Yugo hesitated. Was he really expected to strike down his teacher? This was the first time that he used his scimitar in battle. Despite of all the risks to his teacher, Yugo swung out at him. Sango quickly dove to the side and rolled back to a fighting stance. For his old age, Sango was lightning.
"That was slow, Yugo. Do not hesitate. I want you to try to hit me."
Yugo swung again, and again Sango dove to the side. Yugo swung again and again, faster with every swing, until he came within a hairsbreadth of his aged teacher, then, Sango sidestepped the swing, and caught Yugo's paws. He knocked the scimitar out of Yugo's reach and jabbed him into the ground. Yugo lay there, trying to regain his breath.
"You must be ready for such attacks, my pupil," Sango said. "You hesitated."
"Yes," Yugo replied. "I did hesitate because I do not want to strike down an unarmed creature."
Sango smiled.
"Yes," he replied. "Now you are learning what it means to be a warrior. Warriors never strike an innocent, or a defenseless, creature. Now, let us be on our way."
Sango and Yugo broke camp, and walked on aimlessly.
"Ok, Sango. I am ready for my next lesson. What more must I learn?" Yugo said.
Sango smiled again.
"That's it, Yugo. You have learned your next lesson. You have learned obedience." Sango said.
Yugo felt confidence flood through him. He would heed his father's warning and seek out this mouse.
Three more days of training passed, and Yugo had learned a lot. He learned to parry, to control his scimitar with ease, and the best of all, to control himself. He would no longer have sudden attacks of the Bloodwrath, like he did three nights ago. He would control his anger, and go about his training, calmly. He would battle in tactics, and would no longer attack his enemies relentlessly. He would look for a weakness first, and then attack.
It was around midmorning when Yugo and Sango stopped for a rest. They made camp and took out vittles to breakfast on. They both nibbled on rye bread, with cheese, and elderberry fizz drink. Yugo felt slightly guilty, that he was eating now and not continuing his search for Baro. Sango saw the anxious eyes of his pupil.
"What's wrong, Yugo?" He asked. "Why do you seem so unhappy?"
"I am feeling guilty, that we're here, eating vittles and drinking elderberry fizz, instead of continuing our search for Baro. We could at least continue my training," Yugo replied.
"Ah my pupil, if you did not eat, you would have no strength to continue your training," Sango said.
"Ok, Sango, I understand," Yugo said with a sigh.
"Good. Now, finish eating, and let us be on our way," Sango said as he stood up.
After a moment, Yugo asked Sango another question.
Sango, did you know my father well?" Yugo said.
Sango laughed.
"Too well. Your father was stubborn, hard to convince, and slightly hardheaded; a mirror image of you.
Yugo continued eating, and he did not notice that his teacher had left.
Sango silently hopped up a nearby maple, and hopped from branch to branch, like a born squirrel. He finally reached what he wanted to find: a vermin camp.
Sango had left Yugo behind because he sensed danger. His tail twitched, and his ears pricked up. There were 2 stoats, 1 rat, and 1 ferret.
"Shouldn't be too difficult," Sango thought to himself.