The area that Yao was staying in was quiet. It seemed that not even the birds ha come out of their rest to face the new spring that was slowly seeping in. The slowly melting snow crunched under Yao's snow boots as he walked through the field to the small house on the other side of the valley. He needed to see his master today.

It took maybe an hour at most but Yao arrived at his master's home. He stepped up the stairs and took off his boots, slipping into the sandals that were provided at the door. He realized that the sandals were a little small. He was growing fast. Yao realized that it wouldn't be long before he began to sprout into puberty like his master told him he would some day.

Yao shook his head and went to find his master. His search was short. His master was in the garden where Yao usually did his training. He was standing as still as a statue and staring at the sky. His hard black eyes looked at the clouds like they were waiting for something big to happen. His long white beard and hair swayed slightly in the rising wind as did his robes. Yao waited minutes. Hours. Finally, an entire day passed and still his master did not move. Yao knew that his master knew he was there. He was confused as to why he hasn't turned around to acknowledge him.

"Master, aru," Yao finally said.

His master's tired eyes fell onto Yao at that moment.

"Yao," his master said.

"Yes, Master, aru?" Yao asked.

"I need you to do something for me," his master replied.

"What is it, aru?" Yao asked.

His master stared at him for a long time. He gave a long sigh and closed his eyes. He walked up to Yao and ruffled the young boy's already tussled hair.

"I'll tell you later. Now's not the time. Now's not the place. You'll find out when it is most important," he replied.

He began to walk away. Yao turned and watched as he looked like he had difficulty getting up the steps into the house. He was getting rather old. But, Yao wasn't fooled. He knew that the old man could still easily kill an entire army if he had too.

"Master, aru!" Yao shouted out.

Yao's master turned to him.

"I want to leave this place, aru," Yao said.

His master looked at him for a good ten seconds.

"You will leave. No now though," he said.

Yao said nothing. His master slowly slipped into the house. Yao looked at the ground for a few seconds, his eyes following a bug in the snow. His gaze turned to the sky above him. He silently wished for a way out. A way to spread his wings and fly away.

*

Yao sat down next to him master's bed, watching as, right before his eyes, his master lay dying. It was the year 800 and Yao was scared that he would be left with nothing to wonder the earth until he died just like his master. His master had not awoken in what seemed like forever. Yao was half expecting him ot just die without a single word shared between the two. But, his master seemed determined to talk to Yao for that last time and opened his eyes.

"Yao," he muttered, his voice already fading into the cold night.

"What is it, aru?" Yao asked.

"I have a mission for you," his master answered.

"What, aru?" Yao asked.

"I could not live long enough to do it myself but you'll be able too. You see, there is a boy that will be born any century now. He lies in the north and you must find him. For the sake of the land," Yao's master said.

Yao blinked in confusion.

"A boy? How exactly am I to find this boy? And how exactly am I to be alive when he is born?" Yao asked.

His master lightly touched Yao's cheek and smiled.

"Yao. You have a gift. You're immortal," he said.

"Immortal? You must be joking, aru. That can't be possible," Yao said.

"But, it is. You will stop aging once you're fully grown. But, you must find this boy. He is the key to the future," Yao's master said.

"What is so important about this boy?" Yao asked.

"In another few centuries the kingdom to the north and the kingdom to the west will have a large war. This war will almost rip away the very foundations of the world. The boy is the key to stop it all. He has special powers for he is the son of the two most powerful gods in this worlds and the next," Yao's master replied.

"How am I to find this boy?" Yao asked.

"All you must do is feel it in your heart," his master muttered.

Yao's eyes began to prickle with unshed tears. He could barely hear his master talking. He knew that the time was slowly coming and he didn't want to be here to see it. But, his master had insisted that he stay saying that he wanted to die with someone there with him. So, Yao settled on falling asleep.

When Yao awoke it was dark outside. He didn't know how long he slept but he knew it was time to get up and travel. He didn't even look at his master to see if he was dead or not. He didn't want to know. So, with a heavy heart, Yao walked away from the house on the valley hill and made his way to the north where he would find his destiny as his master foretold.

*

Wow, this is epic fail. This has got to be one of the worst beginnings to a story that I've ever had. It sucks so much and it's so short. I hate it. I promise I'll redo this and post it again. For now though, I'm leaving it the way it is. But, god it sucks!!!!! Well, I promise it will get better from here.