Chapter 4 – Body Strong

(Thank you all so much for your reviews. I really appreciate all your help – I have to say it is painful hearing you all hack at my story BUT! I asked for it and I really appreciate knowing what you think, as it only helps me improve. Thought I would let you all know that I went to Tammy's book reading today – awesome, and moving... just loved it... anyways... A few notes... He is called Cheetah for a few reasons. 1. I'm too lazy to type "the" every time I type "cheetah", 2. Liam is only 4 common born, and isn't going to use proper names for everyone, 3. Cheetah seems more personal than The Cheetah, and it is a personal relationship (I'm trying to build) There is more scenic description; because it was requested (I keep forgetting that you can't see inside my head... I keep assuming that you know how I visualize everything – my bad!) Enjoy.)

Rising out of bed, Liam donned his clothes, and opened his pack from home. Inside he found healing salve, bandages, and some sweets. Last night he had used one of his old shirts for bandages. Not knowing that his parents had spent the last savings on supplies for him. Determination grew inside him.

Deciding to save the healing solution for when he would really need it, Liam left all but the bandages in his trunk. Putting on his shoes, he left for the brook. Slinging his pack over his shoulder he began the walk in through the dark morning towards the brook. Looking at the scenery around him Liam couldn't help but feel scared. With the exception of the light from the odd candle in some early risers office, dark shadows seemed to be closing in on him. As the shadows grew more frequent, Liam knew he was approaching the forest – thought the thought of being with the others was a comfort, Liam couldn't help but be grateful that he had emptied his bladder already that morning.

"We'll start with our run today, it's colder than usual and you need to warm your muscles before training" said Cheetah, adding almost silently "you all look half asleep, too..."

The boys began their run through the forest. Liam stuck close to Cheetah, as the shadows, (though less terrifying in the early morning light) were still quite frightening. Liam concentrated on his breathing, making sure that it had an easy rhythm. It kept his mind off the pain developing in his lower ribs, and instead put his concentration on the task at hand. Stumbling Liam decided, to stop thinking about his breathing, but instead about his feet, looking only a few feet ahead, he managed to finish the run, just after Cheetah, and long before the other children.

Stretching out his muscles, by order of Cheetah, Liam looked around, the shadows were virtually gone, and Liam for the first time upon his arrival noticed the beauty of everything. He appeared to be in a valley, the night quarters appeared to be one large square building, resting atop the eastern hill... at least Liam assumed it was east, he had always been taught that the sun rose in the west... or wait, was it the east? No matter, the building still looked rustic in the early morning light. The dining hall sprouted lights where Liam knew kitchen maids prepared the hall for the midday meal.

Turning in a circle as he began to stretch out his arms he looked closely, at the forest. There were a number of trails leading off through out it's interior. The brook, acted as a border for the edge of the forest, until it reached an old maple, his maple, and changed directions deciding to flow into the forest, verses around it.

The other children were arriving now, and Cheetah ordered them to begin the stretches that Liam had just finished. Waiting for the others to complete these stretches Liam looked around for the older boys, wondering if because they worked later, if there began later as well. The answer came with the sound of a clank, as two boys roughly 12 and 14 fought with wooden sticks.

"Everybody finished?" Cheetah asked, while walking towards the large maple Liam had chosen as his tree the previous day. Everyone followed most, including Liam, looking at their swollen, blistered hands. "Remember the exercise we did last class, the straight punch?" Not waiting for an answer Cheetah asked, "who can show me how to make a fist?"

Liam raised his swollen hand, wincing pulled his fingers in tight, and wrapped his thumb around the outside. "Good," remarked Cheetah as he asked the other boys to do the same. Walking around in a circle, Cheetah corrected fists again, an older boy seemed to be determined to put his fingers around his thumb.

"But it hurts less," he said squinting in pain as Cheetah pried open his fingers.

"Well it seem you have a choice Okoth, you can either deal with the hurt now, and build a resistance, or you can wrap your fingers over your thumb and break it, then cry for the next three weeks, as I still make you practice your punches."

"But it hurts so much," Okoth cried,

"I gave you a choice, so choose, we are about to begin." Cheetah said to Okoth, an aggressive tone appearing, though Cheetah fought to hold it down. To the rest of the class he said, "You know the drill, to your trees. We will begin."

"One!" Liam intently felt the pain. Much worse than the first punch the previous day. Reflexively looking at his knuckles, Liam saw that the scabs that had formed over night, had re-opened, and were bleeding.

"Two!" Liam punched, trying to think of something else.

"Three!" Okoth cried out in pain and collapsed onto the ground. "Don't lose count! He made his choice, make yours, keep your punches exact, and your thumb on top of your fingers!"

"Four!" Liam punched again telling himself, that all he wanted to do was make it past seven

"Five!" Liam reduced his power.

"Six!" Liam again reduced the power he punched with, and was pleased with the fact that his pain lessened.

"Seven!" The blond boy, Justin fell to the ground cradling his hand.

"Eight!" Liam punched his tree, and feeling accomplished, let himself collapse.

Cheetah continued to count, until the last boy had fallen, which was at twelve. Walking over to Okoth Cheetah lifted his hand. It was hard to see what was wrong, though the blood that painted his hand, but Liam heard the crack, and the scream, as Cheetah readjusted the boys thumb bone. "Liam, you'll never get better if you don't give it your all. Never decrease power, always hit as hard as you can. That goes for you too Seth," Cheetah called looking at the boy who made it to twelve. "You can make it to what ever number you like, but nothing is accomplished, or proven, unless you give every punch your all. Now, I'll teach you how to bandage your hands then we will try with our other hand. By then it should be time for your midday meal."

After working with their left hands, all the boys, bandaged and complaining, began the walk up the valley hill towards the dining hall. Lunch was fish, and rice, and all the boys ate greedily and in silence. That was the one thing that Liam noticed, that except for the cried of power, and pain, that the Shang academy was surprisingly quiet for a school full of young boys.

After the meal, the first year boys, walked along the forest until they arrived at their trees. When Cheetah told them to take off their shoes, and walk to their trees, the boys looked at their hands, and began to shake.

"Today we will not be practicing our kicks. We will be practicing our balance. Those of you who chose a sapling will need to choose a larger tree, one with branches sturdy enough to support your weight." The boys looked around surprised, and soon after everyone awaited attentively Cheetahs instructions.

"For your kicks you will need balance. Today being damp only makes things better for us. Climb your trees, and perch yourself on a sturdy branch. Yes, I know, you've been waiting since you got here to climb a tree Liam, well not is your chance, Climb!"

The boys scurried up their trees, the smaller ones scrambling for branches to support themselves, everyone cringing as they used their hands. Liam was the first to make it to his branch, after all he had chosen his tree, because it was the best climbing tree, unfortunately it also had the bark that was hardest on his hands.

Once al the boys were on branches, they were asked to stand up, and remain still, staying on the branch in one position for as long as they could. After a while, Cheetah requested that they stand only on their right leg. The young boys started to lose their balance, and it was Justin first, who fell off. Looking at Cheetah for instructions, he quickly climbed back up, and began the lesson again. After a time Cheetah instructed them to switch to their left legs. Liam was a little less stable on this leg, but his branch had a shape that fit his foot arch and worked with his body to keep him in balance.

Eventually Cheetah, instructed them to return to the ground. Looking at the sky, he judged that they had another hour until the evening meal. Looking at the boys, a grin spread about his face. "I believe we have time to work on our body strength before the evening meal. Don't worry, this doesn't involve hardening you hands on trees, or for that matter, falling from them." He said casting a glance at Justin.

Getting onto the ground Cheetah placed his hands just outside his elbows, and stretched out his body. Raising his legs off the ground with this tows, Cheetah used his arms to lift himself off the ground. Raising and lowering himself repeatedly he instructed the boys to repeat the action. Cheetah walked around to each of them, moving hands close together, using his arm to keep a boys back straight. It took all of four of these pushups before the boys fell to the ground exhausted.

"Only one other for today," Cheetah said asking the boys to sit up. Lying on his back Cheetah raised his legs so they were pointing to the sky. Then bending at his knees, he allowed the top half (as it was) to drop horizontal to the ground. Lifting his upper body, Cheetah brought his forehead to his knees. "You're turn," he told the boys adding, "then you may return to your room and bathe before dinner."

After attempting the sit-up numerous times Cheetah told they boys they could leave. Walking slowly up the hill, muscles protesting, Liam made his way towards his room. Walking down the hall he was stopped by Justin.

"How come you didn't fall off your tree?" He asked, "how did you do it?" Shrugging, Liam began to walk towards his room. "I'm Justin by the way, My parents sent me here because they accept commoners, else they said I would have been a knight!"

Looking at the boy Liam realized that, he was quite possibly the only child here because of rejection. The thought his Liam harder than the tree he had been beating on all day. Eye's blurring with tears, Liam ran past Justin, and into his room. So caught up in his sorrow, he didn't even notice the fact that his arm slammed into the wooden pillar in the center of his room. Collapsing on his bed, Liam fell straight asleep, knowing that even if he missed the evening meal, no one would notice, let alone care.

(Sorry to end it that way... It was getting really late though. Remember! I want your criticism. Tell me what you think, what I can improve on, any Ideas you have (who knows maybe my head will run out) I did write this when it was late, and I was eating my remaining Halloween candy to stay awake (my sisters candy actually... shhh! Don't tell :P) Next chapter will be up soon, it's a four (I SPELT IT :P) day weekend, so I'll have time... aye... please review – I love hearing what you have to say!! SO SAY IT! )