。ش WυXιηg Wαrrιors ش 。

【The Dragon of Wood】

In the mountainous Chinese village of Jing Shi the crowing of roosters could be heard beyond morning mist clouds. Rice farmers were beginning their days' work; straw hatted villagers carrying carts of vegetables to the markets. The whole city was on a slope and from each level you could look down and see more Eastern tiled rooftops and drifting mist. At the very top was the Jing Shi Monastery, and beneath the impressive structure was a plateau of square tiles. The monks' tai chi space occasionally reserved for combat practice.

A sixteen-year-old Polynesian boy in silk green robes stood surrounded by three older monks. The monks were Chinese, dressed in white with straw hats. Carefully they circled the young man, hands weaving in preparation. The boy stood calm and focused. Another rooster crowed and the men attacked.

The boy leapt away from a strike, ducked under a kick. Backed away while deflecting the rapid series of punches from his third opponent. Jumped back and cartwheeled away, flipping backward several times before landing in a crouch.

"Nice defense and evasion, Tahi." One of the monks smirked as the three crept over. "Now why don't you show the Master Dragon how you attack?"

"You asked for it." The youth known as Tahi smirked confidently and changed his stance, stooping with arms straight.

He had a flip of dark hair over hard-angled brows. Bronzed skin contrasted against white teeth from his broad smile. A greenstone necklace and tribal tattoos down his left arm peeking out through his garment.

Tahi crouched then flew "Pecking rooster!" his hands blurred and the monk struggled to block the jabs before the youth's leg hooked around his neck and threw him down.

Tahi jumped over and stood on one leg, bird-like. Suddenly he changed stance "Crouching Tiger!" dropped down low before flying at the other monk, pushing off his guard and sliding in a circle. Pouncing again and throwing him off his feet. The last monk hit Tahi's back with an elbow, he fell in a crouch and spun around. The last enemy raised his leg for a finishing blow.

Tahi cupped his palm and swept his arm upward. Tiles shattered as a tree shot up, the monk cried out as he was carried upward. Leaves sprouted in an instant, an eight-foot tall tree stood in the courtyard's centre. The monk's limbs were trapped by branches at the top.

He struggled before relaxing "Nicely done, Tahi…"

The youth stood and swept his hands down his middle, exhaling. The branches shifted and the monk was able to pull himself free and slide down the trunk. The other two were getting to their feet as the witness approached with a slow clapping.

"Master Dragon." Tahi turned and got on one knee, lowering his head.

"I am most impressed with your display of skills." The robed man said. "But please, you may call me Omi."

The Xiaolin Water Dragon was thirty-years-old. On the shorter side but still much taller than he'd been in younger days. His round head was oval in shape. Omi gave a respectful bow back to the kneeling boy.

"Omi?" he raised his head.

"Master Dragon Omi!" he gleefully puffed out his chest. In all the years he still had his grandiose ego, though innocently so.

"Master Dragon Omi, are you going to teach me?"

"Come with me, young dragon-in-training. Let us walk." He turned away with arms behind his back. Tahi stood up and followed him. They made for the stairs and began climbing back up to the monastery's grounds. "Your fighting style is most impressive. In my generation there were only four of us dragons as we were based off the Western elements. However your generation has five, based off the Chinese elements."

"I've never even met the other four dragons…" he admitted.

"And I have never before met a Dragon of Wood." Omi spoke conversationally, stopping by a pink peach tree, watching the hummingbirds flutter in-out wooden homes. "Your martial arts is… adaptable yet expansive. Weaving and also flourishing, like wood. What Kung Fu styles do you use?"

"I've mastered three of the twelve animal styles. Rooster, Tiger and Monkey." Tahi reported.

"Interesting choices." Omi began pacing thoughtfully. "And the reason why you've only learnt three Kung Fu styles is because you're balancing your physical training with your spiritual training."

"It's helped me with my Chi control, so I can grow trees and stuff."

"Yes… and while I am no Dragon of Wood I will endeavor to train you however I can." Omi stopped to scratch his chin. "Wood has similarities to both earth and water, though is uniquely its own style. But perhaps it is the same leopard with different spots…"

"I don't get that weird expression, but thank you Master Dragon Omi." Tahi pressed his fist to his palm and gave a slight bow.

"I will confer with my old Master for advice. I will stay here in Jing Shi and we shall learn to make you out of a proper dragon of wood yet." Omi returned the bow.

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