Wren centered herself, taking a breath she got into defense position. She spread her legs shoulder width apart, and had her hands positioned on her trusted spear like one might hold a golf club.

She stared down her opponent, she sensed his fear along with his overwhelming arrogance. He was new, her sensei had requested she show the newbies what this dojo is about.

So she was told to not go easy on them, her dream job.

She kept her face stoic as the newbie, Sage glared and charged her. His spear held high, she narrowed her eyes and stood her ground. He approached rapidly, he had decent speed but nothing compared to her reflexes.

Sage swung his beginner spear, it was merely wooden with no handle, and a stone tip held in place by rope from a griffin's mane. Her spear was made from red fire-lizard skin, smooth to the touch and fire resistant, along with a large spear-head made of unicorn horn, the handle made from tree bark from a ambersap oak. She dodged left and brought her spear up to throw him off balance, she would have been able to kill him but she was not allowed to do so.

Sage stumbled, temporarily losing his footing, she then body checked him, sealing the deal. Sage's expression was one of pure shock. She did not allow herself to be pleased, she then charged forwards and pinned him with a hand gently yet firmly around his neck, her spear pointed ominously at him.

She had won, as expected of her.

Sage seemed humbled, as she let him up the students who had been watching in the large dojo started clapping politely Sage went on to his knees and bowed towards his senior. Wren gave him an approving nod in return, she then left the dojo, leaving the newbies to their training.

Wren wandered aimlessly through the garden, keeping her always pokerfaced expression, she observed the rock ponds and the large sakura trees, she felt peace, though her expression gave nothing away.

She sensed a calm yet powerful presence approaching, and she turned around. Sensei was an elderly man, his graying hair cut neatly and his wrinkled face peaceful, he smiled at her and she bowed ninety degrees in greeting.

"Ah, young Wren, what are you doing here?" Sensei asked calmly, his kindness seeping through. Wren let her long crimson red hair sort itself back into its high pony-tail, her red eyes stoically watching her Sensei.

"I was merely wandering." she replied quietly, confident in her answer. Sensei chuckled and waved his hand in the air as if swatting a fly "Well, why don't you go into town and buy some food for us?" Sensei asked, Wren was an orphan, she hadn't known her parents but as long as she could remember Sensei had raised her, taught her to defend herself, and most importantly taught her honor.

Wren nodded and fixed her white uniform, it was standard though she wore a black belt around her waist proudly. They taught weaponless martial arts, but what the dojo was more famous for was teaching students how to fight confidently with a spear, which is a hard weapon to master.

Wren bowed again and turned to leave the dojo, she walked down the tree lined trail, students who were new always complained about the long flight of stairs that went up the mountain to the dojo. They were stone and not a single chip in them, seeing as they were sacred and well looked after. As Wren walked down the trail she let her red eyes scan the underbrush, she was a fire-spirit, hence her vision is motion based.

She saw nothing and let it go.

As Wren made it to the village she sensed something;

Someone was watching her.