FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Five

Love

Noshi is once again putting cream over the muzzle worn areas on Shiya's face. "You didn't get into trouble today did you?"

Achak lets out a nervous yelp as he curls up into a ball and hides behind his tail, Noshi looking over to his son with a sigh before looking back to Shiya. "What did the two of you do?"

Shiya shrugs his shoulders, he not thinking that what he had done had been all that bad. "I talked to a girl named Kanti."

Noshi continues with his work. "You are not supposed to talk to her you know, Achak should have told you that."

Achak speaks up, he having done just that. "I did tell him!! And I tried to drag him away from her too! But he wouldn't listen to me!!"

Noshi stops working for a moment. "Oh?"

Shiya tries to explain. "She was just so pretty... and nice... and she looked like she wanted to talk to me anyway..." He makes a stupid grin. "Aw she was so sweet... and her voice, I've never heard one more beautiful..."

Noshi lets out a heavy sigh. "I will receive a visit from her father soon..." He continues to tend to Shiya's wounds. "A handsome stranger talking to his daughter after being warned not to, he will more angry than I've seen him in a long time."

Shiya's tail begins to wag. "You think she thought I was handsome!?"

Achak shakes his head. "You can't even pretend like you did nothing wrong! The chieftain is going to have your head!"

Shiya looks back to his wagging tail. "Well look at that... it hasn't done that since I was a pup."

Noshi forces Shiya to look back ahead of him once again. "Hold still."

Noshi is interrupted from his work when a very large wolf with a coat of dark red fur enters the hut, his eye scanning the inside of the hut until they land on Shiya, a very displeased frown filling his face, he then looking to Noshi and beginning to question him."Who is this and why does he think himself worthy to talk to my daughter!?"

Noshi pauses his work for a moment, he getting to his feet as to confront the rather livid wolf that had entered his home. "I had a feeling you would come Rowtag, Achak's told of what has happened today, I apologize. I stumbled upon Shiya during my travel and took him in to look after, he is new and unaware to our rules."

Rowtag approaches Shiya crossing his arms as he stares down at him. "Then let me make my rules perfectly clear. Do not speak to my daughter and do not go near her again, if you do I will be sure you regret it."

Shiya stares at Rowtag, though he was much larger than him and did look intimidating Shiya found himself not being particularly afraid of him even when he knew that he should be, he blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "You can't hurt me any worse than what I've already been through."

The chieftain lets out a snarl, not particularly liking being talked back to in such a way, Achak quickly running over to Shiya and pulling him back from the very large wolf and Noshi tries to pry Rowtag's murderous gaze off of Shiya. "He's more lively then when I first met him, he is healing well."

Rowtag lets out a loud growl as he looks back to Noshi. "Keep him away from Kanti while he is here. Once he is healed of his wounds send him on his way!"

He turns around storming out of the tent, Noshi letting out a chuckle as he looks to Shiya, rather amused with how events had turned out.

Achak looks over to Shiya, it not going to turn out well for Shiya if he made a habit of this. "You're much too small to challenging Rowtag. Watch what you say in the future."

Noshi kneels down beside Shiya once more, returning to treating the wounds on his face. Shiya looking annoyed with the 'rules' that had been brought up. "Why can't I just talk to her?"

Achak sighs as he tries to explain again. "Kanti is promise to whoever is to win her trials, until then she is to remain pure and untouched by any man."

"I wasn't touching her I was just talking."

Noshi speaks up, bringing up another point of view for Shiya to go by. "You will only be hurting yourself with such actions. Kanti will marry a strong warrior, it is her role as the chieftain's daughter to do so, if you become close to her you only well be upset when Kanti is given to another man."

Shiya looks to the side unable to really imagine, he completely new to this whole thing, he still not seeing what was so bad about it. "We were just talking... that's all..."

Noshi finished up his work. "Enough of this, it is time to rest, you should get your sleep, I will speak to Rowtag when he is in a better mood. I do not want him running you out of the village before I have healed your wounds."

Shiya leaves Noshi's side as he makes his way over to Achak. "What could your father possibly say to the chieftain to get him to change his mind?"

Achak lets out a yawn as he gets ready to sleep. "Father has a way the Rowtag, he's very good at talking the chieftain into getting his way."

Shiya seem surprised. "Do you think he could talk him into not having a problem with me speaking to Kanti?"

"My father is good but not that good. You'll still have to follow the chieftain's rules regarding his daughter."

"Time passes with me reluctantly following the rules that had been given to me. Just as Noshi had said he would do he spoke to Rowtag in privet and the chieftain did indeed become much less murderous towards me, but would still keep a very close eye on me as to make sure I did not step out of line. He was smart and knew that I was waiting for a moment where he might not be watching me so that I could go and talk to Kanti. It was actually a little frightening, as he seemed to appear out of nowhere every time I thought of going to speak to her.

_ _

Kanti herself seemed just as upset with situation as I was, as I had enjoyed her company she had enjoyed mine. She started sending me messages through the other girls in the tribe, and I would send her messages back in return, and for a long time this was the way that we communicated with one another. It was really the only way we really could.

_ _

With Noshi's help the wounds that hurt me and the outline of the muzzle were almost gone, it only a little bit longer before I was back to looking how I was meant to look. I too did my part in the process, going for walks and exorcizes when I was told to, keeping in mind to walk upright once more instead of on all fours as the True Bloods preferred, and putting up with the stinging medicine that Noshi would always put on my wounds. After all, I wanted to look handsome for Kanti.

_ _

Soon I was to find out that what I felt for her right now was only the beginning of what the love for another person felt like, that I still had much further to fall before I would come to understand the full extent of what these feelings were."

Shiya is trying to scratch his back while Achak runs about in circles chasing a squirrel that had come down from the trees. Shiya lets out a frustrated groan as he falls back onto the ground pushing himself across the grass with his hind legs as he tries to scratch his back that way. "It's so hot here!! My coat is so itchy it's falling out!!"

Achak stops what he's doing as he looks back to Shiya. "Stop acting like you're dying, you're just shedding your coat. Everyone does this, though normally at the end of winter." He watches as Shiya tries to scratch his back on the grass. "You're going to turn yourself green if you keep that up."

"Look, it's coming out in tufts! I'm going to be bald if this keeps up."

"That's normal and you'll be just fine." Achak stops what he is doing when he notices something in the distance, Rowtag along with wife leaving the village with several of their warriors. "It looks like the chieftain is going to a counsel."

"What's that?"

"It's when the leaders of the many tribes gather for a few days to discuss certain matters, the division of land, hunting grounds, aiding each other in battle against the domestics, things like that."

Shiya quickly sits up, there only one thing that Achak had said that had registered. "He'll be gone for a few days!?"

Achak frowns as he looks to Shiya. "Don't think he hasn't thought ahead about making sure you behave yourself while he's gone."

Shiya looks back to him. "How does he expect to do that when he's not here?"

Noshi approaches the two of them, calling out to get their attention. "Shiya, inside the hut now."

Shiya turns back to Noshi with a frown. "Why?"

"Rowtag told me watch you at all times while he is gone." He motions for Shiya to start moving. "Come."

Shiya lets out a sigh as he starts making his way back, it going to be hard to do anything if Noshi was to be keeping an eye on him the whole time.

*******

Noshi works quietly, mixing herbs as he prepares a remedy for one of the tribe members that had come to see him. Shiya letting out a sigh as he looks around him bored, though he had become rather used to doing nothing over the years, time seemed to go so slow when you would rather be spending your time with a pretty girl.

He looks over to Noshi to see if he is paying attention, the older wild looking pretty focused on his work, Shiya getting up to move as he quietly makes his way toward the door. Noshi letting out an annoyed grunt that stops Shiya in his tracks, he knowing what Shiya was up to without having to be looking at him.

Shiya makes his way back to his spot in the corner of the hut, letting out a sigh as he lays back down, he only still for a moment before a small jabbing in his back makes him jump up and quickly look around him for what it was that might be poking him, spotting a thin twig sticking through the small opening in the side of the hut, he able to make out Kanti on the other side of the wall holding it.

She brings her finger to her nose signalling for him to be quiet, she motioning toward Noshi and whispers very silently to Shiya. "Don't drink anything."

Shiya looks back to a pot that was hanging over a low fire, this holding the mixture of leaves and herbs that Noshi would always drink. Noshi right now drinking from a bowl he had filled of it. Shiya looks back to Kanti to question her why but finds that Kanti has already run off.

About a half hour passes and Noshi starts to find himself rather drowsy, he letting out one tired yawn after the other.

Shiya turns in Noshi's direction when he hears a snore, Shiya getting to his feet as he walks over to him and looks him over to realize that he had fallen fast asleep, Shiya hot hesitating to take this opportunity to slip out of the hut and to search through the village, it hardly taking more than a moment to find Kanti, who as usual was singing and humming as she worked.

Kanti looks over to Shiya with a smile when she sees him. "My idea worked I take it."

Shiya nods his head. "What did you do to him?"

Kanti lets out a laugh, rather proud with how mischievous she could be. "A few days ago when my father announced that he would be leaving I went to Noshi and told him I was having trouble sleeping. He gave me a remedy for it, but instead of using it I waiting until this morning when father left and Noshi went to get you, then placed it in his drink hoping that it would put him to sleep."

Shiya is surprised. "You've been planning this for a few days?"

Kanti nods her head making a frown. "Father doesn't give me a choice! If he would let me just talk to you I wouldn't have to do stuff like this." She smiles as she looks back to Shiya. "We should go somewhere before Noshi wakes up and finds you gone." She looks out toward the woods near their village. "We can go out to the woods and stay there together until Noshi finds us, or if we're lucky until my father gets back, what do you think?"

Shiya seems more than happy to join in on that suggestion. "I think that you're more trouble than I am, and that you're going to get me into far more trouble than I would be able to get you in. I also think I like that idea."

Kanti laughs as she gets to her feet, motioning for Shiya to follow her. "Come on, before Noshi wakes up." She quickly breaks into a run Shiya following after her, the two leaving the village and running through the meadows until they reach the woods, entering and disappearing within the trees.

Shiya follows Kanti as she winds her way through the trees in the woods as if following some invisible path that had been laid out for her, she just seemed so at home here, as if she knew at as well as she did her own house.

The two soon come to a stop within the woods, Kanti laughing for a moment before looking back to Shiya with a smile. "I haven't been here since I was a child, I used to come here all the time when I was small and I didn't feel like listening to mom and dad's rules. I haven't felt this rebellious in a long time."

Shiya sits down across from her, he reaching back and scratching the shedding fur on his back. "If you came here as a child don't you think this will be the first place people will look once they realize you're gone?"

Kanti shakes her head that not going to be a problem. "Oh they never found me once I reached the woods." She looks back to Shiya with a smile, noticing how irritated he was by his fur right now. "Do you want me to help you with that?"

Shiya seems a little confused. "Help with what?"

"You're shedding, it must be driving you crazy." She reaches into a pouch at her side taking a brush out. "I have a brush that will help, I noticed it was aggravating you yesterday so I came prepared."

Shiya reaches for the brush. "Oh, thank you."

Kanti laughs as she holds the brush out of his reach. "Don't be silly Shiya, how do you expect to do it yourself, especially your back? Sit down in front of me and let me do it for you."

Shiya doesn't seem so sure about that. "I don't need you to go through the trouble-"

"It's no trouble at all, in fact I would love to do it."

Shiya shrugs his shoulders as he faces his back towards her and sits down, Kanti getting right to work. "I've never seen a coat as thick as yours, you were not lying when you said you came from a very cold place."

Shiya nods his head, it indeed not an understatement as not only did he come from the North, but ice and snow would manifest around him when the source became difficult to control. "Yes... very cold compared to here."

"The year is divided into four seasons here, and we only get snow during one of them. It must be so strange to have snow all year long."

Shiya glances back to her. "I find it more strange not to have snow all year long... not only that but your sun and moon rise and fall every day. Where I come sunlight and moonlight last weeks at a time, that was more difficult for me to get used to than the lack of snow."

Shiya frowns as he thinks to the journey that Kanti's father had gone on. "So what do you think your dad is gonna talk about at the console? Achak was saying all kinds of important stuff but I hardly heard him... he pretty much lost me after saying your dad would be gone a few days, I mean I was pretty excited to hear that."

Kanti laughs at the comment. "I can see why, you'd finally get a chance to talk to me without my father threatening to break your neck, father does not like you one bit, though I'm sure you don't need to be told that."

Shiya hums to himself wondering if there was a way to get Kanti's father to change his opinion on him. "You don't suppose there is a way that I could get him to like me... I mean, enough to let me talk to you so we don't have to sneak around."

Kanti lets out a sigh she doubting it. "Probably not... father is very firm when it comes to tradition, the only way he will be alright with you talking to me is after I am married. I am promise to the winner of my trials after all, I am to live only for them and until the day we meet no one else should ever occupy my heart."

Shiya sighs to himself. "Hearts aren't so easily controlled like that I don't think."

Kanti shakes her head no. "No, they are not." She smiles back at Shiya. "It's not that he hates you, it's only because he's worried about me. Father was very much in love with someone else before he married my mother, it hurt him greatly to have to leave them and marry my mother. Though he acts differently I know that even to this day he is still not truly happy with her."

Shiya seems confused. "If he didn't want to marry her then why did he enter the trials?"

Kanti shakes her head no. "Oh my father was the son of the chieftain, he did not have to enter any trials at all. Unlike daughters born to the chieftain sons are free to choose any girl they want."

Shiya is even more confused. "Oh... well if he could choose any girl he wanted then why not chose the girl he was in love with?"

Kanti gives a sweet laugh. "Father wasn't in love with a girl, he was in love with Noshi."

Shiya seems surprised to hear this. "With Noshi? But Noshi has a son."

Kanti shakes her head no. "Achak is not his real son, much like Noshi found and took you in he did the same to Achak. Achak was born with a bad leg and could not walk, he was abandoned and left to die when he was a child, Noshi stumbled upon him and took him in and has been taking care of him ever since." She smiles to herself. "Noshi is the kindest person I have ever met, the spirits knew what they were doing when leading you to him."

Shiya thinks this over. "I suppose this explains how Noshi is so good at talking the chieftain into changing his mind."

Kanti laughs at the response. "Don't tell anyone, father wants everyone to think that he is happy with his wife, leaders must be strong and without pity from others."

Shiya turns around to face Kanti. "What about you? You said your father is not truly happy, will you truly be happy with the one you are meant to marry?"

Kanti shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know... I haven't met who it is I am supposed to marry, and if I do fall in love with someone else before then, it can't be that hard to stop those feelings and show them to someone else right? Even if my father couldn't do it I'm sure that I could."

"Have you done it before?"

Kanti leans forward giving Shiya a small peck on the cheek. "No, but how difficult could it be?"

Shiya gives her a grin. "What if I don't want you to fall in love with someone else besides me?"

"Then you'd better win the trials if you want to keep me."

"Neither I nor Kanti fully understood what we were getting ourselves into, we knew we were attracted to one another, and there was a love between us, what we didn't know was how strong that love was and how it would continue to grow.

_ _

For the entire times that Rowtag was gone me and Kanti stayed within those woods, talking to one another, telling one another stories, getting to know one another on levels more personal than I could have imagined. I have never been happier, I have never been so in love, and though we were defying the orders of the chieftain I had never felt like everything was so right and perfect before.

_ _

When Rowtag returned home we would both return to our homes as if nothing had happened, and though Noshi would discipline me for my actions he did not tell the chieftain of mine and Kanti's little stunt. I don't know if it was because he was embarrassed over being so easily tricked by Kanti or if it was because he knew how happy our visits to each other made one another and did not want to become between that, being the silent type Noshi never did explain why he never told this to the chieftain.

_ _

From time to time Rowtag and his wife would travel to the leadership consoles, and every time they did me and Kanti would take advantage of it, thinking up various ways of getting out of the village and into the forest where we were free to do whatever we pleased.

_ _

Unfortunately the longer we did this the less careful we came when it came to hiding it, and eventually her father found out. Noshi was luckily able to keep Rowtag from murdering me, but from then on every time he went away to these gatherings he would bring Kanti with him.

_ _

No longer having that time with her was hard for both of us, and no matter how hard Kanti tried to convince her father, or how hard I would try to convince Noshi, nether would bend when it came to rules of the tribe.

_ _

We found moments, small openings during the night where we could sneak off for short times to be with one another, they would never last long enough though and eventually we would be separated once more.

_ _

Eventually the day came where Rowtag announced the date that his daughter's trials would take place. Kanti was upset by the announcement, she was angry at her father, even wanted to runaway, to her it meant that what it was me and her shared was over.

_ _

For me though, it was not over, her trials had not yet been won, her mate not fond, I could enter the trials myself, I could win them, and then me and Kanti would be together, we wouldn't even have to hide while together anymore, it was the perfect solution... perfect if I were a warrior anyway.

_ _

I knew I wasn't much for fighting, I was docile and avoided fighting, this trait not only prominent in my nature but how I was raised under my unique living conditions. Not to mention I was small and weak. Still though, my father was a warrior, and father had said himself that even the very small could be warriors, as long as they had their heart was in the right place.

_ _

My heart was with Kanti, and for her I would do anything, even become a warrior.

_ _

I had six months to become a warrior so that I could take part in Kanti's trials, becoming a warrior though was something that I clearly knew that I could not do on my own, but when I approached the lead warrior with my intent though he laughed at my ambition, telling me that I was too small and weak, that I would never become a warrior.

_ _

I had to fulfill my ambitions somewhere else, and I had a slight idea of who it was I might go to for help. I told Noshi and Achak of my intent, that I was going on a journey to find someone that could teach me to be a warrior in such a short amount of time. Neither understood why this was something I had to go away on a pilgrimage for, Noshi did not argue though, and told me that he hoped that I would find what it was I was looking for. Achak tried to talk me out of it, he did not think me skilled or smart enough to survive on my own, and I suppose he was right to be worried, but this was something I did not want him or Noshi involved it.

_ _

I knew who it was that I needed to search for, not just any warrior would be able to teach me what would be needed to know to take control of the strengths that I had. I needed to find the swift fox that had attacked the True Bloods during my transport, I need to find the other Source that I had met.

_ _

To most he would be difficult, maybe impossible to find, but for me it was not so hard, as the winds carried with them a faint message that I could feel, the feeling as if he were calling out for or searching for someone, if you knew how to follow these signals, then you knew how to find him."

Shiya stands outside of a large domestic city, the newly built cobble stone streets filled with domestics and metal carriages that wound through the tall buildings, it a busy city with no shortage of things to do and places to go.

Though most wilds would be unsure about entering this place Shiya had no trouble, by now he was used to how different cities belonging to different groups of people could be. Though new to this city he traveled through it as if it were familiar territory, following the trail the wind was giving him to follow. He paid no attention to the looks be was getting from the domestics or the odd comments they would make, Shiya right now concentrating on finding one thing.

He looks his surroundings over, of all the places that could have been used as a place of refuge this seemed an odd place for a Source to be hiding.

Shiya comes to a stop in front of a building with large yard that was surrounded by a tall iron fence, the white wolf slowly approaching it and placing his hands upon the iron bars, a frightful shudder running through his body upon feeling them, this giving him rather unfound memories of when he had been within the True Blood's fortress.

The laughter of children fills the air catching Shiya's attention, he looking past the bars to find several children playing on the other side of it, they looking to come from all different kinds of families, from all over the place as well, many not looking to be native to this part of the world.

Shiya looks from them as he begins to make his way along the fence until he finds a locked entrance, he spotting a woman on the other side calling out to beginning to question her. "Excuse me, do you know if a fox lives here?" He frowns knowing that he would need a better explanation than that. "He is... he talks different than most people here, and he has a necklace with a green crystal around his neck."

The woman nods her head knowing exactly who it was that Shiya was talking about. "I didn't know he was expecting anyone today. What's your name?"

Shiya frowns not sure if that would help the situation any, after all the fox probably didn't know his name or who he was. "Shiya..."

"I've never heard him mention a name like that." She proceeds to shoo him away. "Be off with you, I won't tolerate strangers loitering around the orphanage, go now before I call the authorities."

Shiya takes several steps back from the fence, he not intending to cause any trouble. "I need to talk to him. Where can I find him when he's not in there?" The woman turns away from him, Shiya continuing to speak even though her back is turned to him. "There has to be something you can tell me, I've come a really long way to see him."

The woman stops for a moment to look back at him. "Then come back when his work is done."

She continues on her way Shiya still as unsure as before, not having any idea of when it was the fox would be done his work, whatever that work happened to be. He looks around him for a place to stay while he waits for this moment in time, he simply sitting beside the road and waiting, watching everyone that passed by as they went about their daily lives.

Hours pass with Shiya continuing to wait, from time to time some of the children on the other side of the fence would spot him, making comments about him to one another or to the adults watching them, the people in the town doing the same, a wild like him indeed being very out of place in this city.

Shiya ears perk as they turn back toward the direction of a familiar voice. "I said I don't know any fellow by the name of Shiya so just send him on his way, no need to drag me out here for that."

Shiya looks back to find the woman leading a fox with her Shiya recognizing him without a doubt, he the one that he had seen when the True Bloods transporting him had been attacked.

The woman tries to explain. "He said that he came a long way to talk to you, I told him to come back when your shift was over but he won't leave. The children are asking questions and I don't know what to tell him to get him to leave."

"You tell him to get the bloody arse off of-" He stops talking when he sees Shiya, his pace quickening as he approaches him to get a better look, he seeming to recognize him. "Good lord it's you..." He turns to the woman. "Let him in will you, and be quick about it, not many are going to be fond of a wild lofting about in their streets."

Shiya gets to his feet walking over to the gate as the woman unlocks it, the fox hurrying him along once it opens for him to get through. "I didn't know it was you she was talking about! Come on, let's get you inside and have you cleaned up before the people around here start asking questions."

Shiya is lead through the yard and towards the large building the fenced ground surrounded. "I didn't know what to expect when I began searching for you, it never crossed my mind that I would find you the middle of a domestic city."

The fox lets out a forced laugh. "Yes well to be perfectly honest I didn't think I would be spending my time here either, but when my love asks me to do something for her I can't go about telling her no now can I?" He looks back to the woman that had opened the gate. "Go on and return to your rounds, I'll take care of him from here."

The woman nods her head, leaving their side and returning to tending to the children, the fox leading the way inside the orphanage. "When Shanira told me we were setting out to rescue her brother from the True Bloods I didn't expect you would be a wolf. I assumed her brother to be a leopard like her so that's who I was looking for during the attack."

Shiya recognizes the name. "You know Shanira?"

The fox nods his head yes. "Indeed. Helped me out of a rather tight spot she did, can't say I'd be living as nice off as this if she hadn't have shown up. The True Bloods aren't exactly the easiest to get away from."

Shiya begins to question him about her. "How is she?"

"Well enough for someone in her position I suppose. " He looks back to Shiya. "She's a Source you know, just like you and me."

Shiya seems surprised to hear this, the Sources really starting to pop up everywhere in mortal forms because of the True Bloods. "A Source?"

The fox nods his head. "Fire to be exact." He comes to a stop as he looks back to Shiya. "Oh, here I am rambling on and I haven't even told you my name yet. They call me Aither now, since becoming a Source anyway, didn't have a name before then."

Shiya seems confused. "You didn't have a name?"

Aither shakes his head no. "Perhaps in my home country I did, before being taken away by the True Bloods that is. The True Bloods don't bother giving the Wilds they keep around for work names."

Shiya continues to question him. "Where are you from?"

"Born to a clan of wilds in Japan, taken from them and raised in a True Blood Colony in Wales, I was kept around as a cultivator, got the ever so delightful task of growing and harvesting food for the True Bloods to eat. Don't sound fun but is heaps better than being stuck in the mines."

He comes to a stop as he looks back to Shiya. "Shanira's told me quite a bit about you, getting taken away from your parents at such a young age and raised like a neglected and abused pet, it's hard to decide which one of us had it worse."

Shiya looks to the side not really wanting to talk about all that. "Things are different now, I live a much better life free of imprisonment and among those whom care for me."

"Managed to find yourself a comfortable place to settle then? Glad to hear it." He begins to question Shiya. "So, why did you come here? You must have followed my signals for a reason, you seemed rather intent on ignoring them until now, though I can't say I can blame ya with how happy you seem to be in your new home."

Shiya nods his head as he begins to explain, Aither correct in assuming that he had a reason for coming here. "Yes, I have come a long way seeking your help." He looks to the side. "It may sound trivial to someone like you... but there is a girl that I am in love with, I want to be with her but only a warrior may have that privilege. When I think of ways that someone like me might become strong all I can think of is how you were able to attack and overthrow the True Bloods that had me captured. So I came to you hoping that you would be able to teach me what I need to be strong." He looks to the side. "It sounds stupid... after all you might think our meeting one another would have more meaning than this."

Aither gives Shiya a grin. "Not stupid nor trivial at all my friend, Wind and Water represent love, if anyone is to understand what you are going through it would be me." He places his hand on his chin. "Me make you a warrior though? What could I possibly have to teach you? As a source you should be much more powerful than me, in fact you shouldn't be facing problems at all."

Shiya begins to explain. "That's the thing... I don't know how to do all that... use the power of the source."

Aither seems surprised to learn this. "You don't? From what I was told you used your strength pretty well against the city that you were being held captive in."

Shiya shakes his head, that an entirely different situation. "I was filled with anger and rage, I forgot who I was and I lost control..." He looks back to Aither. "You though, I saw you use the power of the source you contain, and you had complete control over it, you have to show me how you do that."

Aither nods his head. "I think I understand your problem, and I can help you with that, but I'm on a tight schedule so my free time is limited. I have my work here at the orphanage to do so I won't have as much time as you might like to help you out."

Shiya nods his head. "I have a little less than six months to learn, so as long as you manage enough time between then I'll be grateful."