Chapter 2: Learning the Ropes.

Zorlo awoke the morning after his master rescued him. His mind was filled with wonder about what had happened, but he didn't have the courage to ask his master.

"Zorlo," the voice of the Neko called. "Time to begin training."

Zorlo opened his eyes and looked at his surroundings. He was not in the forest where he had been knocked out, but rather, in a small house where his master lived. The house was small, only one room. It had a large bed that covered one whole side of the building, where Zorlo was lying at that point. The side across from the bed was where the door was, and on both sides of the door were windows, small square ones that were broken into four smaller squares. The left side of the room had an old oak table that had various weapons and armor that were placed upon it. Amongst these weapons were a pair of short swords that caught the boy's attention. The right side of the room had a fire place. Atop the fire place were two pictures, both of children.

The boy got off of the bed and walked over to the table where the weapons were lain out. Zorlo grabbed the one of a pair of short swords that his eyes were drawn to. The short sword's hilt had a ruby at the end and the appearance of a hunting tiger is drawn into it. The sheath was awesomely decorated with a Neko with two short swords about to go into full charge. The sheathes color was red and the Neko was outlined in black. Zorlo then examined the other in which had a golden ball at the end of its hilt. The sheathe had the reverse colors of its twin and Zorlo admired them both greatly.

The giant Neko entered the room and looked at the boy. He noticed that he was examining his blades and he told the boy, "You really like those blades, don't you?"

"Y-yes master."

"Good, one day I will give them to you. Happy you like them. We need to get to your training, you have much to learn today."

"Y-y-yes master."

"Calm down. Don't be so worried, you will be fine."

Zorlo left the house and looked at the trees in the forest where Kurenkento lived. Zorlo was amazed by the size of the forest, and by what he had found. Kurenkento emerged with his hand behind his back and walked behind Zorlo.

"Like the scenery, eh Zorlo."

"Yes master, this place is very serene."

"Very good, but it is time we began the first part of your training." The fencer Neko led the boy deep into the forest and the two stood in front of a large tree. "Now then, time to start. Your first training will be to climb to the top of this tree, and I will be timing you."

"Yes sir. But one question, why?"

"I shall be teaching you using the regiment my father made me go through. It is designed for Neko's, but I can use this training to also see what method of training I can use to help you to grow stronger during this training." It has been over nine hundred years since my training, hope I recall all of what I have to do.

Zorlo looked at the huge tree and began looking for where to begin. His eyes were looking for something to grab so he could begin his assent. The Neko walked up behind him and rested his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"One thing first," Kurenkento said as he drew a short sword. "Turn around Zorlo, I want to use this tree to measure how tall you are. I'll be doing this every two years. You will understand why two years shortly." With a quick swipe, he left an indent in the tree and Zorlo looked at where he stood. He was barely over four feet by this point, and in comparison to the giant Neko who was his master, he was rather weak to. "Get to work," he roared as Zorlo returned to trying to scale the tree.

Zorlo grabbed a knot on the tree. He began grabbing random spots on the bark, trying to find the right position in order to climb. He made it only a few feet the first time up before he slipped and fell. He landed on his back. He dusted himself off and got back up to try to climb the tree. With each failure, Zorlo rose and tried again.

***
After twelve hours of failure and countless falls from different places, Zorlo finally reached the top. "I've done it," he roared down to his master.

"Very good, now, time to get back down," the large Neko said.

"How, I spent, God knows how long to get up here, and now you are telling me to find my way down."

"Yes." He shows great potential and iron hard determination. Guess the next test shouldn't be so easy as my second test was. He'll be fine though.

OoC: Comments are still open.

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Much thanks to Silver for the sweet Quincy Sig. ^_^
Zorlo , Zachary Leos, Monroe Vossler, Arvin Anson, Emile Velos
Rest In Peace Duke of Clubs. (11/15/1992-1/5/2008)
And Kenpachi divided the Strong from the Weak, and it was good!