Into the Pit

3 - A Young New Recruit

A week had passed since Zach's return from the pit, his strength had returned, his scab now melting away into a light scar, joining his other wounds from trips into the pit. The line of bruising that lined his nose and eyes were now marbled with grossly shades of green and yellow.

Zach stood in the middle of the sparring circle, crouched as so to meet the young boy's eyes who stood in front of him, a new recruit.

"What's your name kid?" Zach asked.

"Niko," he stated, holding Zach's eye contact with his own chocolate brown eyes. His dark rich skin glistened in the sunlight as he tossed his head back, trying to toss the natural black curls to the side that had fallen into his face. "And I'm not a kid."

Zach stood, giving off a guttural chuckle, "okay. Then how old are you?"

"16."

Zach nodded in thought, "and you want to become a hunter?"

Niko nodded. "Yeah. Look you just gonna drill me all day or are we gonna train?"

Zach ignored Niko's question. "What made you want to become a hunter?"

"My pop, he was a hunter."

Zach raised his eyebrow, "was?"

"Yeah, he was taken down while on a hunt 2 years ago."

"Anyone I know?"

"Marshall Young."

Zach immediately recognized the name, "I knew your dad. He trained me when I joined the force. Your pop was a great man, and a great fighter."

Niko nodded in silence. "I want to avenge his honor."

Zach nodded, glancing along the wall of various bladed weapons, pulling out a double ended staff. "You're 16, are you sure this is what you want? You're still young you know."

"Yeah man, stop drilling me and let's get training."

"Catch," Zach tossed the double ended staff to Niko, who caught it clumsily. "Your movements need to be sure, never second guess yourself. Always go with your gut instinct. You reached for the staff, but second guessed yourself, that could have caused you an injury or your life. Make a choice and follow it through." Zach grabbed a short sword for himself. "Always keep your eye on your opponent. Look them straight in the eye, keep eye contact at all times in battle." With that Zach thrusted out his sword, Niko barely deflected it. "See, you second guessed it. Never second guess. Again."

They spent hours in training, before sitting upon a wooden bench alongside the sparring circle. Niko chugged some water as they watched another new trainee spar with a burly bear of a man.

"How old were you?" Niko asked.

"Hmm?" Zach hummed as his eyes watched the two go into hand-to-hand combat.

"How old were you when you joined the force?"

Zach turned to Niko. "I was 14."

"What? And you're saying I am young!?"

Zach gave out a sad chuckle. "I had the same motivation as yourself. The monsters stole someone from me. I wanted revenge."

"When can I go into the pit?"

"Not any time soon hero. You must train for at least three years. Even after that there are tests you have to pass."

"THREE?"

"It isn't pretty down there kid, and the danger is everywhere. It's like a whole other planet down there."

"How long have you been an actual hunter?"

"Almost three years now."

"Wes was saying you're like the champ." He pointed to the kid in the sparring ring, "said you've caught the most monsters ever!"

"So, I have heard." Zach's reply seemed a bit bitter.

"Aren't you proud about that?"

Zach looked down upon Niko, "I should be I suppose, but I am not going to be proud until every last one of those beasts are gone."

Niko turned and sipped some more water in silence.

Zach stood, "Alright kid, finish up and let's get some hand-to-hand training in before we call it a day."

Niko stood and joined Zach on an empty sparing circle, "I best warn you, I have fast hands."

Zach smiled a crooked smile, "show me what you got kid."

Niko was indeed quick. Almost catching Zach off guard, although he would never admit that.

"You have some skills." Zach stated as they grabbed their waters from the bench. "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"My dad taught me a thing or two growing up."

Zach nodded, "You have his skill in that area. That will sure be handy for down in the pit. Blade skills are good and all, but hand-to-hand combat can mean life or death down there. Good job today kid."

Niko beamed, grabbing his duffle bag and throwing it over his shoulder. "Yeah, thanks."

"Look, it's going to be the 17th hour soon, we should call it quits so you can get home before curfew. We'll meet back here in the morning. Around the 9th hour."

"Yeah, for sure coach. See you in the morning." With that Niko disappeared out of the training grounds.

"Nice kid?" Vince asked as he stood beside Zach.

"Yeah, he really is. Learns quick too. Marshall's son."

"No kiddin'?" Vince looked after Niko as his head disappeared around the corner.

Zach nodded, "I think we'll be seeing some great things from that kid."

"Greater than the great Zach Miller, the greatest hunter of all time."

Zach playfully shoved Vince, "get off it man."

"C'mon man, 32 monsters in just under three years! Most hunters don't even get that many in a lifetime!"

"It's almost second curfew."

"Ever wonder why adults have a curfew?"

Zach shrugged, "I was always told it was to help keep everyone safe at night. Everyone inside and safe if there's breech in security."

"Maybe," Vince bit off a chunk of peppered jerky.

Zach shrugged, pulling a bow staff off the rack. "Quick spar before heading out?"

Vince shoved the remainder of his jerky into his mouth, "you know it!" He grabbed a bow staff off the rack, spinning it slightly testing out the balance, before standing inside the sparring circle. "Hit me with your best shot!" he smiled his signature crooked smile.