Whips of air cut through Young Crane's face as snowflakes blurred his vision. Puffs of white that fell from the dojos roof had fell like salt dropped into the kitchens soup pot, and were now swirling about, attacking at the parts of his Gi where his bare skin showed despite him taking shelter under the rafters. Bear chimes rang a discordant sound, pushed with the wind goliaths' many hands strikes. Spruce trees rocked back and forth, knocking their crowns against the stone rooftiles. The snow had given them a light patchy coat, like a newborn rabbit.

Through the beginnings of a blizzard, Young Crane could see the pitch black over the mountain range. He had been standing outside for hours, he reckoned at least two or three at this point. The lamp light of The Mountain Drum glowed like coal embers through locked shades.

Young Crane drew a lanky long arm back then struck the pinewood doorframe with his palm. He jerked it back, with immediate regret. Clenching his teeth, he cradled a frozen, near dead feeling hand. It was twilight pink and stung like jigoku. He bent to sit on the steps but rose immediately, realizing that a wet ass would make him more uncomfortable than he already was.

The sensei had dubbed him Crane due to his lankiness. His legs were the longest of the students his age, his arms were even longer, and skinny. Because of such an awkward built, he was troubled with things other students weren't. A jealousy hit him, that even in his rank of the others he couldn't do a full split, even half of one.

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When lifting a fellow student in a reverse pushup, his arms buckled causing the lifted to collapse on him. That had hurt bad. It hurt slightly more when the sensei had told him to 'Eat loads more rice' to the laughter of the others.

Now what he wouldn't give to be by a warm fireplace, by the hot coal trenches of the dojo.

A pinching sensation hit his bladder, and his sandals made tracks upon the grey snow as he rushed to a nearby tree to relieve himself.

After he was done, he scurried back to the rafters, cold as ever.

Air popped at him like a quick jab.

Young Crane yawned and felt a sharp pain as his jaw locked up. He batted around like a young ram trying to loosen his pulled neck. Fingers reached under his jawbone and massaged it. He could only groan and shutter and wait until the pain passed.

Please. Please let me inside. This is punishment enough.

He would learn the kata, master it, not make the rest of his group look like a fool. Practice and practice some more. Practice it in his quarters. Practice it in his dreams. Get it into his thick head, then practice it even more to make sure he could do with his eyes closed, backward, upside down if need be. Practice...

The door opened to a glowing light like the door of an iron stove opening.

Cloud Hands was standing in the doorway, pale and lit up he looked like a fat candle wrapped in his Gi.

"Sensei said you can come back in now."

Young Crane shivered with chattering teeth but didn't question it. He ran up the steps and inside, as the blizzard picked up behind him.