{Location: The monestary}[Many, many, years ago](Morro's POV)

Let's try this again. The full moon shines in my face, waking me up.

It's time anyway.

I climb out of bed, lightly tip-toe to the next room.

I don't like doing this. Stealing makes a sicking tight knot in my gut. Despite me doing it my whole life. But I owe her and she'll have my head if I don't deliver by tonight. I first check on the guy who invited me in. Wu. He gave me food, real non-moldy stuff, and a bed. Heck, I got real clothes. I shouldn't steal. But I'm gonna.

He's sound asleep. I quietly close the door as I search the only room I haven't. A large room. Start looking. She wants it. And I always deliver.

I quietly touch everything. Not finding what I'm looking for. "Ugg!" How hard is it to find a map to a frecking tomb.

I sigh as I've looked under every floorboard and cabinet in this place. Madame E gave me vague instructions after kicking me out, figuring out where I was staying, and this is...was my only ticket back in. She wants a realm crystal. And she knows that my father had to give it back to the first spinjitsu master.

But it's got to be somewhere.

I should cut my losses. I pick up a gorgeous katana wrapped in cloth. Seems valuable.

Click.

Perfect. Just great.

I turn to see Wu awake and looking slightly upset, "Didn't I put you in bed a half an hour ago?"

"Um." Lie. I need a lie. Mabey I can get away with sleepwalking.

He holds his bamboo staff, "Morro. What are you doing with that katana?"

"Um." I'm in too deep. And I can't lie to him. Not after a week of everything he's given me.

So naturally, I decided to draw the sword and attack him.

He sidesteps but I manage to trip him. Taking the staff. I put the sword away as I run out, "Sorry!" I burst out.

Wu chases after me.

Tall heavy wooden gates block my exit. A normal person would give it up here. But I'm not normal. I push over a golden dragon, a small red button appears and I press it. A beautify complex course comes up. I stand on top of one of the circular treadmills before flipping onto the roof. I balance carefully as Wu looks for a way to catch up to me.

I flip over the gate, my bare feet landing on cold dirt before running down the steep mountain. Chances are he won't chase me for long. I mean he lives in a monastery. He's probably a monk and doesn't get out much.

I'm home free.

I just don't like that I had to steal from him. I hate long-cons. I get too involved. I speed down the windy path.

Out of nowhere, Wu is in front of me.

By some miracle, I stop my momentum. I half smile at his green eyes, "Hi."

"Why are you stealing?"

"I..." I'm almost out of time. With a sword in one hand and a staff in the other, I'm forced to step back. I'm going to regret this. I charge forward. Him not wanting to go tumbling down a mountain moves out of my way.

I can't waste a second. I slide over sharp rocks. My feet aren't gonna look good tomorrow. I keep running, at the bottom, I look behind me. No sign of Wu.

I slam into something. How'd he get in front of me?!

Wu has his arms folded, "I don't want to fight you, Morro." He kneels down as I look for another escape, "Did you trick me into inviting you into my monastery?"

"Um." I sigh. It's so simple, quick and easy. Ditch Madame E and live with him. But I can't. I don't belong up there.

I know who I am and where I belong. I'm Hunter Kenneth. Runt of a thieves' ring.

Wu out to brush my hair aside, "Morro, you can-"
I tackle him witch looks more like a pathetic bare hug. But I manage to roll around him before taking off one last time, "I'm not Morro."

Fingers crossed that'll keep him down. I don't have much further to go. I run through a little town before coming to a colorful train parked in a train station. I get on the caboose, throw open the door and slam it shut.

"Hunter, honey." Madame E sits there on her silk bed. Her face is youngish but with stress lines. Her eyes are a sick pale amber but somehow she charms customers with them. Her lips are thin like someone sucked away her life with a kiss. But it's her outfit that always gets someone to stare.

Today she wears a dark green dress with a black underside peeking thought. Her brown hair is curled and looks perfect. Until you spot her green streak curling thought her hair. Just like mine.

I straighten up as the train slowly start chugging along, "Madame E, sorry that I was almost late."

"You should be sorry for your bloody feet. Just show me the map and run along to clean them before they stain my silk carpet."

"Yes Madame," I stand on my toes as I show off my tiny keep, "I um...I couldn't find the map."
"WHAT!?" She must have woken up the whole train with her shrill voice, "You had one task."

"After you found out where I ran off too." I try and act happy about a sword and a staff, "B-but these did belong to the first spinjutzu master's son."

"Garmadon?"

"No. The other one."

She rips them from my hands as she gets up, "How can I possibly sell that? Swords are everywhere. Staff can be made. You brought me nothing."

I make sure to keep my bloody feet off her carpet, "I'm sure we can find a use for them. The staff can be a balancing staff for trapeze stuff. And the sword for, sword swallowing? Heh?" I smile as best I can.

Her palm straightens before smacking me.

I spin around, landing on my face.

She towers over me, pressing her high heel into my back, "You're a bad boy. My special boys get dinner for their work. Special boys don't disappoint me after spending 3 months away from me!"

"I'm sorry. B-but this is my first real failure."

"No excuses." She grabs my too long hair, pulling me up, "No late night snacks, breakfast or lunch for you tomorrow. You also have to clean up after the animals once we set up." She makes sure to keep my bloody feet off her floor. She snarls, showing pristine perfect teeth that could snap at any second, "Got it? Brat?"

"Y-Yes Madame E," I'd shake my head if she wasn't holding it."

She drops me, "You'll also clean this tomorrow. Now, go to bed you little rat." She grabs a glass from her vanity as I hobble through the train door, "And Hunter, tomorrow I want you to start making friends with the customers. Got it?"

My feet hurt. I guess that shortcut wasn't such a good idea, "Yes." I close her door behind me before stepping over the cart connection. I reach over, trying to open the door as the wind nearly pulls me off. I pull it open.

Inside are dozens of kids who fake being asleep. Gah, no empty bunk. I look around.

"Psst," Akia rolls over, pointing to a barely held together hammock, "Your's tonight."

I moan, "Thanks." It's the worst place to sleep. I manage to climb on, not caring how my bloody feet look in here. I can fix them tomorrow. I just want to sleep.

"So," Akia leans over, her hot breath over my face, "How's Madame E's prince of thieves doing?"

"He's dethroned." 1 mistake is all it took. I wish Wu had that darn map. Now I'm a little screwed. But it's not like I was sent there. I got the boot for beating up a customer (Trust me, that guy had it coming). And for a while, I was starving, getting teased for begging. Eventually, I tried a monastery only to get the luckiest break of my life. Until Madame E heard and sent Asher with a message.

Akia snickers as someone blows out a firelight, "So I can get on her good list. Akia, princess of thieves."

"You couldn't smuggle a leaf through a forest without getting caught." I hate this thing. The hammock is for the worst person, someone who's not worthy of a bed. No surprise that I sleep on this thing nearly every night. But I get my pillow and smack her, "Besides, I'll be back on top soon enough."

"I don't think so," she sings while curling under her blankets, "Everyone's gotten a little better since you beat that guy."

"Hey, he had it coming for trying to beat me up."

"Which is why you mauled him like a wolf."

"Dramatic much?"

"SHH!" Wyatt pushes my hammock, rocking me around, "We have a busy day tomorrow."

I roll my eyes, "you're just sour that I got to leave for a couple months."

"Oh yes," he snarls while tossing and turning, "Let's all praise the little jerkwad for his freedom only to come back like a dog."

Ok, enough's enough. I shut up, closing my eyes.

Tomorrow's going to be better. I can run my station, earn a little money and buy some food in town.

Yeah, if I can even walk on my feet tomorrow.

My eyes stay closed as the train's rocking lullers me to sleep.

Some one's poking my feet. I open my eyes, feeling underslept as I pull my feet away. Oh yay, Asher. He's big, he's dumb and he's annoying. He has a dumb smile on his face, "Red stuff got covered by crimson stuff. Don't worry, I freed the red stuff."

"Ugg," I groan as I carefully start ripping a part of my hammock to bandage my feet, "it's called blood and scabs." I balance as I do on a tightrope as I bandage the other, "It's how it heals."

"Oh." He shrugs. Probably too stupid to understand, "You eating with us?"

I could sneak something. I hop off only to land on my feet. Bad move.

They sting, bleeding into the cloth. I bite my lip to keep from yelping, "Sure."

Asher gets off his bed, a box set of springs and a blanket. He leads the way to the dining cart. Rambling on about his dream.

I ignore him, looking outside. The sky is pink, the sun's still waking up. Where ever we're going, it's a little chillier. Snow's on the ground, light powdery stuff.

I slide into a booth. Akia is looking smug while watching the scenery. Nao and Wyatt play games as Asher pushes me into the wall.

I push him back as I could take another nap or eat a horse.

Nao loses around, he forks over a couple of coins before looking at me with those greedy brown eyes. "Hunter, the special child. Hured Madame E wasn't too happy with your keep from last night."

I pour myself a glass of water as I can hear hush whispers thought the cart.

"Aww," Akia shakes her head, "Big baby doesn't want to talk about it."

"Leave me alone," I snap. I am not a morning person, "I'm just 7."

"LIAR!" Wyatt puts his money away, "You might be 8. Mr butt head. And ex-favorite of Madame E's."

"I'm not her favorite. I never was." I shut up and sip my water.

They jeer at me.

I don't feel like talking. I just watch out the window. Watching how the wind bends over treetops. Why can't I be like that, free? Yet here I am, stuck in the crap hole.

"Ok, little ones," a waiter dishes out half pancakes and peanuts, "Breakfast. Oh sorry," he makes sure I don't get any. I guess Madame E works faster then I'd give her credit for, "The chief made nothing for you." He walks off as other kids get orange juice. They must have done Madame E's special jobs. Begging and pickpocketing.

I glance as Asher, "Asher, is there any way I could-"

Thought a mouthful of syrup of peanut shells, he growls out a no while scarfing his food down.

I ask my other 'friends'. Getting a hard no.

I'm so hungry. I just had to fail that one simple assignment. I give up and pick up the menu. My eyes looking over the letters. I only really understand the prices because they're numbers.

"Holy crap," Akia gulps down her food while venom fills her voice, "Did that monk guy teach you how to read Hunter?"

Waytt catches on, "Could you teach us? Come on. You're our little prince. Give us what we want."

"If you teach me to read, I'll swipe you a few corn dogs later on." Nao gets in on it as he plays with cards. He shuffles them before dealing them out, "Hunter. Come on. We're friends. Right?"

"You all can stop now," I throw down the menu, "I can't read. Happy?"

"Something bite you? You seem, well, normal. You're normally a jerk." Akia pats her belly as mine groups.

The train stops. Madame E's shill voice shouts thought out the train, "Everyone out. We've arrived in Gypsy Cove. Please start helping set up. I want all children out there, putting up ads. Not Hunter. He knows his other jobs. Thank you."

I squeeze pass Asher. I love being singled out. I storm out as people point and whisper.

I hate this place. I don't belong here.

I pull open the door, hobbling over the snow to my post.

I don't belong anywhere. I don't belong to anything. At least nothing feels right.

I'm alone in a crowd.