Tai Lung – The Journey

Chapter VI: Ambush

The rest of the day I trained. Or so Thorn called it. He sent me out in the rain to stand in the water. I should learn to see the difference between the waves in the water. Pff...I thought the first time. After all I saw it already once.

After standing there until night I changed my mind.

Nothing the whole time.

Not that I didn't sense anything, but the only thing I sensed were rain drops.

The next day too.

And so the third day.

Not until the fourth day I sensed the difference. Or so I think. Either I had really sensed the difference between a rain drop and a drop, which Thorn let drip into the water or it was my cold. I laid low for the next days.

Since my cold some days had passed and for the first time it wasn't raining anymore.

HURRAY!

Finally I could train my body in a greater space than this small fabric. Or so I thought.

"Tai Lung, I think it is a good time for you to visit the city." Thorn says.

"The City? Why?" I ask a little startled.

"Because you are strong enough now, to eat other things than grapes. I still remember like you make disgusted noises, when you need to eat them. In the city is better food."

Better Food? I think my saliva is dripping downwards. Finally! Better food. Not this torture tool anymore!

"So do you want to go?" he asks innocently.

"YES! Of course! I can't wait to reach the city!" I yell louder than I want to do.

He chuckles again. It still is a little annoying.

So we went to the city.

I admit it I thought that Thorn would lead me in some way. With words. Or, when there aren't alternatives, take me by my hand. But not a bit of it!

It was training time again. I should follow him by sensing the waves, which his feet formed.

I breathe out loudly.

And so I tried it.

I don't know how long I needed to accustom to it, but at least I can count my scratches.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6… Not bad. 48 when I didn't miscount.

Most often at my legs. But somehow I am accustomed to pain again. Like I was, when Shifu trained me. Is this good now or bad?

I crush in Thorn.

"What the hell, why are standing in the way?" I yell without thinking.

"We got company." he answers calmly.

"Where?" I say and try to sense them. Nothing.

Then I hear noises. Not until some time I understand that this is speech. In a different language to top it all.

"What he says?" I ask while he is still talking. At least I know that he is in front of us.

"He says: Finally old Thorn. I found you. I send you and your friend to Hell." Thorn answers and makes a break, "Or something like that. This mumbling is difficult to understand. But I think he uses some swear words also."

While I talked with Thorn this guy seemed to end his speech. He is quiet now.

"Eh, what now?" I ask unsure.

Thorn chuckles and answers in the same language, although his pronunciation was by light years better.

….

Still I don't understand a word.

Then this guy yells very loud. And I hear also two other voices. Then I hear like they are running to us.

I push Thorn away and yell: "Stay back!"

There are three different noises of steps and I can't see the difference, with exception that someone from the left is the closest. I punch in this direction. I miss. That a club which hits me in the chest proves me.

I fly a longer way and crash in the water. My whole body is now under water.

My first reaction: I need to breath!

But then I sense it. The waves in the water are much stronger than outside of it. Or I can sense more, because now my whole body is in the water. Choose.

At least I see the difference now. Three bigger waves are further afar and so they are a mix of six feet. One bigger wave is coming closer to me. Rather careful.

When he is close enough I use my hands to stand up. My feet come out of the water with a big splash. Before he can do something I use my feet to kick him away. I sense like he falls into the water.

I change my posture to my feet again. And still I can sense everything in the water.

This first guy, who seems to be a crocodile, stands up. Also I sense that one of the others is coming closer.

I don't let the first croc get in posture again and attack him. This time I hit. Maybe I am not as strong as I was, but still stronger than this croc. He flies backwards and stays there.

The second croc is rushing at me. I don't know how his weapon is positioned, but assuming from the attacking style it must be upwards. That I experience within one second. Yeah you can be impressed.

I rush at him and stand directly in front of him before he can realize what I have done. Then I punch with both fists and send him flying.

Two down, one to go.

I sense Thorn and the last one not far away. Thorn is the smaller wave. He is attacked, but…he can dodge it easily…

I proceed to attack fast and shout a furious war cry. The attacker stops for a second and turns around to me. Before he can attack with his weapon I lunge my fist.

In this moment happens something odd. I sense a whirl around my fist. It is covering my fist and my underarm. It is very strange.

I hit him with this fist and something more strange happens.

There where my fist crashes in his chest were another whirl. It had surrounded him. When I hit both whirls flew away and for a split second a complete empty space was created. A void I think.

I don't know if this void has to do something with that what happened after that, but I am not a physicist.

Anyway he flew backwards against the next tree.

I breathe out loud. I try to sense this whirl again. There is nothing. Was this my imagination?

I hear like he is standing up again. Tripping. Then he yells something to his men and I hear and sense like they are taking flight. The attack is over.

"Impressive.", I hear Thorn say, "You get stronger in the last weeks than I imagined."

"And you are still not completely honest to Me.", I counter calmly.

"What do you mean?"

"You could dodge the attacks. With Kung Fu moves. That I sensed."

He chuckles again.

"Maybe Oogway showed me one or two moves of his Wushu. But still I am not a fighter. I am a pacifist."

I think about the next question.

"Who were they?"

"Some bandits." he replies a little different from usual.

"Only?" I ask showing my disbelief, "I thought they wanted to send us to hell."

"It is….complicated."

"You said me once that time is something we have enough here." I reminds him.

He chuckles.

"Yeah that is true. But not now, okay? I tell you when I think it is the correct time."

"I see. I remind you of this."

What is he hiding?

...

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