The wind was still and no sounds could be heard in the spruce covered
mountains. It was so quiet that a pine cone could be heard falling in the
distance. Tatsu rested cross legged on a cliff. In his right hand was an
amulet with it's incense burning and the smoke hanging around him. In his
left hand was a pile of blank sand. It's grains were falling between his
fingers to the ground.
One moment he was alone, imagining himself in the stars among the signs of
the heavens, the next his master stood in front of him. The old man stroke
his wispy beard with a snort. Then took his cane and swung it at Tatsu's
head.
Immediately Tatsu was up off the ground, the sand flew into the air and he
blocked the cane with his left arm, then twirled the amulet and wrapped it's
chain around the cane and pulled it away from his master.
"You are ready." His master told him, walking to pick up his bent wooden
cane. "Visions I have seen in my head and visions have fled from me. Ever
do I see her beckoning to you. Go to her and you will find her sign in the
sky."
"I have never seen her sign. My eyes search for it fruitlessly every night.
I have great respect for you master, but even you have been wrong. What if
you are wrong? And all I find in Darkhaven is my death?" He hoped his
master would not strike him for his words.
"Then you will die. What of it? Death is as natural as living. Do not
fear it, yet do not give into it. I have put a lot of effort and time into
you, Tatsu. I know you will walk your path with the muscles and
determination of a rhino." The old man rose his fist and shook it. "Do not
have doubt. That is what will be the death of you. I have seen it.
Without it, you will live."
"It is as you say, master." Tatsu straighten and bowed lightly toward the
old man, never breaking his eyes from him. "I will go to Darkhaven and if I
still cannot find her sign in the sky. I will make it and honor her."
Description:
A cleanly shaven head shines with the nearby lights. Long, brown and
oddly bushy eyebrows lay above his eyes. The man's skin is lightly tan,
looking slightly weather worn and pocked with faded scratches. An obvious
hole shows in his teeth when he smiles or opens his mouth. His arms stretch
down far past his skinny waist, giving him an unproportioned look. Over all
he is thin, yet fit looking, sweaty and unbathed with a slight smell of body
oder, and ungainly.