Chapter 9
As Po and his friends were almost squashed up together, as the howling of a wolf echoed its way through the short, eerie silence for the first time after the voice whispered the ending of Viper's sentence. Monkey kept walking back further and further, with Po and the others following him, they huddled close protectively... only to suddenly fall backwards on top on another. They tripped over a rock, easily camouflaged in the crystal white blanket. Crane stood quickly, taking snow up with him. wiping the snow off his chest and the shoulders of his cloak, his eyes darted around into the dark woods surrounding them anxiously as he did so. Sensing something ahead of them, he narrows his eyes, wishing he had a lantern.
Surely enough, he saw a faint glow through the trees and bamboo stalks, and the slushy ice cold sound of a sled, accompanied by... the sound of laughter, could be heard from the darkest pits of the night. Crane gulped as Po, Viper, Mantis, and Monkey soon rose up beside him, watching the glow grow only brighter. The laughter was growing in volume, and it didn't sound the good "jolly".
"I don't think we're safe here..." Monkey whispered as he picked up Viper's Satchel, which fell off the avian's shoulder when they all fell.
"We gathered that..." Viper whispered back. She jumped into her Satchel while Monkey placed it on his back. "Let's just slowly walk away..."
"I wouldn't even try my dear," the voice said again. Soon, a tall, hunched body materialized just as a sled grinded to a halt in front of them. At first, none of the masters could see the animals they were up against... until the lanterns on the sled reflects off...
Eyes... and several of them.
"Wolves," Po said, jeopardized, but miraculously in a low voice rather then sounding squeaky. The biggest wolf casually strolled past the back of the sled, grabbed a torch, and lit it up as his possible company smiled evilly and muttered little things to one another while jumping out from the back as well. They were saying things that the Master's couldn't easily catch. Even though the flame was small, they could see his rough, rugged complexion once he took off the black hood, revealing the flash of one steel grey eye... and the other was covered by his bushy, tear shaped mane.
"Yes, wolves." He said, and the others hushed upon hearing his voice. Yep, they were with him. "Sorry if you were expecting greater company."
"Thanks for the sympathy." Mantis narrowed his eyes as he raised his pincers, ready for attack mode. "Now go." They knew what the guy meant by 'company' and it wasn't a good thing.
"So soon?" The wolf reaches into the bag on the back of one of wolves sitting on the sled, and took out cups. "I figured the strange weather bit at your gratitude hard. It certainly didn't affect my hospitality. How about a cup of hot tea?" As much as they wanted to give in, and enjoy a small quick cup of tea to warm up that little bit more, but they remained where they were, and the others copied Mantis by raising their arms protectively, while Viper stared at him, and then at the other wolves. She knew him. She really did, but she couldn't remember where, and she didn't trust him at all. "Come on... come and join us on a small little tea break. We are just like you, tired, weary travelers in this Winter-Summer weather..." She heard the swish of a blade. "Now, let's chat; some weather right? What could possibly be the source?"
"You'd think he already knows and is just testing us?" Po muttered to Crane, who standing his guard.
"I'm sure he maybe doing so, but wolves are cunning creatures. Crafty minds, and swift movements. So be careful and play your words right." He whispered back. Po nodded slightly, before turning to the leading wolf. "Yeah," he said. "I wonder what the cause of it is too. We all do." He was even able to crack a small smile, and a forced, but fool-proof chuckle. Was this what Crane meant by painting with his words correctly? "Well, have you got any ideas of what it might be?"
"Hmm..." The wolf inhaled deeply, and only let it out once he started talking properly. "I don't know... maybe a certain someone present in the few feet between us knows?"
"Us?" Monkey asked. "Since when did we get good at Geography? Never good at that kind of thing in lessons." The wolf tilted his head inwards, as if he was creating a double chin with his neck fat, as well as his fur.
"Speak for yourself," Mantis muttered.
"No one said anything about lessons boy," he chuckled the wind whispered around them, as Monkey swallowed slowly. It so happened to allow the mane on the leading wolf to dance a little in the wind, and soon, Viper gasped at the sight of his hidden 'eye'. It wasn't there... What was there? An eye patch.
"You." "Yes, me. My dear, look how you've grown?" Chen, the cackled evilly as he let the cups fall to the ground, to slowly reveal a switch blade. "The elderly age hasn't hit you yet."
"Like it hit you?" She snarled.
"Seriously?" Monkey sounded perplexed, and the wolves just looked at him, also quite puzzled, yet amused by his reaction. "What is it with you and knowing every creepy guy that we come across?"
"It's him!" The boys looked at the grinning canine, before turning to the serpent, then back at the wolf, quicker this time, realizing what she meant.
"So, he's the reason we're in this mess?" Po asked. They all looked at the panda.
"Po-"
"The one that Rai was talking about?"
"Po..."
"The guy who gave Ti-"
"PO!" They all yelled. Once again their friend babbled away, and now the wolf knew why they were out here.
"So... the crystals worked after all? Perfect!" He turned to his men, raising his fist to the darkened sky. "We're close to the target! Kidnap them! Tie them up and take them with us. We make our way to the Jade Palace immediately."
"Pity for you," Po started again. He gulped at the sight of the ropes in Chen's paws as he and his men closed in on them. "She's not at the Jade Palace."
"Oh? Then where is she boy?"
"The East Mountain!" Po covered his mouth quickly, and looked at his friends apologetically. At first, for a very, very brief moment, they didn't understand, but then they saw where he was going.
"PO!" They shout again, sounding very ticked off.
"Get them!" Chen demanded. "I haven't got time for this!" And that was when they all pounced, including Chen. Po jumped into the air, and as the group wolves were about to attack his friends, gravity was there to help, and dragged him down quickly and flattened the wolves, and Chen got the taste of Po's swift punch.
"HIYAH!"
"Come on!" Monkey pushed everyone to the sled. "While their still down!"
Po placed Viper in the sled. "We got this sled to escape!"
"Great plan!" Then he ran to the back of the sled, and began to push it with Monkey and Crane's help. Mantis accompanied Viper.
"What can we do?" Viper asked. Crane grunted as he and the other boys gave the sled one big push in unison. It was starting to move, great!
"You just... make sure you don't leave the satchel, Mantis you make sure you don't fall off the sled altogether... both of you make sure you don't get kidnapped." Viper frowned for a quick moment, before shrugging. A wolf that was knocked down jumped up, and flew himself at them, but Monkey played quick, and without turning, or having any acknowledgement of the wolf attacking, he threw his head back, only to connect with the wolf's own head. Once winced in pain, but the was knocked out. Monkey rubbed his head gently as the wolf was sprawled out in the snow, knocked out completely. The sled edged along slowly, and slowly, but surely, as Crane jumped into the sled, and Po and Monkey clung tightly onto the back, tying the rope around themselves securely. It started to move quicker and quicker... Just as the wolves stood up and regained their focus.
"Ugh..." Chen groaned, before yelling out when Po and the rest of the five zoomed past in their new hijacked sled. "They're getting away!" He glared at Po and Monkey, who waved at him, and laughing while the darkness began to swallow them. "Move! We must follow them!"
Oblivious to our friends for a short moment... the chase was on.
During the duration of time, Po and Monkey were whistling and singing together as they glided along the snow, as if they were ice skating, while Viper, Crane, and Monkey sat comfortably in the seats of the sled. They were enjoying themselves, for the first time in their journey. They all even decided to continue Po's song from earlier, but they changed the lyrics as well as their attitude;
Viper, Mantis, Crane, and Monkey:
Pandas are better than Wolves
Mantis and Monkey:
Po, don't you think that's true?
Po:
Yeah, they will beat you,
And trick you, and cheat you, and kill you!
Monkey:
None of them will be better then you!
Po *chuckles*:
Na, na, na, na, na, na!
Viper, Crane, Mantis, and Monkey:
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Friends!
Na, na na na na na na!
Mantis:
Na, na, na, na, na, bugs!
Crane:
Na, na, na, na, na, birds!
Viper:
Na, na, na, na, na, snakes!
Monkey:
Na, na, na, na, na, monkeys!
Po:
Na, na, na, na, na-
Viper, Crane, Monkey, Mantis, and Po:
PANDAS!
They all wanted to fall about laughing, but the privilege of doing so was given to Mantis, Viper, and Crane. Monkey and Po were clinging onto the back of the sled, however, they still could share the laughter, and the same fuzzy feeling that was dwelling within their hearts... but like I said, it was short lived...
When the laughing died, they all heard the howling behind them.
"Their gaining on us!" Po yelled, turning his head. To his horror, he saw the pack of mutts run after them, running on all fours. They drew closer and closer, rising the tide of their panic. Soon enough, they were by the sides as well as the back, baring their teeth at them. Chen was chasing by the side that Viper and Po were on. Po kicked out at him and flew his fist at him repeatedly. While this was happening, another wolf was gliding through the air, and landed on Po's back.
"HUAH! AHHHH! AH! AH! HELP!" Crane looked around, grabbed Po's Pipa, and swings it right at Po's head. The panda screamed, as the instrument traveled at high speed... then BAM!... it zoomed past Po and knocks the wolf away. Po felt relief, but he wasn't happy to see his Pipa's body now broken.
Just then Monkey is attacked sled by a wolf too, while another threw a torch out of nowhere. The torch went flying, and Viper jumps out of her satchel, and caught it. Po grabs onto another loose rope hanging from the back of the sled, clinging onto it like his life depended on it... well, it did.
Soon, Monkey suddenly lost his footing on the stand board when the starts going down hill a quicker, fell, and got dragged through the snow quickly, leaving long, deep trail marks behind him. He could feel the snow piling under his chest, and some of it going down his padded tunic, and he screeched aloud like he was being murdered. Mantis leapt down to help him as Crane tried to pick up the speed, and they all hold on for dear life as he's dragged behind.
A wolf jumps on Monkey's back. "AH!" Viper looked around, saw her friend's situation, and used the torch to light a blanket she found on fire.
"Duck!" Viper thew the flaming blanket right at him. He ducks, the blanket whacked the wolf, and he tumbled off Monkey, yelping and whimpering out in pain.
"You almost set me on fire!" Mantis reaches out, and eventually pulled Monkey back onto the sled.
"But she didn't." Crane replied, moving the sled in and out between the trees. Monkey threw himself onto the sled properly, and then Po cried out, both in a pleading way, and in pain. They all turned around to see what was going one. Chen seemed to take a risk and dived at Po... and now his claws were latched onto Po's arm, digging deep into his skin through the fabric, possibly drawing a little blood. Po placed his paw on top of Chen's and tried to pull it off. It only dug his claws in further.
"Hang in their buddy-" Mantis began, but then Viper screamed out, to make him return to see them all staring at a massive gorge, exposed in the sudden moonlight, up ahead, and they still had to get away from Chen.
"What are we going do?!" Viper asked in panic, her eyes undilated to the smallest extent to show her fear. "We won't make it!"
"Crane," Po yelled, grunting in pain, struggling to get the jagged claws out. "Get ready for some heavy lifting training."
"Excuse me?" They all turned to one another, and then rolled their eyes at the Avian, who gulped nervously, realizing what the panda was referring too.
"Po!" He stammered. "This is the most dangerous idea you've ever had!"
"Thanks! I- do- TRY!" He lashed out his free fist at Chen, hitting him square in the jaw, but even that didn't loosen the canine's grip. "Get ready to jump, and fly!" Out of nowhere, Chen started screaming out in pain, making Viper, Monkey, Crane shudder, and cover their ears. Po gave one more mighty punch, and with it's force, Chen finally let go, and the panda watched in discomfort as Chen tumbled back, and lie flat into the snow behind them motionless. When they reopened their eyes, and realized they were getting closer to the gorge, Po climbed into the seat with them, shoves Viper, in her satchel and all, into Monkey's arms, and scoops him up. He tosses Monkey, Viper, and Mantis onto Crane's back, and told to wait for right moment. Crane squawked at the sudden weight hitting him, but Po ignored and quickly reached out for other supplies that he suddenly spotted on the sled; small packages of food, water, bandages, and an axe. He wasn't sure what the axe could be useful for... yet. But it would be a good thing to have.
"What about you?" Mantis questioned as he stuffed everything into a spare satchel, and gave it to Monkey as well.
"I'm praying Crane will catch me before I hit rock bottom!" He eyes for the right moment, and crouched down. "Wait for it..." They all followed his action, feeling the wind violently brush their faces, almost hurting their eyes. "Wait for it..." their hearts pounding as the sled began to bounce along the bumps under them, ready to take the fall. As soon as the sled was in the moonlight, and out of the darkness of the forestry, Po yelled; "Jump!"
Crane jumps and flies the gorge with everyone but Po on his back, staring down at the jagged rocks at the bottom of the deep wide Xiágǔ below. Po jumps up too, still on the large toboggan, and goes flying behind them. Crane dumps everyone safely on the other side of the Xiágǔ, before landing himself onto the soft snow. Po felt excited. I'm gonna make it! I'm gonna make it! The sled loses momentum and began to drop. His excitement died very quickly. It wasn't going to make it. Po leaps off. He flaps his arms, claws at the air, almost as if he was intimidating a bird. He slams into the snowy edge of the cliff. Hanging by his paws, he looks down to see his sled hit the ground far below and burst into flames. Suddenly, he starts to slip. He claws at the loose snow, hissing in pain when he remembered his injured arm, unsure whether minor or major damage was done. But either way, it clearly seemed hopeless. He's slipping...
He's going down.
"Uh-oh. No, no, no." To make matters worse, an a sharp, shiny object comes flying right at his face. "AH! NO, NO, NO!" It was an axe, and it slammed into the snow, inches from his nose. Viper's voice echoed through the air.
"Grab on!" It says, and Po grabbed on. "Pull, guys! Pull! The axe is tied to a rope, then everyone pulled on Vipers command. Viper was out of her satchel, and :helped Crane, Mantis, and Monkey pull Po to safety. Soon, when his full body was on the ground once more, he rolled onto his back, exhausted, and eyes closed. Viper and the others crept towards him, and peeked down at him.
"Are you OK?" She asked. Po was breathing in ad out heavily, his arms and legs spread out like a starfish, and when he opened his eyes, they saw fear, relief, happiness.
"I... never... felt so... alive." He leapt up into the air, and danced about. "That felt amazing- Ouch!" He grasped his paw tightly as Viper pulled the sleeve back, wincing at the red gash. Four deep, wide dot looking marks, in an oval formation, disappearing as soon as Viper got the bandages Po took from the sled, and began to wrap it gently around the Panda's arm, while Crane watched, and Monkey and Mantis went to the edge of the ravine, and watched the sled burn.
"Whoa... well, at least we don't have to replace their sled right?" Monkey said with a chuckle. Po, Viper and Crane went over silently and watched it too.
"After they attacked us, and Po nearly dying? I don't think so!" Mantis groans, as he rubbed his forehead. Po's bottom lip stuck out when he saw his instrument lie about by burning wood, broken into two. "There goes my Pipa..." He sighed. "Well, at least we're alive right?"
"Yeah..." the boys replied, but Viper looked sad.
"And I understand if you guys don't want to help anymore." Viper slithered off, sadly, stopped to pick up her bag, and continued her was in a sad slither. Po scratched the back of his neck as Crane, Monkey, and Mantis watched the serpent leave the space.
"Of course I don't want to help anymore!" Monkey whined. "We'll end up dying out here!"
"But Viper will die on her own finding Tigress." Po said. The began to consider weather they could leave with it or not, but through their deep and individual thoughts, Viper went this way and that... and all of it was wrong. She went left, which was the wrong way,...turned, went the other wrong way, turned again, tripped over a log. "Which also means, if we don't help Viper find Tigress, we won't have summer ever again, and that also means freezing our tenders and tushies for the rest of our lives." Crane nodded in agreement, and turned to Monkey and Mantis, and by the look on their faces, he knew they understood the fact the Panda had a point.
"...You know, sometimes I really don't like you guys." Monkey muttered.
Po smiled happily. "But you love us all the same," after that, he rotated and ran for Viper. "Hold up Viper. We're coming!" Viper stopped, and turned gasped excitedly.
"You are?!" She said with a squeal.
"Yep! Let's go!" Po picked her up and into her bag she went.
"To Dōngjì!" Monkey declared...
However, as they trekked on, on the opposite side of the gorge, Chen came out of the canopy a few feet away from the edge. His paw was blue, his fur was covered in a light layer of snow, and covered in ice.
"Dōngjì eh? Interesting..." Even though it was painful, he managed to break it off, but his hand was still cold and stiff. His men also came out, battered and bruised. As they sat behind their leader, muttering and moaning, and shaking off the snow. Chen didn't cry out revenge. Instead... he clapped slowly. "Well played Masters..." A sinister grin stretched across his face. "Well played..."
Xiágǔ - Chinese for gorge, or ravine.
Hope your enjoying it so far everyone! Please review and tell me what you think! I'll updated as soon as possible!
