Disclaimer: I own nothing except my pink PJ's and Devon
Devon waited in the yards after dark just like the girl had told her to. Just when she would have given up and went inside, three people entered the yard. One was the blonde girl; a tall man who looked about 40 accompanied her. He had pale brown hair that was shot with gray and smiling green eyes. The other was a tall woman with black hair and green eyes who looked about 34.
The man approached her while the girl and woman waited at the fence. After he looked her over, he took a step back.
"You've the gift." His voice held no question.
"Yes, of a sort" Devon answered slowly
"The Shang doesn't take on magic students."
"They don't live in one place either."
He chuckled "that's true. Are you also aware that most people join the Shang as small children?"
"I am now." She said without hesitation
"Then, my dear, what makes you think I would take you on as a student" He asked dryly
Devon shrugged and smiled
"I don't think, I hope." She said simply, as though it was an obvious thing
The Shang Wolf looked at her strangely before laughing and shaking his head.
"This is my present student, Bethany. I want you to fight her."
Bethany, the blonde girl, grinned and hoped the fence into the training yard. With a nervous glance at the Wolf, Devon did the same.
Almost immediately, Bethany aimed a punch at Devon's head. Devon ducked and aimed for Bethany's side, placing a sharp kick. She went flying as Bethany landed a punch right in her shoulder. Devon was up in a second, she charged at Bethany and knocked her down, Bethany threw her off and blackened her left eye.
"That's enough"
They both looked up at the Wolf. He stood above them grinning.
"I do believe little one that you gave Beth a run for her money. That's saying something because I've been teaching her for three months."
Beth grinned " I left my right side open again didn't I?"
"Yes" he answered "and you'll bruise there too." He pointed to her left shoulder; Devon had hit it when she charged.
The Wolf turned to Devon.
"You've got talent and spirit." His voice was stern. "I will allow you to train with myself and Bethany, however, you must keep up with our schedule. We train far faster than the normal Shang, what the normal trainees learn in 13 to 14 years, you'll learn in eight. Normal age for graduating from the Shang is 18. While normal trainees start at 3 or 4, you're. What? ten?"
"Yes sir."
He nodded
"They have 7 years extra of teaching. I'll stop your training when your 18. If you haven't reached the criteria of a full fledged Shang, too bad. I won't pledge you into the rank of Shang and then those 8 years will have been a waste."
Devon stared at the Wolf for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"I would be honored to have you teach me sir."
He chuckled. " My dear, If I am to teach you for the next eight years I will not have you calling me sir. My name is Ulf and you will address me as such."
"Yes sir, err. Ulf"
"Meet me here tomorrow at dusk. You will be living with myself and Beth, I'll take you to our home then."
Devon nodded and said goodbye, excited to go and tell Alanna that the Shang Wolf was now training her.
Ulf watched her go and then looked at Beth.
"Go on home Beth, we'll be there in a moment."
Beth nodded and ran off.
"You have never taught a gifted student." The green-eyed woman murmured
"I don't believe that is you business, Ramona." He answered coldly
"I'm making it my business. Why are you teaching her?"
"A little birdie told me to."
With that Ulf strode after Beth.
Hestia laugher followed him.
Devon waited in the yards after dark just like the girl had told her to. Just when she would have given up and went inside, three people entered the yard. One was the blonde girl; a tall man who looked about 40 accompanied her. He had pale brown hair that was shot with gray and smiling green eyes. The other was a tall woman with black hair and green eyes who looked about 34.
The man approached her while the girl and woman waited at the fence. After he looked her over, he took a step back.
"You've the gift." His voice held no question.
"Yes, of a sort" Devon answered slowly
"The Shang doesn't take on magic students."
"They don't live in one place either."
He chuckled "that's true. Are you also aware that most people join the Shang as small children?"
"I am now." She said without hesitation
"Then, my dear, what makes you think I would take you on as a student" He asked dryly
Devon shrugged and smiled
"I don't think, I hope." She said simply, as though it was an obvious thing
The Shang Wolf looked at her strangely before laughing and shaking his head.
"This is my present student, Bethany. I want you to fight her."
Bethany, the blonde girl, grinned and hoped the fence into the training yard. With a nervous glance at the Wolf, Devon did the same.
Almost immediately, Bethany aimed a punch at Devon's head. Devon ducked and aimed for Bethany's side, placing a sharp kick. She went flying as Bethany landed a punch right in her shoulder. Devon was up in a second, she charged at Bethany and knocked her down, Bethany threw her off and blackened her left eye.
"That's enough"
They both looked up at the Wolf. He stood above them grinning.
"I do believe little one that you gave Beth a run for her money. That's saying something because I've been teaching her for three months."
Beth grinned " I left my right side open again didn't I?"
"Yes" he answered "and you'll bruise there too." He pointed to her left shoulder; Devon had hit it when she charged.
The Wolf turned to Devon.
"You've got talent and spirit." His voice was stern. "I will allow you to train with myself and Bethany, however, you must keep up with our schedule. We train far faster than the normal Shang, what the normal trainees learn in 13 to 14 years, you'll learn in eight. Normal age for graduating from the Shang is 18. While normal trainees start at 3 or 4, you're. What? ten?"
"Yes sir."
He nodded
"They have 7 years extra of teaching. I'll stop your training when your 18. If you haven't reached the criteria of a full fledged Shang, too bad. I won't pledge you into the rank of Shang and then those 8 years will have been a waste."
Devon stared at the Wolf for a moment, then nodded slowly.
"I would be honored to have you teach me sir."
He chuckled. " My dear, If I am to teach you for the next eight years I will not have you calling me sir. My name is Ulf and you will address me as such."
"Yes sir, err. Ulf"
"Meet me here tomorrow at dusk. You will be living with myself and Beth, I'll take you to our home then."
Devon nodded and said goodbye, excited to go and tell Alanna that the Shang Wolf was now training her.
Ulf watched her go and then looked at Beth.
"Go on home Beth, we'll be there in a moment."
Beth nodded and ran off.
"You have never taught a gifted student." The green-eyed woman murmured
"I don't believe that is you business, Ramona." He answered coldly
"I'm making it my business. Why are you teaching her?"
"A little birdie told me to."
With that Ulf strode after Beth.
Hestia laugher followed him.