Chapter 13 – Foul

"Ahhh." Rhea collapsed on the cold tile floor dripping with sweat. Morning training with Chase had become irritatingly a lot tougher, he showed no restraint and for every mistake she made there was a punishment; so far she'd racked up two hundred push ups, four hundred sit ups, followed by a jog to the Jungle of Neither Here nor There.

"I'm done." She panted heavily wanting to rest just for a moment.

The immortal held out a wooden Bo staff for her to grab "Training is not over back on your feet." He ordered sternly.

'A little compassion would be nice.' Rhea thought reaching out to accept the help up.

"Come on we've been training since four this morning, can't I have a little break?" As soon as those words left her mouth she found herself flat out on her back, Chase staring over her.

"Until you improve, training will be nonstop from four till noon." He reminded this time not helping his student off the floor.

'Let's hope I get it right soon then.'

"Finally finished." Rhea groaned dragging her feet up the long staircase and headed towards the baths. It hadn't seemed that far to the jungle initially, apparently when you have to run without stopping it's rather far. Training at various temples wasn't as tough as a few hours with Chase.

Never had she been so pleased to see an open air bath, dumping a bucket of water over her head first before entering the wonderfully warm water. "This is the best thing after almost ten hours of training." Rhea sunk deeper into the bath.

"Would it be impudent to ask if our training will still take place this afternoon?"

Rhea turned to face the archer and smiled "Of course, I just needed a bath there's only so much sweat I can stand."

During her archery training with Yuki, Chase had intervened with Wuya draped over his arm: Wuya had been clinging to Chase ever since she got her body back and only left when they had training.

"There is a new Shen gong wu that has just revealed itself, I need you to go and retrieve it."

Rhea didn't bother to face him and carried on shooting arrows at the target which was on top of a rock quite a distance away "I thought that's what Jack and Siren were for."

Chase didn't take kindly to back talk and grabbed her by the scruff of her qipao collar "You will go."

Rhea held her hands up in defeat "Alright am going, am going." Summoning her dragon wing fan she floated off with Yuki curled up beside her. "He's on a short fuse of late, wish he wouldn't take it out on me." She huffed.

The location of the new Shen Gong Wu was a cave embedded in cliffs near the ocean which made the cave very damp and slippery.

"If I'd known we'd be in a cave I would have opted for boots." Rhea sighed clutching the outcropped rocks, saving herself from falling over in her okobo sandals.

Yuki was indifferent to the growing darkness and trotted slightly ahead of Rhea. The dank tunnel soon opened up into an underground lake. There was still no sign of the Shen gong wu just more rocks.

"Wonderful. It better be down here."

The clouded leopard sat next to the lake before transforming suddenly into her human form.

"There's something down there."

Rhea peered into the lake and for sure there it was a little statue buried amidst the rocks "looks like I'm off for a swim," Kicking her sandals off before diving into the unusually deep lake.

'better make this quick, I suck at holding my breath' upon reaching the lake bottom, she dusted off the statue but struggled to free it from the rocks it was jammed between. 'Of the-' cursing in her head and placed her feet against the rocks and tried again this time much more successful. Keeping tight grip on the Shen Gong Wu she made her way back up to the surface. "Yuki I got it." She announced swimming towards the edge.

Yuki was in her leopard form growling at a group of people who were stood at the cave entrance.

'Well this is going to take some explaining' Rhea hauled herself out of the lake and a quick blast of her blue flames dried her off quite nicely. "Easy Yuki." She stroked the jungle cat before looking at the monks who were staring at her suspiciously, "You're missing one."

"Yes Jermaine has returned to New York." Omi stated.

"So what are you doing here?"

Rhea held up the statue as she slipped her feet back into her sandals "I'm on errands. Jack is grounded and practically begged me to come and retrieve it."

"Isn't that one of Chase Young's cats?" Dojo eyed Yuki up warily, the leopard snarled back at the small dragon.

Rhea had a knack for thinking quick on her feet "Hell if I know. I found Yuki in a forest near my master's house she hasn't left my side since."

Raimundo still didn't believe her, Omi on the other hand grinned brightly "I knew you couldn't be working for Chase Young."

"Sorry guys I'm going to have to go. I have a busy busy day." She smiled and stumbled over the uneven surface.

Rhea was relieved when she saw the end of the tunnel "Fresh air." The sound of howling winds echoed from the lake area.

"Blade of the Nebula!"

Another heavy blast of wind almost took Rhea off her feet, grabbing the small dragon shaped charm around her neck she shouted "Dragon Guise!" a flash of blue light illuminated the corridor just in time for Rhea to catch the blade of her attacker.

"I knew there was something off." Raimundo was coated in a black shadow and gave off a slight white glow the blade in his hand looked fragile almost like it were made from glass.

"You're the one who attacked me." She sneered, the dragon charm had turned into a large sapphire clawed hand with a full sleeve of sapphire armour, "you're not the only one with a unique weapon." Pushing the boy back with a blast of blue fire she unsteadily rushed towards the cave exit.

"Raimundo what are you doing?" Omi and the others had finally caught up.

"Blade of the Nebula wind!" this time Rhea didn't dodge the blow and allowed herself to be fired out of the cave.

Rhea allowed herself to fall quite some distance before she used the Dragon fan to sail away with Yuki. "Well that was an interesting experience." She joked and headed back to Chase's layer with the prize. "I wonder how this will play out now."

"I still do not understand how you managed to convince them that you're still an ally."

Rhea smirked "Being a silver tongue, has gotten me out of a lot of situations."