The warriors traveled a few miles outside Thieves Landing before the day started to come to a close. Through the cloudy sky a faint sunset could be seen. "It's getting late. We should make camp." Tigress commanded. They approached a small clearing surrounded by a few trees and decided to make camp there for the night.
Everyone picked a spot that they'd set up their tents and bedrolls. The Furious Five all bunked side-by-side, leaving space between each other to keep from being cramped, Po bunked between the Five and Yuè, Yuè bunked between two trees but instead of pitching a tent, he tied a tarp between the trees and made a bed of fallen leaves and moss, Jian decided to dig out a patch of grass and sleep there for the night.
Po looked over at Yuè and Jian's style of sleeping and tilted his head in confusion. Yuè gazed over and saw the panda's quizzical expression, "It's to keep the rain out. That, and I don't like tents." he said in a matter-of-fact way. "What about Jian?" Po asked while gesturing to the large reptile. "He's a croc. With a tough hide like that I doubt he'd feel a bed." Yuè answered. After a few minutes of setting up their sleeping spots, the sun had just about disappeared from the sky. Yuè started a campfire for the group, "So, what's for dinner?" Jian asked, his stomach rumbling lowly. Po reached into a large pack and pulled out a medium sized wicker basket. He opened the top and passed it around the fire, "We're having spring rolls." Po announced with a bright smile. The basket was passed clockwise around the circle of travelers, starting with Po.
The basket almost completed the circle when it came to Yuè. He looked down at the rolls of cabbage and assorted vegetable fillings and passed it to Jian, who readily snatched the basket. Po looked at the lupine sitting across from him, "Oh, uh, sorry Yu. I forgot you don't like veggies." he said with a wry smile and wilted ears. Yuè waved it away, "It's okay. I probably packed something for myself anyway. I'll just go check my pack." he said returning the smile and grabbing his travel bag. He reached inside and pulled out a handful of rice balls filled with sweet bean paste. He looked over to Po with a grin, "See?" he asked taking a bite from one of the rice balls. Everyone shrugged it off and continued with their meal.
The moon had risen by the time they finished eating. Jian laid on his back rubbing his stomach, "That was amazing. Where'd the Dragon Warrior learn to cook like that?" he asked lifting himself up to look at Po. "Well, when you're the son of a chef you pick up some things." he said chuckling. Jian laughed heartily at the comment, "Son of a chef, eh? Ain't that somethin'?" He looked over to his right and saw that Yuè was missing from the group. He turned around and saw the wolf was resting under his tarp. "What's up with Yu?" the croc asked. "Probably feeling guilty from earlier." Crane answered spitefully. "Guilty?" Jian asked raising an eyeridge. "Yeah, he let this merchant in the village get beaten half to death and had the nerve to say it was the 'best call'." Tigress said voice tinged with disgust and hatred.
"Well, if he's feeling guilty maybe someone should talk to him about it." Jian suggested. He looked around the campfire to see if anyone would step up. Everyone was silent. "No one? Huh..." Jian stood up and walked over to the lupine. Po and the Five watched as the reptile said a few inaudible words to Yuè before walking back to the fire. "He's fine." Jian said sitting back down in front of the campfire, "Though he did say that you may want to get to your tents." the croc said walking to his sleeping spot. Everyone looked at each other quizzically before the sound of thunder roared in the sky, making them flinch.
Rain began to fall lightly as everyone prepared for bed. Jian carefully unbuckled the iron plate armor he wore on his back and chest and stabbed his sword in the side of a nearby tree. He wrapped the pieces of armor in a leather tarp he placed near him and laid down on the patch of dirt he made. Yuè removed his leather vest and shroud and hung them up on the tree near his head. He placed his sword, unsheathed, at his feet, several throwing knives to his left, and his crossbow on his right. Po saw the unusual behavior and walked over to Yuè, "What's with the weapons?" he asked. "Just in case we get attacked. Gotta be prepared." Yuè answered. Po shrugged and walked to his tent. Everyone said their 'goodnights' and drifted off to sleep as the rain started to pound harder.
'Yuè was running on all fours through the misty damp forest as rain poured down. "Liii?! Where are you?!" he called out in a panicked voice. He was panting hard and strained his ears to hear a response, looking in all directions. "Daddy!" called a high pitched voice from his left. The wolf quickly took off in the direction of the voice. He ran for several minutes calling out the name 'Li' and following the response. He came to a large clearing and saw a small figure laying in the middle. The trees around the clearing were wilted and dead. He could hear his heartbeat pick up and feel his pulse race as he approached the figure. He walked closer and saw that it was covered by a purple blanket. Yuè fell to his knees as he reached for the blanket to uncover the small figure. The moment his saw the white fur on the body of the figure stained with a red substance he roared out in pain.'
Rising upright with a gasp Yuè woke from the nightmare. The rain pattered loudly and heavily on the tarp above his head. He looked to his right to see Jian sleeping soundly with rain pelting him. He turned to his left and saw the tents Po and the Furious Five set up and wondered if anyone was awake. He felt something on his right hand and looked down to see him clutching his crossbow. Yuè sighed and laid back down on the damp mound of moss and leaves and closed his eyes. After a few minutes he realized he wasn't going back to sleep any time soon and sat upright. He looked around to see if anyone was awake and reached into a pouch he had on his vest. He pulled out a small flute made of a bamboo reed. "Here goes nothin'." he sighed as he closed his eyes and began to play the flute.
He played ten notes before loudly hitting a sour note, "Dammit." he swore before starting over and hitting the same sour note again. He tried three more times before giving up and putting the flute in his lap. "That's a pretty song." a voice said from his left. He looked up to see Po standing next to him in the rain. "You know you're in the middle of the rain right?" Yuè asked before moving his sword and gesturing for Po to sit in its place. Po sat down and shook the water from his fur, splashing the wolf in front of him, "Heh, sorry." he apologized with a wry smile. Yuè growled quietly, "So, what do you want?" he asked grumpily as he brushed the dampness from his fur. "I heard you playing and wanted to know why you're up so late." Po answered. Yuè looked off, "Couldn't sleep." he answered before looking at Po, "Why're you up so late?" he countered. Lightning flashed followed by the rumble of thunder, "I don't like thunder too much. Heheh." he said shyly.
Yuè quietly chuckled, "My daughter was the same way...is the same way." he said correcting himself. "Why did you say 'was'?" Po asked catching Yuè's comment. The wolf looked down, ears flat against his skull, "I'm not sure..." he said vaguely. "Not sure about what?" Po asked, his voice concerned. Yuè looked down, "I'm not sure if she's alive." he answered in a quiet voice. Thunder rumbled in the sky as the two became quiet for a few moments. "Yu, I've already told you-" Po began before being interrupted by Yuè, "I know, it's just...*sigh* I know Jong. When he says he killed someone it's usually true...That's one if those things he doesn't lie about." Po moved to sit next to Yuè and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Think about this. If you believe Jong, then why are you trying so hard to find her?" Yuè didn't answer, "It's cus you still have hope that she's out there. And that you have to find her." Po said with a sympathetic grin. Yuè wiped away a tear coming down his cheek, "Maybe you're right panda...I'm sorry." he said. "Sorry for what?" Po asked tilting his head. Yuè chuckled wryly and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry for being a d***...to you and the others. You guys decided to help me even after I attacked you and Crane and I payed the favor back by being a complete a**. Especially to Tigress."
Po smiled brightly, "It's alright. The others forgive you too. Though Tigress may need some time to forgive you." Yuè raised an eyebrow, "How do you know? They're asleep." he asked. Po smiled, "They can hear us. Honestly, I'm guessing that they forgive you. Except Tigress, she didn't speak to me for a week when she found out I ate her tofu stir fry last winter." Yuè laughed, "I'll trust you on this one Po." he said looking down at the flute. He lifted the instrument to his lips and began to play. He played the same notes as earlier and hit the sour note again. He sighed and put the reed down again. "So what's with the song?" Po asked. Yuè leaned against the tree behind him, "It's a song I play for my daughter during storms. It's also the song my mother used to play for me when I was a pup." Yuè's ears wilted slightly before he played the song again. He played the same ten notes before hitting the same sour note, "S***! *sigh* I'm really rusty." he said to Po before setting it back down in his lap. Yuè looked off into the rain and darkness of the night. After a moment of silence his ear perked up to hear nearby humming. The humming matched the ten notes he was playing as well as several other notes from the song. Yuè turned to Po, his eyes were closed and he was humming the song Yuè was playing on his flute. Yuè picked up his flute and began to mimic the notes Po was humming. The notes started out low and despondent before picking up and became more joyful and radiant. The two played the song for several minutes before slowly ending the song.
"How'd you know the song?" Yuè asked as he put the flute away. "My dad played it for me when I was little too. Whenever I'd get sad or scared he'd get out a flute and play it." Po answered. Yuè chuckled, "Looks like we got somethin' in common. Even if it's just a silly song." he said leaning against the tree behind him.
The two became quiet, listening to the sound of the rain splashing against the ground in the night. Yuè looked off into the darkness of the forest once more. His mind focusing only on the sound of the rain. Po found his eyes glued on Yu. He stared at the various scars on his arms, torso, and back. One scar stood out the most, the mark going along the length of his abdomen and stopping at the edge of his right pectoral in a diagonal angle. "I never saw all those scars." Po said breaking the silence. Yuè's ears perked up in attention and he turned to face the panda, "Yeah, well, s*** happens when you're a bounty hunter. Sometimes you get hurt or killed, sometimes you have to do things you don't want to." he said in a dry tired tone. "Like earlier? With the merchant?" Po asked looking down. Yuè sighed, "Yeah. Just like that." he answered crossing his arms and looking up at the tarp overhead, "Sometimes you have keep your nose outta things like that. Less people get hurt that way." he said. Po raised an eyebrow in confusion, "What do you mean less people get hurt? If anything those guards would've gotten hurt." Po said pounding a fist into an open palm with a smirk on his face. Yuè scrubbed a hand down his face, "Sure they would've been messed up, but think about what might happen to the merchant. If anything more guards would come and we'd be putting her in danger by starting a fight in public with the authorities. Plus, that town is filled with bandits, thieves, assassins, bounty hunters, and just about any other kinda bloodthirsty scum you can think of." he said in a serious tone. "Oh...didn't think about that." Po said crestfallen. "Po, despite what you and the others think, I'm not heartless. I would've helped that fox in a heartbeat, just like you guys, if I didn't consider the effect it'd have. Sometimes you gotta pick the lesser of two evils." Yuè said his ears folding back slightly.
The two fell silent again. Lightning flashed in the sky just as another roll of thunder broke the silence. "There's something else too." Yuè said abruptly, catching Po off guard. "The armor on the guards. There was an emblem on it that was off." he said scratching his chin in thought. "Off how?" Po asked, intrigued by the revelation. "It was a red eye. The same kind of eye that Lord Shen's army had on their armor." the wolf said, thunder crashing as if on cue. Po was stunned. Could the peacock have returned? If so, how'd he survive the explosion in Gong-Men Bay? These questions swirled around the panda's mind as his heart rate picked up. Memories flashing before his eyes of his attack on Gong-Men, the Five, and his parents' village. "I could be wrong. Maybe it's just a coincidence or something. From what I heard, Shen died. So there's no way he could be back." Yuè said dismissively, "Sorry for worrying you with something like that. I'm probably looking too deep into it." he apologized. "Pfft. Me? Worried? No way. I mean, if he is back I could just kick his butt again, no sweat." Po said arrogantly. Yuè chuckled, "Yeah. You are the Dragon Warrior after all."
The rain slowed and came to an end and the full moon shone brightly in the night sky. Yuè looked up from under the tarp into the sky. "Looks like the rain stopped." he said with a bright smile, "Thanks Po. For being here and talking with me." Po stood up and smiled, "No prob Yu." he said before going back to his tent. Yuè curled up on the bed of moss and leaves and closed his eyes, drifting off and letting the dark embrace of sleep take him.
The sun shone radiantly in sky, a rainbow streaking across the clouds from the rain of the previous night. Po and the Furious Five crawled out of their tents onto the moist ground and stretched their stiff limbs. Rolling necks and popping shoulders and backs. They all looked over to the spot Yuè slept in to see it empty, "Where'd Yuè go?" Monkey asked. Everyone looked around the campsite and saw only a drenched crocodile sleeping on a patch of dirt. "Ahem." said a voice from behind the group. They all turned to see Yuè standing behind them in full battle attire, his hood down. "Hi guys." he said waving. Everyone, except Po, scoffed and turned around to gather their belongings. "Look, I know you heard me apologize. Po told me you guys could hear us while you were sleeping." The Five turned back around to face the wolf, looking at him with annoyed faces. "I didn't hear anything last night." Tigress denied. "Me neither." Mantis said following Tigress' lead, "I only heard the rain." Crane said agreeing with the others, "Nope. Didn't hear it." Viper said begrudgingly.
Yuè sighed, "Fine. You want me to say it to your faces, huh?" he asked. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Okay *sigh* I'm sorry for being such a d***. Especially to you Tigress." he said. "Just for the record we did hear everything last night." Tigress matter-of-factly with a hand on her hip as she continued to pack her belongings up. Yuè shook his head while chuckling and walked over to wake Jian. He took his index and middle fingers and poked a spot under the reptile's jawline, making him instantly wake from his slumber. "You know you could always just shake me until I wake up." the crocodile grumbled, as he groggily reached for his belongings wrapped in the leather tarp next to him. "Yeah, but we couldn't just stay here all day waiting for you to wake up." Yuè teased. Jian stood up and shook the water from his hide, splashing Yuè in the process and earning a less than amused look from the wolf, to which he responded with a grin and a shrug. He unfolded the tarp and began to put his armor on carefully buckling it to make sure it fit snugly on his body.
A Few Minutes Later...
Everyone had finished their travel preparations and were ready to leave. However, one question weighed heavily on the Furious Five's mind. "Is Shen really back?" Viper asked Yuè, everyone looking to him for an answer. The lupine shrugged, "I don't know. All I saw was a design on some armor. For all we know there's at least a hundred other random pieces of armor out there with the same emblem." he answered. They murmured amongst themselves with uncertainty before continuing on their way to Tan Jin City, thinking about the possible reappearance of Lord Shen.
The song on the flute is 'The Farthest Land (Reprise)' by Kow Otani for those who wish to know