A Warriors Heart: The Lady Of Death

Chapter 3

Cleo immediately headed over to the shrine where she found the elder waiting for her.

The elder gave cleo a new assignment, she was to leave town that night to travel to Dracon, a town beyond the mountains where she would receive special training from the monks there for the next year.

Cleo went home, packed her things telling Charlie that it was a special request from the elder that she receive a spiritual education, of course he agreed and so accompanied by the head priest Cleo set of on her journey to Dracon, leaving her family and memories of Jax behind.

After a weeks travelling they finally made it to Dracon, it was a beautiful town, its streets were lined with sakura trees, the town was surrounded by multi-coloured fields of ripe crops , but the most striking building was the temple that overlooked the entire town , it glittered in the sunlight , with its domed roof sparkling like diamonds.

The temple also served as the chiefs home and was to be where Cleo would be staying during her training.

Over the next year Cleo was given intense training in many different martial arts techniques, the use of any weapon she could think off and most importantly the safe use and control of the sacred dragon power.

During her time there she had become good friends with the town chief and his daughter Jade, she had even undertaken some extra ninja training with Lord Yuki's personal bodyguard Harada, so she was sad to have to leave and return home.

The day Cleo was due to leave came all too soon, the chief monk handed her a letter to give to the elder and told her she had been the best student he had ever trained. Lord Yuki told her she was always welcome in Dracon and to come visit anytime.

Harada lifted her off the ground in a bear hug , and as he put her down she saw the feint trace of a tear on his cheek.

"don't worry harada ill be back to visit soon and you can always come to visit me" Cleo smiled at him.

"oh I will definitely be visiting, I have to make sure you are keeping up with your training after all, damn im going to miss you" harada's voice was thick with tears that he wouldn't release.

"Jade, ill miss you so much, please say youll visit too" cleo knew saying goodbye to Jade would be hard

"of course ill visit , your family" Jade hugged Cleo tigh.

After saying goodbye to everyone Cleo started her journey home, back to Meadowdell and back to her family.

As she walked she couldn't help wondering what Charlie would think to the new Cleo; she had grown and changed a lot since she left home.

"Dad is never going to approve of these clothes".

Cleo laughed to herself as she looked at the outfit she was wearing, leather trousers, waistcoat, high heeled boots, she had also grown her hair out and it now flowed down to her waist, which will shock everyone as she had always preferred to keep it at shoulder length.

Cleo was about three miles outside of Meadowdell when she noticed a man sat under a tree at the side of the road eating.

Cleo didn't recognize him at first but as she drew closer she soon realized who she was looking at and so did her heart as it suddenly started beating so fast it felt like it would burst out of her chest.

Cleo wanted to stop and speak to him but thought better of it and kept walking, as she started to pass by where he was sat he looked up.

"Well hello there young lady".

Cleo almost fell over when he spoke to her but soon regained her balance and composure.

"Hello. Beautiful day isn't it?" she replied politely, he nodded and smiled at her.

"Watch yourself on these roads. There have been mudslides this last year and the roads have become very narrow and dangerous in some areas."

She thanked him for his warning and went on her way.

"He didn't even recognize me" she sighed to herself "have I really changed that much?"

Cleo felt sad thinking that no matter how much she changed he should still know her, but no, obviously she never meant enough to Jax for him to remember her.

As soon as Cleo got to Meadowdell she went straight to the elder to deliver the letter shed had been given for her, then with her permission went home.

As she walked through the door Cleo found herself suddenly wrapped in strong arms, spinning around in the air, as she looked at her attacker she laughed.

"Hi dad, I take it you missed me then?"

Charlie put her down and gave her a loving look.

"It's good to have you back flower, the place just isn't the same without you here. Now what the hell are you wearing? Go and change this instant."

He tried so hard to be strict but the grin on his face gave him away.

"Ah, look at you all grown up, I can't believe my little girl is almost a woman, you won't need your old papa soon."

"Dad seriously? I'll always be your little girl and I'll always need you."

Just hearing her say those words seemed to make his already huge grin even bigger.

"Where's Pup dad? I figured he'd be here to meet me."

Charlie explained that Pup had received word that Jax was also arriving home today and had gone to meet him.

As soon as Cleo heard that name her heart started to pound in her chest, Jax was coming home after all these years, that explains why she saw him on the road, then she remembered how he hadn't recognized her and her chest felt tight, "oh well I'm sure he'll know me once he's here".