Twenty-One Years: Final Goodbyes

Shuang stirred, her sleepy mind slow to realise that she was being shaken. Bolting upright as it sunk in, she looked over at Shen as her pillow slid off the bed. He was standing on the floor next to her, and the peacock's eyes were serious.

"It is time, Silver Star. We are leaving in a few hours."

Before he could react, even with his lightning-fast mind, he was pinned to the wall. Pleading brown eyes met his.

"Please, Shen. Don't go! Stay here with me! Kai and I will be devastated if something happens to you! What if the Soothsayer was right?"

"We already talked about this." There was a warning in Shen's voice.

Two knives appeared within seconds of each other, one at Shen's throat, the other against Shuang's stomach. Shuang hated this, but she couldn't let him harm innocents, and his weapon would do just that. It had to.

Shen's cold gaze rested on her, and for a moment, she thought she saw something akin to pity there.

"Can you do it?"

Shuang trembled. For the first time in her life, she hated herself. She pressed her head to the wall beside his long neck. "I'm a disgrace." She flung the knife towards the bed, where it buried itself into his pillow.

Shen removed his own throwing knife, and held his wife, whispering quietly. Shuang sobbed. She was going to miss him, and she knew that another meeting was unlikely. After a time, she stopped crying, and just stood quietly, relishing these last moments with just the two of them.

A knock on the door disrupted the peaceful quiet. Outside, Shen's 'friend', Ju-long the eagle, was waiting.

"Are you ready Shen?" His voice was strong and powerful, but for the discerning ear, there was a touch of madness. Shuang felt like biting him.

Shen glanced at Shuang, who said, "I will wake Kai, and bring him to say goodbye."

Shen nodded, and left to oversee the final preparations. With the Boss Wolf away raiding villages, he had to take a more active role.

Shuang tiptoed into the next room, wanting to see Kai's peaceful face. She knew from experience that if Kai saw her, he got really excited. It was even worse when he saw Shen. He would make a squawk of delight, jump to the cold floor, then race around his father's legs until he got dizzy. The lynx smiled at the memories, then frowned as she remembered that she would never see him do that again. Reaching the small bed, she picked up the little peacock.

"Mama." His whisper was filled with contentment.

"Son." She rubbed her cheek against his. "Come. Let's get dressed. Daddy's going on a journey, and we need to say goodbye."

Kai wrapped his wings around her neck. "Are you crying, Mama?"

"No, sweetheart. Not yet."

She quickly dressed him, then slipped into her own black tunic. Picking up Kai, she walked out into the factory area. Mother and son both stared, surprised at how empty it was. The tiniest noise made an echo, much to Kai's delight. Leaping to the floor, he ran over to the edge of the platform they were on and began to call out. He was answered by the few wolves that were gathering any last minute items. Kai laughed, and the beautiful, bubbly, joyful sound brought a smile to Shuang's lips.

Shen came around the corner, an irritated expression on his face. It vanished as soon as he spotted his wife and son. Kai squealed in excitement, and raced into his father's embrace. Shuang joined them for a three way hug.

Eventually, Shen pulled away. Kai showed him the echo, and then let him turn to talk to Shuang.

"I am leaving three cannons and some wolves with you. They will look after you both. Ju-long will probably be his usual annoying self, but I can't take him. If anyone will ruin the whole plan-"

"-it's him." Shuang nodded in understanding. Or Po.

Shen inclined his head, then nipped her ear with affection. Shuang smiled sadly.

"Goodbye, Shen."

"Goodbye, my Silver Star."

As Shuang and Kai watched him go to join his army of wolves, she whispered, "We will not meet again."

"Mama? What do you mean?"

Kneeling down, she hugged the young peacock. "I will tell you someday soon."