Chapter 1

The wolf hung onto his only belongings with a clenched, begrudging fist. All that he had in the world, he tucked into the small sack that bounced lightly against his back as he trudged through Gongmen City with the others who had been banished from the land. His mind was awhirl as he replayed the images of the last few days' events over and over in his head. He still couldn't believe they had lost, couldn't understand where Lord Shen had gone wrong...rather, where his plans had gone wrong. The peacock wasn't the only one surprised by the panda bears' power. He had shocked everyone, and the last thing the wolf expected his part in all of this to end with was him trudging sulkily toward the exit of the city. He and his fellow wolves had been defeated. Lord Shen was no more, which meant that without a leader (including their Wolf Boss...he never found out what had happened to him), there was no point in fighting for a cause that had already been lost. They were forced to give up, and - horrifyingly - they were not executed, as would have been an honorable death, but sent away to live with their shame.

The wolf became angry just thinking about it. Daring for a moment to take his eyes off the pathway in front of him, he chanced a glance at the surrounding city. The citizens were careful to keep their distance from their former oppressors. In spite of the fact that the wolves were defeated and evacuating the city, they still posed a potential threat in the eyes of the locals - or so it would seem, judging from their wary glances and uneasy stares. The wolf allowed himself a surreptitious grin. At least he still had the ability to evoke fear in those weaker than him. He could live with that, if nothing else.

It seemed to him a very long walk through the streets of the city as house after house and shop after shop passed from his view, and still it seemed never to end. He ought not be surprised, really - after all, Gongmen City was not famed for its small population.

A sudden loud, clanging sound perked his ears up and brought his attention back into focus. He looked at the source of the noise, and released a shallow breath upon realizing it was just a clumsy local who had dropped her pot on the ground. But right before he averted his eyes, they snapped back to the owner of the pot. He recognized her; it was none other than the sheep he had threatened not a few days before. His eyebrow raised in mild amusement, and...for some reason even he wasn't sure of...he stepped away from his brethren, broke free from the crowd, and silently approached her.

Much later, he would look back on this moment and wonder what had truly compelled him to do what he did. It seems he never got his answer. But what happened afterword is as follows.

The young sheep hadn't seen him approaching. In fact, her back was faced to him as she scrambled to pick up the various utensils that she had dropped; a cup here, a set of chopsticks there, a bowl slid under some vendor's cart. He vaguely caught the slight lilt of her voice as she mumbled an apology to the owner of the vending cart, reaching her arm out to retrieve her item. It was when she stood up and turned around that she finally noticed him standing there, and gave a startled gasp, nearly dropping her bowl again. Her eyes went wide as they had on the day that he threatened to eat her if she didn't cook him some rice. He had to stifle a laugh at the memory - she had been so flustered. And she was giving him a repeat performance.

Though in spite of her fear, she seemed also to sense that she was in no real danger - not with the guardians of the city back at large to protect its citizens, and not now that it was safe from being occupied by Lord Shen and his soldiers.

He almost found it in himself to be surprised when she turned away from him and began gathering her pots and pans together in a cart - although she did it hurriedly and with a slight tremble. She may be safe, but she did not at all enjoy the memory of being tormented by this wolf. As she organized her cookware, he finally spoke one word in a subtle, almost amused voice beneath his breath: "Jia."

She stopped short and turned to regard him, once again with the same look of utter fear, though this time it was tempered with curiosity and puzzlement. "How do you know my name?" She asked in a timid voice.

His eyes widened a little. Then he smiled, none-too-kindly, and answered, "What other name would befit a creature such as yourself?"

She blinked in even deeper confusion, then blushed and turned away yet again to continue piling her belongings into her cart. If possible, he was sure he had just made her even more nervous than she already was. But that's what he had come to do. Not only couldn't he resist the opportunity to test the limits of his daunting demeanor, but he also wanted this sheep to know that he was leaving the city with the last word, not her. He would have done exactly that on their first meeting, but he was rudely - and awkwardly - interrupted by a freak show hiding in a dragon costume. Not one of his fonder memories, but he was a stubborn wolf, and refused to let that hinder him again. He would be more careful this time and 'play it safe,' albeit that it wasn't typically his style.

Seeing that she had missed another bowl, she bent over to pick it up - but he was quicker. He snatched it before she could, and pretended to have great interest in it before directing his gaze back to her own nervous one. She stood there silent, hands held together in wavering uncertainty of what was to come.

"You still owe me a bowl of rice," he said in a nearly-growling tone.

She apparently didn't know what to say to this sudden, strange claim. She hoped against hope that he wouldn't force her to take everything back out of her cart and prepare some rice for him - that instead he was just playing a cruel joke on her and would soon leave her to her own business and continue on his way.

"...I..." she started.

But he tossed the bowl to the ground with an awful clatter and said nonchalantly: "I'm not hungry."

Yes, definitely a cruel joke.

She couldn't help but wonder why he insisted on bullying her, and whether or not he was going to rejoin his clan upon leaving the city, or even if he planned on leaving. By the looks it he showed no signs of departing anytime soon. From the first impression she had of him, she felt that she could put nothing past this aggressive wolf. She swallowed, wondering what he was going to do next.

But she didn't need to wait long, as the wolf strode up to her and shoved his face directly into hers - another flashback from the first time he confronted her.

"Listen up, sheep - if you think you had the last word the last time we met, you're mistaken. Remember my face well, because you'll be seeing it again."

Then he finally left.

Poor Jia didn't know what to do in the face of his last threat. Her day hadn't gone at all how she hoped it would. She stood there for a second or two, frozen, as it were, in fear and uncertainty, and the promise that this belligerent wolf would be back. But why? What had she ever done to him? Certainly he had to know that it wasn't her fault she was unable to cook the rice that day. Was that what this was all about? Or did the wolf have some ulterior motive he wasn't letting her in on? Was he still angry at having been pummeled by those warriors? That was no fault of hers either, though she had certainly been thankful for being spared a pummeling herself.

She had no answers to her questions.

Feeling downcast, she picked up her bowl, set it in her cart with the other items, and trudged on home.

She meandered throughout the rest of the evening in brooding silence. Her two sisters became concerned, and proceeded to ask her what was wrong, but she didn't feel comfortable discussing the day's events...not just yet, anyway.

She was the middle child of her two sisters. The three of them lived together in a small abode, and they usually took it in turns to help each other with the day's tasks. The oldest sister, Lihua, was the most responsible and the most level-headed, and thus was something of a "mother figure" for the other two. Jia was the best cook among the three of them, and in fact it was in this above-average skill that she chose and was able to make a mediocre living out of. Every day, she set up shop, as it were, and served meals to very willing customers. Though she was not quite so infamous as to be recognized on the streets by the general populace, she was well on her way to becoming such. At least, that's what her sisters were always telling her - and they meant it. Jia was a marvelous cook. She loved her sisters dearly and felt grateful for their support and encouragement.

But recently she felt distanced from them, as a result of her own solitude and refusal to talk to them about the problems she had been having of late. Though, her uneasiness began to dissipate somewhat a week later, when the thought of the wolf's threat had been watered down as a result of everyday habits. She finally opened up to her sisters about what had happened.

The three of them sat at table, eating the enticing meal Jia had prepared for them (with their help, of course.) Lihua and the youngest, Shu, enjoyed their dinner without hesitation, but Jia stared at the chopsticks in her hand; food was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. Always quick to pick up on her sister's feelings, Lihua eyed her with gentle curiosity and said, "Jia...you're not eating."

Jia blinked despondently and set her chopsticks down.

"What's wrong, sister? You haven't been speaking very much lately." Lihua gazed at her.

Deciding that now was the right time to tell them what had happened, Jia told them about her confrontation with the wolf.

Lihua and Shu were as surprised as Jia knew they would be.

"Jia, why didn't you tell us about this?"

"I didn't want to worry you two. Besides, I have no way of knowing whether or not that wolf was lying," she explained quickly. "I don't think he actually means to come back."

"But he threatened you! You can't just ignore something like that!" Shu exclaimed. "You need to tell the authorities, or -"

"Shu, please!"

"She's right, Jia." Lihua stood up from her chair and walked over to her sister's side. "Shu and I are only saying this because you're our sister, and we don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Jia sighed and stared at her bowl of rice. "I know." A pause. "I'm sorry for not telling you about this sooner. But...it's been a week since I saw him. I really don't think he's coming back."

"And what if he does?"

She said nothing, but turned back to her rice and shook her head. "I don't know."

"Exactly. Which is why we need to tell someone."

She gave only the slightest nod in affirmation. "...Ok."

Lihua patted her. "Everything will be alright, Jia."

Whether her sister was right or wrong, Jia never found out for certain. Although the message had been carried to the guardians of the city, and although the security had been raised - not only for the citizens, but throughout the rest of the province as well (some of the council had taken the threat to mean a large-scale assault on Gongmen City, and were taking no chances as to the possibility) - things still didn't seem quite right. News had obviously spread like wildfire that the wolves had made yet another threat to this place. In fact, the rumors didn't stop there. Some were saying that the wolf leader was preparing to gather more followers to launch another attack. Others were saying that they would bring more of the treacherous fireworks and level the entire city to the ground. But the craziest rumor circulating the area was that Lord Shen was alive and working undercover to rally the wolves against Gongmen City once again.

Jia heard all of these rumors as she set up shop every day. She inwardly cringed every time someone so much as mentioned one of them, for she felt that she was more than partly the cause for it. If she hadn't told her sisters about that wolf, then word wouldn't have traveled to the kung fu masters or the grand council, the city wouldn't be heavily guarded, and these crazy rumors (at least, she hoped they were crazy and far enough from the truth) wouldn't have everyone on edge. Still, she tried her very best to proceed with her daily rituals without letting the buzz get to her too much. But she was a sensitive person by nature, and she wondered how much longer she would be able to endure the stress of it all. Besides, there was still that tiny, nagging thought in the back of her mind...the possibility that Lihua was right...that the wolf might indeed come back - not just to the city, but to her, and for what reason she dare not imagine. The last two times they had met, he wasn't at liberty to kill her on the spot. But then again, why should he go out of his way to murder a poor, innocent civilian? Especially when doing so would achieve nothing, other than perhaps some sadistic pleasure on his part.

For weeks now, these thoughts plagued her mind. Even her sisters were of little comfort, though they tried their best to reassure her that they were well-protected, and that the rumors going throughout the city would die out soon and people would lose interest in them.

Still, she wasn't entirely sure of her safety. She didn't believe that the city was going to be attacked by a pack of wolves, or that it would be demolished and leveled to the ground. She had witnessed the might and skill of the kung fu warriors who protected them all, and had few doubts about their abilities. She knew that the cannon weapons which had posed so great a threat to everyone before were now all destroyed, and that the odds of anyone gathering any means to create more of them were very slim. But one didn't need big problems such as these to feel worried. Jia was the only one who received a threat, and from only one wolf. It seemed like that didn't mean anything to anyone but her. Her greatest hope was that the wolf had forgotten about her completely and didn't mean to come back to haunt her.

Even so, the poor sheep felt a strong need to talk to someone about her inner struggle. For some reason, choosing to talk to either of her sisters didn't appeal to her. She was close to them, but she wanted to talk to someone whose opinions weren't influenced by the fact that they were related. 'Or older,' Jia thought, thinking of all the times Lihua had taken her mother role a little too seriously, sometimes even going so far as to act like a mother hen to Shu and Jia.

She had always tried being patient and respectful to Lihua when she got that way, but it was hard. Lihua was simply too dead-set on her responsibility as the oldest to offer Jia any real comfort, and Shu wouldn't be able to offer any helpful solution. She was a smart sheep, but she just didn't have the insight that Jia felt she needed.

That was when she decided to make what seemed to her a drastic decision and consult someone she knew to be very wise.

Somewhere in the city lived a Soothsayer who, if Jia understood it correctly, had actually served the royal peacock family for years. In fact, most (if not all) of the people in Gongmen City knew who she was. Jia wasn't quite sure how she would go about getting an audience with so important a person, but she felt she had to try. She couldn't put her mind at ease until she talked to someone, and the Soothsayer seemed the best and wisest option. In fact, it was several days before she decided to act upon this plan; not that it was much of a plan. She knew that the palace was guarded more heavily than the city itself, and didn't know what she would say to the guards or if they would grant her an audience with the Soothsayer. Perhaps this mysterious old woman didn't even live inside the palace. Maybe she had an abode all her own. She knew very little about the woman in general, and didn't know whether or not she still lived in the city, much less the palace. With so many questions swimming around in her head, she nervously trotted up the steps to the entryway and, as she knew she would, came face to face with several guards...kung fu masters, as was their proper title.

Jia certainly didn't look threatening, which must have been why one of the masters (recognizable as Master Ox) stepped forward and asked in a mild tone, "What can I do for you?"

She gave a polite bow, hoofs neatly clasped together, and forced herself to look him in the eye. "I was wondering, if you knew where I could find the Soothsayer. My name is Jia," she added quickly, almost forgetting that addressing herself was the proper thing to do. This was, after all, her first time getting even this close to the palace, not to mention coming face to face with the martial artists.

"The Soothsayer no longer resides at the palace."

Her eyes widened a little, then her face fell. "She doesn't? ...Do you...do you know where she currently resides?" She tried to keep her voice humble and even.

"No. None of us have heard from her, but she's presumably still in the city. Is that all I can do for you?"

She nodded and gave another bow. "...Yes. Thank you, Master Ox..."

The wolf and his clan had settled on the outskirts of some valley overshadowed by high mountains. If to judge the distance from Gongmen Province, he would have guessed they were only a mere five weeks march. But they hadn't traveled far, or for very long. The reason for this was elusive to the wolf, but he still felt much too disappointed with his own plight to be concerned about the plight of his clan. It was selfish, he knew it, but his spirit was filled with his own problems currently, and no one else's. It was not very wolf-like, as wolves always worked together as a pack, and that's what made them strong. But this particular would-be army was not known for its virtuous traits.

They had set up tents, started small fires, and used whatever methods they could to find food and salvage the kind they already had with them. Some of them were able to keep hold of their weapons, having concealed them within their garments from the masters of Gongmen City, who had confiscated any and all semblance of weaponry from the wolves. So they were not entirely without some advantage when it came to hunting - or scavenging, for that matter. But however well-off they were, no one seemed to know what to do next. Not even their supposed leader, who had been the Wolf Boss's second-in-command. Without their true leader, they were worse for the wear.

The wolf settled outside of his own tent - thankfully he had one - and slowly stirred the soup from the wooden bowl that rested in his paw.

"Renshu!" Another wolf addressed him by his name.

He growled a "what?" without looking up from his bowl.

"Do you think you could spare a little soup?" Renshu raised his piercing gaze up at the wolf, as he nervously continued, "My brother and I are sharing our provisions, and we've run out -"

"No." Renshu looked back down at his soup.

"But you have plenty!" the wolf said quickly, as if he had anticipated the refusal.

"Yeah, but that doesn't make it any better tasting." He sipped from his spoon and waved it dismissively. "Go beg from someone else!"

It was lucky for him that the other wolf wasn't up for a fight. He shot Renshu one last parting scowl before trying his luck elsewhere.

Renshu ate the rest of his soup in brooding silence. When he was finished, he set his bowl down, and was instantly reminded of a finer specimen of the same type, rolling on the ground under some vendors' cart, and of a delicate white arm reaching out to grab it.

Before his thoughts proceeded any further, his name was spoken again. "Renshu!"

He recognized the voice as belonging to one of his friends, Zhong. He looked over his shoulder up at the other wolf who was leaning on his tent pole. "Short time no see, Zhong," he greeted in a deadpan tone.

He nodded, regarding Renshu with his good eye. The other had a permanent scar over it that marred any future use, but the eye that stared at him shone with an eager sort of welcome that spoke only of comradeship. "I don't know if you've heard the latest from Tao," he said, referring to their current leader.

"Don't lean on my tent pole," Renshu said flatly.

He removed his elbow and stepped over to his friend, sitting down on the dewy grass. "He's thinking about returning to our homeland."

Renshu snapped his head up, regarding Zhong with a look of mild shock. "Our homeland?"

He nodded. "That's right."

"You mean he's thinking of returning there himself, or with all of us?"

Zhong shrugged a shoulder. "I assume he meant the lot of us. Traveling there by himself would be too dangerous, wouldn't it?"

"No more dangerous than it would be for the whole pack." He paused. "You know why we can't return there. Everyone knows. What's gotten into Tao's head this time?"

Zhong patted him roughly on the back and stood up. "I'm just the messenger. Thought you should know, if you didn't already." He gave a harsh laugh and left his friend to mull over the news.

If Renshu was feeling in a foul mood before, it was increased tenfold by this new revelation. Going back to their homeland was the last thing he wanted to do. He left it in the first place to start a new life for himself, and although said life turned out to be...let's just say, not exactly in the category of 'good Samaritan', it was his own life - one he lived by his own choice, his own decisions. The memory of the province they were once a part of sent a shiver down his spine. They were not free there. They never had been, really. Of course, neither were they completely free under Lord Shen's will, but it was true that they had served him by choice. What Lord Shen would have done if they refused to adhere to his wishes, he didn't know.

One thing Renshu had decided for certain was that if Tao made the decision to go back to their old province, he most definitely was not going with them. If given the choice, he would even prefer to eke out an existence in the wilderness by himself rather than be forced to return back there. Wolves were not usually solitary creatures, but neither was it completely unheard of for a wolf to live alone, without belonging to a pack. Although the thought didn't appeal to him, Renshu felt he was choosing the lesser of two evils.

Mimicking Zhong, he shrugged a shoulder and withdrew into his tent. He may be jumping to conclusions - after all, Zhong said that Tao was only thinking of leading them back to their province. Until he found out more adequate information, he refused to let his already-tired mind succumb to more stress. Evening was getting on, and although he didn't usually turn in this early, he decided a rest was much needed.

Two days had actually passed before Renshu had gotten his news for sure. The news was spreading throughout their camp as quick as lightning that Tao was ordering them all to move out. It appeared that he had decided to travel back to their old province after all. Renshu bared his teeth and growled with frustration when his fears were affirmed. He made no move to take down his tent and gather his things together - he had already decided that he was not going back, and he meant it. Looking around, he noticed there were a number of other wolves who were hesitating as well. Perhaps he wasn't the only one who had qualms about Tao's decision.

He sprinted over to two who also weren't bothering to pack their things. "Hey," he growled in a low tone. "Are you guys concurring with Tao's decision?"

"No way," one of them said in no uncertain terms. "We're not going back home."

"Tao's crazy if he thinks we'd have a better chance there than we would out here," the second one agreed.

"Just what I thought," Renshu mumbled.

At that moment, Tao himself strode by, stopping when he noticed the lack of activity from the wolves. "What are you two standing around for? Don't you know we're moving out? Get packing!"

Renshu was the first to step up. "No," he said, baring his fangs.

Tao did a double-take. "What?"

"I said no! I'm not going back to our homeland - not if you dragged me there would I go back."

Tao growled, but the two standing behind Renshu backed him up. "We're not going, either," the first one said, crossing his arms in perfect imitation of a stubborn child.

Realizing that this could get out of hand, Tao raised his head and announced: "Anyone else feel like joining this ragtag group? They're abandoning our pack like cowards!"

All the wolves within hearing distance stared. But after a minute of silence, about ten stepped forward. Tao seethed. "Have it your way - and good riddance. We don't need weakling pups in our pack," he spat and walked off, no longer giving the deserters any more heed.

Renshu let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He hadn't expected the situation to have gone so well. But wolves were creatures that stuck together as often as possible, and rarely came to the point of killing their own, unless the need was dire. He had to admit that it was kind of nice being able to stand there with his provisions and not have to trudge along with the other wolves toward a potentially worse future. Yet it was also disheartening. He wished that Tao hadn't made this decision for them - more so that the others wouldn't have gone along with it. But at least there were still a handful of wolves who were staying. In fact, when the pack began to move on, Renshu noticed that their own group seemed larger than the ten they had had before. Apparently there were actually quite a few wolves who shared his idea about going back home, but who didn't want to risk the wrath of Tao or his followers face-to-face.

'And they say I'm a coward,' Renshu thought disdainfully. But he wasn't about to complain. He got off luckier than he thought he would, and the position he now found himself in was much better than having stood in an empty valley watching the entire pack leave without him, while he stood there helpless with nothing but a ramshackle tent and a few provisions to last him. (Well, the part about him being helpless might not be entirely true, but details aside.)

When the back of the very last soldier had disappeared over the horizon, one of the wolves looked around at the group and said, "What do we do now?"

No one answered right away, but Zhong - who was among the first ten to join them - walked up to Renshu and said, "You're in a nice mess now. All of these wolves will be looking to you for guidance, seeing as how you started the rebellion in the first place."

Renshu was inclined to be angry at this. "I didn't start a rebellion! I merely told our leader that I refused to go back home! It's not my fault all of you decided to do the same."

"So what now? We all go our separate ways? We have to live somehow," said another.

"We need a leader if we're to function as a pack," put in someone else.

This sort of debating went on for some time, before it began to get late and the wolves that still had tents with them moved to set them up, vowing to settle the matter of a proper leader tomorrow. Renshu retired in a grumpy mood, and was even beginning to wonder if being left alone out there by himself wouldn't have been the better option. For some reason, some of the wolves had the audacity to demand what they were to do, from him. Renshu had no problem putting them in their place and telling them in no uncertain terms that he was not responsible for "the lot of you flea-bitten varmints in wolf's clothing."

The next day, though it dawned bright and early, seemed to offer no more hope for the measly pack. They were, by now, struggling for existence and nearly fed up with the route they had chosen to take. About a week later, things looked so bleak that a fair amount of them decided to go their separate ways, in search perhaps of some village or abode that would take them in as laborers and workers. They'd still be struggling to live, but it was better than scavenging an empty land for food and living under a flimsy tent (especially when it rained.) By the end of the second week, only Renshu, Zhong, and another named Bolin had remained in their little camp. It was during this time that Renshu decided that maybe they ought to follow their example and go out in search of a village or city where no one would recognize them. Food wouldn't last forever, game was scarce in this land, and they were slowly going out of their minds toiling through each day without any direct purpose other than to survive.

He didn't expect Zhong or Bolin to agree, but they did so and readily; their morale had sunk as low as his.

When they felt inclined to pack their things - the only possessions they had in all the world - they set out in the opposite direction of the setting sun.

For a long time, it seemed like, their fortune hadn't changed much from how they fared in the valley. The only difference now was that they were traveling, but to what purpose or end, they didn't yet know.

One day, as they were making camp for the night, Bolin looked at their surroundings, glanced at the sun setting behind the mountains, and asked, "Aren't we heading in the same direction we were traveling from in the first place?"

"No," Renshu said flatly as he stirred some soup over a small fire.

"You sure? 'Cause I could swear these surroundings look familiar. Not to mention -"

"It's just your imagination, that's all," Renshu snapped and stood up. Zhong and Bolin stared as he retreated into his tent.

A minute later, Zhong showed up. "Knock knock."

Renshu sighed. "What?"

"Bolin and I can't help but wonder why you've been in such a bad mood lately." His tone was even and disarming, but Renshu knew Zhong, and he knew that he was going to sit there and pester him until he got a satisfying answer.

"Do you have eyes?" he asked and gestured around himself. "We're in the middle of nowhere heading towards no destination with our food running short, our supplies running low, and no plan - not to mention, pack - whatsoever."

Zhong shoved his arm. "You're the one who made this decision, Ren. Would you rather have gone with Tao and the others?"

"No..."

"Didn't think so. So...what do you say we keep going and try to keep our spirits up? What else are we going to do, sit here and die?"

"I get it," he huffed and rested his chin in his paw. "Sorry."

Zhong stood up and ducked out of the tent. "Soup smells like it's burning. Let's eat."

As luck, or fate, would have it, their circumstances had proceeded uneventfully for a good several days, until one evening. They were setting up camp as usual, when they heard a faint noise in the distance coming from the direction they had been traveling from. The three wolves stood stone still, ears perked up and eyes scanning the horizon for the source of the noise. It sounded like the creaking of wooden wheels. Sure enough, that's exactly where the noise was coming from, for they now saw a small wagon - no, three wagons - approaching them. Or perhaps they were just passing through. The wagons weren't large, and were being pulled by a small group of people.

Zhong leaned in and whispered, "What should we do?"

"Stay on your guard," Renshu whispered, not taking his eyes off the approaching wagons. His hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, the only weapon he had left. A tinge of uneasiness shot down his spine as he realized that he forgot to ask Zhong or Bolin whether or not they had weapons with them. It was too late to ask them now.

The wolves were still as the wagons creaked and rolled through the tall grass not a hundred feet feet away. They could now make out the travelers easily as they sat on top or walked alongside the small group of wagons, talking in gentle tones and laughing lightly. They were mostly pigs, rabbits, and sheep. The lot of them would barely have been enough to make the three wolves break a sweat, should they have chosen to fight. But the wolves were far from in the mood to fight or raid any passersby - they were much too weary from living a rustic lifestyle for the past few weeks. For once in their lives, they were inclined the let the caravan pass without any trouble. Indeed, they thought that the travelers would take no notice of them at all.

As it happened, the lead wagon halted to a stop and the rabbit sitting atop it looked at the wolves, and sat there staring for a minute. The wolves, in turn, said nothing, but kept their hands on their weapons.

The rabbit eyed them uncertainly and spoke. "You three lost?"

"No," Renshu answered.

"...Do you need a lift?"

"Yes," Zhong blurted, earning him a punch in the arm from Renshu.

"Climb aboard - we've got plenty of room. We're heading towards the city."

Zhong immediately waded through the tall grass toward the caravans, but Renshu was beside him in an instant, hissing in his ear, "What do you think you're doing, Zhong?"

"Taking the first opportunity I've had to get out of this mess you got us into."

"Oh, so it's just you now, is it?"

As the wolves stepped into the dim light of the lanterns hanging from the wagon, the rabbit got his first good look at them and his eyes grew wide. "You're...you're wolves!"

"Yeah. Got a problem with that?" Zhong stated breezily as he lifted himself into the topmost seat of the wagon. The sheep and pigs hanging onto the wagon handles trembled.

Bolin and Renshu hopped on as well, and the rabbit shook in his seat, shaking his head. "N-no...of course not."

The wagon continued on its journey.

Days went by that turned into weeks. A week multiplied and became several months. By this time, Jia actually felt that her life was, for the most part, back to normal. The city was still on alert, but she supposed that that was normal, too. Her only regret was never having found the Soothsayer. Actually, after being disappointed by Master Ox's news, she didn't feel very inclined to search the entire city for this apparently elusive woman. She didn't even know of anyone she could ask who might know where this goat lived. But be that as it may, the gossip in the city had long ago died down, just like her sisters said it would. More importantly, her suspicions that that wolf might return had also died. By now, it felt like so long ago that he threatened her, that she felt he really had been bluffing and didn't mean to come back. It certainly had to have been a cruel parting joke on his part - to make her feel paranoid for a while and almost lose her senses.

Jia shook her head as she set out the bowls on the table next to her shop.

"Excuse me - may I have two bowls of this, please?" said a mother pig who was with her young son.

"Of course," Jia said cheerfully and prepared the soup for them. She exchanged it for money and waved to the little piglet before they trotted off to take a seat at a nearby table.

"Hi, Jia," Lihua said, stepping up from behind the cart. "Is my sister's business thriving as usual?"

"You give me too much credit, Lihua." She smiled and pulled out some more bowls from the compact cupboards.

"I'm glad to see that things are back to normal." She gazed at her sister for a moment. "By the way, I heard that you were seeking an audience with the Soothsayer."

Jia's hand slowed as she set down one of her pans. "Yes...I was." She eyed her sister. "Why?"

Lihua set down the basket she had been carrying, filled with spools of yarn and cloth. "I just found it a little strange. Are you trying to get your fortune told?"

Jia sighed. "No, I wasn't trying to get my fortune told. I was just...wanting some advice."

"Why didn't you come to me?"

Naturally, there was no short abundance of reasons in Jia's mind as to why she didn't come to her sister. But she wasn't sure which one to present without hurting her feelings. She waited several seconds before deciding to succumb to the truth. "Lihua...even though you're the oldest, and you're my sister...that doesn't mean that you are always the right person to go to for advice." She looked down, not wanting to meet her sister's eyes just yet. She wasn't sure how she was going to take this bit of news, and although Lihua was level-headed, she also knew that being in charge of the two younger sisters meant that a certain amount of pride had crept in to her thinking as well. Well...maybe "pride" wasn't the right word. It was more like "authority."

To her surprise, all Lihua did was sigh, and say, "...Jia...I can tell you where the Soothsayer is if you still want to find her." She picked up her basket. "I just wish you'd trust me a little more."

This stung the young sheep more than any words of anger or belittlement. She performed the rest of her tasks in mild misery, but she was also a little confused. She wondered how it was that her sister knew where the Soothsayer lived. She wondered why her sister didn't dish out a lecture or two, as she was so fond of doing.

That night, as she snuggled under the covers of her bed (neatly made on the floor, but soft as feathers to the touch) she found it hard to sleep. And when she did sleep, her dreams kept her subconscious mind in a whirl. She woke up early the next morning feeling rather terrible. When she didn't show up for breakfast, Lihua lightly knocked on her door and asked to come in. She felt her sister's forehead.

"I'm fine," Jia insisted, sitting up. "I have to get ready. I can't miss a day of business; we need the money."

In spite of Lihua's protests, Jia got herself ready and carted her materials along the usual route through the city to set up shop. Lihua worked as something of a seamstress, and Shu spent her time making glass ornaments. There was a kindly old pig who acted as Shu's mentor. She let the sheep work in her studio, teaching her how to make all manner of trinkets and decorations by using the art of glass blowing. Obviously, the three sisters couldn't afford to have their own studio, let alone the materials to work with - which is why they felt very indebted to the kind sow who was willing to build and mold Shu's obvious skills, and without asking for a single coin in return.

Jia felt much better as the day progressed. By the end of it, she decided that she would ask Lihua where the Soothsayer lived. It wasn't so much that she felt she needed to talk to someone about her old problems anymore - she was just curious. Maybe she would also inquire as to how Lihua knew about such information. And she certainly did that evening.

"Liiiihua...I believe you told me that you know where the Soothsayer lives." Jia sang, giving her older sister "the face," looking every bit the innocent little ewe. Lihua cringed and set her chopsticks down, brushing a hoof along her soft cream-colored fur.

"You win," she said, but smiled nevertheless. "...If you want to know...she lives directly at the foot of the palace in a small abode, near the gardens. It's no secret, really - I'm surprised you couldn't find that out."

Jia frowned at her sister, but let it go. They were prone to squabbling now and then, but she found out what she wanted to know, and that's what mattered. Let Lihua think she knew it all - come tomorrow, Jia would go and visit the Soothsayer and ask for advice. Though, at this point, she wasn't sure what advice she was seeking. She was over her fear of the wolf - that is, as long as he kept his distance - and wasn't so afraid of him returning anymore.

"So you apparently still need some advice, hm?" Lihua said, as if she had read Jia's thoughts.

She shrugged. "I don't really know."

Lihua shrugged a shoulder. "Well it's your business, not mine."

Jia lifted her gaze; her sister was staring into her own bowl. "Lihua...don't look so downcast..."

"I'm not." She raised her head and smiled. Jia sighed.

Shu had said nothing throughout the conversation, and kept to herself. The rest of the evening was spent in silence.

The sheep stood before the pretty red door with eyes wide, hoofs clasped together as she tended to do when nervous. She inhaled hollowly, and knocked on the door. Only a few seconds passed by, but it seemed like minutes to Jia before the door finally opened. There indeed emerged the wise, kind face of the Soothsayer from the dimness of the enclosure. She eyed Jia with gentle curiosity, neither welcoming nor hostile, her hoof delicately placed upon her small wooden cane. Jia, remembering her manners, bowed politely and greeted the elderly goat.

"Hello. My name is Jia. I was wondering...I was wondering if you could help me." She smiled, hoping to appear genuine and not overly desperate or nervous.

The Soothsayer glanced around outside, then graced the sheep with a disarming smile and opened her door for the youth to enter. "Come in, child."

Jia stepped in and the Soothsayer closed the door behind her. She gestured to a small chair, "Please, sit down." She also took a seat across from the young sheep, and eyed her for a moment or two - a sort of calm, calculating gaze, as if she were able to extract all of the answers to her questions simply by gazing into Jia's eyes. Finally she asked, "What can I do for you, dear?"

Jia no longer felt nervous being in such close proximity to someone who, she believed, was immensely important and gifted. In fact, the Soothsayer seemed to have an oddly soothing effect on those who were in her presence, and Jia was not immune to this phenomenon. So she readily explained to the wise goat all of the difficulties and trials she had faced in the past several months. She made it clear that she felt that the root of her problem lied with her unpleasant encounter with the wolf. The Soothsayer listened gravely, occasionally nodding her head, her exquisite horns bobbing with the motion.

When Jia had finished, the Soothsayer smiled softly and placed both hands on her walking stick. She stood up. "I don't suppose you've come to have your future foretold."

"Actually, no."

The Soothsayer's smile widened, and Jia realized that this was no surprise to her. "No, indeed. It seems you're talented enough at predicting your own future." She gave a soft laugh.

Jia didn't know what she meant by this, but before she could ask, the Soothsayer continued: "Why did you come to me, dear?"

"I...I had heard that you were very wise."

"...You are still worried that this wolf may return to you?"

"Well...I didn't think I was worried anymore, but I guess I am."

"Hm. The memory still sits in the back of your mind. And sit there it will - no words of mine will put your mind at rest, child." She gazed at Jia with her vintage display of kindness and compassion. Jia gazed off at nothing in particular, mulling over the words that the wise old woman had given her.

She then looked at the Soothsayer and said, "Is there nothing you can do? No advice you can give me?"

"Oh, there is. But you will not like it." She raised her eyebrows and, in harmless mockery of a sulking child, turned away from Jia, compelling her, testing her to see if she really wanted to hear what the Soothsayer had to say.

Jia stood up, quite willing to take the bait that was given her. "What is it?"

The Soothsayer stopped, paused for a moment, and then turned to gaze equably back at the girl. "To put your mind at ease, you must face this wolf once again, and face, also, the answer that belongs to the question you keep asking yourself."

Jia's face fell. "You mean...I have to search him out? I have to find him and...see him?"

"Perhaps not. Maybe..." here, she hesitated, "maybe he will come to you." It was clear she felt uneasy saying this herself. She was very aware of how uncomfortable Jia was when talking about being face-to-face with the wolf, and although she didn't enjoy delivering such advice, she knew that she had to give the sheep what she was asking for.

Jia now felt that she would be leaving the Soothsayer's home in a much worse state than when she entered. But in spite of the unsavory advice she had received, she thanked the Soothsayer for her time, and was about to take her leave. She wasn't sure how much more she could handle, but the Soothsayer said one last thing.

"Jia...remember that I told you, that you must do this to put your mind at ease. But be warned that there may be even further consequences. If you meet this wolf again, it may shake the very core of your heart." Staring into the goat's grief-ridden eyes, Jia could tell that it was no joke or exaggeration. Though she didn't quite understand what the Soothsayer meant, she wanted to take her words to heart and obey this warning...whatever it foretold of.

That night, Jia was a stranger to sleep once again. She rested her hoofs on her stomach and stared at the ceiling. She listened to the sound of the wind in the trees outside, gazed out of her window at the twinkling stars that glistened beyond reach. She brought up a memory of being cradled in her mother's arms as she looked up at the sky one night, asking her mother to give her a star for her birthday.

She smiled and closed her eyes, determined to feel relaxed enough to fall asleep. But sleep never came. Giving up any and all hope for a good night's rest, Jia threw off the cover of her blanket and quietly stepped outside of the house. The air was cool and refreshing. She inhaled deeply, taking in the night air, and decided to walk a little ways down the street. The city was almost deserted at this time of night. The only inhabitants were those few "night owls" who were more nocturnal and less diurnal than the majority of Gongmen City's peasants. As such, they minded their own business, and Jia knew she had nothing to fear from them.

Her feet carried her over to one of the little koi ponds that dotted the city. She sat down by its edge and admired the dark shapes of the koi fish swimming around in the moonlit water, blissfully unaware of the world outside their own little pool. She smiled and blinked softly, leaning back on her hoofs and looking up at the sky. Somehow it felt good to be out there all alone, with no one around her, no hustle and bustle of the city the way it was during the day, no noise, no distraction. Just her and the stars and the moon and the koi pond...

...Imagine her surprise, then, when she felt a strong hand grip her shoulder from behind, whirling her around, and clasping her mouth.

She certainly gave an alarmed shriek, but it was stifled by the dark, furry hand. Whoever had grabbed her was now behind her, with one of her wrists painfully pinned against the small of her back. She couldn't turn her face to see who the attacker was, but she felt hot breath right next to her ear. Unable to cringe away, she heard a voice say, "I don't want you to say a word. I need a place to stay, and you're going to give it to me. I will not hurt you...I'm going to release you now, and if you scream, you'll wish you hadn't. Do you understand?"

She nodded as well as she could under the firm hold of this stranger's arm. And by the powers, she recognized that voice.

Her heart was beating at a dangerously high speed, but true to her word, she did not scream when the hand removed itself from her mouth. In fact, she was too afraid even to turn around and face this person. Instead, he stepped around to face her, directly in the light of the moon, and her suspicions were confirmed. It was the very same wolf she had met months ago. The same wolf who had threatened to cook her if she didn't prepare his rice.

She couldn't breathe.

He stood there gazing at her for a minute and, had she been less frightened and more aware of his body language, would have realized that there was more amusement in his eyes than hostility. Of course, she couldn't see this, and the only thing she saw before her was a very threatening, very unwelcoming wolf who posed a very real danger to her.

"Where do you live?" he finally asked.

"Over there," she pointed, answering in a trembling voice barely above a whisper.

"Take me there," he said, glaring at her. She nodded and led the way back to her house, praying the entire way that he would not do something harmful to her or her sisters.

When they made it there, Jia opened the door and - though she hated to do it - motioned for him to come in. She was too afraid not to do as he said, as her life (and the lives of her sisters, for all she knew) likely depended on it.

To her horror, the wolf made his way straight toward her room. He beckoned her to follow. Her heart skipped a beat as he closed the door behind them. But to her surprise, he dragged her bed right in front of the door and lied down on it.

He must have seen the look of bewilderment on her face, because he explained, "I can't have you warning anyone in this house of my presence, can I? The last thing I need is to wake up in prison."

Jia understood then: if she tried to leave the room to warn her sisters, she wouldn't be able to do so without waking him up in the process. She supposed then that he wasn't just cruel, but somewhat clever as well. It wasn't very chivalrous of him to take the bed and leave her to the floor, but she expected as much. The wolf didn't seem to have an ounce of kindness or compassion in his heart.

Knowing full-well that she most definitely would not get any sleep, Jia huddled in the corner of her room, hugging her knees close to her chest and gazed out the window once more - only this time, the memories that came to her were not so pleasant.

A/N's.

Just in case it's still not terribly clear, the two characters in this story are the ones that appeared for only a few seconds in the entire Kung Fu Panda 2 movie. Sorry to sound overbearing, it's only because I figure that these are the last two characters that would be written about in a KFP fic.

Assuming that I've done my research well, Jia means "beautiful" in Chinese, yes?