Werewolves of the Valley
Prolouge
"Hurry! We have to get to the palace!"
"I am hurrying!"
"Well go faster!"
Two cats, a leopard and a snow leopard, ran fast thru the forest. Behind them, dark shadows of people were shouting and giving a chase. The snow leopard had a small bundle in her arms, which she held closely. After a moment the leopard, the snow leopard's husband, pulled his wife behind a rock. They watched as a group of about a dozen poachers ran by.
"Are we almost there?" the snow leopard asked. "The child will be awake soon."
"He'll be fine." The leopard assured. "Oogway will take care of him. Besides, Mei, he isn't our child by blood."
"Zhan, he's still our responsibility." Mei said. Zhan sighed, and then he tensed up. He pushed his wife away as an arrow struck his shoulder.
"Take the kid and go!" he shouted, facing the poachers. "I'll hold them off!" Mei nodded and ran off, ignoring here husband's screams of pain. She got to the Jade Palace doors just as the sun started to rise. She pounded on the doors, but there was no answer. She heard the poachers not too far behind. Mei held her child in one last hug before setting him down and running back to face her attackers. As the sun rose, there was a mighty roar, and then silence.
In the palace, a messenger goose had heard the pounding and the roar. Terrified, he ran to Master Oogway. The old tortoise followed the messenger to the gate. When Oogway opened the door, he saw only the rising sun.
"What did you hear again?" he asked the goose.
"Someone wanted to get in." the goose said, still a bit scared. Then, Oogway heard a small mewing sound and looked down. He looked surprised by the small, jade green bundle of blankets, but then he smiled. He picked up the little bundle, and a small red panda cub peeked out. He smiled at his new guardian and giggled. Oogway smile got bigger.
"It seems we have a new student." He said, closing the doors as he and the messenger goose walked back to the palace.
"What's its name?" the goose asked. Oogway looked at the note Mei had pinned to the blanket. He glanced down at the sleeping red panda.
"His name is Shifu."