Hey There. I'm really grateful for the reviews so far and i know, I'm really terrible at proofreading but this time i actually took the time to go over it carefully. Form now on though a good friend of mine is going to be my editor. SkittyMiaow! Praise her, for she is encouraging my laziness by correcting my mistakes for me.
It happened so long ago that sometimes it's like it was all in my head. Anyone who went through what I did would probably welcome that, But, for me, I'm constantly reminded, whether I want to or not.
"Will you and Dojo be gone long Daddy?"
Everything always seems so intimidating when you're a child. Everyone's taller and stronger and smarter. I never thought that I could be part of that, until he came along.
He looked down at his daughter, silently praying that she wouldn't cry because if she did then he would never be able to leave and he really had to. Or people would die.
"It's a quest little one, so I'm not sure how long we will be gone. But, don't worry, Sensei will take of you while we're gone"
He was a good friend of my father's but I didn't even know him. Hell, I only saw him for the first time that morning but, father said I would be safe with him and I trusted my father
"Don't you worry Fung" A tall man with a warm and friendly smile appeared next to them and rested a hand on the child's shoulder. "I'll look after her like she my own daughter" Fung just smiled, grateful that he could rely on such a close friend to look after the temple and his only daughter. He kissed his little girl on the forehead and wished her happy days until his return. She had to be strong. Warriors don't cry she said to herself. She waved as they walked away and watched until they were no more than a dot on the path to outside world.Sensei crouched down to her level. His thin, blonde hair covered his left eye slightly like some kind of bad haircut. That thought made her smile a little and so did his smile.
"Don't worry. They'll be back before you know it. They didn't take any sweets so Dojo will probably end up begging to come back."
As the days went by the child grew to miss her father more and more. It was the first time he had ever been away from her and it felt, scary. Who would be there at breakfast to say hello and talk about what they would today? Who was going to teach her how to fight like a monk when she was old enough? Who was going to help her study the ancient scrolls so she would be ready for the written tests? Who was going to say goodnight?
Sensei had been told that she was a really cheerful child with plenty to say however he didn't seem to be getting that impression himself. One day he found he sitting all be herself near the centre of the main temple ground, where most of the training was held. She was watching the older monks practising balance techniques. They stood high on pedestals as tall as six grown men. Some were standing one foot to see how long they could control stability on a single spot while others danced from one foot the other to see how well they could handle balance in movement. These were all simple exercises but Sensei got the feeling she didn't think so.
"Why don't you join them?" he said cheerfully "Your not frightened by all those older monks are you?" She didn't look up, she seemed mesmerised by their skills.
"It's not that Sensei, it's just…I don't know how to do that stuff" He sat down next to her and stared into the distance.
"Have you ever tried it before?" he asked casually
"Um…no. Daddy says he can teach me one day but he's always busy with the bigger+ people. They get tests all the time so they need Daddy's help all the time"
"How old are you?"
"Huh? Um…I'm six and a half" She was confused to say the least. What a strange question to ask at a time like that.
"You may be the youngest here but I bet Fung's taught you more than you realise. I bet if you went on those pedestals you could out-do anyone there." It's true, she was the youngest monk in the temple, actually she was the only one of her age group there. You have to be of legal age to be accepted into a temple now and then there's the cost too. Temple's don't exactly profit much so tuition isn't cheap. Incidentally, most can't enrol until they reach their mid-thirties. Exceptions are made occasionally and children who are born into monk families have the privilege of being taught by relatives. However, even these are rare occurrences.
"What you need is a confidence boost"
"A…condifence…boot?" He laughed a little at her sweet naiveté. Such an adorable age.
"It means to build your courage. To be the bravest you can be. Like a lion"
"I like lions" she said softly.
"Well you're definitely the cutest little lion I've ever seen. Maybe we should call you the silver lion, to match your hair" She twiddled a strand of hair between her fingers and seemed to smile to herself.
"Daddy says it's mummy's hair. He says whenever she stepped into the sun she looked just like an angel" Sensei planted his hand on her head and scuffed her hair a little.
"You're a sweet kid. So, come on. Lets make a silver lion out of you" So, Sensei trained her just as Master Fung would have. She was a born natural, clumsy at times but it only emphasised her cuteness. She was still very small for some of the training; she kept falling over when trying to use the combat staff; it was too tall for her to keep control of. But, with a few alteration here and there made by Sensei she was back on her feet in no time.
He was a good friend to me and even better teacher. After just one day of training I was up on those pedestals showing up all the other monks like it was second nature. I couldn't believe it and I was almost ashamed for not trying sooner. Sensei just kept calling me the 'Silver Lion' and each time he did I felt like I could do anything. I was so happy, for the first time everything didn't seem so big or impossible and I knew even if I did fall again, Sensei would be there to pick me up.
I know it's a pretty short chapter, they will get longer. This is just a flashback chapter so they're not meant be short. Oh, form now on if you leave a comment with good feedback i'll reply in the next chapter. Please review, i'm addicted to giddy feeling it gives me Cya
