Chapter 2

It had been a year since I had walked into the Witch's Broom to join the guild. Jacks had become my trainer, an order from Master Ironside. The man himself was a legend. Wielding a hammer he used to use in his forge he protected his family when bandits had come to rob them blind. He wasn't trained to fight but he began the first guild in the kingdom for fighters, to help the soldiers protect this land.
Of course the man training me was quite the legend himself. Jacks "The Ripper", known for his sword play, the only man known to wield a two-handed sword in just one hand. No one knows how he can summon such strength, all anyone knows is that to fight him, bare-handed and with a blade, is risking your life. While he was training me he hadn't touched a drink, an order from the captain, and the captain's commands were law.
One day, we were training with swords, the captain came for a visit.
"Gentlemen." I looked away for two seconds and while I looked at the captain I saw the world turn upside down as Jacks hooked my leg and sent me spinning until I was flat on my back.
"Rule number 2. . ." Jacks said sipping his morning cup of coffee.
"Never take your eyes off your opponent." I sighed and I got up and dusted off.
"I see the training is going well."
"If you call a swift kicking of my. . ." Jacks cleared his throat." "Hind-quarters." I sighed.
"A little better." Jacks said, shaking the captains hand after having stuck his massive blade into the ground. "To what do we owe the pleasure sir?"
"I like seeing you formal but if you don't loosen up I think I might kick your. . ." Captain Ironside looked at me. "Ass." I couldn't help but smile. Despite every member of the guild being a bunch of fighters and brawlers, they all had a good heart. "I came here because it has officially been a year since young Jasper has joined us at the guild so I thought I would drop off this." He handed over a piece of parchment and when Jacks had unfolded it he scoffed.
"This is beneath me sir I. . ."
The captain's hand went up for him to stop. "But a good test to see how our new member is doing. It is about time he be introduced to our world. You know I began the fighting guild for things that range from helping rid a town of bandits to. . . Things of this nature. It is a good start and I hear he is quite the shot. Besides the army won't take care of things like this, they can barely protect us other countries wanting to fight us, and even then they call upon us themselves. No this is a fine start." And with that he began to walk back the way he had come to the Witch's Broom. "Good luck to the both of you."
I walked over to Jacks while he glared at the paper, almost as if he could set it on fire. "So. . . Where are we going?" I could not help but smile and slightly bounce up and down."
"If you are so agile now, why can't you do that in the ring?"
"I don't know I never thought about it." I finally gathered my courage and peaked over onto the paper, where in big bold letters it read:
Bear on a Rampage in Woodside
Has killed all of my livestock along with half of the town's
Reward for the hide
1,000 silver crowns
"A thousand silver crowns? Half the town must have pitched in to offer that."
"Must be quite the bear. So, grab your things, we leave tomorrow at first light."

The next morning we set off, I couldn't help be worried but this is what I had wanted, and it was now or never to prove myself. "Don't worry Jasper, you'll be fine. I've seen you practice." Felix poked his head out of my satchel and gave me his cat smile.
"Is that Cat?" Jacks turned to walk backwards so he could see, but when he saw Felix he ran over and grabbed him. "I knew it, I knew you would tag along."
"Help me" Felix whispered. I shook my head while grinning like the fool I was.
"Don't worry Cat, I'll keep him out of trouble," as he began to walk again.
"I told you my name is Felix for the hundredth time you barbarian, and of course I came with you, I promised to look after the young master."
"Awe such a sweet Cat for such a little man." He said.
"Don't talk to me like that I'm a grown man not some ball of fur fresh from the womb you imbecile.