Chapter One: Nice Kitty

"Young Monks," Master Fung said to his students during a break in their training, "I have exciting news."

The Wudai Warriors looked expectantly at their master. "What is it, Master Fung?" Riamundo asked, his arm around Kimiko's waist. They had been going out for about a year now.

"Yes, Master," Omi added, looking excited already, "What is this news you have for us?"

Master Fung smiled. "We are going to have a visitor from Master Monk Guan's Temple. A student who is about your age will be stopping in for a couple of days."

The Dragons in training were silent for a moment. The same thought ran through their heads- Another student at Master Monk Guan's temple?

"But- Master…" Omi started, perplexed, "Wouldn't we have seen this other student when we were sent to Master Monk Guan's temple to train?" The other three Monk's faces were screwed up into their own looks of confusion.

Upon hearing the question, Master Fung's smile vanished and a small frown creased his forehead. "Young ones," he said seriously, "Do not ask me about his past, for I do not know everything about him. When he gets here, I am sure he will be happy to answer any questions you may have."

"Master Fung," Clay drawled in his thick accent, "Can you at least tell us his name?"

The Master nodded. "His name is Gethin. That is all I can tell you."

"Hey, why all the mystery?" Riamundo asked, sounding slightly hurt by his masters lack of information, "Come on, don't you think we can handle a little more info on this guy? Like where his from and who his parents are-"

Master Fung silenced the group leader by saying, "You will find out when the time is right. Now, go and prepare his guest room. He will be here tomorrow morning."

The young apprentices bowed slightly and left, wandering into the barracks.

"I wonder what's so special about this Gethin kid," Raimundo said as soon Master Fung was out of earshot. "Like, why can't we know anything about him?"

"Who knows?" Kimiko said, shrugging. "Maybe he's super powerful or something."

"Either that or awfully strong," Clay put in as they came into the spare room. It used to be Omi's room, but he didn't like the sound of birds waking him up at the crack of dawn, so he moved down next to Clay.

"Or perhaps he is very wise!" Omi proclaimed as he unrolled the mat into the middle of the floor.

"Or maybe he's really charming." Kimiko sighed despite herself. Her three companions looked over at her, eyebrows raised. "It's just a thought," she said in her defense.

The three boys rolled their eyes and continued setting up the room.

"The woods is beautiful this time of day," a boy said as he walked through the forest, leaves crunching under his shoes and the sweet breeze in his nose. He smiled broadly, humming gently to himself. "Well, at least it's a glorious day! Otherwise walking might be more difficult." His smile grew and he hummed louder.

After a while, when the sun just barely touched the horizon, Gethin stopped and looked at the sky. It was a beautiful light blue, with stunning white clouds scattered across it, the ones closer to the setting sun tinged a light pink. Gethin sighed, contented.

"Nature is most wondrous. I love taking these walks. It lets me think and just be alone." The young man pause momentarily before saying, "But I really, really miss Master Monk Guan." He sighed and sat down on the ground.

He sat there for a few moments in silence, staring off into space, his eyes glazed over and his teeth sinking into his bottom lip.

"Maybe I should start a fire," he finally murmured to himself. He stood up slowly and looked around. "I just need some twigs, stones and…matches. Dang it! I left the matches back at the temple!"

He kicked a stone into the undergrowth and crossed his arms over his chest huffily. "I knew I was forgetting something."

Suddenly, Gethin froze, listening intently. He heard something coming from the direction where he kicked the rock moments before.

Tentatively and against his better judgment, Gethin called out, "He-hello? Who's there?" he moved slowly towards the bushes, picking up his rucksack as he went. "I'm not going to hurt you. You can come out." He tried extremely hard to keep his voice from trembling with fear as he said this; he knew very well he couldn't hurt anything no matter how much he wanted to.

The leaves rustled some more. "Come out, come out whatever you are." Gethin said, forcing a smile onto his face.

There was no response, only the rustling of the leaves. Gethin gulped.

Suddenly, and without warning, there was a huge jungle cat right in front of the boy. Gethin, frozen in fear, gaped at the animal. It stared straight back; it's huge, yellow eyes staring into his light green ones intently.

After several tense moments, Gethin uttered weakly, "Nice kitty kitty."

The jungle cat tilted it's head to the side, it's eyes seeming to laugh at Gethin as he stood, week-kneed and scared shitless, before him. It let out a low growl that sounded almost like a laugh as it dropped something at the boys feet.

Gethin didn't move, but he allowed his eyes a curious glance to the object the cat had dropped. It was a small box of some sort. Looking up again quickly, he saw the great animal turn, it's muscles tensing, preparing to jump.

"Wait!" Gethin cried, moving one of his feet forward and throwing his arm out as if it alone could stop the creature. The jungle cat stopped, turning it's huge head towards the boy. "Um…thanks for not eating me."

The jungle cat growled slightly in reply and in the blink of an eye, it was gone. Gethin, still stunned, stood and stared at the place where it's yellow had been for several seconds before quickly shaking his head. "Whoa," he murmured, his hand going to his temples and his eyes closing, "That was strange."

Gethin picked up the small box. Turning it over in his hands, he saw a label scrawled in black ink: Matches.

End Chapter One

A/N: Woooooooo! I'm baaaaaack!