The Warrior Monk sat upright, deep in meditation. He’d felt a flaw in his heart as he sat down in the little cave, weary from the battle up the mountainside. Compassion is a double-edge sword… or is it? Does healing come through pain, or can the wounds be healed without pain; with compassion alone. Love heals all… but it may hurt as it does.
The cave was small, one of his favorite. A dim light flickered from the fire the Warrior Princess – or Miss as he preferred to call her – had kindled earlier, warming their tea for the evening.
“Miss, come out of the doorway. The storm is raging outside and I would like your company for tea.” The Master pointed to the small urn bubbling beside him.
“There are thieves about Master. I will guard the entrance to the cave.”
“Thieves? you injured, maimed and slaughtered most of them on our climb up to the cave.”
“They will want to avenge their dead tonight. In the deep of the night they will come for us.”
The Master nodded his head. In this she was right: Men could not leave well alone; they must hurt where hurt needs not be done; they must steal what doesn’t belong to them. They must rape and pillage, destroying the very things they need.
The Master stood up, scooped a bowl of warm broth and took it to Miss. “You are right in this, therefor it is only right that the Master serves you your broth. Drink, it is strong.”
“Thank you Master.” Miss stood in the doorway of the cave, icicles freezing her exposed skin and dampening her fighting leathers. She breathed deeply after finishing her broth and placed the bowl beside her, just inside the door. The ice stung her exposed flesh and she smiled wanly: the pain on her skin reminded her of the pain in her heart; a pain she could not get rid of.
The Monk spoke up. “The Monk must meditate some more, Miss. Please summon the Warrior from within me when the thieves return. They will only return once, then we will drive them out of this valley of Life and let Nature prosper once again. It grieves me to have to resort to violence. Perhaps the thieves will decide it is not worth losing any more of their men to a Warrior Princess and a Monk.”
Neither believed that the men hiding outside the cave would leave quietly. They both settled down in their own ways for a long, difficult night.
Amitofu.
Learning To Love The Ride 