down there?”

Talkeet nodded.

“That river is flowing, always having a purpose, and never deviating from its intended path, neither does it switch directions, and flow backward. We are much the same when we fight, that is why it is called the water method.”

“Talkeet, when we fight, our purpose is peace, we fight for the continuation of peace, never for any other selfish reasons, we defend, that’s all.”

Shadow looked at Talkeet.

“The only time we attack is to end a war, or battle, we will never strike first. We never turn back, once engaged, we are committed, and we never retreat, strategic falling back is fine, but a retreat is a disorganized sprint away from the enemy, and we will never do that, under penalty of death, understand?”

Talkeet nodded again.

“Now,” Shadow said, “the water discipline requires that you keep your bearings at all times. When you attack, your attacks will flow, blending into one intricate dance.”

Talkeet again nodded.

“You will always be at peace with yourself, and what you are doing, never second guess yourself while you’re fighting, and never bring emotions into it, that’s the way of the fire.”

Talkeet nodded.

“The fire way is faster and easier to learn, and takes little time to master, as it relies solely on the strength and emotions of the person using it.”

“Tell me Talkeet, what is fire like, what does it do?”

Talkeet thought for a moment.

“It destroys, and hurts.”

Shadow nodded his head.

“You’ve got it Talkeet. The fire way is the wrong way, the only reason I’m even talking about it, is because our enemies, specifically the Uniea, practice this discipline.”

Talkeet nodded.

“But Shadow, I have a question.” Talkeet said.

“What is that?” Shadow asked.

“Can’t fire also keep you warm? Can’t it be a good thing if under control?”

“Talkeet,” Shadow said, “that is a very dangerous thing to say.”

Shadow paused and thought for a minute.

“Talkeet, the fire discipline increases the self confidence of the wielder in such a way that it corrupts him. Someone who practices the fire discipline will never be satisfied, nothing will be enough, not until he’s killed or subjected everyone on this earth.”

“But self confidence isn’t a bad thing either,” Talkeet said, “and never being satisfied with your performance makes you improve.”

Shadow nodded.

“You have good insight Talkeet, but I worry about where it will lead you…. Yes, those are good things, but someone who practices the fire discipline only cares about himself, and will be willing to do anything, and I mean anything, to get that which he thinks will satisfy him.”

“That’s bad.” Talkeet said.

“Yes it is.” Shadow responded, “that’s how you get a tyrant.”

“Now that we’ve talked about the two disciplines, are you ready to learn how to do the water one?”

Talkeet smiled and nodded.

“Alright,” Shadow said.

Talkeet smiled as the memory ended.

“That’s it!” Talkeet thought, “I’m good enough, I can use the fire discipline once, it shouldn’t affect me just a whole lot.”

Then Talkeet thought about it a little harder.

“No, what could I be thinking? I must win this thing with a clean heart and a steady mind, we are stronger.”

Talkeet stood up, as Rayne walked into the room.

She was crying again.

It tore Talkeet to pieces to see her cry like that.

He walked over to her.

“That’s the last time they’ll do that to you Rayne.”

“What?” Rayne asked through her tears. “Talkeet, What… what are you talking about?”

“You’re out of here Rayne.” Talkeet said, “today is the day.”

“You’re going to take on eight wolves?” Rayne asked, “for me?”

Talkeet nodded.

“I know….”

He sighed.

“I know that it might sound stupid, but… well, I think I love you.”

Rayne smiled

Talkeet sighed.

“Aright, here’s the plan; I’m going to attack the guards, and you’re going to sneak by while I’m fighting them, get as far from here as you can, go to the Talbourne clan, that’s where I’m from, and wait for me, I’ll be there soon.”

Rayne frowned.

“I don’t like leaving you here alone to face them.”

“I can’t have you fighting them, they’re very good.” Talkeet said

“All the more reason you shouldn’t try to take eight of them.” Rayne said.

Talkeet sighed.

“Look, Rayne, the important thing here is for you to get away, if I do… well, that’s great, but… well, I might not.”

Talkeet walked to the entrance to the chamber.

“Get ready.” He whispered to Rayne.

She walked up behind him.

Rayne nuzzled him and licked him on the nose.

“I think I love you too.”

She sighed.

“Good luck, and be careful.”

Talkeet smiled.

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be there before you know it.”

Rayne didn’t look comforted.

Talkeet began to count aloud.

“One… Two…. Three!”

The eight wolves were talking about how much fun they’d had with Rayne.

Their laughing and carrying on was cut short, when Talkeet leapt into the room.

The fight between he and the wolf assigned to guard the chamber entrance was brutal and short.

Talkeet tore the wolf’s throat out, and the startled wolf fell to the ground, kicked once, and was still.

The surprised wolves watched as a pool of bright red blood formed under the now dead wolf’s body.

“Well, well, well,” the wolf who had captured Talkeet said. “Look who finally decided to fight back.”

The other wolves laughed.

Talkeet lowered his body into a fighting stance.

The wolf stopped laughing.

“Get him.”

The wolves circled around Talkeet.

Talkeet’s mind raced, as he tried to remember the classes that Lightning had taught him about engaging multiple enemies.

About that time, Rayne decided to make a run for it.

“What the…” The lead wolf said.

Then he smiled.

It was an evil smile.

“I see.” He said, “this is for the girl?”

He turned to the wolf on his right.

“Go after her, and don’t worry about bringing her back.”

The wolf grinned, and took off after Rayne.

“He should be able to take care of your friend.” The lead wolf said.

He turned to the five other wolves, who now encircled Talkeet.

“I’m lifting the limits that you were told about in dealing with this one.

But shouldn’t you talk to Daie about that?” One of the wolves said.

The lead wolf turned, and broke the wolf’s neck.

He slumped to the ground.

The lead wolf turned to the seven remaining wolves.

“Anyone else want to challenge my judgment?”

None of them said anything, they were too shocked over the sudden death of their comrade to respond.

“No?” The lead wolf said. “Then arrack!”

“Here goes,” Talkeet thought, as the attack began.

Rayne was running as fast as she could.

Talkeet had told her to meet him at the Talbourne’s cave, but she didn’t know where that was, so she had to follow her nose.

That was taking too long.

She’d heard the lead wolf’s instruction, there would be no one to stop them now, when she got hurt, this wolf wouldn’t stop.”

He was gaining on her.

Rayne was sprinting as fast as she could, but he was just plain faster than she was.

“But,” she thought, “I’m smaller.”

She ducked into a small orifice in the wall of the cave, and started running away, through the forest.

The wolf followed.

Talkeet was thrown to the ground, and the other wolves laughed.

They still formed a circle around him, and were attacking in pairs, hitting him from all directions.

Talkeet stood up, and spit blood out of his mouth for the third time in the last five minutes.

He hadn’t even been able to land one hit yet.

“I’m not going to make it.” He thought.

Then he had an idea.

“Please forgive me Shadow.” He thought.

He gathered all of the anger, all of the emotions that he’d been keeping pent up inside him for the last week, and attacked.

Talkeet could feel his strikes gain intensity, and power, fueled by his utter hatred for his enemies.

His attacks stopped being controlled, and he lashed out, letting his anger at how they’d treated Rayne guide him.

Talkeet saw an opportunity, and caught one of the wolves by the throat.

Talkeet twisted his head, and broke the wolf’s neck.

The wolf slid to the ground.

Talkeet whirled around, and caught the other attacker in the face with a kick to the face.

The wolf stumbled backwards, and fell.

Talkeet jumped on top of him, and ripped into his stomach.

The wolf died screaming.

Talkeet jumped off of the dead wolf, as two others rushed him.

He jumped into the air, and did a flip, landing on one of the attacking wolf’s back.

Talkeet bit the back of the wolf’s head, and heard the skull crack, and give way, as he crushed the wolf’s head.

The wolf fell to the ground, dead.

The three remaining wolves looked surprised at how this development had taken place.

The other attacker slid to a stop, and hit Talkeet in the