Itan-sha never knew familial love. A life of solitude sharpened him far more than any professional organization would. Throughout the years he's been alive, he's managed to do just that by sticking solely to himself.
He couldn't remember where he was born. Nor who his parents were. All Itan-sha knew for certain was his name, and how cruel humans could be.
As he approached the city of Shoshinsha, he could think of nothing else.
"Vigilance is my only companion." He reminded himself. Sort of like a mantra.
Three years ago, when he was only five, Itan-sha experienced tragedy. His earliest memories were of a cave. There, he nearly died.
If not for a small spring located near the back of the cavern, Itan-sha wouldn't be alive and kicking now. Unaware of how long he spent in the cave, he remembers starving.
Having no one, no food, and the slightest amount of water would drive anyone mad. The infant Itan-sha at the time was no exception. Feeling drowsy, and as if he could faint at any moment, he knew his time was short.
He needed to move. He slowly made his way to the entrance of the cavern. Dragging his little infant body with all the strength he could muster.
For the weeks, or months, or days spent in the cavern he's never approached the entrance. He has, in fact, feared the entrance. There was sort of a bad feeling he would get whenever he neared it. That, and the many frightening roars and beasts that haunted his dreams.
Today, however, he completely disregarded his safety. Leaving the cave, the only thing Itan-sha concerned himself with was hunger and survival. He needed to stay alive.
As he moved along, the cave around him brightened. Looking up irritated his eyes. He quickly closed them. He was obviously nearing the entrance. He could already hear the roars in the distance.
**Bow**
He flopped right outside the cave. Eyes squinted from the light of the sun. He couldn't even take in his surroundings before he finally fainted.
Exhaustion caught up with him and his adrenaline faded. His last memory that night was a loud roar as he sunk into his nightmares once more.
*********
When he awoke, Itan-sha was no longer hungry. The first thing he saw were two unfamiliar faces. They stared at him with hope all over their expressions.
"Ayyyy....." Itan-sha screamed. He almost instantly jumped up from, what looked to be a mattress. Confusion was plastered all over his face.
"Little one you're finally up. Ai!" The bigger of the two spoke. He was old. Wrinkles on his face and arms. Not yet, but very close to being a bag of bones and nothing but. His face was kind nevertheless.
"Aye! You've slept for a week straight." The other one squeaked. He was clearly around the same age as Itan-sha, yet he seemed four times his size. "We healed you. Me and gramps. I'm called Rai Baru. Who are you?"
The little one talked so fast it was hard for Itan-sha to fully understand him.
"I - Itan-sha." He was so frightened he could barely get his own name out.
"Aye! Itan chan. I like it." Rai Baru started excitedly hopping around. "You'll train with us now."
"I don't... I don't understand." Itan-sha was nearly lost for words. Rai Baru talked extremely too fast.
"Unfortunately my grandson is correct little one. We indeed saved you. I am called Ozuko and, as he said, that's Rai Baru. We got ourselves into a bit of a scuffle with a Beast back there. Eheheh." The old man chuckled. " Lucky I spotted you. Half dead as you were, we managed to get you back into the land of the living. That's what's important."
Itan-sha was starting to grasp the situation. Apparently the visions of beasts in his nightmares were more than just visions.
"He was correct, as well, concerning your training." The old man continued. "We start tomorrow."
After he said that he left the room, giving Itan-sha more time to gather himself. His face full of shock and also excitement. He was anxious for this so called training.
"You should rest. You're gonna need it. Lucky lucky you. Getting to train with a SageL. We're going to be two peas in a pod. I can tell." Rai Baru went on and on.
As hard as it was, Itan-sha tried to ignore him. There was too much too worry about to include a chatterbox like Rai Baru.
Thoughts of training filled his mind. He wondered what it would consist of and why'd the old man pick him.
He was grateful though, that Ozuko saved his life. He just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he wasn't telling him.
He tried to push these thoughts from his mind. Reluctantly, as Rai Baru droned on, he went to sleep.
