Sorry for the delay on this one people. I just couldn't "get out" what I was thinking for the longest time. But I eventually got through it. Thanks again for your patience.
Once again, thank you hidden stranger for your advice.
Making the Cut
Chapter 16
Montenegro's Manner
I awoke later the next morning to a light shaking from Cash. As I opened my eyes to see the binturong already fully dressed for the day it dawned on me that it was not even dawn yet. The sky outside the windows was still dark.
"What time is it?" I asked drained of all vitality.
"5 o'clock." he said.
I groaned sitting up in bed, that in itself was a challenge. "Does this happen every day?" I asked.
"He lets us off till 7 on Saturdays." Cash said.
"What about on Sundays?"
He shook his head. "'fraid not."
Normally it would probably not have seemed like such a big deal. Master Shifu usually had us up around 6 (the time of the morning gong), but having not done it since the day I got the ransom letter got me well out of my usual swing of things. Truthfully I hadn't thought I'd have stick around long enough to actually participate in a lesson. I had made two attempts to leave the dormitory shortly after lights-out to search for the masters, but both times several sleeping students began to stir so I retreated. I decided it was better to not make the attempt. I wasn't familiar with the manor yet, so the search for the masters would be doubly hard in the dark dead of night.
Once I was dressed Cash led me to the training hall that was built onto the side of Montenegro's manor. The training hall had considerably more open space than the one at the Jade Palace. There was no obstacle course but quite a few small machines resembling the spinning clubs of the Gauntlet of Wooden Warriors against were up against the walls. Also hanging on the walls were several katanas, shurikins, and other implements of the martial arts.
The rest of the students were already standing at the center of the hall in two rows. There were 10 of them in all. Cash joined one of the lines and I followed right next to him.
"So this is the entire class?" I said.
"Yeah. We've had some people come and go but it stays relatively the same amount. Quiang says your style is Panda. Is that true?"
I said "Yeah, well that and Leopard. Why is that bad?"
"No. I just haven't heard much about this Panda style. It's still pretty new. It's an interesting combination."
"So what's you're style types? I asked
"Snake with some Monk-" he had stopped.
I looked up. Coming through the large wooden door, entering the training hall with Quiang by his side was the the wolf of the Black mountains himself, Valko Montenegro.
He was rather short which surprised me although it shouldn't have. It's not like Shifu was a giant. His fur was near black reminding me of the color of dark thunderclouds. His robe was even blacker with white trims almost the same design as Keen Lee which I only just realized was like Shifu's. But what took me most of all about him was his large ears on top of his head. He was a rabbit.
I had to clench my teeth together to restrain my face from exhibiting shock. How was the wolf a rabbit? It only occurred to me then that I had never actually heard anyone say Montenegro was A wolf. Was the word "wolf" simply a title he had. Had I just assumed he was a wolf the entire time. What kind of rabbit was called a wolf? A deadly one.
He walked in front of the class. I would have expected any other instructor to say "Good morning" but it didn't completely surprise me that he didn't. Without saying a word he bowed and the rest of the class responded with a bow of their own. I followed with a late bow which caught Montenegro's eyes.
"My students, we have a new novice joining our division." His voice was deep and hollow, not what I expected from a rabbit, much like everything else about him. "What was your name again?"
"J... Xanidor."
A few of the students laughed as anyone would had they heard someone forget their own name.
"I'll be keeping an eye on your progress today."
It wasn't gonna be too hard to stay focussed on me. As much as I stood out already, the rest of the student wore matching gis. I was still in my black pants.
Throughout most of the morning he had the class practice punching, and kicking techniques. It hit me that I noticed many of the strikes were exactly what I was taught by Shifu. It was the first element I found linking the two of them to Oogway. Being familiar with the techniques made it easier, but having to practice them an average of 50 times each did not. He didn't say much other than shouting out orders in the changes of striking styles. It wasn't until almost noon that he spoke again.
We were only a few kicks in on our 50 rounds of practicing the front kick when he'd stopped me. I didn't know what for at the time. although I was trying to pace myself I tried to put as much force behind the kicks as possible.
Montenegro said "Re-chamber! I thought you would at least know to re-chamber."
"Re-what?" I said. I wasn't sure what in the world he was telling me to do.
"Re-chamber!" he re-peated. "After you've delivered your kick you draw your leg back to its original position before you just drop it to the ground."
I got the feeling he was just making up routines on the spot just to condemn me. Then he'd be one step closer to throwing me out, and it hadn't even been a full day yet. "May I ask why?"
Valko Montenegro saw I meant to test him. He turned looking at the rest of the class. "Mato!" he shouted.
A young cougar answered in a disciplined voice. "Yes, Master."
"Please tell us why we re-chamber?" Montengero ordered.
"Incase we have to quickly deliver another kick to our opponent after the first, Master."
"Thank you, Mato." Montenegro turned back toward me with a taunting smile as if he wanted to make it clear that I didn't know what was common knowledge to everyone else. I suddenly felt like I was back in the training hall of the Jade Palace.
"Castello!"
"Yes, Master." Cash answered back.
"I understand that Xanidor is under your supervision. Is that true?"
Cash looked uneasy before solemnly answering "Yes, Master."
Montenegro replied "Then I expect you to to have him better acquainted with our methods."
"Yes, Master." he said simply.
Montenegro spoke to the rest of the class. "It's nearly 12 now. We will now break for lunch."
The class all bowed again and departed from the training hall. I stayed behind and walked toward the dark rabbit.
"Mr. Montenegro, It's not Castello's fault about-"
Valko reached out his hand and prodded his finger against the my cut on my chest which had yet to completely heal from the fight at Keen Lee's school. I respired sharply and took a step back holding my chest.
"You're just like the rest." he shot out. "The ones that come and leave."
It was the first time anybody said I was like someone else.
"This isn't just strike a few poses and do a few cute moves. what you have agreed to join is serious." There was something different that came out in his voice although even that was still new to me. It was something vicious and cutthroat
"Your last instructor obviously knew nothing." he scoffed.
I bit back the nasty retort I was dying to give and said "Maybe that's why I decided to leave him and come here."
He ruminated on my comment for a minute before saying "Well I suppose that proves you at least have some common sense."
I felt satisfied enough by his reaction but decided not to smile showing it.
"Are you serious about this training?" he asked me.
"Yes, Master." I responded. I thought the "master" added the right feel to the sentence.
"Then show it."
I found the mess hall. It turned out to be a separate room in the same building as the dormitory. The students were already eating at a long table.
I saw one of the students, a tiger, walk by with a tray of bowls. I wondered where they who they were for. All the other students were already eating. The only people not here were Quiang and Montenegro, but that was only two people. The tray had several bowls. I did a quick count as I passed by and got 7. Where would 7 bowls be taken to?
The Five, Shifu, and Po
I stopped and stared at the tiger with the bowls. They were each filled with a few plain looking vegetables.
There's no way that those vegetables are gratifying Po's enormous appetite.
Once they were out of the door of the building I walked out following them, trying to figure out where they were going. I saw them round the corner of the building. I waited a few second before I turned the corner. When I looked they were out of site. The only person I saw was the same male cougar from earlier casually leaning against the wall of the building.
As I passed by he said "You look lost. Were the directions to the mess hall to much to take in too, or did Montenegro tell you to 'get lost'."
I didn't bother even looking. I just kept walking, but before I went a few more feet the cougar stepped in front of my walking path.
"Hey I was talking to you, pipsqueak." he said demandingly.
"Yeah I heard you." I retorted. "I just chose not to listen."
He made a face of sarcastic fear. "Woah new guys got an attitude. You might have to work on that. While you're at it you might not wanna make it so obvious you've never been trained in kung fu."
"I have been trained before." I shot back.
"By who?" he said folding his arms.
Probably shouldn't have said that.
"I... don't remember his..."
"Wow you really are that stupid." he laughed.
Before I could mumble therefore continuing my image of stupidity Cash appeared at my side. "Stupid? This coming from the same guy who used to think a side kick was the sensei's assistant?"
The cougar was struck speechless. His confident demeanor was immediately lost. "So? I was still new then."
"It was your fifth month." Cash corrected.
Beaten, the cougar only grimaced and stalked away.
Cash turned to me. "Don't pay any attention to Mato. He thinks he's all that, but he's about as sharp as a boulder."
"Looks like he's just as dense as one too." I ventured.
Cash smiled a laugh at that. "Nice one."
"Thanks. and Thanks for showing up too. I'm sorry Master Montenegro got angry at you about my mistake."
Cash said "Its no big deal. That's just his every-day self. Believe me, when you see him really angry, you'll know."
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