Childhood to Young Adulthood Rook stood on the broken asphalt, rain pouring down, soaking his hair and tattered clothes. His hands and feet were cold, but he was waiting. Waiting for someone to come along to check on a poor child out and cold in the rain. He would make his move then. Dark clouds swirled above, rain pinking off the tin roofs of the nearby buildings, cascading down onto the brick below, puddling into darkness that matched the color of the denizens souls of this wretched place. No one messed with the children here, skinny and weak, they weren't targets for the usual crimes that happened in the shadows that haunted every corner. About 12 now Rook guessed, he had lost track of the winter cycles. Gangly, in a growth spurt he seemed deathly skinny, resembling a skeleton. His cold, soaked hand gripped the iron that would wait some poor soul, Rook was hungry, and this is all he knew. He wept often for the people that fell at his hands, but he needed to eat. Footsteps clopping in the rain, he spun, and the man was basically in his face. Shocked, wondering how he had crept up on Him, Rook went to step back but slipped, the man barely caught him by the shirt. Only catching vague outlines, he could tell it was a soldier, grizzled, a disheveled face, scarred, soaked from the rain. "You ok k-" Rook swung his hand with the knife at the man. The man had shock in his eyes but his face didn't budge an inch. He grabbed the pathetic make ship knife with a large gloved hand and threw i to the side before it reached his face. He pulled Rook off the ground by his shirt, making Rook grunt and squirm. "Now look kid," the soldier grumbled. "I'm not one for letting orphans starve, so if you keep up this nonsense there wont be a meal in it for ya, ya hear?" He spoke nonchalantly. Rook stopped squirming and paid attention. "Now look, its cold and raining out here, lets head over to my camp and get some warm grub in ya, whatya say?" The soldier smiled as Rook shook his head frantically. "Stay close now, ya hear?" He said, letting dow Rook and turning to walk the other direction. Rook got a better look at him, he was different then the other soldiers, he had a tattered cape with an unrecognizable logo on it, a roaring bear. Fairly decent armor, a pistol on his thigh and a combat sword and scabbard at his belt. Rook followed. Not 15 feet from where they had once stood the man stopped, and Rook looked around looking for what had halted this large man. Rook couldn't see anything, but he had a weird feeling. The man held out his arm as 3 men stepped out from the shadows, cleavers in ones hand, the other with a bat and the last with a pipe. "Did we hear somethin about warm grub?" The first one, bald, cleaver guy snarled. "I think he did, and look, he might 'ave some credits on 'im." The larger second one gobbled, his large chin quivering. The third one, obviously the idiot of the group just giggled in delight. "You have one chance to back away gentleman, and do not follow." The soldier announced calmly, evenly. "Aye, i dunnae think so, rich boy," the fat one chimed in as the other two just laughed. "Fine, come on then," the soldier sighed,"Get this over with." All he did was lay his hand on the hilt of his sword and the three charged towards him. It was over in seconds. The sword left its scabbard and the pistol, its hilt. The dark blade met the firsts throat with ferocity, cleaving his head off. The second had about reached him but the soldier spun and slashed, spilling the mans guts on the gravel and asphalt, blood mixing with the rain. In one swift movement he sheathed his sword and fired his pistol, the bullet meeting the giggly ones forehead just feet from the soldier. The soldier sighed again, "Come on lad, lets get out of here." And Rook followed part out of fear and part out of awe. They reached the camp a short time later, large tents and half broken down buildings outside of town. Large fires were surrounded by groups if similarly dressed men, clad in dark soldiers armor. Light gear, they just seemed to be trying to warm up and burn away the rain. We walked towards a large tent, the flap flew open as we neared. The soldier on duty snapped to attention. "Sir!" He barked methodically. "At ease, soldier." The caped man said, walking past him. Rook looked up at the guard as he passed, entering the tent, the man did not in fact, relax. Looking around Rook saw a great desk, crates with ammo, weapons and maps sticking out, revealing the crates contents. The tent was large, behind the desk was a large bookshelf filled with old tomes and books of many bindings. A soldiers cot sat off the the side. The tent was very clean Rook noticed. The man removed his cape and threw it on a nearby chest and plopped into his desks seat. Running his hands over his tired face, he chuckled from behind his hands. "You don't talk much, do you?" He said, leaning an arm on the desk, smiling crookedly at Rook. Rook shook his head. "Ahh, the silent type, eh?" He smiled standing. He clapped. A man entered from the backside of the tent, revealing a back portion and smells that made Rooks stomach grumble and his fists clench. The man walked over to the desk and placed a tray of bread, cheese and what looked like a bowl of stew and walked back to his portion of the tent. Rook stared it down. The man noticed. "Your hungry?" He said walking over to the tray, wafting the steam with his hands to get a better smell. "Beef Stew, my favorite," he said with dripping sarcasm, the man in the back of the tent chuckled and the Caped man smiled. "My name is General Kortur, this is my camp, this is my food, and you may have it." he stated Rook stepped forward. "Once you tell me your name, boy." Kortur smiled. Rook stopped and looked at the man, his stomach was aching with pain. "R-Rook sir, dats what they calls me." Rook said. Kortur waved his hand and Rooked walked up to the food. "Eat it slow and proper, take a seat, you are not a animal." He barked. Rook listened, and grabbed the closest chair and pulled it to the desk and ate. Rook and Kortur talked through the night, mostly Rook. Little did Rook know Kortur would become a great friend, his way into a new life with military service, and his future. Out of the gutter he came, out of the gutter Destiny pulled him, to live and to make a great Fate. To Be Continued..... -Hope you guys enjoyed the look into Zo'ruuks Childhood. I hope you want more because more is coming! Thanks everyone for your support!-