II.

The morning brought clarity of purpose for Shen. He was about to embark on something other than the typical skulking bid for survival and it felt good to be moving forward again. Unfortunately, the way forward was up a mountain.

They began the climb early- before the sun overtook the mountaintops and light spilled into the valley below. Shen was once again accompanied by his lieutenant and was determined not to feel bested by the wolf, but it was a losing battle. Despite the peacock's glowing ego, Shen was not in the physical shape that he used to be. As an adolescent, he had become obsessed with mastering the art of kung fu, but had quickly lost interest and had often neglected to practice after receiving his black belt. And after the banishment- well. Five years of depression and general self-pity had weakened his stamina and dulled his reflexes.

The one-eyed wolf was a different story. He exercised impulsively and became uneasy and irritable without regular physical exertion. And so, toward the middle of the hike, as the sun rose ever higher, Shen struggled to keep pace with the blasted canine without showing any signs of his weariness.

They didn't reach the summit until noon, by which time Shen was feeling thoroughly exhausted (and rather demoralized as well). The trail they had followed opened up into a broad training ground, and past it lay the temple- a magnificent stone structure, carved into and built out of the rocky face of the mountain. Its shingled roof and multiple stories were held up by columns inlayed with thousands of carved dragons, their heads and tails curled towards the sky. Though it was the most prestigious thing Shen had seen in his five years of disgraceful exile, Shen could only scowl. It was nothing compared to the majesty of the palace of Gongmen City, but still, some small, secret part of him twisted with grief at the reminder of his home.

On the training grounds, there must have been fifty or more students enhancing their coordination, each following the slow movement of their instructor with near-perfect precision. In the distance, the low, rhythmic pinging of a bell could be heard. Having caught his breath, Shen regained his composure and headed for the temple, cutting through the ocean of diligent students with his hood down and head raised proudly, crest bobbing with his steps.

"Whoa…" The wolf glanced around uneasily as he trailed after Shen. "What's wrong with these guys?"

"Hm?" Shen replied distractedly.

"If this is kung fu," the wolf said. "I think their doin' it wrong…"

The peacock sighed. "It is tai chi. An ancient practice."

"Well it's weird," The wolf said matter-of-factly. "And pretty damn useless. Like to see 'em try to take my pack on with their super-slow technique." He chortled.

"It is not kung fu-"

"-I'll say it's not!-"

"-It instills discipline." Shen hissed. "Perhaps you could benefit."

At this, the wolf bit his tongue and was silent as they entered the temple and scaled the old wooden steps. The first three floors were filled with empty corridors, dorms, and balconies overlooking the grounds. When Shen reached the fourth and final floor, however, he found a single wide, cavernous room. He was first aware of the dim light and heady perfume of burning incense. Sunlight filtered through dusty, wax paper windows on the wall facing the grounds, but the opposite wall was rough, grey stone- raw cliff face that seemed to hum with earthen power. And against that wall stood the Fountain of the Water of Wisdom.

It was... disappointing. Spring water from within the mountain trickled from the ceiling into a hanging basin, which overflowed into the large, round mosaic on the floor. The mosaic formed a simple pattern- the symbol of yin and yang, good and evil, light and dark. Black and white. Shen shivered involuntarily.

"Would the travelers like a drink to ease their weariness?"

Shen jumped at the sound of a female voice so close, turned and jumped again as he was met nose to nose with the cat-like face of a creature that was hanging upside-down from the shadowy rafters above. She wore servant's clothing and, strangely, a blindfold was secured over her eyes.

"Hey," Shen's lieutenant laughed a little in surprise. "How're you doing that with your feet?"

"Eh?" Though blinded, the creature's big ears twitched and her head turned in the direction of the wolf. "Oh. Oh, I don't know. It comes naturally, I think." She said with a smile.

Shen realized his chest feathers were ruffled in surprise and he discreetly smoothed them, though the creature couldn't see him anyway. "Are you..." he asked uncertainly, "the keeper of the fountain?"

"That's right." The creature replied, unfolding her wings. And they were wings, Shen realized, though they were featherless. Instead of feathers there was skin- so thin and delicate that, against the backdrop of the dampened sunlight, Shen could see every intricate spider webbing blood vessel. The keeper of the fountain stretched briefly, then released the rafter from her clawed feet and, landing one-handed, turned her body in mid air so that she fell into a crouching position, facing her guests. "Not that it's such an important title," she continued plainly. "The fountain keeps itself."

"...Indeed," was all Shen could think to say.

"I'm sorry I startled you," she said, turning to Shen. "Please- you are welcome to drink."

After a moment, Shen's wolf gave a shrug. "Don't mind if I-"

Shen's wing shot out hung in the air- a signal for the wolf to halt. "What are you playing at?" He asked the creature. The keeper merely cocked her head to the side and Shen caught a glimpse of shockingly golden-yellow fur beneath the raised collar of her sleeveless tunic. The blindfold made it very difficult to read her expressions.

"I have heard of the Fountain of Wisdom," he said dubiously. "Its water is said to cause the blind to see and fools to go mad. It is said to cure ailments and revive the weak. Do you expect me to believe that its keeper simply offers this water to anyone that wonders out of the woods?"

"Yes." Said the keeper cheerfully, an infuriating smile playing on her lips.

Shen narrowed his eyes. "You're lying."

The creature's smile shrank as she appeared to consider this statement. "I am?"

"It's a test of some kind." Shen knew how these things worked. He had seen it all his young life from his tutors- they would attempt to deceive him to test his cunning young mind. And this was the Fountain of Wisdom, after all.

The keeper seemed to comprehend. She nodded slowly, said, "I'll get you a cup, shall I?" then opened her wings and kicked off the ground, propelling herself into the air and landing lightly on a ledge near the streaming water. "It's a bit hard," she said as she took a small jade bowl and dipped it under the stream. "Because of the minerals from the mountain. But it'll make you strong. I suppose that accounts for the medicinal rumors." The keeper stepped off the ledge and landed neatly on her small feet.

Smiling again, she offered Shen the full bowl, and Shen took it. Despite himself, he was really quite thirsty. "As for the rest," she said, "Exaggerations and stories. Believe me, friend. The people of this province revere water for no mythical reason. There is no mystery." And suddenly Shen felt foolish. And angry. The hike, the searching- it was all for nothing.

His voice lowered dangerously, causing the wolf behind him to tense in apprehension. "Then it is of no use to me." He said, and flung the bowl to the floor.

Quick as lightning, the keeper swept forward and snatched it from the air, deftly catching the stray droplets before they could hit the ground. Shen was overcome with fresh outrage. She could see! She must see. But how?

With a thoughtful smile, the keeper tipped back her dark head and drank the mineral rich water. Shen watched her carefully. He was paying closer attention now. It had to be those ears- those big, curved disks that swiveled and twisted at the slightest movement. Had he made a sound when he threw the bowl down? Had she guessed where the water would land?

"Water is life," the blindfolded keeper was saying quietly. She didn't seem to notice as Shen crept toward her. "And life is precious…"

"A beautiful sentiment. But I beg to differ." With that last word, Shen threw a punch at the girl's right side- hit air as she swiveled easily away. There was a tense, wordless, moment. The keeper subtly planted her feet in a more defensive stance, nonchalantly tossed the bowl (which the wolf impulsively caught) to the side, and waited.

Shen lunged. He kicked, jabbed, feigned, kicked some more in quick succession. He couldn't touch her- couldn't even graze her as she dodged again and again with beautiful timing. But he was driving her into a corner, trying to force her to fight back. There was a glimmer of something, here. But he would have to gauge her strength before he was sure.

Her back brushed the wall and Shen smirked, but rather than going on the offensive, she merely blocked him with her fore-wings. She was obviously aware that he wasn't aiming to seriously hurt her. He began to feel like he'd initiated some kind of spontaneous sparing match. She was sure and endlessly patient and it made Shen sick with frustration. As he began to tire, he left an opening for just a fraction of a second, and she grabbed it; she ducked under his wing, leapt swiftly into the rafters, and perched there, out of reach. She stared down at him, and he imagined her smile was a little smug.

"What was that?" Shen squawked, forgetting himself. "Come down from there!"

"Why?"

"We aren't through!"

"Through with what?"

Shen hesitated. "Where did you learn to do that?"he pressed, changing the subject. "Who is your master?"

"No one," said the girl. For the first time, she looked uncomfortable. "…I'm a servant here. I don't study under the masters-"

"Very well," Shen cut her off hurriedly. He did not much care how she had gained her skills, as long as she could use them. "You did not study. These things just come… naturally, yes?"She was having a hard time following him, and he was pleased that he finally had the advantage.

The keeper shifted on her perch. "I…uh-"

"You cannot be satisfied here," Shen approached slowly, watching the keeper's ears flatten against her head. "treated as one would a- well, a servant, your talents clearly unappreciated. You could be so much more-"

"-I am happy he-"

"-Jinzhang." The bat tensed immediately, and Shen imagined her eyes, big and round behind the cloth.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Lord Shen, singular descendent to the peacock dynasty, heir to the throne." After a sufficient pause, Shen added as an afterthought, "And my lieutenant, Laoban."

"Yo." Laoban half-saluted.

Jinzhang was very still. Shen knew that she knew exactly who he was and what happened five years ago; there wasn't an animal in China that didn't know his name now. She could have said a hundred things, but she simply said, "What do you want."

"Of that," Shen answered, "I am almost certain. But not quite." Jinzhang's ears twitched at the clack of Shen's talons as he strutted toward the stairs, the soft swish of his tail brushing the ground. And just before his descent, he paused and said in his most silken of tones, "We will be in touch."

No, thought Shen, as he glided through the temple entrance, this was not a waste. But a challenge.