{Location: Mamade E's circus} (Hunter's/Morro's POV)

"Step on up!" I stand in the hot blazing sun. There's a fair crowd, mostly looking for games or sugary food. I jump off my crummy out of the way stand. "Can you guess what cup the pebble's under? Come on up and give it a try."

I hate advertising. Hmm, I hate a lot of things around here. I tend to be more of a grump about things when I'm dead tired and starving.

I sit back down, my feet getting a weird stinging sensation. I should have done a better job cleaning them. Or simply wear shoes...if I could ever get my hands on some.

"How is this played?" A guy sits across from me. Strong frame, rough hands, and a big hat.

"It's easy," I pull out a decently sized coin from what I've made. Placing it between us, "You just bet witch cup has the pebble...after I shuffle them around."

He smirks. He looks pretty gullible. A mess of brown hair bearly tucked under, amber eyes and decent clothes. But he grips his coin sack like he knows what kind of place this is, "All right. Let's play."

I pick up the cups, showing a white pebble in the middle. I let him look at it for a while before covering it. I start crisscrossing the cups. Left to middle, right across, middle to right. Getting faster before I carefully send the stone thought my sleeves. It swings around, landing in a different cup to hide in. "You get one guess."

He huff, "Easy peasy," he points to the one on the right, "That one."

I pick it up, showing nothing, "Sorry."

"Huh?" He takes the cup, looking on the inside, "Where is-"

"Ta-da," I show off the pebble in the middle.

He swipes it, putting it under his cup, "I knew it." He chuckles before leaving a dollar, "Thanks for the game."

Paper money. I take it, holding it up to the sun. I've heard this stuff is getting popular. It's certainly lighter than coins.

I put it in my jar. Quickly becoming bored again as I'd like for a cloud to cover the sun or a cool breeze.

Nao walks over, working his way between people, swiping wallet with his slim hands before looking down over me, "hey, so Asher's all done with his routine."

"And he needs the stupid rock. He's doesn't even play it right. At least I-"

"Madame E said." Nao stuffs his coin sacks into a small shoulder bag before taking my 3 cups and a rock, "Here." He tosses a deck of cards, "Try your disappearing card thing."

Again. I start shuffling the deck. "Fine."

"Awesome. And um..don't hold on to 'em. I want them back by tonight."

I start pattering the cards. Seemingly opposite colors and numbers next to each other. "Whatever. Step on up. Watch how I change this ace of heart to a king of clubs. It's AMazing, folks. Come on over." Waytt leaves as my customer steps up.

He's a doubter. His arms are tightly folded and he has a smirk that reads, 'I know it's a trick and I'll prove it.' He's obviously never met me. He's shortish, round with a fancy suit, brown hair, blue eyes and a fancy dressed woman in black behind him. "Young man, you speak of the impossible."

Time for this routine, "Sir, impossible lives and breaths here as the Cirque Eclipses," by which I mean the thieves' ring stage name. I smile as I set up my stack, "But if you feel like I can't do it, feel free to bet against it."

"Oh dear," the woman smiles, "Do it again. But be nicer on this little boy."

"Matilda. Let me focus." The guy sits down, setting down a tall stack of coins, "I set in 9 gold coins."

I push forward my jar, "Is 4 silvers, a dollar and 3 bronze all right with you?"

"Sure." He folds his arms, "Go ahead."

"It's very easy. I'm going to pick up the same card twice. But the second time, it'll be the king of clubs." I smoothly pick up the card second from the top, showing it off. I put it down then pick up the card on top, showing a king of clubs, "Same card." He takes it, examines all sides, "Different number and suit."

"I..hm..." He pulls out more kinds of coins. I missed something at my first glance, he's a fool who thinks he's smarter then he really is. "I blinked. Once more please."

"All right." I suffle quickly yet carefully. Getting a jack of diamonds to a 2 of clubs, "How does a jack to a 2 sound?"

"We'll see." I swap cards as he stares at my hand. I'll need to be a bit more tricky. I show him the jack of diamonds before lowering it. I gasp, point to the sky, "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?"

"What?" He and the girl turn around.

I flip the card to the back of my hand. "Sorry, thought I saw a dragon. Anyway," I pick up the next card, 2 of club with my other hand, "Was this your card?"

"I got it. You're picking up the second to last card. Clever."

"Am I?" I tap the jar, "I bet you're wrong."

"12 pieces of silver say otherwise." He drops them in before picking up a card. His face falls in disappointment. He takes another, and another. "Where is it?"

"Miss?" I smile, giving her puppy dog eyes, "Would you like to see me pull a card out of thin air?"

She smiles while pulling out a dollar, "Sure."

I curl the card into my palm. Patting around before 'finding' it on the ground, "Watch this." I turn my hand around, not showing the flip. To their amazement, there's the jack of clubs.

"H-how?" The guy looks at it.

"I did the impossible. Thanks for watching and enjoy the circus."

I watch as they grumble off.

I stack my cards, wondering if I should take that lunch break now. I'm starving.

I get another customer. I stretch, rubbing my eyes from my late night, "Hello. Would you like to-" Wu. I stop short, cards spilling out of my hands.

He doesn't look happy.

"Morro," He frowns, his hat making him looks upset. "We need to talk."

"Do I know you?"

He raises an eyebrow.

I slump over, "How'd you find me?" I set down my cards, twiddling my thumbs, "And my name's not-"

"It's the name I gave you." He folds his arms. Staring me down, "And you ran off on a train that could pass for a rainbow. I followed the tracks."

"I'm guessing you want your stuff back." I've never, ever had anyone chase after me. And if he walked that whole way, I'm tempted to give him his stuff back. If I already didn't give it to Madame E. "Here," I push up my money, "I don't think I can get your stuff back. Maybe you could buy another?"

He pushes aside the money, I don't care for material things. The sword and staff are important to me. But I didn't come here for them." His eyes soften a little, "Why did you come back?"

"I belong here." My mouth opens without my permission. I brush out my green hair strip. Just color or fashion to the normal eye but a marker to other smart thieves. Telling them where I belong.

"Do you?"

"Sure." I fold my arms. "I mean it's not like Madame E's gonna let me go. Or get your stuff back."

He leans closer, daring me to look away, "Do you belong here?"

"Y-yeah? Why are you asking the same question?"

"Let me ask it in a few different ways. Do you want to stay here? Do want to be with these people? Do you have to stay in this circus?" He lays his hands on the table. Reaching towards my hands, "When you can stay with me?"

"You...you still want me?" What? "Why?"

"I see something in you. A potential that can't be fulfilled here. If you're scared, I am more then willing to protect you. I could even teach you how to protect yourself." He folds his hands together, "I won't pressure you." He gets up. "I'll wait by the gate if you want to come." He walks away, his hands holding behind his back.

Option one, stay here and steal for the rest of my life with people who hate and starve me. Option two, go with a guy who I've known for 7 days but is kind.

I get up, kicking over the box and walk over to the train's caboose. This is too easy.

I pull open the door, Madame E frowns as all her curtains are closed tight. She holds a clear glass of something. I just know that glass never leaves her room. She sets it down while I spot Wu's katana and staff. She sways a little, "Hunter? What are you-"

"Blah, blah, blah," I grab the katana and the staff, "I'm leaving."

"You're not," she hiccups, "Making sense."

"I'm running away from the circus." Ironic I think. I storm out, "I'm done here."

She grabs my wrists, "Hunter Kenneth, you're, hic, not leaving. You, hic, belong here."

I drop the sword, thwacking her shoulder with the staff, "Screw off." I dash out. I jump off the train, running through people.

"COME BACK! HIC!" Madame E points to me, "GET HIM!"

My feet thumb as I spin around kids jumping at me from the crowd. Asher holds a small pail of rocks. He readys one.

I put the katana on my back. Slamming the staff into his gut.

Madame E shouts certain words at me as Wu stands in front of a baby blue gate.

Over the last seconds of my run, I show off a certain gesture before grabbing Wu's hands and starting off, "Let's go."

"Whoa," he chuckles while pulling his hand out. He pulls ahead of me as my bandages start to fall off. Ow, ow, ow. I should have cleaned it sooner. Wu notices me slowing down, he scoops me up, darting into the woods next to a stream. I glance back, the circus people won't follow us without frecking out their customers. Wu breathes heavily as he sets me down on a rock, "That was fast."

"It was an easy choice." I pull off the katana. Handing them to Wu, "here."

"Your feet." Wu takes the katana and sword, setting them down before gently looking at my feet, "What happened?"

"The rocks from last night. They cut up my feet."

He carefully picks me up, carries me to the river, putting my feet in the water. "Let me take care of that," he massages them, "When did you wrap these?"
"Late last night," I'm a little sheepish to admit it but what more could I have done? "I didn't exactly get to clean them."

He hums, "They're not infected that's a good sign." He rubs them, making the water pinkish. He smiles as pulls them out. Ripping small strips of his sleeve, before wrapping my feet.

"How long is our walk going to be?" My stomach growls. Oh yeah, I'm hungry.

Wu smiles, "You're in no condition to walk," he puts the katana on my back before picking me up on his back. He walks with the staff, "But I'll be sure to get you some lunch, Hunter."

"I don't want to be called that."

"Really?"

"I want to forget that circus. I'm Morro."

"All right, Morro. What do like to eat?"

"Just anything but peanuts." I chuckle as Wu finds a smooth path to a town, "Long story."

"We'll get sandwiches, hm?"

"Ok." I lay my head against his back, "Why's the sword covered?"

Wu chuckles, "It's a story. But we've got a bit of a walk. Long ago, Garmadon and I weren't just brothers, we were the best of friends. He wasn't always as distance and wrapped up in his own desires like he is now. One day, I lost that katana on your back. It flew over the monastery wall. I was about as old as you are. But oh so very different. Both of us knew that our father would be mad about the katana. Garmadon encouraged me to go retrieve it." Wu huffs as the wind sways a little, "I refused."

"You were scared?"

"A little. I've only been to the outside world with my father. Garmadon told me to not put off tomorrow what could be done today. He climbed the wall for the katana. I waited. And waited. Hours passed before my father left to find him. He was bitten by a legendary snake, one that would always grow as long as it consumed."

So like everything else then.

I shut my trap as my eyes get heavy.

"He was very ill. A great evil found its way into my brother's heart. The snake's venom could turn the purest of things wicked. That snake made a crack in our friendship. He won't admit it's there but I can feel it. I keep that katana as a reminder that I have to take care of my own messes and mistakes."

"Un-huh." I'm just going to rest my eyes a little.

"Morro."

"Yeah, Sensei?"

"You can sleep if you want to. I'll understand."

"Ok. Night." I crash on his shoulders.