kit said making the five sigh heavily.
"We beat up a kid. An Auburn one not that long ago, about fourteen." Bobby said bowing to kit in apology.
"We beg your forgiveness."
"No. Beg for the forgiveness of the boy you beat up. Beg for the forgiveness of his family. Not me. Don't ever beg for my forgiveness , because you don't deserve it. You broke your oath and you don't deserve the title warrior. But I'll be nice, you're to find this boy's family. Bring them here , where I can see you apologize to them formally and in person. Then you beg for that boy's forgiveness. Is that understood."
"Yes. Then what will happen to us."
"I shall have to see." Kit said arms folded over making the five nod their heads some ashamed.
Kit was softly humming knitting a blanket. "Oh hello." Kit said gently standing up seeing a small family before her.
"Ah Bobby, Charles, Randy, Aron and Dean. Hello again boys. Is there something you need to say?" Kit asked smiling gently at the five behind the family.
"We beat up your son Michael. We are sorry and we beg for your forgiveness." The five said on their knees bowing to the three.
"Do you accept the apology? You don't have to. It's your choice." Kit said calmly to the young teen, seeing how spooked he was.
"No. I don't. They don't deserve to be warriors. Not after what they did to me."
"I am sorry for bringing you three all the way out here. "
"Oh no...this landscape is beautiful." The woman said smiling gently at Kit.
"As for you five. You've been stripped of your warrior title and if you step foot on any temple ground, I will have you killed. No off you go."
"You can't do that!"
"She can. The priest or on this case priestess has the power to veto any rules of the temples and kick people out and also strip people of their titles as he or she pleases." Darrel said firmly clapping the shoulder of Bobby.
"Now then off you five get. You heard what she said." Darrel said calmly making sure the five headed off.
"Thankyou...no one has ever stood up to those five before." Michael said smiling some at Kit.
"You're welcome. No one should ever get treated the way you had." Kit said firmly.
"Well we best head off. Homes calling." The man said roughling his son's hair.
"Do visit now and again." Kit said making the three nod their heads and head off.
"Sensei Merril."
"Priestess Kit."
"Can you make sure sensei smith knows that Bobby, Charles, Randy, Aron and Dean have been stripped of their titles and that they step foot on temples grounds they are to be killed." Kit said calmly making Merril nod his head. Never let it be said that this priestess wasn't protective of the innocent.
Merril shook his head dipping his feather into the ink and began to write the letter to sensei Smith. Once done he called over his messenger bird and sent her off to deliver the message.
"Thank you sensei Merril. I do appreciate it." Kit said smiling and then heading off down the hallway.
Yep this priestess sure is protective of the innocent.
Woot! That is the end of this. Thanks for reading this to the end. Hope you all enjoyed!