A New Start: Part One

      Pudding woke again after only being asleep for a few minutes to a scream from her parent's room this time. Pudding jumped out of bed and ran into the room across the hall.

      A pirate Krawk was standing over the lifeless forms of her parents. He glanced up at Pudding, which caused a frown to appear across his scaly face.

      "Oh great, there's another one," groaned the Krawk. "Your family members were so pathetic when it comes to fighting, I was bored. But, I have to rid of all you Bluesaphires."

      The Krawk drew a dagger from his belt. Pudding ran from the room. She ran down the stairs and out the door with the Krawk chasing after her.

      Pudding ran into the Mystery Island jungle with the Krawk still following. The Krawk slashed his blade as Pudding jumped over a tree root. She zigzagged around trees to try and lose the assassin. Pudding eventually grew tired of the chase and sat down on a log. There was no sign of the Krawk, yet Pudding was sure he was out there somewhere. But she would be able to hear him from where she was. Or so she thought.

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The Krawk didn't lose Pudding. He knew that she was growing tired, and he wanted to finish what he started. He slowed and hid behind a tree as the Pudding sat down on a log. He would wait a bit to make her think that she had lost him. Then he would attack.

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Pudding was in deep thought as she sat on the log. How did the Krawk find them? And more importantly, how did he know her last name? Pudding's father had brought his family to live in the jungle of Mystery Island when Pudding was only a cub. He said it was for 'safety reasons.' He told his children that when they were old enough to understand that they must never reveal their last name to anyone. So how did a complete stranger know that it was Bluesaphire? Then Pudding remembered that her family was destroyed all because one wrong person knew something that her father didn't tell her. She buried her head in her paws and cried.

      There was a crunch in the leaves as Pudding sat crying. She looked up and turned her head to find a dagger against her neck. The Krawk had found her.

      "The road ends here," he said. "Don't even think about running."

      As he drew his blade back ready to give a fatal blow to Pudding, a cry rang through the woods and a red and black form hurled at the Krawk, knocking the dagger away from Pudding's neck. She jumped away from the log as the Krawk was fleeing from a red Ninja Nimmo.

      "Thanks!" said Pudding, relived. "Who are you?"

      "I'm Ryshu, the most experienced student in the Mystery Island Training School and assistant to the Techo Master. And you are?"

      "Pudding, and why are you in the jungle at this time of night?" she asked.

      "I fancied a walk. I like it in here. Why are you here? And why was that Krawk after you?"

      Pudding told him what had happened. She took out the part about him knowing her name.

      "Follow me," ordered Ryshu. Pudding followed him through the forest, having trouble keeping up with his fast pace. He led Pudding out of the forest and into a clearing. In the middle stood a large bamboo made building.

      "Welcome to the Mystery Island Training School. Since you're an orphan now, you can train for free, and you can stay in the bunkhouse that the serious trainers use when they take long courses.

      Pudding couldn't find the words. This was so wonderful, she had always wanted to learn to fight, but her parents didn't allow it.

      Ryshu lead Pudding to a small building next to the school, which was the bunkhouse, and unlocked the door. He walked over to an empty bed.

      "You can sleep here," Ryshu said as he left.

      Pudding crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

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Pudding was awakened by Ryshu the next morning.

      "Your training begins." She followed him out of the room.

      Ryshu led Pudding into a room filled with white robes.

      "Here," he said, giving her a white robe and a white belt. "The belt marks your level. White is the lowest and black is the highest. You get a new, different colored belt as you progress. Now time to start training." He led Pudding into another room where pets wearing the same clothes were learning to hold swords. A red Aisha was correcting the students' grips.

      "Ah, Ryshu, is this the Kougra that you found last night?" asked the Aisha as she looked up.

      "Yes, this is Pudding. I need to go, but I'm sure she will fit in with the rest of the class." And Ryshu left.

      "Welcome Pudding, I'm Ms. Myers. Come here, I'll give you a sword. They're very dull, so it can't cut anything." The teacher gave Pudding a dull short sword. She inspected Pudding's grip.

      "That's a perfect grip," said Ms. Myers. "Okay now we are going to learn how to make a simple offensive strike..."

      Two hours later Pudding emerged from the class. The rest of the pets ran to find their owners, unlike Pudding, who went for a walk around the grounds. Today was cloudy and it looked as if it was going to rain. Sure enough, rain drops started to fall on Pudding's head.

      Pudding ran into the bunk house wanting to get out of the rain, which was now coming down hard. An orange Acara lay sleeping in one of beds. Pudding walked quietly past the bunk with the Acara and went to sit down on her own. There was a letter on her pillow. Pudding tore it open to find a training schedule.

      7:00 A.M. Wake Up Alarm

      8:00 A.M. Breakfast

      9:00 A.M. Strength training

      12:00 P.M. Lunch

      1:00 P.M. Level training

      4:00 P.M. Defense Training

      6:00 P.M. Dinner

      7:00 P.M. Agility/ Endurance Training

      9:30 P.M. Bed

      "Well I still have a half hour before lunch," said Pudding to himself.

      Pudding lay down in her bed. The rain was pounding against the windows, and the Acara was still asleep. She stared at the ceiling. If she was going to live here until she was done training, it was going to be boring life. Train, eat, and sleep. She wished she was still living with her parents.

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Pudding walked down the lunch line holding up her tray for food. The cook put something runny on it, which on the menu sign was 'Energy Soup.' She walked over to a picnic table where two Gelerts were chatting.

      "Hi!" said Pudding, hoping that they would let her sit with them, but they just ignored her.

      A paw clasped down on Pudding's shoulder. She turned around to see the Acara from the bunkhouse.

      "They never talk to anyone but themselves," said the Acara, indicating the Gelerts. "By the way, my name's Kaylee, what's yours?"

      "I'm Pudding."

      "Well c'mon Pudding you can come sit with me and my friends."

      Pudding followed the Acara over to a table with a blue Aisha and a shadow Uni.

      "Pudding, this is Nightdasher," said Kaylee, pointing to the Uni, "and Evan." She said pointing to the Aisha. Guys, this is Pudding." The Uni and Aisha gave cheerful welcomes. Maybe she would fit in after all.

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"Well have you finished the Bluesaphires?" asked a cold voice. The Pirate Krawk didn't answer.

      "Well Drake, have you?" asked the voice again.

      "No...the daughter got away."

      "WELL THEN FIND HER!" screamed the voice. "OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!" And Drake did not want to know what they were.

      Drake ran from the clearing. The Kougra girl was at that school, under the protection of that Techo and the Nimmo. He needed to make a plan...

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After Pudding's first week of training, the Techo master came around to inspect all the white belts progress. Teachers were making sure that every white belt knew what the master required of them. They often injected comments during lessons such as "No, no, no, you hold the sword this way" and "You need to be quicker if you want to do that block properly."

      Finally it was Friday afternoon. Pudding stood nervously in line holding her dull sword as she waited to be examined. Finally, her name was called and she walked into the other room. The Techo master stood in front of her, holding a staff.

      "Ah, Pudding, welcome," said the Techo Master, looking at her oddly. "If you could please show me a simple offensive strike..."

      Pudding left the room exhausted afterward. The Techo Master made her run through everything she had learned over the past week, even small details. She walked off to dinner, hoping they would be serving something other then soup.

To be continued...