Ugh! SO sorry. I WAS going to have this up, this morning, but this thing called, Star Wars: Republic Commando, took over my computer life, and is TOTALLY EPIC! So yeah, but WHOO! Got another chapter done now, YES! Now, if only I could work this hard and fast, all the time... oh well, enjoy it all!
Chapter seven: Training Starts
The next day, Hunter got up, fairly early, and went to go wake Leon. He was sure the young cub would hate having to wake up this early, but it was for the better.
If he learned to wake up at an early time from the start, it would make things much easier. Hunter could hear the occasional snore or moan, admit from one of the rooms, that he passed by. He knew that most of the Wolves and Lions would never wake up this early.
He chuckled to himself, and continued on. He soon made his way to the cub's room, and quietly opened the door. He walked in and closed the door behind him.
He looked over at Leon, who was spread out all over his bed, sleeping soundly, a soft smile on his lips.
Hunter hated to wake him, but it was time to start his training. He walked over to the cub, and gently shook him. Leon moaned and rolled over on his stomach and buried his face into his pillow.
"Five more minutes..." the cub mumbled into the pillow.
Hunter had to hold back his laughter, as he gently laid a paw on the young cub's shoulder.
"Come on now, lad. It's time to get up and start the day!" the Panther said quietly.
"Sure... after five more minutes..." Leon said sleepily.
Hunter couldn't help but chuckle. He walked away from Leon's bed and over to his closest. He opened the doors and found a lose fitting training uniform for him.
He got it out and laid it over the back of the chair. Then he looked over and saw Leon lifting his head up, to curiously watch him.
Hunter mischievously grinned and walked over and pulled the curtain back on his window, letting some light shine through.
Leon groaned and buried his face into the pillow again. Hunter laughed and walked back over to him and sat down on the bed.
"Come on, young one. We need to get our day started!" he said, pulling the covers away from Leon.
The cub curled up into a tight ball, and reached down to pull his covers back over him again.
"Let's start it later..." he quietly mumbled, as he found his covers and pulled them up over his shoulders. Hunter rolled his eyes, then pulled the covers back and off the bed, causing Leon to jolt upward in surprise.
"Hey!" he exclaimed.
"Good. I'm glad to see you're up!" Hunter said, with a twinkle in his eye.
Leon crossed his arms and glared at Hunter, mad at the Panther, for waking him up this early. Hunter smiled and ruffled the fur, between Leon's ears, causing him to giggle quietly.
"I know you don't like waking up this early, but this is going to be how it is. Since Tanis has put me in charge of training you, I think it's best to start while most of the Wolves and Lion's are still sleeping." Hunter said.
Leon sighed quietly and nodded. "Okay." he muttered.
Hunter stood up, and motioned towards the chair. "Alright, get dressed, then come out. I'll show you the way, for the first few days, but you'll need to learn make your way around here, on your own, too." Hunter said.
Leon frowned, but Hunter bent down and motioned for him to come to him. Leon hurried over and Hunter whispered something in his ear.
Leon's eyes went wide. "Are there really secret passages?" he asked, excitedly.
Hunter nodded. "Yes, I've explored many of them. There are entrances all over the place, if you know where to look." the Panther said, with a grin.
Leon could barely hold his excitement in, at the thought of secret passages, that needed to be explored. But Hunter's paw on his shoulder, brought him back to reality, quite quickly.
"I know you're excited, but we still have training to do. Later, I'll show you a few of the entrances, and let you play around in the tunnels." Hunter told him.
Leon smiled and quickly nodded. "Okay, I'll get dressed and will be right out!" the cub said.
Hunter nodded once, then stood up and walked out, to stand in the hall and wait for him. He smiled, happy that his plan had worked.
He knew Leon wouldn't want to wake up early, to go train. But the thought of secret tunnels to explore, after training, would defiantly help to get him up in the morning.
After a few minutes, Leon walked out in his jet black and navy blue uniform. Hunter smiled at the young cub, then showed him the way to the Out Door Training Grounds.
Hunter pointed out a few tricks, to help Leon remember his way, and a few signs that had been put up, for new recruits, pointing towards things.
Even though Leon couldn't read very well, Hunter told him to remember, 'ODTG', then when he saw a sign, look for those letters, in the first part of each word, and then follow the arrow, saying which way to go.
Leon liked this trick a lot. It made it much easier for him to get around and to remember which way to go. Hunter and Leon soon made it outside, into the cool morning air. The sun was still, hidden behind the trees, not ready to show it's self, for another day just yet.
Hunter explained the different sets of training equipment, and there different uses. Then he showed Leon how they would start each day off, with a calm set of warm-up's and forms.
Hunter knew a little about all the different styles, from his travels, but he knew Tiger and Lion style, the best.
He showed Leon how to do each of the forms, and watched with pride, when the young cub got it right, for the first time, and the joy on the cubs face, for doing it right.
Hunter was very proud of Leon and would see to it, he became a strong warrior and soldier. No matter what. Hunter watched, as Leon finished his final set of forms, then the cub turned and bowed to him. The black Panther bowed as well, then grinned at Leon.
"Well, you've trained very hard for one day, I think it's time we explored the tunnels, don't you agree?" Hunter asked, with a wink.
Leon jumped up and down excitedly. "Yes, let's go!" he cried out happily, as he grabbed Hunter's paw and drug him along, back inside.
Hunter couldn't help but smile at this. When they got back inside, there weren't many Wolves or Lions around, because it was nearly lunch time.
Hunter and Leon had already eaten, and had continued training, so they could head straight for the tunnels afterwards. Hunter led Leon to a back hallway, the cub bounced excitedly at his heels. He couldn't wait to see the secret tunnels.
After a bit of walking, Hunter stopped at a bookshelf. Leon cocked his head, curious as to why they had stopped.
"What's wrong?" Leon asked.
Hunter chuckled quietly and said, "Oh nothing."
Then the black Panther reached up and pulled a red, black and blue book out. Leon watched in amazement, as the bookshelf slid to the side, and opened a secret entrance, to the tunnels, that were spread throughout the hideout.
Leon could barely believe it, as Hunter led him inside and closed the entrance behind them. Hunter showed Leon, how some of the tunnels had been made near windows, so light could shine in.
Leon was simply in awe, at all he saw. He had always wanted to live some place, with secret tunnels and now he was.
His only wish, was that his sister and especially his best friend, were here to share his new found adventures with him. The tunnels were very large, large enough for even Hunter to stand up in them.
Leon's eyes darted around, trying to take everything around him in. Hunter explained how, that when the hideout was built, these tunnels were put in, for safety reasons.
Leon soaked in every word and memorized it by heart. The tunnels were going to be, in a sense, his new hobby. After a bit, Hunter showed Leon an exit.
It ended up coming out, right next to the young cubs room. Hunter walked the young Leon to his room and saw him yawning. He figured the young one, would be fit for a nap, after all the training he'd done.
Hunter walked him in and set him on the bed. Leon looked up at him, with sleepy eyes. Hunter smiled at him, and gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright, dinner is in a few hours, but I think it's time for you to catch a nap. I'll come get you, when it's time to eat." Hunter told him.
Leon frowned sadly, then yawned wide again. After Hunter laughed, at his wide yawn, Leon knew he needed the nap, even if he didn't want it.
Hunter helped to tuck him in, and gently rubbed Leon's back, until the young South Chinese Tiger cub, was fast asleep.
Hunter quietly left his room and headed outside, to the Training Grounds. It was his turn to put him some training.
But what he didn't know was that the extra training he'd be doing, was going to pay off very soon...
Whoo! Got that done! And now, it's on to another story chapter. Always writing it seems, haha! So yeah, hope you all enjoyed it and please don't forget to review. Later all!
