Rain
Dylan Forehand
It was an extremely cloudy day. The dismal gray skies looked like they were going to burst with rain. Distant sounds of booming thunder echoed through the mountains. It was early morning, and the grasses were damp all over. Master Lee took a step outside the studio, and prepared to take his daily jog into the mountains.
The mountains surrounding the village valley were extremely dangerous. The wildlife was a threat to anyone who stepped through the barrier of trees, ringing the outskirts of the village. There were all sorts of wild animals living in the diverse mountain regions. They ranged from tigers to bears to gorillas to wolves. Some animals lived secluded from others, gaining unique and frightening skills unseen anywhere else in the world.
Master Lee trained rigorously six days a week. Every Sunday he rested. It wasn't a small village he lived in, but he was the only hapkido master in the region. He had many students, some of them very promising, but none of them a worthy sparring challenge. To keep his skills fresh, he danced with death six days a week in the mountain forests.
Master Lee jogged to the edge of the village boundary and started his normal stretching routine. A pulled muscle could mean life or death when dodging a hungry bear, so only when he was good and limbered up did he move on. He jogged slowly through the mile long field outside of the village. The various grasses and flowers reached up past his hips and scratched his arms. When he finally made it to the edge of the forest, the shadows darkened his view. He walked in and felt the immediate dangers.
Suddenly, he heard a cry. Not the normal animal howls and screeches, but a human cry. A baby cry.
**Fifteen Years Later**
Kwan opened his eyes and breathed slowly, taking in his calm surroundings. There was a brook in the meadow outside the village. This is where he came for peace and quiet. It was late spring, and everything had just bloomed. The water was crystal clear, and trickled along quietly. Flowers and weeds poked through the bright green grass. Everything rustled at the slightest breath of wind.
Kwan looked at the sun and decided it was time to head back to the studio. The later classes would start soon, and he would take over private lessons so Master Lee could run the larger group practices. He started jogging toward the village. Kwan was a naturally talented runner, so even at a light pace, the mile only took him five minutes.
Classes seemed to fly by, and Kwan sent the last student off at sundown. Now that official classes were over, it was time for Kwan's personal training. Right on cue, Master Lee walked into the private lessons room from the main half of the studio. "Time for balance drills," Master Lee instructed, before walking out the side exit. Kwan followed, and they approached the training grounds.
Kwan was seventeen years old, with medium length black hair that touched the back of his neck and curled up slightly. There was one scarlet red streak in his hair that started at his crown and swept off to the left. He had tan skin like most Koreans, but he was slightly taller than most of the villagers at five nine. He had well toned muscles, but was lithe, not bulky. His eyes were a mix of smoky gray and icy blue.
Master Lee had raised Kwan ever since he was found. Kwan had heard the story many times. Master Lee used to tell him how dangerous the wooded mountains were, and only the strongest survived. The forests were a place of elite hunters, fine tuned killing machines, and even they were prey to something bigger. It was a place teeming with life, even with death lurking at every corner. The large trees were mystical, a place of deadly beauty. Kwan was found there without a scratch, hence his name. Kwan means 'strong'.
