A Recognition of Shadows

[Rikugurl]

Blue eyes widened when the war cry came at him and he was no fool. Roxas was near mad now! Quickly, he grabbed his staff that was on the ground and quickly blocked the first blow, then the second and so on.
"AAH!!"
"HAA!"
"YAAAH!!"
Each metal blow down met a wooden blow up. The attacks were canceled but quick, their legs moving to keep themselves balanced. Unfortunately, Ventus was losing room as he was pushed back. The calls from his friend became louder and louder as he came close to the edge. Ventus was fearing that if he made a bold move, he would instantly be sliced up.

Roxas was right, he could not bend in such a tight space and everything he tried to circle around the skilled swordsman, he would be caught up again. He was able to slam his staff down to the ground or whip it up a few times but when the air pushed him back, Roxas just kept pressing on.
Sweat started to run down the boy's back, making the new tattoos bright blue. His own muscles were weakening, not use to fighting like this and every blow that came down onto the staff, he took the force of it all.
"Eeet!!" Teeth clenched as he was getting closer to the edge, feeling the weakening of the earth under his light shoes.

Just as he was about to move to a drastic measure, something in the corner of his eyes because viewable. "WATCH OUT!" He suddenly called before his staff fell to the ground. He ducked under a swinging blade and twisted around the boy's side to come to his flank. As he did, his arms made a circle before pushing out, a gust of wind shooting out to put out an incoming fireball that was heading straight to the blonde.

"HAHA!!" A wicked voice came from above and quickly everyone looked up, seeing a mighty red dragon flying over head, spitting out small amounts of fire for the rider to bend.
"RUN!"
"GET OUT OF HERE!"
The villagers rushed in all different directions as the dragon flew in circles over the arena.
"UUUT!!" Blue eyes suddenly widened when a stray blade swung aimlessness behind the blonde and sunk into flesh. Automatically, a strong snap of the air nomad's hand shot out to Roxas's side. The force was blunt and powerful, hitting a pressure point which made Roxas's legs become paralyzed. Roxas cried as he fell forward without any balance and lucky, was caught by Braig when he fell from the stage.

However, something was more troubling... as Ventus fell to the ground. Soran was quick to come to his aid, seeing his best friend applying pressure to his side, blood covering his fingers.

[Reno]

He was going to win! Roxas thought with confidence, driving his opponent further and further back, the crowd around jeering and calling.
He just had to keep it up, and make sure the other didn't get the upper hand... The edge was just a few inches away, and from beyond his shoulder he saw blue eyes wide with fear and worry - the friend who kept yelling for him.

He didn't let it bother him, swinging upwards with the flat of the blade, knowing he wouldn't raise the staff quickly enough and he could deal a dizzying blow to the head. To his shock the other yelled something, he wasn't sure what since his ears were roaring with his own blood, his heartbeat thundering and making him deaf, and the stand hit the ground as the other swung around him. He blinked, a gleam of light making him squint and he felt heat.

It was a familiar feeling but seemed strangely out of place in this battle and by the time he opened his eyes he realized he was in luck no counter-attack had happened. He looked around and found Ventus behind him, his attention drawn and without a thought about it struck out. The other gave a sharp cry and faltered before striking back.
"A-Ah!!" Roxas called, feeling his legs suddenly collapse beyond his will and if someone wasn't there to catch him it probably would have been a painful landing. Did... he just lose?! He turned his head about - and that was when he saw the fire.

"VENTUS!" Soran cried, immediately rushing onto the stage and to his friend who was on the ground, seeing the blood rivulets through his fingers. He crouched down but flinched as a stream of fire passed nearby and looked up. "AXEL STOP IT!"
"He a friend of yours?" Came an aggravated claim beside him and he was surprised to find Terra standing there, Atteris left laying on the dirt next to his uncle. The brunette looked unhappy but knelt down looking over Ventus instead.
"I wouldn't say that..."
"Well if you could get him to stop that would be great. I can take care of him." The brunette nodded to Ventus.
Soran hesitated, not wanting to leave his friend in the hands of a stranger... but he felt like he could trust the other and he nodded before standing and clipping off his own staff. In a moment he was in the air.

Terra didn't bother to watch him go. "Let me see." He asked softly, coaxing the blonde's hands away from the wound. It wasn't a deadly wound; Roxas hadn't aimed to kill him, but the gash was deep enough to make it bleed quite a bit. The brunette reached up, untying the dark green headband he wore, making the bangs of his hair fall more into his face. He folded the headband twice before pressing it against the other's side. "Hold it here and don't move it away or it won't clot, alright?"

Meanwhile, up above, a laughing Firebender suddenly got blasted by wind and fell right off his dragon! He would of fallen to his doom, but the one who attacked him was merciful, catching him at just the last few feet when his staff caught his sash and a burst of air underneath them both glided them to the ground. Soran huffed and let the other fall the last few inches to the ground, "Idiot! What are you doing?!" He didn't wait for a response as he suddenly hurried away, blowing out patches of flames were they were burning rooftops or little plants with his airbending. It was tricker, since wind could also spread fire, but he was careful and quick about it.

[Rikugurl]

"Nnnnngh...." Eyes pinched tightly from the pain, some tears pushing past his blonde eyelashes. For someone who lived in peace his whole life, he never sustained a cut like this before. Sure he had run, tripped and fell a few times, opening his knee with a rock and made it bleed. This was nearly ten times worse. "Soran..." He whimpered as he heard his friend over him but then he was gone, hearing a new voice. His watering eyes opened slowly, glancing up at the earthbender who was giving him aid. "A-alright..." He nodded in understanding, keeping the headband in place as it started to stain with his blood.

On the edge of the platform, Brain laid the swordsmen on the ground, his back flat against the soil. "Don't try to move. Your muscles are tight and if you try too hard, you will break something." A wave of his hands made the 'fighting circle' come back down to the way it once was, making the whole area flat again.

When Axel fell off Shesha, the dragon flew off towards the forest, looking for a place to land.
"ACK!" Axel hit the ground hard, quickly getting up to his feet and dusted himself off. "Pfft... you guys are no fun. You leave me flying around while you be the hero and when I circle to find you, you're play fighting. How could I not interfere?" A cunning, dark grin came over the tall, lanky, armored redhead. "Besides, you're guardian there would of lost if I didn't come to the rescue~ He was going to get his ass beat by a little boy with sticks."

[Reno]

There was an angry huff from the Avatar, Soran doing his best to ignore Axel as he took out the last of the flames. As if shooting fire aimlessly around was 'joining the fun!' How much fun was it for the villagers to run for their lives?!

On the floor, Roxas frowned but nodded to the adult's words, feeling rather sour about the whole thing. "Fine..." With nothing else to do, he listened to the conversations around him.

Soon enough he wished he hadn't.

Terra looked down at him, his eyes sympathetic; it probably wasn't fun getting cut by a sword. An idea sparked in his mind. He looked around, seeing the situation mostly under control.

"LITTLE?! STICKS?!" Came an outraged cry from the paralyzed blonde on the ground. "COME SAY THAT TO MY FACE YOU JACKASS!"

Mostly under control.

Terra just sighed, and smiled to Ventus, "Don't move okay? I'll be right back." He got to his feet, passing a fuming Soran who had amazingly already dealt with all the flames. The Airbender seemed to forget his anger though and looked at the Earthbender in concern. "He'll be fine." The brunette said, already the question in the other's mind. "I'm getting something to help with the pain."
The younger smiled and nodded. "Thank you Terra." The elder only gave a nod before he was off, heading into the surrounding forest nearby.

[Rikugurl]

The Air Nomad sighed softly as he was left again, just trying to bare the sharp pain that ran through his body every few seconds. It was only their second day of the journey and he was already wounded. What kind of guardian was he...?
His eyes looked back up, seeing a shadow come over him only to give a weak smile to his best friend. "Soran... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have accepted the challenge. It was foolish of me to get in harms way to prove a point. I suppose everyone has a reason for doing what they do... and a match of strength should never be the thing that persuades otherwise. Please, will you forgive my choice?"

Narrow eyes slowly moved to look at the boy that was laying on the ground, slowly walking over. As he came closer, the earthbender stepped between them. "Enough. Don't you think you've done enough damage for one day? What is a messenger from the Fire Nation doing here anyway?" Braig asked, looking none too happy.
"I'm with them." He nodded to the boys who were whispering to each other. "You, sir, are looking at the Fire Nation's Avatar."
At the word 'Avatar', Braig stiffened, his single eye going wide. "A-avatar?" He looked over at the boys, focusing on the one who was not wounded. Surly he was the one this firebender was talking about since the other was clearly a master airbender... but....

"Why is he in Air Nomad clothes? I would of thought your Avatar would be wearing Fire Nation attire."

The redhead growled, quickly stepping up to the adult. "What is that suppose to mean!? You want to dance, old man!?"

[Reno]

A small smile fell onto Soran's face and he shook his head at the other's sadness, looking encouraging. "I don't think it was the wrong choice. At least you met someone new, right?" He chuckled softly, but as he looked at the wound, he seemed sad. "Besides, you're a fine guardian Ventus! You never would of gotten hurt if Axel hadn't of jumped in."

Speaking of whom... He glanced past the blonde, hearing a challenging tone in Axel's voice and the growls of the hurt wolf as he started to challenge his master's training. He sighed in annoyance, shaking his head. "You know, I can hear you!" He called, drawing their attention. "And I do NOT appreciate being talked about like I'm an item!" This time he looked at Axel, stern as he spoke. "My duty is not to any one nation but to all of them, got it? I'm not and I never will be solely the Fire Nation's!"

When Terra returned, he rose an eyebrow, hearing an argument going on. He rolled his eyes and approached his wolf first lowering his hand. Atteris didn't hesitate, his large tongue licking up the bit of 'food' his master was giving him. He straightened and then walked over to Ventus and knelt down, "Here." He held out his hand, showing him several little white and black seeds. "They're poppy seeds. They'll numb the pain."

[Rikugurl]

"Tch..." Axel huffed some, crossing his arms as he glared over at the Avatar. He glared back at Braig before walking off in a storm. "Well hurry up. We have to get to the Fire Nation, remember?" He called as he headed towards the forest but as he did, he kicked the ground, sending a pile of sand into Roxas's face. Braig watched the redhead closely as he left, hearing the blonde below spitting out the dirt and yelling in furry. Braig personally wasn't a fan nor friend of either the two boys so the stayed out of it. He turned though, facing Soran as he looked over his friend and saw his nephew walk over as well.

When he came up to the small group, hearing Roxas in the background yelling about something, he had to look closer at Soran. "So... you truly are the Avatar then?" Soran looked away, not seeming all that interested in talking about it. "Because if you are, it is a true honor to see you again..." That was something that caught Soran attention as he looked back at the man. Braig could only smile gently, nodding some at the shocked look. "Your last life was a member of our bloodstream. She would come to visit Terra when he was born." He slowly leaned to whisper in Soran's ear. "I think she gave him some of her power. He is very strong for his age and very wise. I wonder, Avatar Soran, will you let him help you on your journeys?"

The young earth and air bender did not pick up one the secret conversation that was happening only a few feet away. Instead, they were mixed up on some of their own issues. Blue eyes looked down at the seeds, having never seen them before. He looked into the blue eyes of the tanned boy and blushed, however wincing as he tried to move. "I... I'm afraid I don't know what to do with them. Do I eat them or...?"

[Reno]

Roxas ground his teeth as he was ignored, his temper calming a little because it had no where to go. He was sort of hoping a fight would break out between the benders and he would get to watch them kill each other - but was disappointed when one of those goody-goody monks interrupted. His blood boiled and he scoffed turning his head just in time to get a face full of dirt.

"ACK!" Roxas coughed as grit and sand got into his eyes and nose and made him gag a little. "YOU BASTARD!" He yelled grabbing piles and sand and throwing it aimlessly, his aim low and not too far. He didn't even get close - hell, soon enough Axel wasn't even there anymore as his watery eyes cleared up and he found himself alone.

Well, sort of. He was surrounded by benders which wasn't much better.

His lips twisted in a grimace of fury and he turned his head the other way, glaring as an unsuspecting plant in his field of vision, wishing he could make it burst into flames with his gaze alone.


Meanwhile, Soran just shifted from foot to foot nervously, feeling useless as the elder teenager took care of his friend. He seemed to know a lot. He wondered what mink he studied under to learn such things.

Then Braig stepped up beside him and he remembered no other nations had monks to teach them. They had masters.

He turned to the elder respectfully as he spoke and his eyes widened when the other revealed... he had known his past life. Had... had she lived around here?! Was he drawn back to this place subconsciously?

And then he was given another shock... as the other asked him to take Terra along. Blue eyes blinked slowly, the look on Soran's face measuring as he glanced at the brunette. "I do not think it is Avatar Ila who lent him strength," He mumbled thoughtfully; "I think it is his teacher who had simply taught him well." He smiled up at the other, but he became contemplative quickly. "I... don't know if we could take him. Axe will be hard to convince and even still what of his parents? Surely they would miss him?"


Heh... his innocence was kind of... cute.
Terra chuckled but not unkindly, and despite being an Earthbender his eyes seemed surprisingly gentle. Being a bender of earth didn't always mean being constantly aggressive or stubborn - though he certainly had those qualities as well. One also had to learn how to be calm and caring, like the soil that helped the trees and flowers grow. "Yes you chew on them. They also make a good tea. But as a tea it becomes a muscle relaxant and just helps you sleep." He quirked a grin, not seeming too ashamed by his knowledge of plants of tea like some men might be.

As he spoke, a lumbering creature came near, limping as he held his foot up but seeming to be in better shape. He plopped heavily down beside Terra, his mouth open and tongue lolling out as he panted, and the bull-wolf gave the brunette a lick across his face. The loving attention made Terra chuckle, "See? It even works on bull-wolfs. Just open up, alright?" The blonde-browed teen seemed shy but, thinking it wiser not to move to eat them himself and risk further damage to his side, he did as he was asked. The little black and white seeds fell along Ven's tongue. They were easy to chew, the shells not too tough and easily swallowed.

[Rikugurl]

Braig gave the young boy a soft smile as he heard the concerned question. "Of course. It's a parent's job to miss their children when they are away. But it is like an acorn that falls from the tree. The tree misses it but always know that the acorn will be safe with the land and grass around it. One day, the acorn will grow and come face to face with the tree again, and things will be peaceful in the old tree's heart. Still, the acorn did its own journey and grew on its own, becoming the tree it is today." He recited, as if the lesson wasn't spoken for the first time.

He looked over at his nephew before looking back at the paralyzed boy. "I don't think being out here will aid anymore. Let's get them back to my place."


The sun set over the training ground and the shadows took over the land, bringing it into darkness. A quarter moon hung in the sky, some clouds passing it by as it illuminated them.
Down below in the village where two great battles were fought today, there was a soft glow of lanterns inside one of the smaller houses. It was small because only one man lived here with an occasional guest at times. Now, it seemed quite small for the amount of people under it's roof.
More poppy seeds were gathered for tea, being served to the blonde to relax his temporary paralysis and let him sleep it off. Some herbs were soaked and drained in a wet cloth, being placed on the young airbender's wound.

"I see, that's quite a tale." The elder of the group nodded before taking a sip of his tea. Soran had filled them in on his status after Braig had told him what Avatar Ila was like. He had said it was an honor to personally know not one but two reincarnations. "So you're headed to the Fire Nation? And then what? It seems like the world is settling some, though there are a few wild fires that still show their heads." He nodded to the sleeping blonde on a cot. "And those creatures who attacked my nephew. It's rare for any fauna to come and attack like that, especially with a bull-wolf around."

The only person absent was the fire bender who never came back from the time he headed off into the forest. Soran was going to venture for him a few hours before but saw some smoke and flickering lights, realizing that Axel was probably a man of solitude.

[Reno]

Perhaps Terra had given Roxas the tea to be nice.
"I don't need anyone's help!" The blonde yelled loudly as he was pulled up by Braig.
"Oh so what were you planning to do? Walk on your hands?" Terra snapped back, lifting Ventus with no effort.
"Hmph." The blonde huffed and glared.
"Why are you so furious at us? We're only trying to help." Soran said as kindly as he could, keeping close to Atteris as he limped down the dirt road.
He didn't expect the gaze returned to him to be so chillingly spiteful. "I don't need help from benders."
"Well looks like you'll have to deal with it fucking loudmouth." The elder brunette said plainly.
"At least I'm not wearing a fucking skirt!"
"Wh.... THESE ARE A WARRIOR'S CLOTHES!"
"Oh did I miss the secret meeting where they discussed how the new fad of warrior apparel is skirts?"
"IT'S NOT A FUCKING SKIRT!!!"
"Terra, enough!"
Perhaps he had given it to him to shut him up.

Whatever the reason, Soran still couldn't get his mind off it even though Roxas was now long gone and fast asleep. Those words the other had said...
"I don't need help from benders."
The way he said benders made it seem like a curse. They weren't the words of a under-mined prejudiced family. It was the words of someone who had been hurt before. The monks taught them that pain and suffering where part of the circle of life, and sometimes when people got hurt and could not forgive, their chakra would twist in their bodies, shoving fear into the place trust should be and filled hate into the heart instead of love.

It made Soran sad, knowing that if hate overtakes the place love is meant to be completely... he would not be able to heal his heart. What a life might he lead - one so full of bitterness and solitude?

And strangely, looking upon the blonde, sleep-troubled even with the potion and thin from travel, exercise and slightly malnourished, he couldn't help but think of Axel and wonder if the two weren't actually quite similar.

"I'm not sure..." Soran said thoughtfully. "At least about the Fire Nation. They are not going to be pleased when they discover my whereabouts... or that I have learned airbending before firebending." He frowned, thoughtful creases in his forehead that spoke of years of stress and worry he shouldn't yet have for his age. "But... I need to return no matter what. Cause Axel is certainly one of those 'wild fires' the Fire Lord decided to send searching for me and I don't... want it to turn into an inferno."

He took a drink of his own tea and sighed. "As for those creatures... I know very little." He admitted, feeling ashamed. "I haven't traveled much and never seen nor even heard of anything quite like them. When I attacked they just... disappeared into nothing... like..."

"Like they weren't there." Terra finished for him from across the room, setting on a mat on the floor beside his slumbering beast. Atteris' front paw was carefully wrapped, held aloft so as to acertain the wolf would cause no further harm to himself until the sprain healed. A hand absent-mindedly pet the creature, "I didn't think about it until just now. When I was surrounded... I didn't... feel their movements."
"Feel?" Came the curious question from the table.
"Yes. Earthbenders can learn to track the position of their opponent by the tremors they create in the ground. But these... things they... they felt like nothing." Terra frowned more. "Like the weighed less than a feather."

[Rikugurl]

"Like the weighed less than a feather."

Lips pulled down to a frown from another bald boy laying on another cot across the room. He was situated comfortably, his waist bandaged up with a slight stain of blood. "Not even..." He added, making everyone glance at him next. "Like earthbenders who can feel tremors, advanced airbenders can feel disturbance in the wind. When I can down to aide, they didn't seem to block the wind at all unlike most solid things..." His eyes lowered, being dark with thought. When he was confused about something, he would find a monk and ask him for some insight but there were no monks here.

"Peculiar..." Braig voiced softly, he too deep in thought. "What it sounds like... are spirits. But why would spirits want to attack a young bender?"
"Do you really think that a spirit would do something like that?" Ventus questioned, having never heard a bad tale about the spirits in which they could not see nor the ones who lived among them.

"Well---" Braig started to speak before there was a knock on the door, making a single eye glance back at it. "Ah, that must be my brother."
At the indication, Terra seemed to tense up and straightened as his uncle got up and walked to the door, opening to reveal a man that looked somewhat similar.

[Reno]

Similar but not precisely the same. For the few who were first meeting this man, they felt shivers run down along their spine as they spotted him. The color of his eyes were what did it. They were red, like a white bat-snake's. Unfriendly creatures they were.
"Braig, where the hell is my son?! You've got Ida partially in a coma!" Came the hiss from the doorway.

It seemed the appearance wasn't just skin deep.

Terra was quick to get to his feet, hurrying over to stand beside his uncle. "I'm right here dad."
Even Soran had to flinch when those eyes fell on the unsuspecting teen, looking at him like he was prey.
"The fuck have you been? You were supposed to be home before sundown."
"I uh... I just lost track of time and-"
"Lost track of time?! How do you lose track of a fucking sun?!"
Now Terra was seeming a little tense and Hatori just huffed glancing around his son and spotting the crowd inside. His eyes darted to Braig, "The fuck is this? A god damned tea party?"

[Rikugurl]

How could these two possibly be brothers!? Ventus retracted in his cot, feeling the hateful vibe run over him like a stinging sickness. He had honestly never heard or felt such negative energy in his life until he came to this village. It was bad enough with Axel but then Roxas and now Terra's father. How could the young brunette and his uncle be so humble and calm with such a brutish person? His eyes closed, pushing the bad vibes away from him as he tried to meditate. All good has evil and all evil has good...

"Excuse ME!?" Braig clenched his teeth together before putting a strong hand between Terra and his father, as if to protect him in some way. "How dare you come to my house and speak in such filth! There are CHILDREN in here and they don't need to hear this kind of foul language. They are also guests and if it hadn't been for them...." He paused, biting his tongue as his single eye narrowed. He knew that if he told his brother that if it wasn't for them, Terra could of been in real trouble, it could of gotten worse and Ida would pull the string to their training since it was obvious that it wasn't safe.

"...I would of gotten injured. Terra's training has improved and he almost got me today. I was congratulating him with his favorite tea and since these boys are from a different area, he wished to speak with them. It's my fault for not telling you sooner. Now... if you're done, I will have Terra head home soon and I'm asking you to leave now."

[Reno]

Soran, feeling a bit out of sorts as well, slid down in his seat, frowning unhappily. He too wasn't used to all this.... negativity. They were all so angry, and he wished he knew why. Why would a man not be happy with such a successful family life?

But from the gleam in Hatori's eye it was easy to see the unheard jealousy that lurked there. How different their lives must of been even if they grew up in the same family, under the same roof. And that jealousy was obviously leaking out to even his own son.

It was a conversation that seemed to have been taken on with the other again and again. The younger brother merely rolled his eyes, unaffected by his brother's distaste for his choice of words and scoffed as the other gave him his story. "You'd best make sure of it Braig. My boy is of working age he doesn't have time to play with fucking rocks all day." The man said as he turned and walked off. Braig was furious and with a short call for them to wait there went out the door and shut it.

But something about that parting statement though broke Terra, the poor brunette looking utterly crushed. Soran's eyes widened, and his heart went out to the elder teen. How could his dad not be proud of Terra?! He was so intelligent and he was sure he was a strong bender since Braig spoke so highly of him. "...Terra...?" He asked tentatively.

The brunette seemed to snap out of it and glanced back, chuckling. "Sorry, thats just how my dad is... he can be a little er... brash."
"...Are you alright?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" The other brushed it off carelessly.

[Rikugurl]

OOC: xD SORA!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0v4hHPme00

Blue eyes watched the brunette carefully was he walked back to his bull-wolf and sat down, taking his cup of tea as if nothing happened. He wasn't sure if Terra had found peace within himself which would give him strength and a peace of mind... or if he was retracting the truth, running away from it which would cause nothing but hidden holes of darkness, rage and hate. He stayed silent though, not knowing if speaking now would do any good. A soft sigh passed his lips, moving some to get himself comfortable again, only to wince from some pain. He didn't know if there is any chance of traveling tomorrow from his wound... but though he hated to admit, he wasn't sure if he wished to stay in this village much longer.


In the morning, the young airbender awoke to some surprise. Neither of the earthbenders were seen and though he was sure the owner of this house didn't live in the cramped living and cooking area, the door to his bedroom was open and the little house was quiet. The blonde brow boy moved, trying to get up when he remembered that he was wounded. His face twisted in pain, his hand jotting down to his wound. It hurt worse than before and it itched something dreadful. He just wanted to tear off the dressings and rip the wound apart but he knew that wouldn't help it any. He wanted some more poppy seeds...

And it was as if someone had heard his wish when he looked down at the small stool by his cot, that he saw a small pouch labeled 'Good Morning.' He reached for the bag and untied the small piece of twine that held it shut, pouring some poppy seeds into his palm before chewing them up. The bag was placed back onto the stool and as he did, he realized that his legs were actually going numb. At first, he believed it was probably from the fact that he had not moved them and his circulation was poor but when he looked over, his eyes widened to see that the bull-wolf was actually sleeping on them.

"YAA!!" He cried when he heard a voice close by, looking up to see that it was just Soran. "Ah, Soran... you frightened me." The boy calmed, smiling up at the other. Soran sat down next to the cot and a small conversation arose between them about how their slumber was and if Ventus was feeling any better. Before the tattooed airbender could reply though, there was another sound from across the room and matching blue eyes looked over, seeing the swirly blonde warrior start to arouse from his sleep.

So much for a peaceful morning...