The grass had a very strong scent after rain. It is funny how the scents are emphasized after rain. Especially so light. The skies were still grey and heavy with rain. The wind blew past me. Brushing my fur gently backwards. It wasn’t cold, nor warm. The perfect temperature. Delicate flowers closing to protect themselves from the eminent rain. Again and again it has been like this for a few days. It rains almost every day and when it doesn’t the sky insists in keeping itself grey. Thunder lightning in the distance. My eyes closed, letting myself feel a little more from the wind. Trying to keep this feeling as long as I could.

The wind caressed my short dark fur. It is smooth and has a nice gleam to it. After a little while taking care of it with the help of my tongue and my own daughter constantly telling me to brush it, the true color of it has been revealed. A black, darker even than the penumbra in the deepest cave, speckled with a gold, so light and so subtle. This color took over most of my form. My left ear, tattered from battle, had a light brown, pending to red. Muzzle lighter, with a lighter brown, much like all my four legs. Breeze keeping with it’s delicate touch, making my pelt move with each gentle blow.

My eyes opened once more. I have changed entirely. Even the icy blue around my pupil, surrounded by the gold, transmitted a humble kindness. Once, my form had been short and thin. The scar on my left leg had been visible in the past, but today all is different. My body had gained muscle once more. I am short, but not weak. I am strong, but not bulky. My body revealed to be the perfect mixture of agility and strength. The scar on my leg would still be visible for any curious who approached it just enough to see the slight difference of muscle. But with the training, it had been almost completely covered.

This is my true self.

Amir accepted me as his apprentice after he noticed my difficulty adapting to my scarred leg. He helped me, making me run with him almost every morning. Adapting my fighting style. Getting my strength back on my leg. It had been a long time training with him. I had limited myself to Diveen and never stepped out. I haven’t seen the free lands in a while, besides when Uno forced me to track Devil. I’ve never felt just good enough to step out again. After losing so many fights, my self-confidence was reduced to almost nothing. Today, I feel much better. Happy, determined and even honored. Amir gave me a couple of months off to rest from training. He is a great teacher. He helped me a lot.

I was sitting close to the water. Tail wrapped around my paws as I watched the landscape in front of me. The roaring storm. I always liked to watch the storm in the distance. Especially in the middle of the cloudy afternoon. A smile drawing on my muzzle. It couldn’t be better.